Second verse, same as the first! (First build advice requested)

[glenngjp]

A little bit louder and a whole lot worse!

Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299 - 139.99
CPU: Core 2 Quad Q6600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017 - 194.99
Video Card: Asus GeForce 9800 GTX+ - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121265 - 199.99 +9.39 -30.00
Memory: OCZ 2x2GB DDR2 800 CAS4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267 - 99.99 -35.00
Hard Drive: Hitachi SATA 320GB 16MB Cache - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145213 - 49.99
PSU: OCZ StealthXStream 600W - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010 - 84.99 -35.00
Case: Antec Three Hundred - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 - 59.95
DVD Burner: Samsung SATA - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 - 24.99
OS: Vista 64bit Home Basic - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116200 - 89.99
Additional cooling: Two Apevia 120mm case fans - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998128 - 7.49 +7.49
- After taxes, shipping, and rebates it comes out to $938.83.

My monitor's native resolution is 1600x1200

OK! The video card. Everyone seems to love the 4850 for budget computers right now, but I've read reviews and seen benchmarks showing the 9800 GTX+ a smidgen ahead. The 9800 GTX+ comes out to ~$180 after MIR/SHIP where the 4850 comes out to ~$155. Would the $25 be worth it, and could the GTX+ be overclocked a little better than the 4850? I've never done overclocking before, but I'd like to try it. Alternatively, would a 4870 be worth the extra $70?

Uh, power sources, I think the 600w OCZ should be sufficient right? Is there a better choice?

CPU's, I've heard that the E8400 is a good alternative to the Q6600, but would it really be a better choice in the long run as more games pop up that can utilize a quad core? I could switch to a E8400 to give me a lil budget slack to pick up a 4870, but would that be a better lasting choice?

The fans, hard drive, case, and dvd burner were selected for price and free shipping. I am trying to stay around $1000, preferably less.

I'd appreciate any suggestions that'd help me get the most of my money, thanks.

 

[V3NOM]

IMO, 4850 and a Q6600 all the way bro!

 

[glenngjp]

Alrighty, cool. Just thought up another question though, would a p43 motherboard support my needs just as well as a p45? What would a p45 really be doing for me that a p43 wouldn't?

edit:spelling

 

[stan116]

Go with the 9800GTX + or if you have the cash, the GTX260. I own two GTX260s as well as two GTX280s and they cut right through Crysis with no problems at all. Two 9800GTX + in SLI would also be worth looking into. You should look at a q9540 if you want to go with a quad core, or even a q6700. I sent a X48 Plarinum with a q6700 to one of my reviewers, he was able to hit 3.8Ghz on air, so it is a good overclocker, he would have been able to hit 4Ghz or higher with liquid cooling, i think i paid $260 for the q6700 at newegg.

 

[Proximon]

I think you are better off price-wise sticking with the 4850, because you will have the option of adding a second 4850 later with that board. You cannot add a second 9800GTX+.

 

[glenngjp]

I like having the option of crossfiring 4850's in the future open, but doesn't it get a little wasted on a p45? And x48 is a sort of expensive.

I'm considering a p43 with a 4870, but I don't know what drawbacks a p43 comes with, other than removing my crossfiring option.

 

[huron]

I can't believe that no one mentioned this:

Vista Basic? I would suggest if you are going with Vista, then get at least Home Premium. For the same price, you can get a 64-bit version of Home Premium from www.directdeals.com (or bid on one of their ebay auctions for a retail box - only $10 buck more).

The system looks fine. The ATI cards have an edge right now, but if you like the GTX+, go for it.

Good luck.

 

[Proximon]

Oh ya, LOL dropped this thread.

Vista Basic is the wrong choice. You must get Premium.

Your monitor is 16x12. At that resolution the P45 will run almost as fast as a x48 in CF. Just a few frames per second less here and there. There is really only a big performance difference at very high resolutions, 25x16.