Help on cheap build

[tripstowin]

I have a case, PSU, and plenty of hard drives that will support expansion and have decided to upgrade and let my son have the guts out of this system. I have another case, with enough PSU wattage to just take out my MOBO and put it in there for him.

So I would need a CPU, MOBO, Graphics Card, Ram, and a decent heatsink/ fan

I have been looking at this CPU

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

I am pretty much set on that,i have always been an AMD guy, but the reviews of this chip are mindblowing. I might even delve into some OC'ing with it. Something I have never done before.

So what would be some good Ram, Mobo And Craphics Card to add to That particualar CPU, along with a fan/heatsink, without going over say 1200 bucks total?

Trips

 

[mattman5170]

Check this out. You are really not limited too much with a $1200 Budget.

Mobo: Asus P5E X38 $230
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131219

Ram: Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB DDR2-1066 $110
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820148070

Video: 2x Sapphire Readeon HD3870(Crossfire) $500
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814102713

Heat Sink/Fan: Thermaltake CL-P0114 "Big Typhoon" 120mm Heatsink/Fan $45
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835106061

TOTAL: $1165 including the Q6600

The only issue would be with the heatsink/fan. The Asus P5E has a massive Northbridge cooler that surrounds the CPU socket. Someone who has a P5E mobo may be be able to recommend a better fitting HSF.

 

[Kamrooz]

First we need to know what games you are planning to play, your entire rigs complete uses. Also, what's the brand power supply you already have and model?..you can't build a rig without knowing these first.

 

[mattman5170]

True. With that setup, you would need a pretty heffty PSU. Sapphire recommends at least a 550w PSU to run these cards in Crossfire (450w for a single card). So if your going to be OCing you should probably get something in the 600w-700w neigboorhood to ensure you got enough juice.

Games wise, this rigg would handle pretty much any game you throw at it. Crysis would give this a run for the money, but I think the 2 Radeons would handle it just fine!

 

[Kamrooz]

the question is, does he need that much?...He hasn't even stated what his uses are, so theres a chance it might be too much for him.

 

[mattman5170]

Yea, I guess it would be kind of a waste of money if he was just going to play CS:S or something. :lol:

 

[Kamrooz]

^.^..that would indeed be overkill..lol

 

[tripstowin]

My Bad guys. I play Americas Army online, I would like to play Crysis online, without any graphics card related lag, On the single player Demo I got around 15-18 fps. No AA or other filters on, everything on medium settings. I dont do alot of intense graphic design or anything

I have a Silverstone 560 watt PSU, which should be able to power all my needs. ( I Hope) I seen the combo deal at the egg for the processor and a 950 watt Rosewill PSU. Kind of leary of the Rosewill name in a PSU. Would lke to go that route to ensure If i SLI A video card I will have enough power in the future, but am leary. Anyone with any knowledge of Rosewill in the PSU category's input appreciated

Trips

 

[tripstowin]

Any more input guys?

 

[nhobo]

I though the OP wanted help with a "cheap" build ...

 

[tripstowin]

just wanted to keep it around 1200 bucks

 

[mattman5170]

Yeah that PSU should cut it. If your OCing becareful and monitor the stability of your rails, especially with the two HD3870s. They are power hogs.

 

[nachowarrior]

amd black edition 2.6. there's your ocing proc. and it's cheap. and socket am2 mobo's are inexpensive as well. but do what you want.