Building a computer, need some suggestions

[Jongamer]

Ok I want to build a PC, all I want is the PC to play Oblivion.

Right now Im stuck at finding a decent motherboard and a decent cpu (this is the first computer I am building)

and I need suggestions on video cards good enough to play oblivion with its best graphic settings.

All the other stuff about the computer I can handle.

I plan on buying all these parts from tigerdirect or newegg, or both.

I dont want the motherboard and cpu combined over 170 USD. And i dont want an over beefed up graphics card either.

[Krepticor]

good Gforce 8+ series card with an Intel Core 2 duo Es6600 running thourgh at least 2 gig ram on XP (8 million if Vista )

[XPCportables]

Many will probably disagree with me on this but I'm going to say it anyway. I would go with a Core 2 Duo Allendale core. Many will disagree because of the 800mhz FSB and 2mb L2 cache, but the Allendale architecture is highly overclockable at very low temps, which means you can get massive performance at a low price due to the fact that you can use stock cooling.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115014

but if you decide to go conroe I would get the E6400 because it is essentially the same thing as the E6600 running at a lower clock, a quick overclock and your running with the big boys.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115004

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131180 Great motherboard with two full 16x bus PCI-E slots unlike most which go to 8x in SLI mode.

Here is some nice fast reliable ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820227178
just for kicks you could buy two of these.

8800 GTS will handle it quite nicely. word on the street is you can unlock hidden stream processors to get this thing running almost as powerful as a GTX at a much lower price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130071

As far as other stuff, you can probably figure it out. I would like to recommend the antec 900 for your case though.

[vskid]

I dont want the motherboard and cpu combined over 170 USD.

Is that possible? Why not just get an xbox 360, $400 and it can play Oblivion at full speed on your tv, which is likely bigger than your monitor.

[HotDog-Cart]

PS: VSkid. Its not always $400 for a 360.

You can get them for like $220 on ebay, plus $20 shipping. Making $240. (Thats in CAD prices. Way lower if in USD )

I'd say, dish out the extra 70 or so dollars, and get a 360. (Used. Possibly refurbished but working 100%)

Mimimum requirements for Oblivion:

CPU: Minimum: Pentium 4 or Athlon XP or better

Processing Speed: Minimum: 2 GHz

Video: 128MB Direct3D compatible video card (NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700+ / ATI Radeon 9500+)

Direct X: Minimum: DirectX 9.0c (included on disk)

Disk Space: Minimum: 4.6 GB

DVD Drive Speed: Minimum: 8X DVD-Rom


My aptonbook XL meets the recommended. (Well surpasses it actually).

But this laptop costed me $2000. (And it freezes and crashes a lot.)

[XPCportables]

I dont want the motherboard and cpu combined over 170 USD.

Is that possible? Why not just get an xbox 360, $400 and it can play Oblivion at full speed on your tv, which is likely bigger than your monitor.

WOW!!! I missed that part of the post, forget everything that I just wrote then. and yes that is possible BTW get an AMD athlon X2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103036
and this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131068 motherboard. pop in 2 sticks of this stuff http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145567
throw in this 7900gs http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130056 and you just might be able to max out oblivion for under $400

[vskid]

PS: VSkid. Its not always $400 for a 360.

You can get them for like $220 on ebay, plus $20 shipping. Making $240. (Thats in CAD prices. Way lower if in USD )

I'd say, dish out the extra 70 or so dollars, and get a 360. (Used. Possibly refurbished but working 100%)

I was accounting for the game and a couple other accessories in case he wanted them.

I dont want the motherboard and cpu combined over 170 USD.

Is that possible? Why not just get an xbox 360, $400 and it can play Oblivion at full speed on your tv, which is likely bigger than your monitor.

WOW!!! I missed that part of the post, forget everything that I just wrote then. and yes that is possible BTW get an AMD athlon X2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103036
and this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131068 motherboard. pop in 2 sticks of this stuff http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145567

But thats so ssslllooowww. Why buy yesterday's tech when you can get today's for a bit more? I priced a nice computer (X2 5600+, 2GB ram, 500GB HD, undecided graphics) for about $1000, why spend ~$600 for a slow computer to do what a $400 360 does?

[HotDog-Cart]

Heh.

Also, Xbox 360 has the Expansion pack for Oblivion. When PC doesnt.

[XPCportables]

PS: VSkid. Its not always $400 for a 360.

You can get them for like $220 on ebay, plus $20 shipping. Making $240. (Thats in CAD prices. Way lower if in USD )

I'd say, dish out the extra 70 or so dollars, and get a 360. (Used. Possibly refurbished but working 100%)

I was accounting for the game and a couple other accessories in case he wanted them.

I dont want the motherboard and cpu combined over 170 USD.

Is that possible? Why not just get an xbox 360, $400 and it can play Oblivion at full speed on your tv, which is likely bigger than your monitor.

WOW!!! I missed that part of the post, forget everything that I just wrote then. and yes that is possible BTW get an AMD athlon X2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103036
and this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131068 motherboard. pop in 2 sticks of this stuff http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145567

But thats so ssslllooowww. Why buy yesterday's tech when you can get today's for a bit more? I priced a nice computer (X2 5600+, 2GB ram, 500GB HD, undecided graphics) for about $1000, why spend ~$600 for a slow computer to do what a $400 360 does?

He wanted a PC, I gave him one in his price range.

[vskid]

He wanted a PC, I gave him one in his price range.

I know, I was just quoting you to show how weak a computer he'd be getting (I'm calling it weak, but it could own my computer without even turning on...).

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

Heh.

Also, Xbox 360 has the Expansion pack for Oblivion. When PC doesnt.

Um, yeah it does.

[Jongamer]

Well i wanted a pc because, well my old computer`s power supply blew, and I just need a major upgrade from my 500mhz pentium 3 Dell *shudders* I hate dell, make a special powersupply that have to be used on THEIR mobos, use any other power supply, say bye bye computer, I heard in extreme cases that they catch on fire.

Yes 400 USD or a little more would be a perfect price range.

Its not that I just wanna play oblivion, i wanna play other games too, and I was saying oblivion because I dont need anything really anymore powerful than that.

[totokan]

Ok, now that I've done it almost five times, heres some advice.
NEVER BUY CHEAP COMPONENTS. Even though you think it's worth it, you'll end up paying for it in the long run. Research all of your components before purchase, if you're making a good PC, a good place is Tom's Hardware Guide.

[Jongamer]

now lets say a computer being built for around, hmmmm 700-800 USD.

[XPCportables]

now lets say a computer being built for around, hmmmm 700-800 USD.

I could help you with that.