Building a gaming rig

[TRDCorolla1]

For the motherboard and CPU, I choose this:

ASUS P5KC LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131188

Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
Special savings w/ combo deal, limited time offer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115002

You can pick what you want for the CPU, whether you want quad core or dual core. They're almost the same price anyways.

That motherboard can use both DDR2 and DDR3 and for the price, it's pretty good. Future proof yourself.

 

[connchri]

Just a thought that I think could potentially save you a lot of bucks. Don't buy that graphics card. No top of the range GFX card can actually run any Direct X 10 games at playable frame rates, so why buy any for Direct X 10 right now? Wait for the next gen.

Instead, by the best bang per buck Direct X 9 graphics card, which would be a ATI X1950XT 512MB for UK£110 which I guess with lack of UK tax be about US$160. It'll play ANY Direct X 9 game just as good as any other card within the speeds of the Direct X 10 cards also.

Forget about Direct X 10 card the now, they're currently no good at what they're ment to do - Direct X 10 games.

I'd also get a Core 2 Duo E4300, and overclock it to the bollocks. They easily clock and still run cool. Upp the FSB from 800MHz to 1333MHz. Also, the additional 2MB cache on the E6xxx series C2D do not benifit the CPU at all in benchmarks, and if it ever does, never by more than 5%. Mobo, I'd recomend my own, see my sig. Fully feature laden, with the only grip being the PCe lane running at 8x when used in SLI - something I'll never do, since your on a budget. Memory, i'd get 666MHz corsair value select to support the 1333MHz FSB.

OS, Vista Premium 64bit, see here for a settled argument (IMHO) -

http://www.computerforums.org/showthread.php?p=629472#post629472

Thats my 2P.

 

[NEED WOW NOW]

well i completely disagree wit Connchir
Stick wit the Video card
And if you are willing to spend a crazy amount for a CPU then i would go for a Quad core
go with this one which is cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
Or this one which is Alot more
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115011

But thats if u want a CRAZY computer

And i would go with this PSU its Cheaper and if u dont use all the cables u dont have to have em in ur case and its also more power fer a little less
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817190012

 

[connchri]

Hmm,

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/507/3/

Hardly great frame rates, and no AA or AF. Even for the GF8800XFX Ultra Edition it's hard pushed, never mind the 8800GTS he's planning on buying. And thats the most favourable benchmark I've seen for DX10 Games. What is it like going to be for new DX10 Games in 6 months time? Simple - NOT PLAYABLE!

So, save your money and ignore DX10 games for now until GFX cards that can handle DX10 games come out.

NEED WOW NOW, you mention those hardware choices for a Crazy Computer. He's already mentioned he's on a budget.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

How about getting this one? So expensive though, and I doubt you can get this one. Just make you drool!!

EVGA 768-P2-N837-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130078

WOW!!!

 

[NEED WOW NOW]

Hmm,

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/507/3/

NEED WOW NOW, you mention those hardware choices for a Crazy Computer. He's already mentioned he's on a budget.

Well if he gets the cheaper quad core its still in his budget. Also wat Video card are you recommending if he shouldnt get the 8800? Those are still great FPS and in 6 months that Video card wont be sooooo outdated that u neeed to buy another one

Give it 7 to 9 months and then get a new one. But wat one are you recommending if its not the 8800

But i dont think u need the one ISOwner said to get Way too much power.

 

[marxr87]

Thanks for the help guys, more is always appreciated. I was wondering if any of you knew if any places offer student or military discounts on hardware or software.

I don't need too much future proofing (I don't think...), I am suppose to be going to Iraq in February. Also, is the intel price drop today? I thought there were supposed to be new processors with a faster fsb released at the price drop...

 

[marxr87]

Btw, I don't know how to over-clock, although I am not opposed to it...

 

[marxr87]

should I get the 64 bit vista home premium or 32 bit?

 

[marxr87]

how does this mobo look?
ASUS P5K-V LGA 775 Intel G33 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131184