1) Rig Type:
Desktop. I built my own computer using an Antec Nine Hundred computer case. It has four 120mm fans (which glow blue!) and a giant 200mm fan, all of which have 3 speed settings, to balance cooling airflow and noise reduction. This case should hold anything I'd want to throw in it (provided video cards don't get any bigger, damn!), so it's future proof.
Power Supply Unit:
Corsair HX1000W (1000 watts). That's right, 1000 watts. Providing clean stable power for your computer's components should never be underestimated. This well-reviewed PSU is overkill for my setup, but it will cleanly power anything I throw at it, and it will last a good long time (it barely runs half capacity, and it has a five year warranty), so it too is future proof.
Processor and Motherboard:
Intel Pentium 4 (3.0GHz) and Intel Desktop Motherboard D945GNT. Most of the games at the top of my to-do list are older, and don't take advantage of the dual core CPUs. So these components were carry-overs from my previous computer, since it still runs my old'ish games perfectly. I'll upgrade my CPU and mobo whenever I finally reach the newer games on my to-do list. Another perk to the next mobo upgrade will be RAID and SLI potential (see below), which I can't do with this mobo.
Memory:
Patriot 4GB (4 x 1GB, 240-Pin DDR2 667). Uses my mobo's 'dual channel' functionality. I always buy 4GB of the fastest memory that the mobo will take, and I always keep the memory with the mobo. So I always buy 4GB of new (and presumably faster) memory, whenever I buy a new mobo.
Hard Disk Drive:
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 (250GB, 32MB Cache, SATA 3.0GB/s). Well-reviewed, fast, and quiet. I also have a nice pair of Seagate FreeAgent Go (250GB 5400RPM USB 2.0) external HDDs, that I keep in a little fireproof and waterproof safe in my closet, giving me a solid pair of data backups. I may consider buying an identical HDD and monkeying with a RAID setup, whenever I buy a new mobo.
Video Card:
EVGA e-GeForce 9800 GTX (512MB). I buy a new video card every other year or so. It's definitely the one component that becomes outdated the fastest. When it's time to upgrade, I may consider buying an identical video card and running both in SLI mode, whenever I buy a new mobo.
Sound Card and Speakers:
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS and Creative Labs 7.1 speakers. More carry-overs from my previous computer. The sound is spectacular. I wonder if my next mobo's onboard sound will be comparable to the sound card? It'd be nice to have one less component to monkey with, restrict internal case airflow, etc.
Monitor:
ViewSonic Graphics Series G90f (19"). Most of the old'ish games utilize lower resolutions (at least, lower than the native resolutions of today's thin widescreen monitors), so I use one of those giant heavy-beyond-belief cube-shaped suckers. I'll buy a thin widescreen monitor whenever I finally reach the newer games on my to-do list.
Operating System:
Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 3). Whatever OS is best for the generation of games that I'm currently working through, then that's what I'll use.
Modem:
Motorola SB5101 SURFboard Cable Modem (38/30 Mbps). I bought my own, instead of renting from Comcast. I don't know how, but I test my connection speed using
Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test and, without a router in the loop, I always have a download speed in the 20-26 Mbps range (I pay Comcast for 6 Mbps). (?) Wicked, if only I actually played games online (I'm more of a single-player kind of a guy).
Last Word:
I should have started building my own computers a long time ago. I believe it saves alot of money upgrading individual components as needed, as opposed to buying a whole new computer. And in the mean time, your system is always fairly current (or as current as you need it to be). The internet provides an easy way to self-educate yourself, and it was fun researching and selecting each component. When it was all said and done, it ended up being rather easy. And I have a pride with this PC that I've never had with any of the others. Nerd City, Baby!
