Can someone help me with my build

What parts do you need? Do you have an OS, monitor, keyboard, mouse?? I can recommend you a build, but will also need what resolution you will be gaming under too.

I need a motherboard, cpu, video card, memory, sound card, and a hard drive. I want to play the game at its full settings with everything turned on. 1600 resolution with highest settings and every other setting on high.


P.S. I have windows xp professional.

What case and PSU do you have?? Are you going to be using IDE or SATA drives??

oh lol im sorry. I would be needing both a case and a PSU. I prefer an ATX case and at least 500 w PSU. As far as sata and ide goes it doesn't matter to me.

Here's my thoughts:
CPU - $83 e5200 (2.5 gHz) OC it to 3-3.4 gHz pretty easily!!
Mobo - $100-125 Here are some p45 based mobo's to consider
GPU - $130-150 Comparison of some AMD 4850's. Won't max things out, but is the best budget GPU right now. Than later you can add another one and have a Xfire setup!!
or you can get a 4830 now and get another 4830 later or get both for about $200 or so!!
Comparison of several 4830's!!
I'd also consider getting just a single 4870 GPU for about $190.
HIS Hightech H487F512P Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Memory - $30-50 Comparison of some DDR2 800mHz at stock 1.8v!!
Case/PSU combo - $100 Antec Sonata III, comes with Antec 500w PSU that is >80% efficient and has 34A on the 12v rails! Also has 2 x 6 pin PCI-e power connectors. This should handle the 4830/4850 Xfire setup!!
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
DVD Burner - $30 - $10 MIR = $20!!
ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail
HD - $75!! Fast and has quite a bit of room too!!
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Total w/4870 GPU = ~$653 - $35 MIR's = $618!! Now I'd recommend holding off on the sound card and try the onboard sound. Onboard sound has become much better in the last few years, so I'd try it out first and if you don't like it, than just buy a sound card.

I thought nvidia cards were better than ati cards?

Depends on what price range and which cards your talking about. The 4870x2 is currently the fastest single GPU (even though it's 2 GPU's on 1 card) out on the market. Followed by the GTX 280 than the GTX260/4870, etc.

How much better is that ati card from a 8800gt?

The 4850 is a bit better, not alot, but definately better, so keep that in mind when you go to buy a either GPU. And if you want to add one later, you can easily get a p45 mobo (cheaper than SLI based mobo's) and add it.