Need advice, yeah another one of these

[Yupyup]

Well this is going to be my first time making a computer, I would like to do it right and have a build that will last me for as long as possible.

My main question is, what to build it off of. At first I was going to buy a X2 3800 and be happy. But since this Conroe has came out I'm puzzled on what to buy. I am on a budget, I would not like to spend over a 1,000. Ideally it would be 800 or less.

I would be using this pc for normal everyday things like internet, and gaming.

Main games are CS 1.6 and Source, although I would like to be able to play some of the new stuff that will be coming out


Thanks for reading.

 

[shadowduck]

Well this is going to be my first time making a computer, I would like to do it right and have a build that will last me for as long as possible.

My main question is, what to build it off of. At first I was going to buy a X2 3800 and be happy. But since this Conroe has came out I'm puzzled on what to buy. I am on a budget, I would not like to spend over a 1,000. Ideally it would be 800 or less.

I would be using this pc for normal everyday things like internet, and gaming.

Main games are CS 1.6 and Source, although I would like to be able to play some of the new stuff that will be coming out


Thanks for reading.

Well if you want a system now, go AM2. If you want to wait a while, you can probably get a Core2 system in a $1000 budget. $800 is easy to do with AM2. Here is a system a built for a Mac Friend using AM2:

Processor:
AMD Athlon64 3800+ X2 AM2- $169.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735

RAM: Corsair XMS 1GB DDR2-800- $104
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145566
If you want to go to 2GB you can go to 2GB for $198.

Motherboard: Asus M2NE- $95.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131022

Hard Drive: Seagate 250GB SATA II- $79
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148142

Video Card: eVGA 7600GT 256- $164.99 (plus $30 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130283

Case- Antec Sonta II Black w/ 450W PSU- $104.99) plus $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129155

Basic Logitech keyboard and mouse- $30

DVD-Burner: Lite-on 16x: $37.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106013

$829.53 shipped
$784.53 after MIR for Video card..

Now if you want to spend $1000 go ahead and get 2GB of RAM.

 

[Yupyup]

Thanks a lot of replying, what you just posted is pretty much what I would have gone with. Just will AM2 be good choice when looking at the future?

 

[chewbenator]

For a conroe build, if you want one, replace the Motherboard with a Gigabyte DS3, and the Processor with an E6300.

The big debate is the upgradeability. An AM2 board should work with AM3 unless AMD pulls an Intel and changes some tiny thing to make you buy a new board (ie. Socket 775s not working with Conroe because of some power/voltage/bios issue). With Conroe the only thing for sure you will be able to upgrade to is another Conroe, I've only heard one official statement for one board that it will support kentsfield, so still iffy on the intel side too.

 

[Yupyup]

Alright thanks guys, I think I'll wait a bit and see if the prices change.

 

[Newf]

They will...

 

[shadowduck]

Alright thanks guys, I think I'll wait a bit and see if the prices change.

Prices for electronics only go down. Prices change on a daily basis. Waiting gets you the best deal ever, but you don't get work done.