Is this a good first build? help needed

Hey,

Drop the Amd board and CPU!

Get an....

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115018

Asus P5Q Pro P45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131299 Room to crossfire in future!

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102747

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166

That is my honest opinion

I agree, but you get a discount if you get the Asus 4850, which is only like $3 more. Also, I'd go with a Q6600, but that's my preference. The E8400 is great as well. I think this RAM is a lot better though: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146731

or would switching back to two nvidia 8800 gt's be better?

Don't quote me on this but I am pretty sure that crossfire does not scale as well above 2 card, thus why i picked a 2 slot board. Plus the power requirements would be terrible.

I would build the setup i gave you above and perhaps switch the e8400 for a Q6600. Definitely keep the 4850 and add another as needed. and no an 8800GT is roughly 10-20% slower than a 4850.

Yes, The system I listed above is completely compatible with all the parts and is comprised of some of the most popular parts out right now. This system is fairly inexpensive and will give you amazing performance, especially if you add a second 4850 video card.

The only choice you need to really make is the CPU - If you don't know how to overclock get the E8400, if you know how to overclock or want to try it get the Q6600.

Let me know if you have more questions.

The Q6600 is a very easy and good overclocker, especially with the CPU cooler i listed. The standard Core of a Q6600 is 2.4Ghz with obviously 4 cores running at that speed. The E8400 is 2 cores running at 3.0Ghz. Obviously if you can overclock the Q6600 to 3.2Ghz you get 4Cores running at 3.2 Ghz.

There is almost 0% risk overclocking a Q6600 to 3.2Ghz especially with the stable motherboard, Power Supply, and Cooler I listed. If you do decide to go for this build, I will be more than happy to walk you through overclocking your new computer.

Ok, so here is the final build I humbly propose to you once again, as well as my Hard drive recommendation.
EDIT - Yeah if you have the money go for the better PSU, its the same except 100more watts (4 PCIe and some more amps)

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115018

Asus P5Q Pro P45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131299 Room to crossfire in future!

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102747

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166

All parts are compatible, reliable, and great value!

To tell you the truth, your system will run fine with vista or XP. Vista is fine but still feels a little more sluggish when compared to XP. And remember I have a very similar PC to what you are possible going to build.

I suppose you should go with vista simply because of DX10.

There is also the issue of 32Bit or 64Bit. since you are getting 4GB of ram in order to fully use all of it you will have to get Vista 64Bit.

So...I think this is what you should get....
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit
"http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488"

But please feel free to get other opinions about this issue!

No Problem, and yeah your logic is absolutely right, try Vista and if it is bad to you.....dump it!

IF you have any questions as to actually assembling the computer just keep posting in this forum and I will monitor it periodically!

Good Luck and Have Fun!!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115036

sry i forgot the link

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137 $79.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341001 $89.99 ($59.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate)
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI 600W ATX12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115037 $174.99
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233001 $24.99 ($14.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019 $6.99
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131295 $129.99
ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - EPU w/ 8-Phase power, deluxe OC features

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150287 $189.99 ($169.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
XFX PVT98FYDF9 GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146731 $89.99 ($64.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148262 $59.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106263 $26.99
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 0&Tpk=mx-2 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116488 $109.99
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM

Your getting some bad advice on this thread. First off if your going to run Crossfire then you want a X38 or a X48 board and not a P45 board. Second, the E8500 is a crap cpu for overclocking. Also the Xigmatek s1283 is about worthless without the retention bracket. The Mushkin memory on this build will do just fine, it has great timings, and it's low voltage.

Take that cpu and move up the FSB to 9 x 400 = 3.60GHz and call it good.

If the OP could afford an X38/X48 board then I would have suggested that, but the p5Q Pro is fine for crossfiring two 4850's (if he one day decides to).

And why would you keep the intel chipset but change the card to Nvidia thus limiting his ability to ever add a second video card?

I appreciate the response but in all due respect the e8400 has a 9X multiplier and the e8500 has a 9.5X multiplier, not an 8X.

And yes you were right about the P45 not being quite as good for crossfire, but since he can't afford an X48, a P45 will only loose a very small percentage of performance unless he goes higher than 1920X1080. But yeah a good point.

And what about the PSU - I have that PSU and while it has been good to me, It is not going to be competent for current high end offerings or next-gen cards.

Don't go with the Corsair 550 if you go with single GPU. The 650 is the same price, single rail, 80+ certified, and just great all around.

woah... alot of posts in 24 hours and a fight too. Can I get a clear list of what is recommended. Price is not an issue to me. My parents are buying and I'm willing to work for a section if it gets above 11 hundred or so. Please don't trash others builds just give "constructive criticism" ok? I kinda need this asap.

currently picked out for my build but not bought are

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115036

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131299

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102747

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116488

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835129238

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835888105

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811995016

I have a full sized case with plenty of room.

I need to figure out whats the best setup for gaming with little overclocking. I've never overclocked and I dont want to screw over a bunch of new equipment with a rookie mistake. I want to be able to add another card later on so sli or xfire is needed.

oops yeah i put the memory twice. heres my power supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

yeah i can do that. Hold on

The following looks good:
E8400
X48-DS4
Antec 900
ATI 4850
Corsair 650TX
WD 640GB
MX-2

I strongly recommend you get the XIGMATEK S1283 (+ bolt in kit) it is much better than the Freezer Pro 7.

Review: http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

S1283 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] EK%2bS1283
Bolt in kit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019

Quick question: Why do you have 2 of every thing on the list?