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Krazypolocs Budget Gaming Machine


krazypoloc

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So a few months back I decided that I needed to be able to game in more than just 1 room of my house (yeah try explaining that to my girlfriend)....so I started compiling some parts....

 

Started out with an Old HP case and motherboard (Asus) that is 775 without a CPU. So I picked up a Pentium D 950 and a 320GB HDD from InCrYsIs for $45....then 4 1GB Sticks of DDR2 800 from IVIYTH0S.

 

Now this is a gaming machine so the GPU has got to be able to play BC2, Dirt2, and pretty much any other game full out on a 50" 1080p plasma. I had a few old GPU's sitting around 8600GT and 8600GTS but they are not cutting the mustard. So I plan on getting either an Nvidia GTX 470 or an ATI HD 4850/4870 and putting that in my main PC and adding the aging HD 4870 to the budget gaming PC.

 

I had an old Antec 550 PSU sitting around but thats not ideal when using a high end GPU. SO One of my buddies hooked me up with a Corsair 750 pro bono for helping him out with some stuff....

 

Now we can't put a gaming PC in a crappy little mid tower can we???!!! Hell no!!! As I already have a rack down there that has my Popcorn Hour, Receiver, Amp, and Subwoofer EQ in it why not get a cheap rack mouted server chassis and use that? Good idea *talking to self*...So I picked up a cheap 4U server chassis from Ebay for $31 plus $35 for shipping.....

 

So the server chassis came in yesterday....I will be assembling the PC into the chassis tonight when I get home from work, and the only thing left will be the GPU upgrade.

 

I will be posting back with pics of everything as I know how much everyone likes those. :)

 

Here are some starters....

 

DSCF2596.jpg

 

Also I am looking for a decent keyboard/mouse combination on the cheap. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. It must be wireless with at least a 20 foot range.

 

Parts List

 

Asus 775 Motherboard (From an old HP machine

Intel Pentium D 950 @stock

4x1GB Gskil DDR2 800

Corsair 750TX

Nvidia 8600GT -Soon to be ATI HD4870 1GB

Western Digital 320GB SATA HDD

Edited by krazypoloc

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  • 2 weeks later...

very interesting, I'm also interested in the method you're using to do this. How are you getting the video from your basement, to your displays?

Well my basement is divided into 2 sections. One finished and one unfinished. I have the rack in the unfinished side and I run a 25 foot HDMI cable to the display. I'm still trying to work out the input device situation (Keyboard/Mouse) but I'm thinking I will go wireless......however I might just run USB from the PC to a 4xUSB wall plate so that I can just plug in keyboard, mouse, and Xbox 360 controllers. I realize I could go wireless with all this but I already have 2 Xbox 360 USB controllers that I have been using for years and quality wireless stuff IS NOT CHEAP!

 

For control of the rest of the equipment I use in IR Repeater that has an eye attached to the front of the TV. Its a really cheap solution that works extremely well as I am able to use my existing remotes.....I plan on doing full automation with RF remotes and 4-5 zones in the future but thats down the road a bit.

 

And no I can't game from anywhere in my house currently but that would be easily accommodated if I wanted to set that up.

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Awesome I've been wanting to do a rack build for awhile.

 

 

:thumbsup:

Thanks Andrew....now if I could only find a video card that will do this rig justice. I want something at least as powerful as a GTX280/4870. Still on the fence for springing for a 5850 or GTX470.

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Well my basement is divided into 2 sections. One finished and one unfinished. I have the rack in the unfinished side and I run a 25 foot HDMI cable to the display. I'm still trying to work out the input device situation (Keyboard/Mouse) but I'm thinking I will go wireless......however I might just run USB from the PC to a 4xUSB wall plate so that I can just plug in keyboard, mouse, and Xbox 360 controllers. I realize I could go wireless with all this but I already have 2 Xbox 360 USB controllers that I have been using for years and quality wireless stuff IS NOT CHEAP!

 

For control of the rest of the equipment I use in IR Repeater that has an eye attached to the front of the TV. Its a really cheap solution that works extremely well as I am able to use my existing remotes.....I plan on doing full automation with RF remotes and 4-5 zones in the future but thats down the road a bit.

 

And no I can't game from anywhere in my house currently but that would be easily accommodated if I wanted to set that up.

 

why not run a usb extension cable from the unfinished side, to the finished side, then on the finished side, plug in the wireless adapters? that way you wouldn't have to worry about the distance that the wireless signal has to travel :thumbsup:

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why not run a usb extension cable from the unfinished side, to the finished side, then on the finished side, plug in the wireless adapters? that way you wouldn't have to worry about the distance that the wireless signal has to travel :thumbsup:

Well I wouldn't want a dongle sticking out of the wall...and my reasoning for not going wireless is financial more than functional. IDK of a bluetooth or long range RF keyboard and mouse combination that works well and is cost effective.

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