Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P - $260
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128374][/url]
I'm open to suggestions. All I require is that It has six ram slots and at least 2-way SLI.
RAM:
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145220][/url]
I'm open to suggestions.
OVERCLOCKING: Yes Maybe SLI PLUS physics.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: My last machine was a Dell Dimension 5100 that I just kept upgrading until I couldn't stand it anymore. It is a P4 3Ghz machine, 2.5 GB ram. I primarily play WC3, COD4, Demigod, L4d, TF2, HL2. I would like to be able to play games at something above low or medium settings.
Games I am looking at purchasing when they come out:
COD4 Advanced Warfighter 2
Operation Flashpoint 2
Arma 2
I also plan on replacing my video card before December and will use the 9600GT as a physics card. Possibly a GTX 275 or 285 (with a new PSU of course).
It looks like all you're planning to upgrade right now (August) is the CPU, Mobo, and RAM. That correct?
If so, those look like very good choices. You may need to consider an upgraded cooling option for the i7 CPU though. In fact, I'll just say you definitely want to. Stock CPU coolers generally suck. And if you plan to do any OC at all, you'll want something better.
Other than that, definitely stick with your plans to update the PSU and GPU in the future.
I'd personally love to upgrade to the i7 920, however with the i3 and i5 units on the horizon, I'm waiting to see what's going to happen with prices. My current system games pretty hard for me, and I have no qualms with it at all. So the upgrade to the i7 is more of an impulse thing for me anyhow.
For you however, going from an P4 to the i7 should be a big leap.
Message edited by jerreece on 07-08-2009 at 10:08:52 PM
In the future put something between the url tags so that it actually displays at a link. The combo with the Asus board is significantly cheaper and should do what you need it to just fine.
I don't plan on overclocking the processor right away so I will probably just stick with the stock cooler until I get a new GPU. Would you recommend going to 6 GB of $100-$150 ram or getting 3 GB of $100- 150 ram and getting more a year or so down the road.