My graduation present to myself. A new Rig!

[joetheone]

First of all, i'd like veryone to know that i am building this computer with my graduation money, and have only about $2000 to spend. Also, since i will be in college soon, i wont have much money to spend on upgrades for this computer, so i would like it to last for as long as possible. That being said, here's what i have picked out so far.

ASUS Striker Extreme mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131074

Intel Quad Core Q6600 processor
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115017

2x 1GB Patriot Extreme DDR2-800 RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820220144

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817703009

EVGA 8000 GTX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130072

Western Digital Caviar 500GB 7,200RPM SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136032

I will also be buying a DVD drive and case, so i'd like to leave aside about $150 for those.

I am a gamer and want my PC to be able to play the RTS, FPS, and RPG games of tomorrow for as long as possible. However, my monitor only goes up to 1280x1024, so i am wondering if leaving myself an SLI upgrade path will be viable. Should i switch out the ASUS Striker for a new P35 mobo and use the extra money to buy a factory overclocked GTX? What about the processor? I want it to be relatively future proof but is a quad core necessary? Should i switch to a e6700? I am NOT an overclocker and want a processor with fast stock speeds.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[yakyb]

ditch the striker for a p35 board asus p5k3 is very good you should however wait until price drops on july 22nd q6600 will apparently retail at $260 or there abouts

 

[scryer_360]

I agree with yakyb, wait to july for a cheaper CPU. You need this in school right? That doesnt start until August.

Also, Im pretty sure you do not need DDR2 800 RAM. Unless you want a 400FSB overclock, DDR2800 lacks benefits for you. With a 1:1 setting, your RAM will stock run at 533, and an overclock of 400 FSB on a Q6600 Im pretty sure is going to need watercooling. Or at least, a really expensive air cooler. Newegg has some Corsair XMS2 DDR2-675 RAM for only $63 right now. That will be plenty.

Also, you wont need a 750Quad PSU unless you want to have dual graphics cards. A 550w PSU with dual 12 volt rails is plenty of a single PSU system. With dual 8800GTXs though, you are right on the money with that PSU.

For a DVD drive:Here is one from LG for $28. My personal favorite right now.

Case. Ah, bragging rights or frugality? Ultimate cooling, so cool its a second air conditioning unit, or just the right temperature?
Frugal Casee for $20
Nice looking case $49
Slightly nicer looking case with an extra fan
Nicer cases than those, I dont deal in. I believe the Raidmax Katana is only $60 right now though.

Oh and also agreeing with yakyb: again unless you want SLI, go with a P35 board. They can be had as little as $103 (and its still a good board, one featured on Toms in fact!) and provide lots of future upgradibility.

 

[joetheone]

thanks for all the help so far.

i am thinking that i will ditch the striker for the ASUS delux p35 board. i just dont think that i will see much benefit from SLI on games running at 1280x1024.

So now that i have abondoned the future SLi plan, what PSU's would you recomend for single 8800GTX's?

Also, should i put the money i'll save by switching mobo/PSu's into a factory overclocked GTX?

What about getting another HDD and going for a raid setup?

 

[shooter124]

I would go for the Corsair 620hx power supply, supposed to be a very good psu. Also with ram prices as they are these days i would stick with at least ddr2800. Like they said wait till july 22nd and get the quad core. You don't have to spend all 2000, save some for partying in college . That system right there with single GTX, p35 board and q6600 should last you some time, and with the $ you have left over you can upgrade later to a better GPU or processor in a few years if you need to.

 

[Bobsama]

I've said this so many times and I'll continue to say it--cut your budget in half so that when your computer is outdated, you can build a new one! Go with a cheaper processor (the Pentium Dual-Core E2160 at $91), a P35 chipset, and a GeForce 8800GTS 320. For a good PSU, go with a PCP&C Silencer 610. Spend the money you save on the processor ($400), the graphics card ($300), and all the other components and save it for Penryn and the next-next-Gen graphics card. The next GeForce 8800GTS 320 perhaps (maybe the GeForce 9800GTS 512?)...

 

[jhalf]

save it all for school...you'll need it. beer costs money