Gaming Rig (cheaper vs more expensive)

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Infinite

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It's that time again for me -- when your old computer is reaching the minimum system specs for current games. Time to build a new one!

I have come up with two builds that need critiquing and advice on:

Build #1

Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 Dual Core Processor LGA775 1.8GHZ 800FSB 1MB Retail (plan to overclock to 3.0~3.2 ghz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P ATX LGA775 Conroe P35 DDR2 2PCI-E16 Crossfire SATA RAID Sound GBLAN Motherboard
RAM: Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X2048-6400C4 2GB 2X1GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 4-4-4-12 240PIN Dual Channel Memory
Video Card: EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800GTS 500MHZ 640MB 1.6GHZ GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDTV Out HDCP DIRECTX10 Video Card
Harddrive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache NCQ Hard Drive
DVD-Drive: Samsung SH-S183A Black SATA DVD+RW 18X8X16 DVD-RW 18X6X16 DL 8X INT DVD Writer OEM W/ SW
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 226BW 22IN Widescreen LCD Monitor Black 1680X1050 3000:1 2MS VGA DVI-D HDCP
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition 32BIT DVD OEM
Case: Antec Sonata III Black ATX 16IN Mid Tower Quiet Case 3X5.25 2X3.5 4X3.5IN 500W 120MM Fan (will this PS be sufficient?)

Cost = $1,621.92 CDN


Build #2

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Dual Core Processor LGA775 Conroe 3.0GHZ 1333FSB 4MB Retail
Motherboard: ASUS P5KC ATX LGA775 P35 DDR3 DDR2 1333FSB 2PCI-E16 PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 Sound GBLAN 1394 Motherboard
RAM: OCZ Platinum OCZ3G13332GK 2GB DDR3 2X1GB DDR3-1333 CL 7-7-7-20 Dual Channel Memory Kit
+
Video Card, Harddrive, DVD-Drive, Monitor, Operating System, Case from build 1.

Cost = $2,239.97 CDN

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So the first computer is based on the Tom's Hardware system that overclocked the $100 processor to 3.0~3.2 using the stock cooling. However, it also stated that the cache was lower, and that it didnt have VT enabled.. whatever that is used for. [Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/09/12/pentium_dual_core/]

Main concerns (in order of importance):
1) System noise (anyone have experience with the sonata cases?)
2) Power supply
3) DDR2 vs DDR3; isn't DDR3 pointless until the timings are better?
4) Which HD is the best for gaming... I know the clear answer would be WD Raptor, but the cost of those are through the roof. I know the best cost/gigabyte ratio and cost/performance is the WD 750 GB caviar, and it even beats the raptors in some read tests. However, it's the same price as the 150 GB raptor, and another thing to keep in mind is I have a 500 GB external HD. The goal is to have as little HD-read lag as possible in games. RAID0 is not an option.
5) Best motherboard/processor for cost?

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Btw, my budget is around $2k CDN (too bad newegg doesn't ship to canada... the canadian dollar has almost reached parity!), so if you can come up with a better build for that, I'd be happy to see it! ****, if you can come up with a stable overclocked build that would give the same or better performance for much cheaper, I'd be interesting in seeing it also.
 
1) System noise (anyone have experience with the sonata cases?)

If this is a big concern i would go with the ultra quiet Antec P180 case.

2) Power supply

PCP&C Scilencer 610 or Corsair HX 620 (modular).

3) DDR2 vs DDR3; isn't DDR3 pointless until the timings are better?

Pretty much correct.

4) Which HD is the best for gaming... I know the clear answer would be WD Raptor, but the cost of those are through the roof. I know the best cost/gigabyte ratio and cost/performance is the WD 750 GB caviar, and it even beats the raptors in some read tests. However, it's the same price as the 150 GB raptor, and another thing to keep in mind is I have a 500 GB external HD. The goal is to have as little HD-read lag as possible in games. RAID0 is not an option.

WD 750GB, Seagate 1TB, Samsung SpinPoint 500GB.

5) Best motherboard/processor for cost?

E6750 and Gigabyte DS3R.
 
Why do people keep getting SLI mobos if their not going to SLI...really SLI is not worth it when you look at the history of performance/prices.
 
for a motherboard if you really don't need crossfire and RAID then get the P35-ds3l, cheaper with the same overclocking capability
 
for a motherboard if you really don't need crossfire and RAID then get the P35-ds3l, cheaper with the same overclocking capability

Does the DS3L have electrolytic capacitors, or is that only the S3L? If so, I hate the board, because i despise electrolytic capacitors.

Solid capped FTW!
 
for a motherboard if you really don't need crossfire and RAID then get the P35-ds3l, cheaper with the same overclocking capability

ds3l= no raid and 4 sata ports "only"

ds3r= RAID Conroller and ? amount of SATA Ports (its more than 4 tho)

otherwise... they are the same... in terms of overclockability and such
 
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