procalX, ninja fetus, Big B, addis, anti-trend -- Some Help PLEASE..!!!

I have been researching this stuff for awhile and I believe that these components should work fine in my existing case with my existing ram and I should be able to play Half Life 2 without any problems. Could I get some input from you guys or anyone else that is reading this. I feel like these will work fine, but I am worried that I am missing something here and that when I get these I will be screwed. Since I have a microATX case, I am limited in my mobo options. I listed the one I figured was the best here, but I have all available microATX mobo's with AGP 8x at the bottom in case someone sees a better one. Keep in mind that my main concern is being able to play Half Life 2. Thanks for your time on helping me with this.

(I attached a file containing my computer specs)

-mobo-
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-509&depa=1

-cpu-
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-507&depa=1

-video card-
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-078&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-331&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-121-168&depa=1


all mobo options
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=property&DEPA=1

 

I understand that your mobo options are limited so your mobo seems to be ok and you've got a good CPU. As your your video cards count the LE out so its between the Radeon 9600XT and FX5700.

The Geforces are better in certain games with OpenGL like Jedi Academy but the Radeons are dominant in DirectX games like Unreal Tournament. I'm guessing that HL2 is DX game so I'd get the 9600XT.

 

plus the 9600XT was originally bundled with a hl2 coupon, so it should play it no problems.

 

HL2 doesn't require nearly the same GPU grunt as D00M 3 does. I can run HL2 at 1280x960 smooth as ice, except for like 2 places in the entire thing on a GeForce 4 Ti4600, which is comparable to a Radeon 9600...if you don't go to DX9 stuff. D00M 3 is graphically much more of a beast than HL2, and if that's the main thing you'll be playing, you'll be fine.

The other thing that you might want to consider is getting a new power supply. What you have may not be enough to effectively power your new parts

 

Go for the Radeon!

 

I just thought of something, do I need to worry about cables or anything like that when I buy the cpu? I noticed that there is an OEM version and a Retail version. The Retail comes with cables and stuff, but I am hoping that since I already have a working AMD computer that I can just put in the new chip in the new mobo and it will work? Do I need anything special to hook up my mobo into my existing case?

 

you'll probably need a new HSF, but your current one may suffice, I don't know.

So long as your PSU can take it, then yeah, there should be no extra cables.

 

I would go for the radeon, just because my 9600xt ultra kills my friends's 5700 playing Need For Speed Underground2 lanned.

 

HSF = ??????

PSU = Power Supply Unit?

 

HSF= Heatsink and fan.
PSU=Power supply Unit.

Your old heatsink and fan probably won't cool your new CPU. So you may have to pick up one, make sure you get one that's preferably all copper if your gaming, and a high speed fan to cool it just to be on the safe side, don't wanna fry your CPU do ya? Thermaltake make good heatsinks

 

Basically:
get a good powersupply from:
Thermal Take
Enermax
Antec
OCZ
Tagen

Motherboard wise get from:
Asus
ABIT
MSI

CPU Wise get:
If Socket A (ie AMD DURON / Athlon) get a AMD "Mobile" 2500+ (overclockable with air to 2.5GHZ-2.8GHZ)
If K8 (64Bit get a 3200+ or 3500+) 939 Pin CPU (make sure u get a 939 Pin motherboard)

Graphics wise for HL2 get:
9600Pro 128mb or higher

I highly recommend the 6600GT 128mb really..

I play with:
AMD 64 3200+
512MB memory
TI4280 64MB Direct X 8 hardware

and i run HL2 medium - low graphics perfectly except the very minor slow downs in 1 or 2 points in game, and i get bout 40-50fps average..

 

600GT is a good card but he has a mini-ATX case and the AGP version of the card is much more expensive than the PCI-E so its not really an option.

 

Yes, very true. I noticed this when I was researching cards.

 

The one thing that does worrry me here is the power supply. I don't know what mATX case you have, but if it's some pre-built off-the-shelf case, like an eMachines unit, the power supply may not be physically compatible with a normal ATX power supply. Unless you want to go mod the case (and this could be some heavy modding), you'd be better off to get a standard ATX case.

If you still want to stick with mATX, just make sure it'll accept a standard ATX power supply, as I'm not confident about your current one being able to handle the new hardware.

 

Big B, about a year ago I bought a new power supply for my case. I believe it is a 350.

 

Should be alright, mostly because I haven't seen these mATX custom PSU's in anything past 250W.

 

Yeah my mATX case only has a 250.

 

Ok guys, I decided to just build a new one and use my existing hard drives and dvd drives. If you guys get a chance, do you see anything wrong with the selections I have made? If so, could you suggest an improvement?

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-156-019&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-309&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-123-217&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-174&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-331&depa=0

Also, I am confused as to whether I need to buy extra fans or heatsinks? I don't quite get that. Thanks for the help.