Guess What? Another Gaming Computer Build!

[Will938]

Man, I've got a lot of questions

Ok, for a gaming platform...I don't usually overclock and am looking for this to last about 3.5 years, I can upgrade along the way if need be. My absolute limit is $1,800 TURN KEY, and my target is around $1,500 clean cut.

AMD 64 3800+ (venice or clawhammer) – 342.00 http://store.yahoo.com/directron/ada3800awbox.html
OR
AMD 64 X2 3800 - 352 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562
(I guess its worth it, would I have to add a cooling system for dual core?)

4x512 kingston ddr400 valueselect – 182.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141423
OR
2x512 kingston ddr400 HyperX - 192.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144161
(I've got questions here, stability vs speed vs quantity vs quality)

Asus A8N-e mobo – 110 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131530
OR
DFI Lanparty - 118 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136159

6600GT – 169.00 minus 20 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122201
OR
7800GT - 359.00 minus 30 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814170088
(I dunno here, should I get the 6600GT and just upgrade later or what?)

2x250 GB WD harddrives RAID – 226.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144417

19"CRT monitor – 219.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116282

Case and power supply - help me!

Keyboard, mouse, surgeprotector, floppy, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, Windows XP/Office, Sound system are all taken care of.

What does everyone think, any obvious mistakes or mismatches? I've built one computer before and I suspect that it still works through dumb luck. What does everyone recommend, as a point I'd like to run BF2 on the highest settings off the bat. Any recommendations?

 

[wchs07]

looks fun...i'd go with a 7800Gt myself, thinking the 6600GT won't do the need of high settings on BF2.

 

[Will938]

looks fun...i'd go with a 7800Gt myself, thinking the 6600GT won't do the need of high settings on BF2.

There isn't anything inbetween to consider...not that I wanna spend like 100 extra bucks just to run BF2 on high, but something that will last a year or two until I have to upgrade again.

 

[Lonewolf5460]

hey go with the venice core the clawhammer is out dated it does not support some of the newer instruction sets and is not the newer 90nm core size.

 

[Lonewolf5460]

oh also dfi as a mobo
if you want the system to last 3 years go with the 7800gt if you can the gtx.the 6600gt has been around for a while it makes sense just to go with the new 7800 series, remember how long the 6600 series has been around?

Oh and i did not see that the dual core if you go with that you future proof your system.New programs will be able to use the two cores so that will be better,but most programs can only use one core right now so the 3800+ would do it but remember you want to use the system for a while.

 

[The_Tobes99]

the dual core, 4x512 & 7800gt, OMFG thats a nooice rig!

 

[Vampire_Slayer]

Get the X2, and 7800Gt. No you don't need to add cooling for the dual core, its retail and comes with its own hsf. Also the DFI board would be better to get than the Asus.

 

[Will938]

Thanks for all the input everyone, a couple more questions.

RAM, would I be better off sticking with two gigs of the stable slower stuff or one gig of the faster stuff? registered/unbuffered, will either of these boards have a problem accepting any kind of the DDR400 SDRAM?

And cases/power supplies, could anyone find a good case/ps combo on www.directron.com or new egg?

 

[SamLee0519]

Two gigs of Slower

 

[Lonewolf5460]

no get this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144322
$10 more but is a better brand name.still value ram though.