New system, need some help

[grottobill]

Hello there. I've been wanting to upgrade from my AMD3000+ for awhile now, and I think it's finally time. I haven't really been "in the loop" of all the new hardware coming out, I used to be, so I know what I'm doing, just don't know all this new crap. And I've decided to go with the Duo Core, even though I haven't used an Intel since my old Pentium2 233.

This computer would be for general use, but I want it to be able to run some serious loads ok. Games, maybe some compiling, ect. I've looked around, and have a few questions, and a start of two builds, one I think I will eventually buy. My budget is limited, trying not to break $900 (was $800, but ahh.. no self control)

The first one is more expensive, but I would be willing to pay an extra $100 or $150 if there was a big enough difference. (Prices are from newegg)

C2D 6550 (169.99)
ASUS P5K-VM LGA 775 Intel G33 (119.99)
ASUS EN8600GT OC GEAR/HTDP/256M (144.99 -10.00 rebate = 134.99)
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (129.00)
Seagate Barracuda 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s (84.99)
LIAN LI PC-60BPLUSII (129.99) (oh how I'm tired of my shuttle, very nice and convenient to move, but not convenient to work on)

That's 768.95, add a $30 DVD Burner, $10 for some cooling compound, a little over 800. Now all I need is a PSU. I do plan on OCing this, but not a whole lot, something very stable.

For my 2nd build I downgraded the CPU, Mobo and RAM to
C2D E4500 (128.99)
GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 LGA 775 (99.99)
CORSAIR XMS2 DOMINATOR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (119.00)

Changes to 697.95 + $40 for burner and compound, 740.

Now I have been reading around, and lots of people say the E4500 can achieve the speeds of the higher 6xx0 CPUs, which if that is the case, why not get it. Also, regarding the RAM, is there much of a difference between the 800MHz and the 1066MHz, the price difference isn't very much. For the video card, I think (please tell me if I'm wrong) that with a system like this the video card should be able to run new games with ease. I know the 8800GT is only $90 more, but if the 8600GT will run things fine, I do not want a more expensive card. I have no idea what kind of PSU to get, I don't want 800W if it isn't needed, could someone please recommend a range or a model for this setup.

Money is a pretty big factor, but I get so excited about all this computer hardware I can't help myself sometimes.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[rgeist554]

Try this for a PSU - Corsair ($79.99 after $20.00 rebate) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004&Tpk=corsair%2b550w

Great brand. Plenty of power (550w / +12v@41A) *If you're new to PSU's, that is very good and will power any VGA card out on the market now. Fantastic reviews on newegg (100% 5 star) and pretty cheap.

 

[chookman]

e6550 $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

EVGA 512-P3-N802-A1 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB $289
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130303

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB $64
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

LITE-ON Black SATA $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106070

Total $785

That machine will kill in performance on games ... on that you can always drop down to the e4xxx or even e2xxx to save some dosh and OC them like mad id suggest a Thermalright Ultra 120 for that. You could also add bigger had or your original case if you wanted to go back and save some on the e6550.

 

[akhilles]

If money is in fact a big factor, forget Lian Li. I know they make quality aluminum cases, but for $$$. This case is another consideration, beside the C5:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&Tpk=cm690

I'd go with chookman's suggestion hands down. Lasts a long while. Can overclocks like mad.

It seems to me that you want to o/c the 2nd build at least. If that's the case, get a case (no pun) with a perforated front bezel like C5 & C690 (cools much better).

Lastly, if you want to keep the 8600GT & won't upgrade that at all, a brand name psu with 325W or more can handle the pc. Since you're going to o/c, get a bigger one. Say 400W-500W. This one is quality for less:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

 

[grottobill]

How would the 8600GT run on a system like chookman's for games like TF2 compared to the 8800GT? And why does everyone go with the 800MHz RAM instead of the 1066MHz which isn't a whole lot more expensive?

 

[grottobill]

e6550 $169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

EVGA 512-P3-N802-A1 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB $289
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130303

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB $64
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

LITE-ON Black SATA $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106070

Total $785

That machine will kill in performance on games ... on that you can always drop down to the e4xxx or even e2xxx to save some dosh and OC them like mad id suggest a Thermalright Ultra 120 for that. You could also add bigger had or your original case if you wanted to go back and save some on the e6550.

This looks like a nice setup, but it's 886.95, 100 more than what you added up to. Once again, is the 8800GT going to be needed over a 8600GT with the same setup?

 

[chookman]

Haha i had this feeling i added it up wrong lol Sorry dude.

The 8800GT will last a helluva lot longer than the 8600GT (in terms of respectible frames rates in games)
Once resolution increases 8800GT will abliterate the 8600GT same applies for any sort of AA

Its up to you but currently the 8800GT competes with the 8800GTX at MOST settings and is extremely cheap for performance value.

 

[akhilles]

Look at this:

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=855&model2=707&chart=275

It's not accurate, but 8800GT is a bit faster than 8800GTS 640MB. So you can see the large gap. It really depends on the games you play. If it's old 3D games like CounterStrike, 8600GT is ok. If it's new games like Crisis, 8800GT is much better. This is a newer review:

http://www.gamespot.com/features/6181908/index.html?tag=topslot;title;3&om_act=convert&om_clk=topslot

You don't have to buy exactly what we say. You can always pick parts out. Like replacing the psu with something else. I would get an e2140/60/80 cpu for about a 100 bucks or less. Overclock it.

As for faster ram, unless you overclock, you won't use them to their fullest potential. They will run at about half the rated speed, depending on the bios setting (cpu/ram ratio).