Building New Gaming PC After 5 Years

[dsxtech]

Looking to finally join the 21st century and ditch my AMD XP 3200+ system for an new Intel based one for gaming with a budget of about $1,500.00.

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813141005

Graphics
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

Sound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

Optical
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106070

HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288


I'm reusing my MS Keyboard, Thermaltake 850W PSU (I love modular cables), and a full tower ATX Antec case (SOHO-IIB line), Logitech G7 mouse, Samsung 2ms 19" LCD, and my Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 speakers. I also have several XP Pro and Home legit keys and COAs, so Windows isn't an issue. I also plan to play at pye no higher then 1240X768 (best I could really do with my old ATI 1650 Pro) and may or maynot go to SLI in the future. I play CoD4, C&C, UT3, Overlord, etc. etc.

Any recommendations or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Riddah]

I have heard nothing, but bad news from the creative labs sound cards. If you would like a suggestion, check out HT Omega's line of sound cards.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271001

They sound like a far better deal with far less issues involving drivers. There are also the HT Omega Claro and HT Omega Claro+ depending on how much you want to spend.

I don't really have a critique on anything else, well done!

 

[snajper69]

Scratch the 1066 ram go with 800 and save yourself few $ as well you will avoid a lot of the compatibility issues. Go with 8800GTS (G92) card better or same performance for less coins. As well are you going to OC? If not I would go with AMD and save yourself whole a lot of money. Have fun building your system.

This is a better HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&Tpk=wester%2b640gb

 

[snajper69]

Scratch the sound card try out the on board first and see if you really need it most of the time unless you are music fanatic you won't need it.
IF you not going to SLI why blowing so much money on the MOBO? Even if you are in my opinion single card solution is just better over longer time, simply upgrade when you need it as the new cards come around.

 

[dsxtech]

Scratch the 1066 ram go with 800 and save yourself few $ as well you will avoid a lot of the compatibility issues. Go with 8800GTS (G92) card better or same performance for less coins. As well are you going to OC? If not I would go with AMD and save yourself whole a lot of money. Have fun building your system.

This is a better HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&Tpk=wester%2b640gb

I usually use WD, but I seen the Seagates 32MB cache vs the WD's 16MB and I figured, what the heck.

I'm not looking to overclock and I would stick with AMD, but it's so hard with their CPUs being slower then Intel's at the moment.

 

[loub]

Thank you for that HD find, very nice. The current HD I'm looking at is the same as the OP's.

Not sure about the RAM. 1066 is only worth it if your OCing will push 800 past its limit (I don't know if it does or not with that CPU).

I'll second the 8800 GTS G92 recommendation. This is the one I'm looking at. I think it's a steal for the price. Good reviews overall despite it not being EVGA or what-have-you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134037

 

[snajper69]

I choose evega only because of thier customer service, warranty and a step up program, but you should go with wathever you feel comfortable with. 8800GTS is just the best deal around and the best overall performer.

 

[snajper69]

And yeah AMD CPU's are slower but with AM2+ board is just more future ready. Another thing is that most games are GPU intense not CPU so in my opinion AMD is still good choice even though they been disapointing recently comparing to intel. But i am beliver that theyw ill come around. ANd if not than we all ging too loose because then intel will have total price control . GOod luck it looks like you will have a good setup I like it a lot. Is just SLI is really not worth it you spending extra money on a MOBO and unless you pushing larger LCD than its just no benfit to that (or just not enough for the money). But like I said is personal choice and you should go with what ever you feel more comfortable with.

 

[loub]

EVGA service is great, no doubt. I almost went with one of their cards based on that alone, though it's an extra $50.

The step-up program has a 90-day limit, by the way. Not good if you don't upgrade often like me (my current rig still runs a Radeon 9600! ).

 

[snajper69]

I shouldn't bee talking either i just got 8600GTS and is overkill for the games that I like to play COD2 every day lol hahaha. I am still waiting for a better game to come around but can't find one lol hahaha

 

[effel]

Seems pretty solid...If you aren't planning on overclocking, and really don't have plans for SLI, save yourself some money and get an Intel P35 based motherboard. Furthering the fact that you don't intend to overclock, don't bother with 1066 as stated above. The difference in price between the e8400 and e8500 isn't worth it either, unless you were trying to reach maximum clock speeds. Besides those minor gripes I'd say you're ok. Getting and registering a 9800GTX from Evga, then stepping up to a GT2xx card would be a good idea too.

 

[dsxtech]

Seems pretty solid...If you aren't planning on overclocking, and really don't have plans for SLI, save yourself some money and get an Intel P35 based motherboard. Furthering the fact that you don't intend to overclock, don't bother with 1066 as stated above. The difference in price between the e8400 and e8500 isn't worth it either, unless you were trying to reach maximum clock speeds. Besides those minor gripes I'd say you're ok. Getting and registering a 9800GTX from Evga, then stepping up to a GT2xx card would be a good idea too.

Most of the 8800 or 9800 show up as PCI Express 2.0, where as all the P35 mobos look like PCI Express 1.0. Does anyone see this as a major issue?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030

 

[alfrido]

Omg omg omg 8500 came out omg omg omg thats so pawns the quads right.

 

[alfrido]

Dude your pc is so going to rock.
But the abit or DFi mobos are so good overclockable boards. Heard so much news about them.

 

[snajper69]

Most of the 8800 or 9800 show up as PCI Express 2.0, where as all the P35 mobos look like PCI Express 1.0. Does anyone see this as a major issue?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030

PCI-E 2.0 is not being utilized at this time PCI - E x16 is more than enough not fully even used yet PCI 1.0 is all that we utilize fully about now so don't worry about it its not disadvantage. Plus most of the GPUS are backwards compatible.