Down to 3 Builds: Help me Choose

[Typhoon99]

Building a PC primarily to play World of Warcraft (I know it's overkill just for that). But, I want to also be able to play other more demanding gamings if I choose without needing to go buy a new bunch of components. I'm looking to futureproof as best I can here (although i don't care about ddr3 that much).

Help me choose between these three complete builds by voting for each. I also welcome suggestions.

Build 1:
E8400 3GHz 6mb 45nm
Asus P5E
OCZ Reaper OCZ2RPR800C44GK DDR2 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-15
BFG NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB PCIe 2.0 (BFGE981024GX2E)
Antec TWELVEHUNDRED Ultimate Gaming Case Black finish
SAMSUNG Black SH-S203B DVD Burner
Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard w/ Backlit Programmable Keyboard
Razer Deathadder 3G 1800DPI (5 buttons)
$1995.17


Build 2:
E8400 3GHz 6mb 45nm
Asus Striker II Formula
OCZ Reaper OCZ2RPR800C44GK DDR2 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-15
2 x BFG 8800GT OC2 512MB 675Mhz
Antec TWELVEHUNDRED Ultimate Gaming Case Black finish
SAMSUNG Black SH-S203B DVD Burner
Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard w/ Backlit Programmable Keyboard
Razer Deathadder 3G 1800DPI (5 buttons)
$1831.32


Build 3:
E8400 3GHz 6mb 45nm
Asus P5E
OCZ Reaper OCZ2RPR800C44GK DDR2 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-15
Sapphire ATI RADEON HD 3870 X2 1024MB GDDR3
Antec TWELVEHUNDRED Ultimate Gaming Case Black finish
SAMSUNG Black SH-S203B DVD Burner
Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard w/ Backlit Programmable Keyboard
Razer Deathadder 3G 1800DPI (5 buttons)
$1835.83

 

[ilovebarny]

i would suggest getting two 8800gts 512 instead of the 8800gt. and i would suggest a quad core and a evga 780i. i realize that the asus striker 2 formula is a 780i but it does not have as many good reviews as the evga from newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024&Tpk=EVGA%2b780I

I love OCZ ram. and the 1200 ROCKS

 

[ibuypower]

I like the second build the best but if you're future proofing then I would (as Barny said) go with the Evga 780i. Good reviews, good price and VERY good warranty. And on the CPU, go with the quad core.

And yea two 8800gts's would be better.

 

[shadowduck]

Don't listen to SLI fanbios, they only want you to spend money you don't need to. The majority of people DO NOT NEED SLI, and nVidia's Intel chipsets are crap. Listen to someone that works in the industry. We know the real deal!

Build #3- but wait for the 4850/70 Radeon cards that will be out soon. Also be on the lookout for the 2xx series cards from nVidia.

I would actually probably modify build 3 and change the motherboard to a Asus P5Q Pro. I would not invest $2k into a system with a new socket with 30% performance gains just around the corner. E8400 is just fine for a gaming machine, you will not benefit from a quad core. Also you can change the case to this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec+Nine+Hundred Save the money! $80 with free shipping is a steal for that case.

You are also going to have trouble powering build 3 because you did not include a power supply. That's ok though! Look at this one: PC Power and Cooling 610W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005&Tpk=PC+Power+and+COoling+610W $90 after rebate w/ free shipping.

These changes will save you a nice amount of money and you will still have a killer system.

Motherboard I suggested: Asus P5Q Pro- $149
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299&Tpk=Asus+p5Q+pro

 

[Typhoon99]

Ok, with your recommendations (which I agree with, mainly because I think I'm just going to get one 8800GT for now since all I want to play now is wow). I've changed my main focus for the build to:

Q6600 2.4GHz 2x4mb 65nm
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 DDR2 SLI Mobo
PC Power & Cooling (S61EPS) Silencer 610W SLI-Ready
OCZ Reaper OCZ2RPR800C44GK DDR2 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-15
1 x BFG 8800GT OC2 512MB 675Mhz Core (for now)
Antec TWELVEHUNDRED Ultimate Gaming Case Black finish
SAMSUNG Black SH-S203B DVD Burner
Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard w/ Backlit Programmable Keyboard
Razer Deathadder 3G 1800DPI (5 buttons)
Dell 2408WFP 24" Monitor
$1909.67

Also, is the PSU large enough? If not, what should I get, keeping in mind that I'll likely be running two 8800GTs

 

[shadowduck]

If you are not going to SLI (and it is a all or nothing deal- do it now or not at all) do NOT buy an SLI motherboard. I am telling you nVidia's chipsets are NOT VERY GOOD for Intel. The two companies do not like each other and it shows big time.

As for 8800GT card, get an eVGA card. In 90 days use their setup program to pick up a 2xx series card that will really scream.

 

[Typhoon99]

Don't listen to SLI fanbios, they only want you to spend money you don't need to. The majority of people DO NOT NEED SLI, and nVidia's Intel chipsets are crap. Listen to someone that works in the industry. We know the real deal!

Build #3- but wait for the 4850/70 Radeon cards that will be out soon. Also be on the lookout for the 2xx series cards from nVidia.

