First Build, advice welcome.

ExpertMode

Distinguished
Apr 9, 2007
3
0
18,510
What's up guys, I've been reading this site/forum for a while now and have decided to finally build my own rig. I was wondering if I could get a couple of suggestions and questions answered. And I know that it does seem a bit lame that I'm asking basically what to use for my build, but it is my first time.

Main priority:
-Gaming, I'm looking to play Counter Strike Source, Half Life 2, and some other high end games, I guess I'm looking at a fairly good system.

Budget:
- $1000 on hardware, I think I can get my parents to buy me a monitor :)

So basically I'm pretty clueless about compatibility issues and what's best.

Right now I'm looking at this CPU because of it's over clocking capabilities.
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD3155&vpn=BX80557E4300&manufacture=INTEL
Edit: I'm probably looking to overclock it to about 3ghz

And the reviews I've read on this mobo said it was also good for over clocking:
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD3851&vpn=GA-965P-DS3&manufacture=GIGABYTE

From another guide the guy suggested using this g-card
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14080BD3776&vpn=sapphire1950&manufacture=SAPPHIRE
It's pretty expensive though, but I dunno, I could be totally wrong. So that's why I asking you guys :wink:

But other then those two or three, I'm sorta lost on the RAM, G-Card etc.

I'd really appreciate if you guys could help me out here, and then I could maybe fine tune your decision, thanks in advance.
 

Jim_L9

Distinguished
Mar 10, 2006
1,183
0
19,360
According to the link you provided for the video card, it is AGP while that motherboard doesn't have an AGP slot. So, you can't use that video card with that motherboard.
 

hashbrown

Distinguished
Jan 30, 2007
115
0
18,680
Great Mobo and processor choice. First off, that graphics is for an AGP(advanced graphics port) which is not on that mother board you have chosen, and it is outdated and AGP cards are more expensive than the contemporary PCI Express cards. The X1950 cards are great cards for the money. For memory, I would recommend getting DDR2-800 memory since you plan on overclocking. A 2x1 GB kit from any companies such as G-Skill, Corsair, OCZ, Mushkin, Kingston will work great. Those are some of the top brands. Also, I would recommend getting a kit with a heat sink on them because the value-ram are nice and cheap, but may not be the best for overclocking since they have higher timings and less cooling. If you can afford it, try and make it so that the memory is 4-4-4-12 @ 800mhz. You will be well off if you go with that stuff.
 

CmdPT

Distinguished
Dec 29, 2006
438
0
18,780
The trusty Gaming PC on a Budget Guide by Sanji, I can't believe how well that guide has become.

To the OP, make sure to read that thoroughly and you're build a $1000 or even less for the parts you want.