Computer tech phreaks - I need your help

I'm considering building an entertainment computer for DVD's, 3d games, and using the net.
I've decided to get a Shuttle XPC from Tigerdirect:

<a href="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=S451-3032" target="_blank">The Gamecube sized PC</a>

What would you tech heads recommend I get to stick in it? (HD, Dvd drive, Ram, Videocard).

I'm not sure if these systems allow it, but I'd like to put in a Geforce 4 vid card - can it be done?

<small>[ February 10, 2003, 07:30 PM: Message edited by: The Auction Sniper ]</small>

Ok, so you need to pimp this thing out to play teh romz, right? Ok, with that thing and an extra 256 megs of RAM and the biggest hard drive (for holding as many teh romz as possible) you can find, you'll be playing your teh romz (with a 1600x1200 resolution, tripple buffering, super eagle engine and blah blah blah) in no time!

By the way, you're gonna have to get a Voodoo card if you're one of those N64 romz types.

<small>[ February 10, 2003, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: Sonic1787DC ]</small>

sorry to be off topic, but i just got the doom 3 alpha to work for the first time, and at a solid 30 fps. I wish i hadn't, because now every other game i play until it comes out, is not going to wow me like this did.

Oh come on, be serious, Mr Sonic.

I already have a Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, NES, SNES, Megadrive, Saturn, and Jamma PCB convertor - so I don't need to play lame emulators.

I want to be able to play Doom III on my TV!

<small>[ February 10, 2003, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: The Auction Sniper ]</small>

Well, this is what I have on my rig:

XP 1700+
Windows XP Pro
80GB HDD
512MB DDR 266
NVIDIA GForce 4 MX 440

And I am able to run just about everything out right now. My FPS I usually run at 1024x768 True Color.

GAMEFAN

Plisken:
sorry to be off topic, but i just got the doom 3 alpha to work for the first time, and at a solid 30 fps. I wish i hadn't, because now every other game i play until it comes out, is not going to wow me like this did.

Click to expand...

What settings are you using with Doom 3? Are you running it full screen or windowed mode? Also what resolution? Did you turn any graphical effects off? What kind of machine are you running it on? Is it 30fps constant or does it go down when you meet an enemy.

I have Pentium 4 1.9GHz w/ 512MB DDR 2700 and a GeForce 4 TI4600 and im running windows xp pro (academic edition) and i cannot get the game to run at a constant 30fps. It starts off running great but when i encounter an enemy i take a devastating frame rate plunge. But for those few seconds when its running real nice this game is damn beautiful.

I have a Acer 166 mhz with l;ike 16MB of RAM and I can play the old Atari romz, but I have broadband so it's all good.

We have an Acer too Broadband is the best.

<small>[ February 10, 2003, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: Lagduf ]</small>

lagduf you have a PM

Well,

If you have a good size budget go all out.

At least get the shuttle with the Nforce2 mobo with 512 ram (2x256 sticks of corsair pc2700 go for the low latency ones.). A 80gig hard drive should be good. The one by western digital with the 8mb buffer.

Now the Processor is up to you. I suggest that
If you want to have a good computer that will play games fast get the athlon 2600xp with the 333fsb.

On your video card I would go with a Radeon All In Wonder 8500 128-mb. (Don't get the 8500dv)
With this card you can have good fps with the games, hook up your cable to it to use it as a TIVO, and it has great dvd software plus loads more options. If you want to go all out get the Radeon 9700, but you'll be dropping some more cash with that card, but it's the best one.

If I were you I would just get the Shuttle case with the motherboard. Then buy each component separately. You will save more than just buying it at the same store.

Use <a href="http://www.pricewatch.com" target="_blank">www.pricewatch.com</a> and <a href="http://www.pricegrabber.com" target="_blank">www.pricegrabber.com</a> to mix and match prices.

If you have any questions at all you can feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you as quick as I can.

Hope this helps a bit buttrock buttrock

Gamefan:
Well, this is what I have on my rig:

XP 1700+
Windows XP Pro
80GB HDD
512MB DDR 266
NVIDIA GForce 4 MX 440

And I am able to run just about everything out right now. My FPS I usually run at 1024x768 True Color.

GAMEFAN

Click to expand...

That's pretty much the exact same setup that I'm using right now, it makes for great gaming and web browsing.

But if you want to make your DVD's look nice and pretty then get yourself a flat screen or panel monitor, I just picked one up for only $200 and it gives my movies a nice crisp look.

<small>[ February 11, 2003, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: Average Joe ]</small>

<a href="http://www.alienware.com/main/media_center.asp" target="_blank">Media Center</a>

<img src="http://www.alienware.com/main/images/mce_navigator.jpg" alt=" - " />

for a gfx card get a radeon 9500 and hack it to a 9700 nice and speedy wink

Frasermozz:
for a gfx card get a radeon 9500 and hack it to a 9700 nice and speedy wink

Click to expand...

Yep, Just hopefully you'll get the one that's able to do it. buttrock buttrock

Shred:
<a href="http://www.alienware.com/main/media_center.asp" target="_blank">Media Center</a>

<img src="http://www.alienware.com/main/images/mce_navigator.jpg" alt=" - " />

Click to expand...

WOW! That thing is a beast of beauty! Look like I'll be saving for 2 months for one of those....