Need guidance on a new build.

[YouSir]

On a budget of around £800 I'm looking to build a PC which will be respectable for the next year or two and which will allow me to do the occasional bit of gaming, not in an avid, hardcore sort of way, but at least to a degree where I don't have to be worrying about software specs catching up with me from day one. I've built systems before but not for a fair few years so I'm staggeringly ignorant about things these days which is why I'm hunting for any words of wisdom I can find. I've drawn up a (well, half a dozen) rough draft of a parts list, which is shown below, but it's very vague at this point, any suggestions or slatings of my technical prowess are welcome...

Belkin Pro Series Dual Link DVI Cable 3M (CC5001AED10)
Intel DP965LT 965 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard - Retail
Logitech Deluxe Keyboard (Black) - OEM Logitech Deluxe Keyboard (Black)
Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C5 TwinX (2x1GB)
Belinea 2230S1W Pro 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black/Silver
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB 5000AAKS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
OcUK GeForce 8600 GT 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
Antec Sonata III Piano Black Quiet Case - EarthWatts 500W PSU
Optiarc NEC AD5170 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM

Total price for that lot is about £745 from OcUK and from what I've been told it'll fit my needs for the immediate future, although I've no idea about the capacity for upgrading it.

Thanks in advance for any advice people have.

 

[gators1223]

i would suggest a p35 motherboard, so that you can use the new intel chips in the future, and with any extra money try to get a 8800 gts, the 8600 really aren't that great of cards

 

[turtle1]

I agree w/ Gators about the video, get the 8800gts as it will be much better for awhile than the 8600.

 

[YouSir]

I agree w/ Gators about the video, get the 8800gts as it will be much better for awhile than the 8600.

Switched to a p35 motherboard (Abit IP35-E (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard) with a view to upgrading, but there's a big leap in prices from the 8600 to the 8800, unless I'm missing a cheaper option on the range. And would the 500w PSU be enough? Advice is already coming in useful though, so keep it coming folks, 'tis much appreciated.

 

[gators1223]

what brand of psu, if is respectable it should be enough, like seasonic or corsaire, as for the gpu, if you can't get a 8800 gts i would go for a 7900gs or a x1950xt

 

[YouSir]

what brand of psu, if is respectable it should be enough, like seasonic or corsaire, as for the gpu, if you can't get a 8800 gts i would go for a 7900gs or a x1950xt

Antec EarthWatts 500W PSU, comes with the Concerto III case. I'll check out the GPUs you mentioned, I'm thinking I'll hold off until the price drops on the 22nd anyway now, see how long they take to filter through to retailers.

 

[emp]

you said you don't want software specs catching up anytime soon, that's just not going to happen with the 8600GT. As everyone here has suggested if you can't get the 8800GTS, then get at least a X1950XT or 7950GT

 

[YouSir]

you said you don't want software specs catching up anytime soon, that's just not going to happen with the 8600GT. As everyone here has suggested if you can't get the 8800GTS, then get at least a X1950XT or 7950GT

Think that's what I'll do then, might cost more but such is life, I don't need to eat anyway, do I? 8800GTS would be the ideal though, right?

 

[emp]

Yup, that should last for quite a while. get the 320MB version if you run in a 1280x1024 screen like I do, my GTS-320 should be arriving today so Im in a cheery mood too