Help with my build

[ch1ckench0wme1n]

Gonna build my comp in about 15-20 days and I would appreciate all the help I can get.

This will be a gaming rig(I wont be overclocking )

Keep in mind that I probably will be building a new comp in q4 of 09(this depends on what our economy looks like of course).

Should I save the money or go with the Q9450, the real question "do you think that games /apps will be able to utilize the four cores well enough in 3-6 months to make the Q9450 worth it?

CPU:
E8400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

Q9450 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042

RAM : Will only buy Corsair/Gskill/OCZ, I'm not sold on this ram, nor have I done much research into memory in a while... Don't want to spend more than 125$ on ram, and it must be a 2x2gb setup.(comp is a future server)

OCZ Reaper 2x2GB PC6400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

Corsair 4GB (2 x 2GB) PC6400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

GPU: Already have a 8800 gts 640mb EVGA, I usually upgrade every two gens so I'm good for now.

PSU: Thermaltake/Antec/Corsair only. I will not be using sli. 130$ max

Thermaltake Purepower600W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153042

Mobo: Don't care who from(obviously a well known manufacturer) , just want a quality mobo for under 180$.

ABIT IP35 Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030

CASE:
Antec 900, already have.(picked it up for 50$ on black friday)



Thank you for your time.

 

[aevm]

If it's going to be a server, go with the Q9450.

The OCZ Reaper has better timings and a better price.

I'd get a Corsair 650TX, it's $100 after rebate with free shipping at newegg.

Excellent mobo.

 

[y2kgtp]

If you are not going to OC, I would stick with the E8400. I do not think any games currently out utilize more than 2 cores. The higher clock of the E8400 should run your games faster.

This is my current Chip I just purchased as well, with the thought of when the quads come down in price, I will just swap the chip out, as the MB supports both.

 

[ch1ckench0wme1n]

If it's going to be a server, go with the Q9450.

The OCZ Reaper has better timings and a better price.

I'd get a Corsair 650TX, it's $100 after rebate with free shipping at newegg.

Excellent mobo.

Is there any other ram you would recommend besides those that are mentioned?

 

[ch1ckench0wme1n]

If you are not going to OC, I would stick with the E8400.

With the thought of when the quads come down in price, I will just swap the chip out, as the MB supports both.

Was my thought process as well, I was also thinking that once bloomsfield comes out that the higher end yorkfields not yet released will be uber cheap.

 

[aevm]

AFAIK only FSX and Lost Planet utilize more than 2 cores.

Between E8400 and stock Q6600 - yeah, you'd think 2 faster cores on the E8400 are better than 2 slower cores+2 idle cores on the Q6600. Guess what, they aren't really, they'll just be used at a lower percentage an dyou still get the same fps. That's because the video card or the hard disk will limit performance before even the stock Q6600 reaches 100%. OK, this depends on game, resolution, settings, where in the game you are, etc, but in general I wouldn't worry about the Q6600 being too slow for games.

 

[aevm]

Is there any other ram you would recommend besides those that are mentioned?

G.Skill makes good stuff too, or Crucial. That OCZ would be best IMO though, at current prices and without any overclocking concerns.

 

[y2kgtp]

I also really don't plan on overclocking (at first) but ordered a Zalman CPU cooler as well, as I'm sure I might OC a bit after a while.....people seem to go from 3.0 > 3.5-3.6Ghz on air cooling no problem.

I bought a GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard that supports
Quad-core / Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo so I can drop in a Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 Yorkfield 3.2GHz someday...when it is lower than 1500$

 

[ch1ckench0wme1n]

I also really don't plan on overclocking (at first) but ordered a Zalman CPU cooler as well, as I'm sure I might OC a bit after a while.....people seem to go from 3.0 > 3.5-3.6Ghz on air cooling no problem.

I bought a GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard that supports
Quad-core / Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo so I can drop in a Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 Yorkfield 3.2GHz someday...when it is lower than 1500$

I really don't see myself overclocking this comp at all. If i ever want to though I have 3 vantec tornadoes laying around.

 

[Yoosty]

PSU: Thermaltake/Antec/Corsair only. I will not be using sli. 130$ max

Go with the CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail $129.99 ($119.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free 3 Business Day Shipping. Plus it is future proof by having 4 x 6+2Pin PCI-E Connectors.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

 

[ch1ckench0wme1n]

PSU: Thermaltake/Antec/Corsair only. I will not be using sli. 130$ max

Go with the CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail $129.99 ($119.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free 3 Business Day Shipping. Plus it is future proof by having 4 x 6+2Pin PCI-E Connectors.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

We've found a winner