Building my first PC

[darkparadox]

Hi. So I have decided to build my own PC as my old one has decided to kick the bucket. The primary use will be for gaming (World of warcraft / Warhammer online). My goal is longevity, something that I can easily upgrade and will last, the ability to use two monitors, and an ability to task between two applications of a game at the same time is essential.

I have done some research and am fairly confident in my choice of processor. Need some advice on everything else, mainly compatibility as it is somewhat hard to navigate.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

Memory: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5

Video card: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Power supply: Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

The total cost will be $730. My target is between $500 and $800 with the lower being optimal. Not overly computer savvy so only advice would be appreciate. Thanks !

 

[Nytmare]

My 2 cents...

PSU
-get a better one! Do not skimp on PSU. I would go Corsair, PC Power and Cooling, or better model Antec. How about these (both on sale at newegg).....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

GPU
-ATI 4850 or 4870

CASE
-just personal choice here, but would go with Antec 900 for more room


Otherwise solid choices

 

[megamanx00]

Just so you know, you can't SLi that 8800GT, or any nvidia card, with that board. You can only use SLi on nVidia boards right now. I recommend going with a Radeon 4850 or 4870 instead. That power supply is a little weak so you may want to go with the Corsair that Nytmare suggested. If that's really your budget and you're worried about being able to upgrade it then you may want to think about going AMD since AM3 CPUs are suppose to be able to go into AM2+ boards. Of course we won't know if it's really worth it for a while now. Still, 790FX boards for AMDs are pretty affordable now, darn them for not being that price when I got my 790x, so you can crossfire with two full X16 PCI-E slots at a pretty good price.

If you wanna stick with that Intel board and want to save some money then you may want to get an E5200


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

and put a XIGMATEK cooler on there so you can overclock it.

 

[darkparadox]

You lost me. Not even sure what sli is or crossfire...

 

[Nytmare]

SLI and Crossfire refer to having 2 or more GPU's on the same MOBO. You get higher frame rates c/w one GPU (graphics processing unit/card) (apples c/w apples).

SLI refers to NVidia GPU's

Crossfire refers to ATI GPU's

To do SLI, you need a NVidia based MOBO (780i, 790i, ect.)_

To do Crossfire you need an Intel Based MOBO (P45, X38, X48, ect)

If you stick to one GPU, you can mix the above (NVidia GPU on Intel MOBO and vice versa)

 

[darkparadox]

Thank you for the suggestion regarding Sli and crossfire, and the explanation. I have one question regarding that. If you utilize those features and install another GPU does that then improve your graphic performance two fold? Or is there a diminishing return?

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

GPU: MSI R4850-512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

PCU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Memory: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5

Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

CD drive: SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

On your suggestion of switching to an E5200 processor. Would this dramatically reduce performance? All for saving money. And if I'm capable of cutting certain aspects while still maintaining comfortable gaming performance, I am all for it. My next purchase will be a Laptop for school so this project has to last me for some time. Really my target is a nice system that will comfortably run World of warcraft and Warhammer online for some time to come (Think five years =). Not only run these games but also be capable of running several instances. Crossfire seems like one way to upgrade the system in the future. I don't necessarily need all my settings on max. The whole over clocking ordeal doesn't sound like something I would care to mess with.

Can you use DDR2 800 memory on a board that calls for DDR2 1200 ?

 

[darkparadox]

?

 

[darkparadox]

Sorry about the multi-post.