Tell Me What to Buy :)

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phillies

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Nov 20, 2005
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It's been 4 years since my last computer build and I have largely fell out of the loop with things. The only thing I still know some things about are the AMD's and after reading this board it seems that AMD just isn't the best choice for gaming. (I want to get the new Call of Duty and the likes). So with that being the case I am looking at the INTEL Q6600. And a P45 motherboard seems to be just fine for my needs. Not that I know which one to get. Other than my monitor and maybe my SATA hard drive to be used as a slave drive, everything needs to be replaced. Every time I visit these board I just get frustrated and I just "give up" on upgrading my computer. So I figured, could somebody just tell me exactly what I should get? As long as I can play the new Call of Duty and games like it that will be out in the future, I will be happy. I don't care about overclocking or anything like that. Otherwise I'm never going to get my new computer.... :pfff:
 
shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

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Apr 1, 2008
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If you can provide a budget and what resolution you'll be gaming at we can come up with a build to suit your needs. It's pretty hard without those two things. In fact, I'm not even going to try.

It would also be good to know what the computer will be used for in addition to gaming.
 
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phillies

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Other than same gaming, just surfing the internet. Nothing else. I did get a very nice View Sonic VG2230 monitor this year and I'm enjoying the high resolution on it. So I'll probably want to play my games with my nice high res as well. I always did favor spending a little extra on video cards. I can spend any amount that I want, but I would like to get something that is "reasonable" and not pay a fortune to get the latest video card that came out. Maybe $1000 or so? But I can pay a little more if I see I need to in order to enjoy my games... :)
 
shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

Glorious
Apr 1, 2008
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Well, here's a very nice build in that price range:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017 $184.99

GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS5 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128332 $229.99

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $49.99

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 $239.99 -$15.00 MIR

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218 $74.99

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173 $28.99

PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009 $124.99 -$25.00 MIR

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.buy.com/retail/usersearchresults.asp?querytype=home&qu=antec+900&qxt=home&display=col $99.24

Total $1,033.17 - $40 MIR's = $993.17

Throw in a copy of 64-bit Vista so you can use all 4GB and you'll be all set.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99
 
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dieseldre2k

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at first glance, there are a couple of things i see wrong with shortstuff's build. there's no reason to go SLI at 1680x1050, so the extra $ on the X48 is a waste. get a P45 instead. if u get a p45 and 1 video card, his power supply is overkill. u can also save on money by buying the antec 300 (unless u like flashier cases) instead of the antec 900. also, u mentioned u dont want to overclock so the Q6600 isnt the best choice for gaming. get something like the cheaper E8400 since u dont need the quad core for heavy multitasking.

u shouldnt be spending alot on a Core 2 Duo/Quad build. if ur going to be spending $1k+ on a computer, u should really be buying an intel core i7 build because otherwise ur going to be investing alot of $ on already-outdated hardware.
 
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phillies

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Thanks... The only thing I ever knew was AMD's so I'm still trying to learn about the Intels. So it looks like I'll be getting a E8400 (although the e8500 is $20 more.... hmm) and a P45 board. Anything wrong with this ASUS P5Q P45 ATX board for $81 after rebate at newegg?
 
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dieseldre2k

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aevm

aevm

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May 18, 2007
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+1 to shortstuff_mt's build.

@dieseldre2k: if it's x48 we call it Crossfire, not SLI. :)

Here's a chart for CoD4:
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/734/12/
A HD 4870 card is enough for that game even at 1920x1200.

You could get a GA-EP45-UD3P instead of the GA-X48-DS5. It's $100 less. If future games need more graphics power or you get a larger monitor, you can still add a second HD 4870 that way. It will give you 10% (or whatever) less fps than the GA-X48-DS5 in Crossfire, and the same fps with a single card.

+1 to the 750W PSU, to keep the Crossfire option open for the future.

I'd prefer an Antec 900 or RC-690 over teh ANtec 300, but the Antec 300 is not bad either and its cheap.

Between Q6600 and E8400, Call of Duty won't care. However, I'm sure some future games will prefer the Q6600.

 
aevm

aevm

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+1 to Asus P5Q Pro. -1 to GA-EP45-UD3R (no Crossfire). If you prefer Gigabyte to Asus (like me :) ) get the GA-Ep45-UD3P.

Even if you don't expect to use Crossfire, it's good to have two PCI-E x16 slots (like the P5Q Pro or the UD3P). If LCD prices keep dropping you might want to use 3 or 4 monitors, and a MB like the UD3R will make it very hard. With the P5Q Pro or UD3P you just stick a cheap HD 3450 in the second slot and make it handle monitors #3 and #4.
 
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dieseldre2k

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isnt 4 monitors a little much? i can barely fit 2 on my own desktop w/o it getting in the way. besides, that money would be better spent on upgrading to a single monitor with full HD resolutions (1920x1200 or 2560x1600).

anyway, the more popular one is the asus board. i personally prefer gigabyte, but why pay more when u can get the same features for less on the asus (and its just as good).
 
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phillies

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Thanks for the info. Would there be any reason why the Q6600 would be better than than the E8500 for my gaming needs? I won't be doing any kind of crazy multi tasking, but what about for the future?

Looks like I'll be getting one of the above listed combos......
 
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phillies

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Ok. Which one should I order? The e8500/GIGABYTE P45 combo listed above for $292 or buy them seperate and get a e8500 and the Asus P5Q Pro for $317? I'm thinking the $292 combo deal will be just fine for me.
 
aevm

aevm

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May 18, 2007
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Very good RAM.

The Q6600 will beat the E8500 only in Flight Simulator X right now, AFAIK. In other games, if you're not running other things in the background, the E8500 should do a little better thanks to the higher clock and to the fact that cores 3 and 4 of the Q6600 would be idle.

Read this article to get a better idea:
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=775&p=2

About the 3 or 4 monitors, yes, it sounds silly. Still, I have 2 right now and waiting for Boxing Week sales to buy #3, so I guess it's possible after all.
Not very useful for games, but great for certain types of work.
 
aevm

aevm

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Rather than $155 for Antec 900+Neopower 500W, I'd spend $170 for NZXT Tempest + Corsair 650TX. That takes care of future-proofing (enough juice for eventual Crossfire or some future monster video card), and you get 6 fans to handle cooling. It even has the same annoying lights as the Antec 900. I assume you actually like the lights, BTW. If not, get an RC-690.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047&Tpk=nzxt tempest
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

The PC Power & Cooling 750W is only $20 more than the Corsair 650TX, almost identical design (they're both designed by the same people, lol) and gives you more room for TV tuners and extra hard disks and whatever. It might be well worth the extra $20, if you need such things.

Edit: oops, on second thought, get the PC Power & Cooling. It has 4 PCI-E connectors, while the 650TX has only 2. You need 2 for each HD 4870 card, so with a 650TX you'd need to buy adapters. Might as well pay the extra $20 and not need to buy adapters and get more power.

 
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