I would actually probably modify build 3 and change the motherboard to a Asus P5Q Pro. I would not invest $2k into a system with a new socket with 30% performance gains just around the corner. E8400 is just fine for a gaming machine, you will not benefit from a quad core. Also you can change the case to this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec+Nine+Hundred Save the money! $80 with free shipping is a steal for that case.

You are also going to have trouble powering build 3 because you did not include a power supply. That's ok though! Look at this one: PC Power and Cooling 610W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005&Tpk=PC+Power+and+COoling+610W $90 after rebate w/ free shipping.

These changes will save you a nice amount of money and you will still have a killer system.

Motherboard I suggested: Asus P5Q Pro- $149
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299&Tpk=Asus+p5Q+pro

With a 3870X2 card in your setup (instead of the new cards coming) t would be about $300 savings from the GX2 setup in my op.

Then if you add if the X2 was a 4870 card and I think it's about the same as getting a GX2 now in an SLI setup, whereas the GX2 setup lets me add another GX2 once the prices really drop.

I wouldn't have to upgrade the motherboard, CPU or video card (other than a new GX2 for SLI one day, but games will be much better probably by then) for a lot of years to come I would think.

But alas that would cost me $2000 now, where the 8800GT OC2 build with a Quad in an SLI setup with a future pending 8800GT OC2 SLI would allow me to just play WoW now easily, and upgrade to still a pretty powerful system still in a year or two for cheap still. This would cost approx. $400 less than either your suggested setup or the GX2 setup.

Your thoughts?

 

[Typhoon99]

If you are not going to SLI (and it is a all or nothing deal- do it now or not at all) do NOT buy an SLI motherboard. I am telling you nVidia's chipsets are NOT VERY GOOD for Intel. The two companies do not like each other and it shows big time.

As for 8800GT card, get an eVGA card. In 90 days use their setup program to pick up a 2xx series card that will really scream.

Not sure if that 90 days applies in Canada?

Are you saying that running 1 nvidia card in an SLI mobo uses the the Nvidia chipsets in an Intel mode and thus may cause problems?

I'm thinking definitely Nvidia (very familiar with their products for years), and probably not an SLI.

What I'm stuck on is if I should just get an 8800GT that will play WoW for now, and later replace it with a new series board when the prices drop a bit. That 8800GT in the builds is only $180 after rebates.

But I am playing on a 24" LCD at 1920x1200 rez even in WoW. Is an 8800GT enough or should I just get a 9800X2, or even wait for one of the new Nvidias.

Need some more help. Thought I had this thing done with this build:

Q6600 2.4GHz 2x4mb 65nm
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 DDR2 SLI Mobo
PC Power & Cooling (S61EPS) Silencer 610W SLI-Ready
OCZ Reaper OCZ2RPR800C44GK DDR2 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-15
1 x BFG 8800GT OC2 512MB 675Mhz Core
Antec NINE HUNDRED Ultimate Gaming Case Black finish
SAMSUNG Black SH-S203B DVD Burner
Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard w/ Backlit Programmable Keyboard
Razer Deathadder 3G 1800DPI (5 buttons)
Dell 2408WFP 24" Monitor
$1909.67


Somebody stop the insanity!

 

[shadowduck]

nVidia's Intel chipsets (the chipset is the chip on the motherboard that controls many of the components like the slots, USB ports, SATA etc) have been bug ridden and loaded with problems. Intel chipsets (P35, P45, x38) are more stable, overclock better, and have had many few problems.

8800GT is enough for WoW which is graphically very light.

Intel is releasing Nehalem by the end of the year which is new socket completely and will offer performance gains of up to 30% over current CPUs. I would hesitate to invest $2000 in a system right now which such a major change right around the corner.


Your question on the step-up program:
# The EVGA Step-up™ Program is limited to residents of the Continental US, Canada and Europe only.

So yes it will work for you in Canada.

 

[Typhoon99]

nVidia's Intel chipsets (the chipset is the chip on the motherboard that controls many of the components like the slots, USB ports, SATA etc) have been bug ridden and loaded with problems. Intel chipsets (P35, P45, x38) are more stable, overclock better, and have had many few problems.

8800GT is enough for WoW which is graphically very light.

Intel is releasing Nehalem by the end of the year which is new socket completely and will offer performance gains of up to 30% over current CPUs. I would hesitate to invest $2000 in a system right now which such a major change right around the corner.


Your question on the step-up program:
# The EVGA Step-up™ Program is limited to residents of the Continental US, Canada and Europe only.

So yes it will work for you in Canada.

Thanks for the info.

Only thing is I need a gaming system now if I want to even play wow.

My only PC is an IBM Thinkcentre with an E6300 CPU, but only integrated graphics AND it's a small form factor case so I'd have to get a low profile v/c to even play WoW.

Can't find any that let me play Wow on my 24" LCD at 1920x1200 well enough.

Should I just find a low profile card and wait? Any suggestions on a low profile card?

Had my mind set on a new gaming rig, but maybe I should wait for the new technology.