new to TH, need input on new build <$1500

[dawgsfan]

Hello. I'm new here but not to computers or Toms hardware. I have built many systems but I'm far from a professional or IT. My systems I tend to build are all geared towards gaming, specially Dark Age of camelot. This game is, if you don't know, is a bit older but is heavy on the system for lag spikes. I do duel log alot if that matters. I currently have a smaller 4gb Intel duo core 2 Vista system that i will hand down to my GF, so I'm looking at another system for roughly 1k-1500...guts only.

Here is what I'm thinking: (all newegg)

*Antec Solo case $79 with rebate
* EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $259
*Update EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $195 rebate
*OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply - Retail 129.00
*Intel e6750 $179.
*OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N800SR4GK - Retail 183.98 (2 pairs )
*Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $64.99
*LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail $29.99
*Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM $ 99.99
*ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail 31.99

Total $ 1255.89

Not sure if I can better the system for about the same or cut costs. I was considering the Q6600 for the 'future' of computers as well...but the games I play still don't even multi cpu support, yet. But I believe the dual core helps on dual logging too.

Any thoughts guys? Thanks again!!!

 

[dawgsfan]

Bump for help.


Also, didn't mention this before but I'm open to suggestions on AMD, but from what i can tell Itel is leading the pack on these.

 

[akhilles]

Wow. That's quite a hand-me-down.

I take it there won't be any overclocking, at least at the beginning? If there is, swap hsf out for XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 if available.

If I were you, I'd pick up an ABIT IP35-E for $60-ish after rebate. It's a good overclocker to boot. Though you wouldn't be able to SLI/CF. Are you gonna sli? Put the saving towards purchasing a better cpu like E8400/E3110 which are the same thing. Xeon is cheaper.

 

[dagger]

It's a balanced build, and good as is. 780i is good for small to moderate overclock. For high oc, you'll have to drop sli support for x38/48 chipset. Q6600 is the best bang for the buck right now. In applications that are quad optimized, the performance difference between quad and dual is massive. At the moment, however, only a few games are optimized for quad, including Lost Planet and Supreme Commander. There are rumors that StarCraft 2 will be quad optimized, but it's still unclear at this point. Some say that majority of application will never be quad optimized, although they said this about dual cores a few years back too.

 

[Avenger_K]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115046
If you're overclocking and replacing the cooler anyway, this would be a great buy for an E8400.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0257938
Also, if you're after a Q6600, I'm not sure if this is actually available anymore, but this would be worth a shot.

 

[dagger]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115046
If you're overclocking and replacing the cooler anyway, this would be a great buy for an E8400.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0257938
Also, if you're after a Q6600, I'm not sure if this is actually available anymore, but this would be worth a shot.

The E8400 is out of stock, as always. And I just paid $240 for Q6600 on Newegg days ago, dammit...

 

[Avenger_K]

The E8400 is out of stock, as always. And I just paid $240 for Q6600 on Newegg days ago, dammit...

Dang, sorry mate. Should've know the E8400 would be out of stock. GL with your new Q6600.

 

[dawgsfan]

Wow, thanks for the replys.

I don't plan to OC much, not the best at doing it. Yeah, I can build em, but OC them is a whole different animal. So I tend to stay away from that unless software comes with it (easytune from Gigabyte, AI Booster from Asus, etc).

I guess I was thinking SLI would be a best option to have down the road but maybe its just not needed. The 8800GT series is pretty sick on the charts here.

I agree a e8400 would be best but as already pointed out, its tough to catch it in stock. So a quad over dual...see no argument there.

But on motherboards...Never used Abit. Always Asus, Gigabyte, MSI boards. Not that I'm against it, just saying. Guess I can look at other options there. Not sure which is better on the bridges though right now, guessing nvidia ones over intel...

Thanks for the help!!