Long Overdue Build, Need Advice

[hopfrog]

Hello all,


This is my current build, built with my father and several years removed:

An old GIGABYTE motherboard, cannot recall model
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 2.01 GHz
512 MB RAM
GeForce FX 5500 256 MB


These are the important specs. I also run a 17" LCD monitor, max. resolution of 1280x1024.

I've been looking to upgrade for a while now and have finally decided to do it. My hard drive, monitor, and drives will likely remain the same for at least a while, so I'm really looking to upgrade my CPU, video card, case, motherboard, and RAM, since my current set-up is quite ancient.

This will be primarily for gaming, as I have fallen behind and would like to play some of the more recent and preferably future graphically intensive titles (Crysis, Far Cry 2, Empire: Total War). I would like to not break $1000. This is what I have been looking at:

Motherboard:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3523225&sku=E145-2034]

CPU: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3755566]

Video Card: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4151722&CatId=3775]

Case: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3911521&Sku=A406-1101]

PSU: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2937372&Sku=ULT40071]

RAM: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3228139&Sku=C13-6082]


My main concern is if I am overpaying for anything for my needs. Is that PSU too much, for example? I want to make sure I budget where I can (I am a graduate student). I have been out of the loop as far as building goes, and I was never an expert in the first place, so if I could get some advice, that would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lurker87]

Do you have another link for that CPU? It isn't leading to anything.

 

[huron]

If you can buy from newegg.com there is a PC Power and Cooling 750w PSU that will be much better for you for only $80 after rebate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000058%20113142558&Description=PC%20Power%20%26%20Cooling%20Power%20supply&name=701%20-%20800W

The rest looks OK, besides we have no link to the CPU.

If you can, check around for those parts (newegg, etc).

 

[geofelt]

For the cpu, I would suggest the E8400 or E8500.

No need to pay extra for a SLI motherboard, A basic P45 board should be about $90.

For the same price, you can get the superclocked version of the GTX260-216 from newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130400
far cry 2 comes free also.

The PC P&C silencer 750 is a great deal, but the silencer610 will also do the job and is on sale for $59.99 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

The ram is also a bit cheaper at newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

The same case is $89.99 after rebate at newegg with free shipping. Watch for shipping costs on cases, they are heavy and will usually cost about $20
I would suggest the Antec 300 for $69.95 and free shipping:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

As a student, you can get vista-64 cheap. It's good.

Save your funds for a nice 24" monitor.

-----Why are you looking an tiger direct??

 

[hopfrog]

Sorry about the CPU link. Here is the one I was looking at:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4089664&csid=_23]


So I should go dual-core instead of quad?


And what if I was thinking about SLI sometime down the road with another GTX 260?

 

[geofelt]

A higher clocked duo at 3.0 or better will usually be all you need.

If your game is cpu bound AND multicore optimized like FSX or supreme commander, then a 3.0 quad or better would be good. In that case, you are better off looking at a i7 920 based system which will cost more.

SLI has been a poor upgrade path in the past. It should be used only by
those who will not currently be satisfied by the fastest available single vga card
which is currently the 4870X2. The 4870, GTX260, or 9800GX2
offer very good performance for the money now.
To get SLI. you have to spend more up front for a SLI capable mobo,a
more powerful SLI capable PSU, and better case cooling. Upgrading a single card later with a
second equal card does not get you 2x increase, it is more like 1.3x to 1.8x depending on the game.
At that time, you will still be paying top dollar for a card that is closer to
being obsolete.
It would be better to sell the old card and use the proceeds
towards a better new generation single card.

 

[hopfrog]

If I go with a less expensive motherboard, would it make sense to kick up the graphics to a GTX 280, or is the GTX 260 216 streams still the best deal as far as performance for price?

I'm still torn on dual versus quad. I would like to be somewhat "future-proof" (and I do understand the sides in that debate). I would be willing to sacrifice the slight performance hit now, I think, for a quad that I can OC and not have to upgrade my CPU for a while, or is that being silly?

 

[geofelt]

Price vs. performance, the GTX260-216 superclocked is very close to the basic GTX280. The difference of about $150 does not buy you very much.

The performance of a PC is more dependent on the cpu chip than the motherboard. A higher priced motherboard gives you more features, such as more pci-e slots, usb ports, firewire, raid, etc.. Also, it gives you higher maximum overclocks. A basic P45 board such as the Gigabyte EP45-DS3L at <$90 will do very well. That leaves you with a few bucks to spend elsewhere.

Instead of $150 more for a GTX280, consider the 150gb velociraptor. The 300gb version is $230. It makes everything feel so much faster. If you need more than 150gb, or 300gb, just add a cheap storage drive.

If you are thinking future, and are looking at a $284 quad, you have to consider the i7 920 at $300. It is so much faster and better. The problem is, that you are looking at a $220-$300 motherboard(msi makes one for $220), and DDR3 ram which will cost you $200 for a 6gb triple channel kit.

Still, I don't think much of "future proofing" By the time the future arrives, you will discover that you paid too much up front, and that the new parts are much cheaper and better when you need them. I would, however, consider a very good monitor as a good future proof expenditure.

 

[hopfrog]

The i7's are very tempting, but that is simply too much (with the added cost of the motherboard and the DDR3 ram right now. I think you are right with the 260 and the more basic, solid motherboard. I could save some cash there and think about down the road doing something about the monitor.

 

[hopfrog]

My head has been turned, to an extent, towards an ATI card. 4870 1 GB looks good, but I think I can get a GTX 260 216 for less, unless I'm mistaken. But the motherboards I have been suggested are mostly Crossfire.

Very frustrating, but interesting process. i think I will get a new HD as well...and finally make the switch to Vista 64.