Need Help Buying New Computer

[kahlos]

Hi
I haven't been the computer building game for quite some while now and need help getting update with the latest components
I kinda have an idea on what to get but i need help on choosing for definate.
So far I think this is what i'll get :

CPU: AMD Opteron 168
GPU: ATI Sapphire X800GTO2
RAM: 1GB Crosair OC RAM
Case: Coolermaster Centurion 5
MoBo: Unsure ?
HD: Samsung Spinpoint 250GB 16Mb cache
PSU: Antec Smartpower 2.0 450W
DVD-R: NEC 4400 DVD Burner
Sound Card: Sound blaster X-FI

My budget is about £800 ($1500) but i could go more. I live in the U.K. so any sites you send must be deliverable to U.K.
I need a few questions being answered as well

1. Are crossfire/SLI worth buying (so will they be worth the money if i get two cheap cards)

2.What speakers shall i get ?? (I'm looking for some nice speakers but not to costly)

3. Shall I get a dual core X3800 processor instead of the opteron

4. Is the OC RAM worth getting or shall i just get normal RAM and put memory dividers on

5. What Mobo (and if crossfire/SLI is worth it what crossfire/SLI Mobo)

6. What cooling shall i get (Is watercooling worth the money?)

7. Shall i get a second 250GB and go raid 0 (for the extra performence)

8. Shall i get a 10K RPM HD

 

[NeedAcpu]

1. It's not really worth it. Two cheap cards will perform way worse then 1 good card for the price of them combined.

2. dunno

3. I would get the opteron 165 and OC that baby up to around 2600 mhz

4. I would get this first set of G.skill RAM its very good for OCing http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/G_Skill.html

5. Get the DFI LanParty UT NF4 Ultra-D its the best for OCing (the second to last one on this page) http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Socket_939.html

6. Just get a good case with good fans. Most people agree watercooling isnt worth it.

7. Up to you

8. Up to you

EDIT: as for a graphics card get one of the 7800 GTs http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/7800__Series.html

 

[zerodayATK]

um... if the case you have/get has a window water cooling will totally set if off!!1 im putting a windo in my alienware and geting WC its gonnaa look sweet!!!

 

[NeedAcpu]

Well hes on a budget so why should he waste money to make his comp look cool. It's not about looks its about performance.

 

[kahlos]

Hey cheers for the advice. I've been reading up on RAM and have decieded that normal pc3200 RAM is the best band for buck. I'll send the link http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=28&threadid=1475190&enterthread=y

Umm I think i'll go for the mobo and non dual graphics cards as well. Also i have found out that 10k speed drives have only 8mb cache which means that they are slower on some things. They also have less space and cost more so really there is no reason to go 10k at the mo. But when 10k 16mb cache drives come out thats when to go 10k.
So i'm sticking with my 7200RPM 16mb cache drive. And will probs buy a second to go in RAID.

Keep the help comming though

 

[NeedAcpu]

Well when using memory dividers you get a performance loss. and that G.Skill RAM is a very good deal for pc4000.

 

[kahlos]

The performence loss is very neglible. The difference is about 8% on general tasks and about 4% on games. Biggest difference is on compression but i think i can wait longer for that. The best thing to do is to get a better graphics card than pay over the odds for OC RAM.

 

[NeedAcpu]

The RAM is only $40 more.

 

[Sh0r_ty]

i would recomend u get some decent ram for overclocking. either the g.skill GBGH or GBFX are good for the price. the differance is that the GBGH are Winbound UTT so they will do well at low latency overclocking and the GBFX are TCCD so they will excell at high frequency overclocking. of course neither of these are gaurenteed to go over ddr400 2-2-2-5 1t but i have seen the GBGH Doing ddr530 2-2-2-5 1t and the FX at ddr600 3-4-3-8 1t