My New Build - Comments Appreciated

[rsymonds]

My build:

Case
NZXT Alpha Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Open Window - Retail
Item #: N82E16811146041
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041&Tpk=N82E16811146041

Mobo
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131218
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131218&Tpk=N82E16813131218

RAM
OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual
Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P13332GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227244
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227244&Tpk=N82E16820227244

Processor
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM
Item #: N82E16819115018
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018&Tpk=N82E16819115018

.....or

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115037
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037&Tpk=N82E16819115037

Graphics Card
SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814102747
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102747&Tpk=N82E16814102747

Power Supply
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139006
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=N82E16817139006

Hard Drive
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148288
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288&Tpk=N82E16822148288

Optical Drive
ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail
Item #: N82E16827135156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156&Tpk=N82E16827135156

This comes to a total of about $1200 (a little more with the q6600) and I want to stay around this price if possible. I enjoy gaming, and in the future I plan on adding an hd tuner and perhaps a blue ray drive.I also plan on purchasing a Dell or Gateway 24inch LCD to go with this computer.

Any suggestions or comments on the build and the LCD I wish to purchase would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks alot

 

[mexpedip]

MB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131297 (-$90)

I chose this mobo simply because it is the same manufacturer and it has the new P45/ICH10 chipset. It also natively supports up to 1600mhz FSB and DDR2 1200.

Mem - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197 (-$46)

There are some comparisons on TH but your price/performance ratio is much better with DDR2 then DDR3. The mem I have listed above is very good, very fast and it is $46 less for 4GB compared to the 2GB DDR3 you selected.

If you want a processor that is fast and easy to OC with little or no effort the E8400 is exceptional. There are very few apps that currently utilize the quad core processors so unless you are doing video editing etc then I would stay with the E8400.

 

[WR2]

The $299 ASUS P5E3 Deluxe X38 or the $289 ASUS Rampage Formula X48? Or one of the P45s?? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2E16813131298,N82E16813131284,N82E16813131218
The P45 vs X48/X38 choice is a tough one since you're looking for a 24" monitor as well. At 1920x1200 resolution you start to see a real advantage for the X48.
Intel P45 Vs. X48 Crossfire Performance: http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1472/1/page_1_introduction/index.html
Significant advantage to the X48 at 19x12 in Crossfire. But the extra price might prevent you from getting the $100 4870 due out this week?
From a total performance perspective it might be wise to go with the 4870 and P45. Two 4870s (8 lane PCi-e) in P45 Crossfire will probably beat out two 4850s (16 lane PCi-e) in a X48 Crossfire.
Now if you were staying with a 22" 16x10 monitor I'd say P45 would be the best option. I did say it was a tough choice.
The rest of your hardware choices look good.

 

[WR2]

4870s will cost $300 not $100 [:wr2:5]

The thing that stands out most about your build is that the motherboard & 2GB RAM cost about $350 while the CPU & GPU about $400.
You need a MB and RAM but the CPU and GPU are the performance parts.
I guess we got used to seeing $250-300 MB/RAM and $600-$800 CPU/GPU rigs.

 

[pcgamer12]

Get E8400 for pure gaming or Q6600 for multi-tasking and for future games.

 

[rsymonds]

Thanks for the comments guys, I really appreciate it. I will definitely look into the 4870s. Great point about the price for my ram&mobo compared to my cpu&gpu, that really put it into perspective.

 

[georgy]

Here is a nice x48 mobo... it's one of the most used here and i read alot but there is no bad comments.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336