Need input selecting parts for my first build

[Flying-Squirrel]

If I am not mistaken you were looking at a CPU that cost about $320? WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU NOT GET THE E6600?!? It has been clearly shown that the core2duo's out perform AMD in virtually everything. Here is my suggestion list:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 - $316
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115003
Easily OC up to 3.4+Ghz and kick the crap out of dual core FX60's from AMD.

Case with included PSU: Antec Performance TX Black ATX Mid tower computer case with an included Antec 500W PSU (Antec makes excellent PSUs) - $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129158
Excellent large computer case and powerful PSU.

Mobo: ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - $194.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131028
Powerful and energy efficient, good airflow/access and easy to OC

Ram: Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $254.99 with a $50 mail-in rebate so total of $204.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220144
Decent timings, decent speed, low price, good reviews.

Video Card: EVGA GeForce 7950 GT 512MB KO SuperClocked - $285.99 with a $20 mail-in rebate so total of $265.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130066
Great card, play any current game on high settings and will make future games playable for years to come. Good compromise between price/performance.

HD similar to what you were lookin at and what other people suggest, a few 250gig decent Sata's hooked up in raid 0

Optical drives it doesn't really matter just grab a couple that have decent ratings on NewEgg

OS: Could be very low price if you have compromised values like me or buy XP (Vista is still too buggy until they have their service pack come out).

Total price = $1,181.96 before rebates, so a grand total of: $1,111.96 after rebates which leaves you with 318.04 for HD's/Optical Drives. You had said you were ok with another 100 if needed so about $400 left for that stuff.

Cheers!

EDIT: you are wrong about the memory on the vidcard not making much difference. it is definitely worth the $40

 

[Nagasama]

^^i agree^^
for that much money the intel chip in that class (e6600) will be the dominator.
i suggested the opty because of the price difference and because for the money it cant be beat. by anything.

 

[Chumly]

Well, I can't see myself using any software designed for use with dual-cores. I'll just be using Word, Excel, watching movies, surfing the web, and playing a few OLD games... Sure the C2D outperforms a single-core AMD but I don't want to run into the situation where certain apps, particularly games, won't behave correctly because they weren't designed for use with a dual-core.

 

[Nagasama]

thats an urban myth dude. games run the same on dual cores.

 

[COD2_fanatic]

do you people know nothing about RAID? hes gonna backup DVDs and obviously he doesnt want to loose them if a Hard Drive fails. He would be better off with RAID 1, yes slow, but if one of the drives fail you have an exact copy of what was on it on the other.

 

[Chumly]

Speaking of RAID, I've got two questions.

First one is hypothetical. Say I've got one RAID array but eventually run out of space. I could back up all the data, then wipe the disks and add on to the array, and transfer the backed up data onto the now-larger array. My question is, is it also possible to just add a second RAID array?

Second, I'll need a RAID controller, too, right? But some motherboards come with integrated controllers? Having it separate (in a PCI slot) would free up some memory, though, since the controller would have its very own, correct? If so, any recommendations for brands/models?

 

[Fat.Clown]

If you got a comp usa store around you...
http://techist.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=139846

 

[Chumly]

****, too bad I don't have one near here. Thanks, though.

 

[Phrantic]

It's stupid to go AMD now unless you're on a low budget (which you're not) so just spend that same money on a Core 2 Duo processor + motherboard.

 

[Chumly]

Sigh... If you read my first post you'll see I mentioned that I won't be doing anything requiring a dual-core. I'm just a student looking to play some old games now and then.