Looking for help on first build

[lowflyer]

Hi guys, love the site hopefully you can help me. I've been doing research for over a month on how to build a PC and its got me pretty confussed. I think my problem is i start out with basics then i find myself in awe with all this other stuff like OCing,modding GPUs and cases,and Intel vs AMD to name a few things that have side tracked me. Anyhow im tired off pre built crap systems. I need a system i can play games like Oblivion on and not be laggy on decent settings.

Here are some parts I was thinking about:

MB- Asus P5N-E SLI

CPU- Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 or if you guys think quad core is worth it the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (from what little i understand the E6600 OCs well)

GPU- XFX PV-T84J-YAJG GeForce 8600GT or EVGA GeForce 8600GT 256P2N753TR (the second one would be most cost effective for me but i dont know which brand is better)

PSU- OCZ Technology GameXstream 700w

I would like suggestions for memory (DDR2),Hard drive(s),a case, and anything else I forgot. Plus feel free to tell me if you think what i have so far will work for a pretty decent gamming rig.

Thanks

[erocker]

Don't get an 8600, go for a 8800GT if you can find one at a good price or a hd3870

[happita]

Case - Cooler Master RC-690
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119137

I ordered this case just today, I'll let you know how it is once I've set it up. From what I've read and the looks of it, it seems like an excellent case at a great price point (just went on sale today)

RAM - Crucial Ballistix 2GB DDR2-800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146565

This is another product thats gone on sale, looks like a great price to me with the rebate.

Video Card - Like erocker said, 8800GT or HD3870 both sound great, "IF" you can find 1 available.

CPU - Get the Intel Q6600, you will reap the benefits when you overclock it, so be sure you have good cooling. The case is great for cooling

Hard Drive - Go with either Seagate or Western Digital hard drives. Seagate's generally have faster seek/write times vs. WD. So its really up to you on what you want, both companys are good HD makers.

[lowflyer]

Ok...But i could afford 2 of the 8600gt will that 8800gt out perform the 86s in SLI? And the HD3870 does that compete with the 8800 and is it compatible with the rest of my stuff?Sorry for so many questions im a newb at this stuff.

[Paulieg]

What is your budget? Suggestions will largely be based on what you can afford. Here's a good example of a modestly priced rig that will handle Oblivion well...

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Shopping/Shopp...82E16819115029
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121099
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128050
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139002
HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148138

That's about $900 of great hardware, more than capable. You pick your own individual poison with case, DVD drive etc. You could save $100 and get a 8600gts. I can verify that it handles everything I throw at it on high settings, including FEAR, Oblivion etc.

[lowflyer]

Thanks happita. Ill deff go with that ram. On the case one review said you need a PSU with longer then normal rails will the PSU i picked out work?

[happita]

Originally Posted by lowflyer

Thanks happita. Ill deff go with that ram. On the case one review said you need a PSU with longer then normal rails will the PSU i picked out work?

Well I'm not sure, you would have to do a little research on that. The dimensions on that case are 20.7" x 8.4" x 19" in inches (height, width, length) Check up on some reviews on that particular power supply to figure out how long the cables are. I'm sure if they are a little smaller than the 20.7" you will be fine, but don't quote me on that

[happita]

Originally Posted by Paulieg

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139002

I have read reviews about that power supply having a few short cables. Might be a gamble if he goes for that. I'm sure he'll be fine with the OCZ one.

[lowflyer]

Originally Posted by Paulieg

What is your budget? Suggestions will largely be based on what you can afford. Here's a good example of a modestly priced rig that will handle Oblivion well...

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Shopping/Shopp...82E16819115029
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121099
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128050
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139002
HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148138

That's about $900 of great hardware, more than capable. You pick your own individual poison with case, DVD drive etc. You could save $100 and get a 8600gts. I can verify that it handles everything I throw at it on high settings, including FEAR, Oblivion etc.

My Budget right now is around 1200 If I wait untill Febuary it will be at least 2k but i really want to play some oblivion like yesterday but the comp sucks. Anyway all your suggestions are great but that HD had alot of bad reviews about crashing should i be concerned?

[lowflyer]

Originally Posted by happita

I have read reviews about that power supply having a few short cables. Might be a gamble if he goes for that. I'm sure he'll be fine with the OCZ one.

ok ill go with the OCZ thanks

[Paulieg]

Well, I trust Seagate more that Western digital. Maybe a different capacity if you saw poor reviews. However, I've owned 6 Seagate drives, and none of them have ever failed. I've had 2 WD drives fail over the last 2 years.

[keakar]

Here are some parts I was thinking about:

MB- GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813128059
if you want RAID go with the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128050

CPU- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115017

GPU- EVGA GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130303

PSU- ABS Tagan ITZ Series ITZ700 ATX12V / EPS12V 700W Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817814005

Ram- A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820211066

Hard drive- Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822136074

case- ??? a case is like a girlfriend, you gotta find what looks good to you.

dvd- SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827151153

your looking at just over $900 for this list

[lowflyer]

Thanks keakar i will go with that GPU on the MB im not sure if i need RAID im not planning on running 2hds right now, will i regret not getting RAID, the price tag w/o it is nice? And will someone tell me if going quad core is worth the price tag?

[keakar]

no you dont need raid unless you are looking for super speed, for me saving a tenth of a second doesnt interest me so i never saw the need but if you transfer large amounts of data or large files it can save you a few seconds.

[lowflyer]

Originally Posted by keakar

no you dont need raid unless you are looking for super speed, for me saving a tenth of a second doesnt interest me so i never saw the need but if you transfer large amounts of data or large files it can save you a few seconds.

Thanks again keakar I assumed as much.

[keakar]

Originally Posted by lowflyer

And will someone tell me if going quad core is worth the price tag?

yes the q6600 is definately worth it and contrary to some opinions at this site i feel you will NEED a quad core by next year so i personally wouldnt buy anything less. its not really that much price difference from a e6600 to a q6600, yes many c2d are cheap but you cant try to compare a e4300 to a q6600 in price or performance.

[lowflyer]

Ok guys ordered a few things already:

PSU- OCZ Technology GameXstream 700w
Case- COOLER MASTER RC-690
RAM- Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (plan on getting GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard with next pay check)

Now that im getting somewhere i was wondering what OS to go with. Now remember im a newb when it comes to computers and all i ever have used them for is gamming and surfing the internet so i dont know if i want vista to avoid confussing instalations and tweaking. Will direct x 10 still work if i go with xp pro or should i even be worried about it? And if xp dosent run it should i not bother with a 8800GT for a GPU and go back to an 8600?

[FatForester]

Ah well you already ordered the ram. That Crucial Ballistix is already at 2.2v, so unless if you're alright with having limited overclocking headroom, I'd cancel that and go with something that has lower volts, like some other guys have suggested. That's not to say it isn't any good tho, one of my friends just bought it, and it runs great! Just don't expect some crazy clocks out of it tho.

O to answer your question, to run DX10 you'll have to use Vista. If you already own XP, there's no need to make Vista a priority, because games run better under XP, and there's not too many differences with DX9 and DX10 that you "have to have". You'll definitely want to upgrade at some point however.

The 8800GT kills the 8600GT, so definitely shoot for the 8800GT if you can. It'll give you a lot more for your money! The 8800GT's are supposed to come back in stock at the 'egg tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled.

[lowflyer]

Didnt know about the voltage issue on the ram it was on sale so i grabbed it I had never heard of the other brands so i screwed up and went with the one i recgonized. Oh well. So i will stick with XP for now then thanks fatforester.