Thinking of building this computer:

[Reynardin]

I was thinking of buying these parts then putting them together:

Monitor: Acer AL1916WAbd Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009091
$179

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
$269

GPU: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318
$209.99

OS: Vista OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488
$99.99

MOBO: ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232
149.99 ($8 shipping)

Hard-drive: HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725032GLA360 (0A35411) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145213
$69.99

Speakers: Find a decent usb headset $50

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
$119.99

Memory: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
Get two: $90 (total of 4 gb)
** might want to go corsair , crucial, or kingston ram.

PSU: Rosewill RX850-S-B ATX12V v2.2 & EPS12V v2.91 850W Power Supply 100 - 240 V TUV, FCC, UL, CE, ROHS - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182072
$120

OR

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
$129.99, probably better choice

Any suggestions?

 

[ShadowFold]

Looks good I would get that corsair over the rosewill tho.

 

[Reynardin]

How do you think that it would perform?

Also, what would be the advantages/disadvantages of getting a quad core cpu over the dual core I selected?

I'll be playing COD4, (when i get the money) Age of Conan & Crysis, as well as some other game, and I want this computer to last me for a while.

EDIT: Oh also, which PSU do you think I should go with?

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

If you want it to last a while and you are going to play Crysis, get the quad core.

 

[ShadowFold]

If you want it to last a while and you are going to play Crysis, get the quad core.

I can play crysis with everything on High with 2x AA with 30-40fps @ 3.2ghz so a 8500 should be more than enough for crysis. But are you overclocking? The E8500 is pretty much for extreme overclocking because of the 9.5x multi. Just get the E8400 its alot cheaper.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

I can play crysis with everything on High with 2x AA with 30-40fps @ 3.2ghz so a 8500 should be more than enough for crysis. But are you overclocking? The E8500 is pretty much for extreme overclocking because of the 9.5x multi. Just get the E8400 its alot cheaper.

Well Crysis takes advantage of quad cores as well. And if he wants the computer to last him a while, quad core would be the way to go.

With my computer, I cant even pull off 20-25FPS at 1680x1050 with no aa on high. How do you manage that?

 

[Reynardin]

by AA do you mean anti-aliasing?

 

[ShadowFold]

I heard Crysis doesnt even take advantage of 2 cores or was that just the demo?

by AA do you mean anti-aliasing?

Yes

 

[farlex85]

Is this mostly gaming? And what res? Definately the corsair psu though. And if your going to oc, get a 4gb (2x2gb kit), like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231148

And no I don't think crysis does take advantage of quad-cores, it is mostly gpu intensive.

 

[Bytor]

I would go with a better monitor. That one has 700:1 contrast ratio and only 5ms response time.

My wife has this one and its great. 2ms response and 2000:1 contrast ratio.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001094

 

[Reynardin]

I'm trying to keep the costs below $1500, because that is about how much I have right now (in high school without a job). I'd also like to have a bit of money left over to pay for games, yaknow? I'll keep the monitor in mind though

 

[ShadowFold]

I'm trying to keep the costs below $1500, because that is about how much I have right now (in high school without a job). I'd also like to have a bit of money left over to pay for games, yaknow? I'll keep the monitor in mind though

Yea Get STALKER, Orange Box and Crysis. Orange box has 6 games in it so its a great deal.

 

[Reynardin]

Oh, also I'll probably be buying the parts around June 15th or so, because that is when my school year ends.

 

[ShadowFold]

Ah ok. I thought my district was the last to get out(I got out on Friday) cause all my internet friends were already out

 

[Reynardin]

Yea Get STALKER, Orange Box and Crysis. Orange box has 6 games in it so its a great deal.

Already have most the games in the orange box (when it came out, I just bought tf2 cus I had most of the other games. I regret missing out on portal though :sad: ) I WILL be getting Crysis, and I'll check out STALKER since you say it's good.

I'll probably play an MMORPG, once I decide which one I want to play. Either will get AoC, depending on the state it's in a month from now, or will wait for WAR.

 

[Reynardin]

lol shadow, my school is really wierd.. we have all our vacations between a week and a month later than everyone else that I know in the US =(

 

[farlex85]

How about this monitor? Much better resolution and only a little more than your current. And I think the new cards from nvidia are due out right around June 15, ati as well, so you might want to factor that in.

 

[0V3CHKiN]

See Comments in quote:

I was thinking of buying these parts then putting them together:

Monitor: Acer AL1916WAbd Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009091
$179 I see no issues

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
$269 too much of a price premium over the E8400 @ $194 IMO

GPU: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318
$209.99 I'm more partial towards the 9600GT at this point. Look at either the ASUS, MSI or PALiT for a cost-effective solution. Most of them have rebates and start around $140-150ish.

OS: Vista OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488
$99.99

MOBO: ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232
149.99 ($8 shipping) It's fine if you plan on using SLI. Otherwise I say go with a P35 board

Hard-drive: HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725032GLA360 (0A35411) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145213
$69.99 I like WD's 320GB drive better. One platter in the WD. Better performance and cooling

Speakers: Find a decent usb headset $50

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
$119.99 Good case. If you want to save money though, look at Cooler Master's 690 (around $80) or even the new Centurion (around $60)

Memory: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
Get two: $90 (total of 4 gb)
** might want to go corsair , crucial, or kingston ram. Just go with the 4GB package (2x 2GB). If you plan to OC then make sure the RAM you choose can help

PSU: Rosewill RX850-S-B ATX12V v2.2 & EPS12V v2.91 850W Power Supply 100 - 240 V TUV, FCC, UL, CE, ROHS - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182072
$120

OR

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
$129.99, probably better choice
Corsair!!! Rosewill is cheap, but I would only trust them for cheap parts like a USB card reader or a cable.
Any suggestions?

 

[Reynardin]

hm, thanks for the heads-up about new cards in June. Does that mean that I'll probably be spending more or less on my GPU?

 

[Reynardin]

hm, one sec while I post a more updated list of what i have planned

 

[Reynardin]

oh, and thanks 0V3CHKiN, ill take your comments into account

 

[farlex85]

hm, thanks for the heads-up about new cards in June. Does that mean that I'll probably be spending more or less on my GPU?

It means more if you go for the new stuff, less if you go for the stuff that is out right now. I would say a good plan is maybe this card(faster than the gt), which will probably closer to $200 around then. The new cards will be $400-600 most likely at launch, but w/ evga (or bfg) you can bide your time a bit. They have a 90 day step-up program (bfg has 100 day), so you can buy the aforementioned card, and then let the prices drop a bit after the first month or two (which they surly will). Then, if you want to, you can step-up (price of new card - what you paid for original card + shipping) to the 260 or 280 gtx.

 

[Reynardin]

oh sweet then. thanks

 

[Reynardin]

AWESOME! my friend just came over and gave me a late b-day present O.O

$100 headset =D

 

[ShadowFold]

FYI Rosewill's arent BAD but I wouldnt get one for a super high end rig tho. They have been a hit or miss with me. Like the one in my main rig has been fine since February and I havent had any probs with it at all but I got a 400w one for my friend and it died a week after I got it.