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Building a new gaming system. Please advise.

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Hi guys,

I am currently looking into buying a new gaming computer and I am hoping you guys can help me out. Budget is around $1500 CND.


CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Processor - $190.00 (Should I go with the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz? Is an additional $60-70, worth the money?

Mobo: MSI P35 Neo2-FR LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $110.00 OR
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $90.00

RAM: OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $105.00

Video Card: EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $320.00

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $130.00

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W Power Supply - $100.00

Cooling: ?

HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $130.00

Optical: LG 20X DVD±R Super Multi DVD Burner Black ATAPI / E-IDE Model GSA-H55NK - OEM - $25.00

Total = $1200.00 Cooling. (Hoping to through a monitor in as well, but that's low on the priority list)

I've done a bit of research on the net but is been a while since I last looked at the computer spec. so I am hoping you guys can give me a hand and see which part doesn't make sense.

Thanks!



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Go with DS3L. I think the good overclocker from MSI is the platinum which isn't as affordable as DS3L.

Cooling is ok with the bundled intel cooler. Unless you overclock. In which case, go with a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 or TRUE.

The PSU is overkill. The minimum recommended is 450W 24A. Any brand name 500W-ish is enough even for overclocking.
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Gaming does not need a quad core, the e8400 will be faster in games unless you overclock the quad to same speed.
Go with the Gigabyte.
You can get an 8800GTS 512 (G92) for $100 less and it's nearly the exact same thing as an 9800GTX. The 9800 has slightly faster memory that will translate into only about 5% more performance at high resolutions. Just not worth and extra $100 in my book.
The 8800 will overclock to and far surpass the speed of the 9800 quite easily.
Use the stock cooler, it will be fine.
Take the money you saved and put towards the monitor you want.

Thanks for the reply guys!

Looks like Gigabyte is the way to go for my mobo. This might sound stupid, the fact is is so cheap kind had me worry...

I came across another mobo
ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel - $150.00
Is this mobo worth the money compare to the Gigabyte DS3L? Or am I just being paranoid?

jitpublisher said:
Gaming does not need a quad core, the e8400 will be faster in games unless you overclock the quad to same speed.
Go with the Gigabyte.
You can get an 8800GTS 512 (G92) for $100 less and it's nearly the exact same thing as an 9800GTX. The 9800 has slightly faster memory that will translate into only about 5% more performance at high resolutions. Just not worth and extra $100 in my book.
The 8800 will overclock to and far surpass the speed of the 9800 quite easily.
Use the stock cooler, it will be fine.
Take the money you saved and put towards the monitor you want.

In response to your suggestion, what do you think of this board.
EVGA 640-P2-N824-AR GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
seems like a decent video card at a reasonable price..

I also noticed that some video card requires PCI express 2.0 so is it compatible with the regular PCI express slot? I did a bit of research on the internet and it seems that only the mobo with P38 chipset and above support it..

Will update my list shortly after a bit more research, thanks everyone

Price doesn't always have anything to do with quality. The DS3L has been out for ages and people are buying it left and right. The price has to drop.

DS3L is very beginner friendly in terms of overclocking. ASUS stores 2 bios profiles in addition to the main one in bios. I think GB is copying ASUS in this area but I never needed the profiles cuz it's too easy to overclock. :) 

Yup, PCI-E 2.0 is backward compatible with 1.x. Gotta love X38/48. :D  X38 is dropping in price below the $200 mark.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I've done a bit more of research today and right now I am leaning toward the Q6600 CPU (or the Q6700) because I realized I do multi task quite a lot even when I am gaming..

as of video card i've decided to go with 8800 GTS 512mb:
VGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

This is a PCI-e 2.0 v-card so does that mean I will require a P38 mobo and dump the DS3L?

Also, I've heard about the new GT200 and GT260 coming out within the next few weeks. My question is, is it even worth waiting? Is unlikely I'll invest a ton just to get one of those...

Thanks for the help guys, I've been reading the forum and just glad I am not the only one asking questions!

Kentfield is the best bang for the buck cpu. It produces a bit more heat than 45nm, but for the price, no brainer.

No, you can stick a PCI-E 2.0 card in ANY PCI-E slots old & new. However, in the future, the extra bandwidth MAY be useful. Right now not so much. I used to run PCI-E 2.0 8800GT on P35.

I think GT2X0 & RV770 may be worth waiting for. The RV770 right now is looking VERY good and is cheaper than GT2X0. You can pick up a cheap GPU as a placeholder for 2D/desktop, then upgrade to a new card after 2 weeks.

It might be best to wait a few weeks if you are not in desperate need.
The new video cards are supposed to be "worth wating for".
But as good as everyone says they will be, and as many poeple that I know are waiting to buy one, it would really surprise me if they launch at the sale price everyone is predicting. They may end up being pretty costly cards for a while till the supply-demand thing evens out.

Thanks for the advise on the new video cards!

i am not in any hurry to purchase my new rig, i've waited for long enough, won't kill me to add few more weeks to it. (have a working computer) Though this is going to be one of the longest "few weeks" in my life, lol

i assume the new video card would have required a better mobo then? if the price is through the roof then i doubt i'll be able to pick it up..

You can wait but I suspect DDR2 memory prices will go up soon. Also, stores will jack up the price of a new product. Always. It's not just 2 weeks. I'd say July/August is when the new cards are priced at or near MSRP. Also, the stock will be very limited. The GT280 will be out near end of June. I wouldn't expect to pick one up at MSRP. If you could even find one.
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