New build - Advice

[MelkorUK]

Hi, I'm looking to build a new pc for the next gen of games coming out (Crysis, Spore, etc)

So far I've come up with this, but as the last time I built a pc was way before the whole dual core... and water cooling systems I'm a bit unsure about my choices. I want to be able to have a nice machine for now but not limit any possibility of upgrading at a later date.

Anyway... what I have so far is...

NZXT Classic Alu Tower Chassis Quickcode: #20912
Asus P5K Premium Wi-Fi Intel P35 LGA 775 Quickcode: #28229
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz (775) Quickcode: #26581
Zalman CNPS9500-AT Intel LGA775 Quickcode: #23396
Patriot 2GB PC2-8500 Extreme Performance (2x1GB) Quickcode: #26988
Nvidia GeForce 8800GTX 768Mb PCI-E OEM Quickcode: #27431
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fatal1ty Pro Quickcode: #26289
500GB Seagate Barracuda SATA2 16MB Quickcode: #26201

Feel free to chastise me for blatant foolish choices, its the only way I'll learn ^_^

I need to know if this machine warrents the price.

Many thanks... in advance :D

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[cleggypdc]

For Crysis i'd add another 8800GTX and SLi them, as at i31 Intel were running Crysis on Quad-cores with 8800GTX's, Dx9 at 1280x1024, and it was surprisingly running rather sloppy.

An 8800GTX uses two 6-pin PCI-E power rails, so you'll need a different power supply, i'm running my 8800 on a 'Thermaltake 680APD' (not sold anymore). To keep your options open for upgrades in the future i'd advise investing into a good power supply, something similar to the specs on this one...

- Thermaltake W0131RE 850W Modular PSU Quickcode: #27136

Also if your planning to keep your tempuratures down, a

- Zalman CNPS9700-LED Quickcode: #25080

is better suited for the job. Unless you go for water cooling :P

But yeah that spec is fine :)

[MelkorUK]

Thanks for the rapid Feedback, I've taken on board whats been said, up'd the Cooling Fan, PSU and added a copy of vista (forgot about that lol) for the dx10.

With regard to the fan i messed up because I filtered for Socket 775 and the 'Super Flower' didn't come up :?

I was wondering if the mother board would support two 8800 GTX as the motherboard has always been my weak spot when deciding on hardware. Ideally i want one with like 20 PCI slots so I dont limit expansion cards XD but thats my dream world lol

I was planning on getting another GTX card at a later date, once the savings have built back up lol. Also maybe adding another lot of RAM.
(Not that i'd need to add anything extra if its got wifi on board.)

Thanks again for taking the time to offer this great advice. I wanna be sure I get this right and I really do appreciate this help ^_^

- Oh and also I forgot to say, my monitor is an aged Samsung SyncMaster 920N with max res of 1240x1024 so its something that I'll look into upgrading at a later date too.

[alexnifty]

[quote:c8734c37a0=\"MelkorUK\"]Thanks for the rapid Feedback, I've taken on board whats been said, up'd the Cooling Fan, PSU and added a copy of vista (forgot about that lol) for the dx10.

With regard to the fan i messed up because I filtered for Socket 775 and the 'Super Flower' didn't come up :?

I was wondering if the mother board would support two 8800 GTX as the motherboard has always been my weak spot when deciding on hardware. Ideally i want one with like 20 PCI slots so I dont limit expansion cards XD but thats my dream world lol

I was planning on getting another GTX card at a later date, once the savings have built back up lol. Also maybe adding another lot of RAM.
(Not that i'd need to add anything extra if its got wifi on board.)

Thanks again for taking the time to offer this great advice. I wanna be sure I get this right and I really do appreciate this help ^_^

- Oh and also I forgot to say, my monitor is an aged Samsung SyncMaster 920N with max res of 1240x1024 so its something that I'll look into upgrading at a later date too.[/quote:c8734c37a0]

You know, I think that mobo is a crossfire one, so it wont support Nvidia cards in SLi.
More details:
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=534&l4=0&model=1637&modelmenu=1

MSI P6N 680i Socket 775 Quickcode: #25915
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/+MSI+P6N+680i+Socket+775?productId=25915

That board ^^ should support Sli and its what I will be buying next week when the case I want is back in stock!

[bouncyb]

Id recommend

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/Asus+P5N32-E+SLi+Socket+775+ATX+MOTHERBOARD+?productId=25917

Good board, and full 680i chipset, not the lt version. Its as good as the striker without flashing lights and post lcd screens.

[Sl4x0r]

If you want to play games that haven't been released yet - I'd strongly suggest you sit on your money until there's a definite release date for the software - lots of people got stung buying hardware for HL2 that then had been supeceded when the software came out...

Remember, nVidia have the 9800 out by christmas (which should be as quick as a pair of 8800s) and AMD are due to release the Phenom too (which if you believe the fanboy rumours makes C2Ds look like toys...)

If you need to upgrade now then by all means ignore me - but if you're upgrading to play games that don't even have release dates then wait a bit - you'll definitely get more for your money!

[bouncyb]

i totally agree with Sl4x0r. and if you do want quad core intels, the newer chips from amd will see some price movement in the intel parts.

[MelkorUK]

I totally agree, It maybe best to wait post christmas and see what happens regarding 'actual' game requirements and the Geforce 9800. I'm not to sure about the AMD new releases so I'll have to research into that.

I just wince at the moment everytime my computer stutters playing a simple game of TF2 beta... plus the loading times make me weep lol

Thanks everyone who's taken the time to reply :) Its helped me look at things a bit clearer.

[alexnifty]

[quote:782e7a3e8f=\"bouncyb\"]Id recommend

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/Asus+P5N32-E+SLi+Socket+775+ATX+MOTHERBOARD+?productId=25917

Good board, and full 680i chipset, not the lt version. Its as good as the striker without flashing lights and post lcd screens.[/quote:782e7a3e8f]

Out of interest, whats the lt version? And is that mobo better than the MSI P6N 680i Socket 775 Quickcode: #25915 ?

[bouncyb]

Ive heard that the 9800 will use pci-e V2 so im assuming this will mean different motherboards aswell?

[Sl4x0r]

PCI-E2 boards are out aren't they?

Like AGP and AGPx2 they are (allegedly) mutually compatible - they are physically identical afteral...

[bouncyb]

so are you saying a pci-e 2 complaint card will run in my pci-e 1 slot allbiet there will be performance issues?

[Sl4x0r]

[quote:ba8c8cbb88=\"bouncyb\"]so are you saying a pci-e 2 complaint card will run in my pci-e 1 slot allbiet there will be performance issues?[/quote:ba8c8cbb88]

Will there be a performance impact?

How much bandwidth will the new cards use?

Lets not go over this old argument again - I think it'll get covered in detail in November when they're launched.