Project: New cost efficient upgradeable machine

[zental]

I'm trying to put together THE best bang for my buck gaming rig. I want to spend ideally around $500 give or a take a few hundred. I will be Overclocking this one.

There's a few things I'm still iffy on and I haven't fully researched. The video card I hear is pretty good for my money, but I haven't checked out reviews yet. I don't have any real game prospects yet, but I'm looking at tcos.com as my next game to play. But just as a basis, I expect to run Oblivion pretty smoothly on this rig.

Anyways here's what I have so far, it's pretty standard from a few other posts I've seen, but a little different.

$115
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115013

$133
ASUS P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142

OR

$147
MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130081

$89
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

$120
SAPPHIRE 100189L Radeon X1900GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 VIVO Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102022

Total: $457 or $471 with the more exp mobo

I plan to OC that 4300 up to near 3gigs and if that video card is OC'able without too many issues maybe it too I'm not sure yet. I am almost positive I'll need to get a new PSU too I just haven't found one yet.

I'm also trying to make this a basis for upgrade for the next 3-4 years. Thats why I want PCIe and a 64 bit system. I'll take opinions and whatnot from everyone just let me know.

 

[purdueguy]

Are you building a computer from scratch? Are you planning on reusing some components?

You can play at 1024x768 with that rig but most of the eye-candy will need to be turned off.

X1900GT Benchmarks. Your best bet is currently the X1950XT from Sapphire for $170 at Newegg.

 

[akhilles]

I'm in favor of the MSI P6N-SLI Plat for the copper chipset cooling. ASUS has wised up, huh? They added a southbright cooler. Still crap though. The overclockers must have been waving their cue cards. Both boards will o/c to 3ghz ok, but the msi has an edge in going over 3ghz with better cooling.

The serious o/c'er will have to shell out money to upgrade the p5n-e sli cooling. I doubt you can get copper cooling for $14 extra.

 

[MattJD]

I'm looking at a system with the same cpu and MSI motherboard. I also looked at the Gigabyte mobo's Logainofhades mentioned, but neither has an IEEE 1394 input. Are there any models out there that are similar with that input, and be Vista capable? I'm having difficulty finding one.

 

[akhilles]

There are 2 reasons to get 650i/680i:

1) you sli

2) you o/c cpu with crap ram

Zental's ram isn't hot. it WILL severly limit his o/c if you get the p965. see now you must o/c cpu & ram at a ratio on p965. on 6x0i, you don't have to. either linked or unlinked.

btw, the 650i has ieee, TWO ide connectors for up to 4 drives, ESATA, etc. The p965 with the same features will cost you more. 975 would have everything for a premium.

 

[zental]

Ok since my other machine decided to crap out I figure I'll probably just go for a better setup. Let me know what you guys think. I'm just going to use the case, cd/dvd drive, and everything else from my old pc.

$115
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115013

$147
MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130081

$89
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

$309
XFX PVT80GGHE4 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 GRAW Bundle HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150172

$99
RAIDMAX RX-630A ATX12V / EPS12V 630W Power Supply 115/230 V CB, IEC, TUV, UL, CSA - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152026

Total: $783.00 after shipping

 

[akhilles]

Everything except the psu is good. If budget is tight:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817128005

or get a better one from:

http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=1491365#1491365

 

[alcattle]

For a little more get the e4400, multiplier is higher, it will go over 3GHZ easier.
Agree with Akhilles, for $99 you can get a much better PSU, Raidmax is crap.

 

[rwpritchett]

I'm looking at a system with the same cpu and MSI motherboard. I also looked at the Gigabyte mobo's Logainofhades mentioned, but neither has an IEEE 1394 input. Are there any models out there that are similar with that input, and be Vista capable? I'm having difficulty finding one.

Get a firewire card for 10 bucks.

To the OP, if you get a E4300 or E4400, getting 800 RAM is good, but overkill. Remember, if your goal is 3GHz, then you need a FSB of 333 or 300, respectively, so you you can save some more money by getting cheaper 667 RAM. Just a suggestion, the RAM you selected is really fine.

Do you plan on getting an aftermarket HSF? You plan to OC, but I didn't see one on your list.

For PSU, you can get the Antec Trio 650W for $99 after MIR or OCZ 600W Stealth for $95.

 

[akhilles]

Irrelevant, 650i can o/c only the cpu & leave ram at stock. aka, unlinked.

 

[zental]

Thanks for the replies guys, my current computer actually died on me the other day, but it was just the power supply. I went to the local shop here and picked up a 600W Modular TermalTake PSU and popped it in, so that's taken care of, should power the 8800GTS fine when I upgrade to that. I was trying to decide if it is worth it to get the e4400 or just stick to the 4300, but if it's worth the extra $15 to not have to get a new hsf and just use the stock one and get more mhz out of it then I'll do that.

The reason there's no hsf on the list is because all the guides/reviews i read about it said that the stock hsf is actually really good and can cool it even OC'd to 3ghz.