How futureproof is my first build?

[udontseeme]

Hi, I have been reading the forums for the past few months to try to guage what I need for my first build. I'm primarily going to be using this for some light gaming, burning/ripping music and movies. I basically want a computer that's going to be able to get the job done for 3 years or so. I haven't really shopped around too much yet, but it looks like it's going to cost me around $1,300. I may do some overclocking, but not right off the bat.

Just want to make sure the Graphics card isn't going to be too long for the case/mobo, or if there are any glaring incompatibilities. I may get a second graphics card for SLI down the road. Thanks!

Mobo: $190
ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus LGA 775 Nvidia nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU: $300
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775

RAM: $160
G. Skill F26400CL4D 1GBx2

Storage: $85. Not messing with Raid.
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (PR) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Video Card: $250
GeForce 8800 GTS 320mb

PSU: $100
Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply

CPU Fan: $60
Zalman 9700 LED 110mm CPU Cooler

DVD RW: $80
Plextor PX-755SA

Case: $120
Antec 900 Black Steel ATX case

OS: XP pro ---> Vista in the next 6 months or so

 

[just2good4u3434]

Looks almost perfect, you can get a 680i board for around the same price, but if the Asus suites your taste and has all the features you want you will be fine with it.

 

[udontseeme]

Thanks, I'm mostly concerned with stability and expandability. It looks like it's going to cost a pretty penny, which is fine, as long as it can hold its own for a few years.

I'm somewhat foggy on how overclocking may effect my RAM selection.

Anyone have suggestions on monitors? I have heard good things about the Samsung 22".

 

[ScareTactic]

Sounds great i have pretty much the same set up but with 2x 250GB SATA 2 HDD's and 2x 8800GTX SLI'd wih a 22"Samsung LCD Screen and i am hopeing it will last me at least 2 years but i think i am pushing it. You should be fine for at least the same ammount of time

 

[cutthroat]

Asus naming is confusing...

P5N32-E SLI = 680i
P5N - E SLI = 650i
P5N32-E SLI Plus = 650i +570 hybrid

You want the P5N32-E SLI, it will be OK for quad core and penryn, good for SLI if you wanna drop an extra graphics card in next year or something. I think the end of the upgrade path with this mobo will likely be DDR3 RAM, which nothing supports yet.

I can vouch this is a great motherboard, I'm very happy with it, it's the same as the Striker Extreme without the expensive useless extra stuff.

Don't get confused, pay attention before you press purchase.

 

[proof]

It is future proof until the end of May.

 

[Ely]

What happens in the end of May?
(New here btw, been reading the forums for awhile and it's been a nice read. Not a total noob, but still a noob I quess... Now had the courage to sign up me self )

 

[piratepast40]

It is future proof until the end of May.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[piratepast40]

What happens in the end of May?

Welcome to the forum 8)

I think what Proof was referring to is that anytime you build a computer, there will be some new "thing" tomorrow. There is allways newer, and sometimes better, technology right around the corner. If you plan on upgrading, you may find that upgrading your existing hardware is expensive if the "newer" stuff has become mainstream and your "old" stuff is harder to obtain.

Of course, he may have meant that global warming is attracting swarms of killer asteroids that will cause all electrons on earth to reverse polarity and start moving backwards on May 1st.

 

[proof]

Yeah, the 8900GTX, 8950GX2, 8600GTS, and the R600 cards are coming out. Then in June Intel releases the QX6800 along with some other stuff and then not long after the Penryn is released.

 

[Mike_Timmins]

Well it depends larghely on your definition of futurproof. Near top line yeah, until may. Something that will atleast run on some level more or less everything softwarewise that will come out, 3 mabey 4 years. then you'll start notcing the bad lag. Atleast thats my understanding of it.

 

[zenmaster]

I'm going with the "there is always something better coming".

IMHO, never worry too much about futureproofing.

It can't really be done.

Example - DDR3 is coming very soon to start replacing DDR2. At which point you will start to be dated. At first DDR3 will not be crucial but as dual cores are replaced by quad cores and those cores run faster and the amount of memory required in the system grows you wll find you need DDR3.

Should you wait for DDR3? Heck no. Its going to be big $$$ when it first comes out.

Just build yourself a good system.
When it no longer meets your need, see if a small upgrade in RAM or perhpas the Video card will help.

If not, just toss the System on Ebay and start fresh.
Selling a complete old sysem and buying all new is often the best way to keep current.