Gaming System - First Build - Requesting Advice

[FLGibsonJr]

I am going forward with my first build. I want a gaming system, that will also be used for general purposes. The games I intend on playing with the new system are:

Call Of Duty: World At War > http://www.callofduty.com/CoDWW
Empire: Total War > http://www.totalwar.com/
Rise Of Flight > http://www.riseofflight.com/en/Gameinfo.html

I have already purchased:

Tower > Cooler Master HAF932 High Air Flow Full Tower > http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0293547 > $159

PSU > Corsair Memory TX750W 750 Watt ATX 12V Power Supply > http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0273362 > $89

My real dilemma is what motherboard/cpu/graphics card combo to go with. I am thinking this as of right now:

CPU > Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036 - $187

Graphics Card > BFG Tech GeForce GTX 260 > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143155 - $269

Motherboard > EVGA LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024 - $184

Any comments or advice is appreciated. I am open to considering modifying the above or perhaps rethinking the mobo/cpu/gpu combo.

I am over budget, so that is getting to be a concern. Any good ideas on additional components at the moment would also be very helpful.

Again any help is appreciated.

Regards,

 

[sharken]

First of all what is your budget? build looks fine, but graphics you can get an Oc'd version either EVGA 55nm GTX 216 core or xfx black edition for less,

 

[shortstuff_mt]

If you're over budget you might want to consider something like this:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 $164.99 ($23 saved)

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
2 oz copper PCB + Easy Tune 6 for OC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358&Tpk=ga-ep45-ud3p $136.99 - $20 MIR ($68 saved after MIR)

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&Tpk=sapphire%204870%201gb $244.99 ($25 saved)

That's a total of $116 saved. That motherboard will allow adding another GPU later when needed just like the SLI motherboard above without having to deal with the Nvidia chipset motherboard.

 

[FLGibsonJr]

I was hoping to keep it under $1,250 or not to go above that by much.

I liked BFG's Lifetime Warranty and their BFG Trade Up Program, as well as their quality reputation. That is why I was moving in that direction.

Thanks,

 

[FLGibsonJr]

If you're over budget you might want to consider something like this:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115037 $164.99 ($23 saved)

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
2 oz copper PCB + Easy Tune 6 for OC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -ep45-ud3p $136.99 - $20 MIR ($68 saved after MIR)

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/Prod [...] 4870%201gb $244.99 ($25 saved)

That's a total of $116 saved. That motherboard will allow adding another GPU later when needed just like the SLI motherboard above without having to deal with the Nvidia chipset motherboard.

That is a significant savings. I will definitely have to consider that.

Do you think it is wise to stay dual core at higher GHz? Or should I consider quad core at lower GHz?

Thanks very much for the advice!

Regards,

 

[shortstuff_mt]

There's no right answer for the dual/quad debate. It all depends on your usage. If this is strictly a gaming computer then a dual core will be fine. If you'll be doing CPU intensive stuff that's optimized for quad core CPU's (video encoding, etc...) a quad core will be better. I personally do a lot of HD video editing and wish I had got a quad core every time I see my 3.2GHz dual core max out both cores.

 

[FLGibsonJr]

I was trying to keep my options for SLI open going with NVIDIA and the motherboard I listed. I am asking anyone with a lot of experience, do you think that is advisable? Or is it just better to go with ATI's 4850 or 4870 cards?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The GA-EP45-UD3P motherboard supports crossfire which is ATI's version of SLI. The GTX 260 core 216 is SLIGHTLY faster than the 4870 1GB card. The Nvidia chipset motherboards are not nearly as stable as the Intel chipset boards. If it was me, I'd stick with the P45/4870 combo. That way you won't be losing much performance and will still have the ability to add another GPU later. Saving $116 along the way is just icing on the cake IMO.

 

[cleeve]

Both Radeons and GeForces are great cards. You can't go wrong with either a GTX 260 core 16, or a Radeon 4870 1GB.

CrossFire and SLI are fine options so go with what best suits your budget.

 

[antiacid]

shortstuff is right on the money with his suggestions. If you can find a better deal for a gtx260+ (216), then consider going for that instead. Be warned that SLI is not supported so if you are thinking of adding a 2nd card, go with the hd4870.