Been lurking around lately reading some threads since I have decided to build my own computer (not going to fork over money to Dell/Sony no more!!). Basically what I want out of this computer is just to be able to play Age of Conan and any future games (namely StarCraft 2 and Diablo 3 <==might be coming!!) and also watching videos that are in 720P/1080P. I've been looking for parts on newegg and reading their review but I get somewhat paranoid when I stumble upon some bad reviews. So without further delay here is the link for my PC build:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] tle=Xephyr

Basic Summary:

CPU: E8400
GPU: 9800GTX
MOBO: ASUS P5K-E
RAM: OCZ Reaper 4GB
Case: Cooler Master RC-690
HDD: Seagate 500GB 32MB cache

I don't plan on overclocking so I don't know if I need an aftermarket heatsink or not and my budget is somewhat limited (<$1200).

One huge debate that I have stumbled upon was whether quad core > dual core or vice versa...is one really better than the other?? And which one should I go for??

Thanks!!

Oh, and one last thing, since I have never built a computer before, is there any guide for newbies floating around on the net that someone knows about?? I probably can figure out how to put everything together but I rather have a guide of some sort just in case =X

Sony FTL. E8400, ATI 4850, GA-P45-DS3( ), Crucial Ballistix 4GB, WD6400AAKS, AS-5, ACF7P.

In a perfect world a quad core Q6600 @ 2.4 should beat a E8400 @ 3.0 Ghz and it does in programs that utilize 4 threads, in games which are threaded usually for 2 or less cores, the E8400 performs better.

I play CoD2 and my E4600 is only half utilized since the game only recognizes one core and uses just that one, the other core is for background stuff, I should have got a E8400 instead of my E4600 OC @ 2.664 (333x8 vs 200x12 stock).

Thanks for the reply.

Any reasoning behind choosing the ATI4850 over the 9800GTX?? I originally planned on getting a Zalman 9700 as a CPU heatsink but that was when I thought I would be OCing a Q6600, but since I decided not to, do you still think its necessary to get an aftermarket cooler? And isn't the thermal paste that comes with most aftermarket fans decent enough or does it really make a big difference to get the Artic Silver 5??

ATI HD4850?
HD 4850 has a lower power consumption, and it is cheaper as 9800GTX, of course the performance is lower than 9800 but if you count the power consumption and the price to the performance rating than HD4850 is better, but if you consider performance is everything than HD4850 is bad.

Zalman 9700 and scythe orrochi are meant for high oc'er who wanna stick with air cooling system. If you wanna go for something cheaper but good, you can choose either Artic Cooling Freezer pro 7 or Xigmatek HDT-S1283. Xigmatek is more expensive as the cooling freezer but it is better.

Any Thermal paste like Zalman, Artic Silver 5, or anything else is fine. It doesn't give any big difference. The only thing that matters is your heatsink and fan.
And please check it first, usually a good heatsink and fan comes together with a tube of thermalpaste, zalman cnps9700 is bundeld with a zalman thermal paste for example. This means, you don't need to buy one.

I say go quad not duo. Q6600 minimum. Quads have better future.

The rest on your wish list is OK.

i have a G0 q6600 with a zalman cnps9500 (same but smaller/lighter than the 9700, still good tho) and i use AS5. when i run at 3ghz it gets pretty hot, into teh low to mid 60s. i know everything is mounted and paste is applied correctly. my issue is the bottom of the zalman being convex. i still used it even tho i saw how convex it was, but it could use to be lapped i just didnt get around to it.

not saying all zalmans will be like this, but if you ever do decide to over clock (i know u said u werent) you may want to look into a different cooler.

Go with the 4850! And read Anandtech's review of RV770. Or wait until tomorrow when Tom's should have a similar review. The 4850 and 9800GTX+ trade blows, but when the 4850 wins, it wins by a bigger margin. Oh, and it doesn't have very mature drivers yet, so it should only get better!

Also, that motherboard may be overkill considering you're not even going to OC. Same with the memory. If you're not OCing, just get much cheaper components on both fronts, such as:
mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128337
memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820211188

Or rock pcgamer12's suggestions which are great as well.

I use cnps9700 with the AS5. My Q6600@3GHz is only about 51-55'C with only 80% maximum rpm from cnps9700.
If I am not wrong, cnps9500 is an old fan that was designed only to handle dualcores. I have used it on my Pentium D805 @ 3GHz.

Everyone have said good things about those Xigmatek HDT-S1283, Because of that, I have bought it to test it for myself. Yup, it is also good (only 2-3' away from CNPS9700) but a lot cheaper. But CNPS9700 has a better look hehehehehehe...I like the look from CNPS9700.

WOW...I have forgotten.
You don't wanna OC your system. I have off the topic, haven't I?
+1 for zip0p

Well the only reason I don't want to OC my system is that I hear it shortens the life of my motherboard. Can anyone confirm this? If it doesn't shorten the motherboard lifespan by much I was actually thinking of getting the Q6600 and OCing it to 3.0GHZ since I have heard that it is really easy to do with the Q6600.

As for the Q6600, is it harder to OC if it isn't G0 and how do you know if you are getting a G0 and not something else?

As for the Xigmatek HDT-S1283, is this heatsink going to be able to fit in the case that I picked??

And thanks for all the recommendations!

OP
Overclocking won't shorten the life of your mobo unless you are running excessively high voltages. I am currently running a Q6600@3.2GHz on stock voltages, the only voltage increase I have done is a .2 in DDR voltage to 2.0V. That improves my ram stability as I am running 8GB of DDR2 800.

Ah good to know rpsaunders, I was only planning on OCing to 3.0GHZ if I was to get the Q6600 so I guess I will get the Q6600 instead of the E8400 then.

Is ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard a reliable motherboard to OC with then?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131196

And would the OCZ reaper ram be overkill if I am just OCing it to 3.0GHZ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227267

Q6600 runs at a very cool temp. I work daily with my Q6600 @ 3 GHz. Without any Vcore increase.
- I have built systems using ASUS P5E-X38 and one of those Gigabyte P35 series. But I think P5KE will do just fine.
- Overkill? What are trying to ask? Nope. Not Overkill. It depends on how you would set your OC. With faster and better quality memories, you can even set your memory to even at higher frequencies. Reapers has good heatsink and that will keep your memory cool and last longer.