Building a new PC, Need a little help!

[Paul_Wall_117]

These are the parts I am looking at so far:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 2000MHz HT 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core: $235.00

Motherboard: eVGA 123-K8-NF47-AX Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 ATX AMD: $144.00

RAM: G.SKILL 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200): $95.00

Graphics: BFG Tech BFGR79512GTOCE Geforce 7900GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Superclocked edition: $350.00

Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value SB0400 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface: $64.00

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s: $150.00

Optical Drive: LG Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-ROM E-IDE/ATAPI DVD-ROM Drive: $17.00

Case: Thermaltake Armor Jr: $106.00

Case Fan: Thermaltake A2017 90mm 1 Ball, 1 Sleeve Blue LED Light: $13.00

PSU: HIPRO HP-P600W/TOP-600P5 ATX V2.01 600W Power Supply 115/230 V - OEM: $70.00

OS: Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM: $90.00

All of that comes up to exactly $1,430.57 After all taxes, savings, and shipping costs.

Now, here's my problem: I just started looking at AM2, and I picked out a few new parts that are in the same price range as what I posted before:

Motherboard (AM2): DFI INFINITY NF ULTRAII-M2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD: $89.00

CPU (AM2): AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2000MHz HT 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Dual Core: $266.00

Memory (AM2 MOBO compatable): mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit: $151.00

That comes up to exactly $1,341.52 after taxes, shipping, and savings.

Would it be better to get the AM2 setup, or stick with socket 939? The AM2 processor has a 1 GB L2 cache, and the 939 one has 2 GB, so the 939 looks a little better... but the AM2 setup is alot cheaper, and I am on a budget.

Also, Please tell me if anything is incompatable!!! I cannot stress this enough. I am new to computer building, and I am unsure of myself. I have a little experience though, I have installed RAM multiple times, Installed PCI cards, taken a whole PC apart and put it back together (for almost no reason) and it still works, and I have installed a PSU.

Also, about the RAM (if I go with the 939 setup): I know that I should have at least 2GB's, but I am adding a 512 stick from this PC, and possibly another one if I have the money, then I'll have 2 GB.

Also, If I do not need the sound card, I'll get rid of it. I don't want to spend money I don't have to. I just picked it out because I heard that onboard sound takes preformance away.

Tell me anything I can do to decrease the budget without taking away preformance please! I am a serious gamer, and That (aside from surfing the web) Is all I do with my PC.

 

[b1gapl]

I think you should stick with AM2. To save a little money I think you should get the X2 3800+ and just overclock it to 4600+ speeds. And for the hard drive this choice will save you a little from the Western you picked:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140
This is probably a better choice of graphics since you're spending that much on a GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142063

 

[Paul_Wall_117]

I think you should stick with AM2. To save a little money I think you should get the X2 3800+ and just overclock it to 4600+ speeds. And for the hard drive this choice will save you a little from the Western you picked:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140
This is probably a better choice of graphics since you're spending that much on a GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142063

That graphics card is better? And it will work with all of my other parts?

 

[b1gapl]

Yes it's a better graphic card....and yes it will work with your other parts.

 

[Paul_Wall_117]

Yes it's a better graphic card....and yes it will work with your other parts.

My PSU is OK and everything? Good. Are there any issues with the card I should know about, like the issues plauging eVGA's 79XX Series?

 

[Paul_Wall_117]

Also, I don't know if the 3800+ will go to 4600+ speeds on stock cooling... but I do know that the 4600+ will go to 5000+ speeds on stock cooling, so it looks like a much better buy.

That graphics card seems way too big for my armor jr. midtower, I don't think it will fit well... But if it does, all of that (After taxes, shipping and savings) is exactly $1,291.52. A much better price than what I originally had hoped for, and I am still keeping the 4600+.

 

[persianxballer]

Just build a Conroe system. You can overclock a E6300 to way past either of the processors you've talked about.
Also, get 2GBs of ram. It's kind of the standard now.
Also, there are X-Fi XtremeMusic deals popping up everywhere. Just be patient and you can get one for like $60-$80.

 

[Paul_Wall_117]

Just build a Conroe system. You can overclock a E6300 to way past either of the processors you've talked about.
Also, get 2GBs of ram. It's kind of the standard now.
Also, there are X-Fi XtremeMusic deals popping up everywhere. Just be patient and you can get one for like $60-$80.

First off, I have decided to stick with AM2 setup, therefore, I will have 2 GB of good, fast RAM.

Secondly, I don't really want to buy a sound card because my Mobo has onboard sound, I will just buy one if it will improve my Gaming preformance.

Thirdly, Please offer compatable suggestions that are within the same price range if you are going to tell me to get something else.

 

[Paul_Wall_117]

To add to the growing number of questions I have asked, what is currently the best single (not SLI setup or Crossfire Setup) graphics card on the market? I assume the 7950GX2... I just want to know because I may be getting a little more than what I think I am getting (about $1,600.00), so I may have a little extra money to throw around.

 

[b1gapl]

Technically the 7950GX2 is two cards put together, but it is probably the best. I think the best SINGLE card is the X1950XTX, which is not out yet.