Want to build new system for F.E.A.R.

[Gradlock]

I've been waiting for this game with A LOT of anticipation. Considering it's time to upgrade my system since it can barely play the demo I wanted to start with the motherboard, CPU, video, maybe even the memory. I definitely want this to exceed if at all possible the recommended requirements. My budget is about $400, probably willing to spend more if the bang/buck ratio hits a sweet spot.

Here are the requirements from the site:
The final system requirements for F.E.A.R. have been announced:

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIRED
· Windows® XP or 2000 with latest service pack installed
· DirectX® 9.0c (April Edition) (included)
· Pentium® 4 1.7 GHz or equivalent processor
· 512 MB of RAM
· 64 MB GeForceâ„¢ 4 Ti or ATI® Radeon® 9600 or equivalent with hardware T&L and pixel shader support
· 5.0 GB free Hard Drive Space for installation
· 4x CD-ROM drive (for Director's Edition, this will have to be DVD-ROM)
· 16-bit DirectX® 9.0 compliant sound card with support for EAX™ 2.0
· Internet Connection Required
· Mouse
· Keyboard

RECOMMENDED HARDWARE
·Pentium® 4 3.0 GHz or equivalent processor
·1 GB RAM
·A 256 MB Radeon® 9800 Pro or equivalent DirectX® 9 compliant video car with hardware T&L and pixel shader 2.0 support

SUPPORTED CHIPSETS
Nvidia GeForce™ 4Ti, GeForce™ FX 5900, FX 5900 Ultra, 6800, 6800 GT, 6800 Ultra
ATI® Radeon® 9600, 9600 Pro, 9600 XT, 9700, 9700 Pro, 9800 Pro, x700 XT, x800 XT, x850 XT
I'm thinking about keeping my regular ATA drives for now since they perform OK and upgrade them later when I can get some really good ones.

My current system:

Windows XP Pro SP2
Shuttle AK32V v3.1
AMD XP 2400+
CPU is watercooled with Innovatek Innovacool copper core waterblock.
768MB Kingston PC3200 DDR
Asus 64MB GeForce4 MX 440
Tutle Beach Santa Cruz
Pioneer 8X DVR
Pioneer 16X DVD
Segate Barracuda 80G 7200RPM
WD 160G 7200 RPM
Samsung 160G 7200 RPM

[jankerson]

I would say just upgrade you CPU to a 3000+ and get an X800 or 6800 graphics card.

Also add another 256mb of ram.

$108 for the XP 3000+

$245 for the X800

$25.95 for a 256mb stick of Kinston PC3200.

Total $378.95

[krupted]

really what jakerson said is pretty good. right now your system isnt bad at all anyway, but your mx440 is absolutely killing you. im surprised your playing anything current on that peice of junk, and i say junk because ive had two

you wouldnt even believe the difference if you just upgraded the video card to an x800, but you should get more ram too, 1gb for games is pretty minimal anymore.

[Gradlock]

No worries, not playing anything too current. I've actually been playing catch up with my games for the past few months because over the past couple of years my job didn't leave me much time for anything else. Now that I've managed to get in a dept that leaves me plenty of free time, at least compared to what I had before I want to finish what has been collecting dust and then move on new titles.

Used to have a 128 GeForce XXX, sorry forgot what model. Came home one day to the smell of overcooked pork seasoned with bug spray and no screen. Checked the system and the GPU was extra crispy.
Went to the store and at the time it was all I could afford.

I know I'm pretty out of the loop for hardware, between my job and all my other responsibilities I don't have that much time to stay current. I was wondering about the PCI Express through, does it really blow AGP away or is it still too soon to tell? I know you need a mb that supports this so I wondered if it was worth it.

[Martin_89]

if you like overclocking then get yourself a mobile Athlon XP 2500+ and it will overclock to 3200+ speeds no problem even on air cooling (i see you have water = bonus!)

get a Radeon X800XL AGP and another 256MB or more of ram and it will handle the game no problem.

[Toolbox]

Can't argue with what's already been recommended! I think go with it... that videocard is absolutely killing you.

[jankerson]

Can't argue with what's already been recommended! I think go with it... that videocard is absolutely killing you.

Yeah it is alittle weak at that isn't it....

[Gradlock]

Don't make me come over there . A 2500+ seem a little hard to find. Even on pricewatch it jumps from 2400+ to 2600+. The the latter overclock just as well?

[Martin_89]

both 2400+ and 2600+ mobile overclock just as good, i just said 2500 because its the more common one

[krupted]

basically, not every 2500+ goes to 3200+ anyway, usually though thats a ram as well. I would go for the 2800+ 333fsb. Its not even ten more than the 2500+ and it will easily hit 3200+. Also this way you wouldnt even have to overclock, it really wouldnt matter much in games. I dont know if your model mainboard will support that speed though, others could tell you.

Get more ram for sure, every 512mb is about $45 for regular decent stuff. So i guess what jankerson put out but save $20 on the cpu and use that to make that 256 a 512.