[droidack]

Ok so I'm going to build a computer , good enough to run oblivion very well(as well as other games)
Here is my first thoughts on hardware to choose(vaguely considering budget)

intel core 2 duo 3.0ghz
ATI radeon 3870 512mb
case ???(open to any suggestions)
500gb hdd (I'll never need 1tb)
mobo ???(same as case)
optical drives etc.

Anyway what do you think of these choices?

On some other forum, someone recommended at least a nvidia 680i chipset for the mobo. but isn't that SLI(which I don't need) and the ATI graphics card uses crossfire x anyway. the only thing that I am really confused about is mobo chipsets.

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Welcome to Geeks to Go.

What kind of budget are you looking at?

Do you plan on overclocking?


Edit: The only 3Ghz C2D is the E6850. It is a bit overpriced at $80 more than the 2.66Ghz E6750. The E6750 should easily overclock to 3.0Ghz. Some people report getting as high as 3.6Ghz with air cooling but your overclocking abilities are dependant on your chip (some OC better than others).

Edited by Titan8990, 22 January 2008 - 01:33 PM.

[Titan8990]

Welcome to Geeks to Go.

What kind of budget are you looking at?

Do you plan on overclocking?


Edit: The only 3Ghz C2D is the E6850. It is a bit overpriced at $80 more than the 2.66Ghz E6750. The E6750 should easily overclock to 3.0Ghz. Some people report getting as high as 3.6Ghz with air cooling but your overclocking abilities are dependant on your chip (some OC better than others).

Edited by Titan8990, 22 January 2008 - 01:33 PM.

[droidack]

i don't plan on overclocking

The max amount for the computer without mouse keyboard etc. I'd be happy to spend slightly less and I'd happily spend a little bit more.

Also, would a radeon 3870 be around the same performance as an 8800 nvidia card?

[Titan8990]

So that makes your budget around what?

The 3870 performs slightly better than the 8800 GTS and slightly worse than the 8800 GT. It all depends on the games and setting though. The performance is comparable.

[droidack]

Well using yahoo finance converter I got $1,177.1399

[james_8970]

The only 3Ghz C2D is the E6850. It is a bit overpriced at $80 more than the 2.66Ghz E6750. The E6750 should easily overclock to 3.0Ghz. Some people report getting as high as 3.6Ghz with air cooling but your overclocking abilities are dependant on your chip (some OC better than others).

Nope the E8400 is coming out, already released in many stores in canada. It's a great performer and even better value.

For a case I suggest either the:
Antec 900 or
Antec P182

Both very good cases, choose whichever you like more.

For a motherboard, the P35-DS3L is the best motherboard for the value.
James

[droidack]

I like the looks of the p900 case, I've never really liked cases with doors on them. I'm beginning to think about going for AMD instead for the processor i'll have a lookaround the net for them.

Update:AMD athlon 64 x2 6000+ AM2 socket 3.0ghz =£101.20 inc vat
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 S775 = £169.12 inc vat
Although the intel has...
a larger L2 cache (4mb instead of 2) the intel says 1333 fsb but the AMD doesnt list a fsb
The intel uses less power I think, Thermal Design Power 65 W compared to AMD = Thermal Design Power 125 W

Edited by droidack, 22 January 2008 - 03:14 PM.

[stettybet0]

Some people report getting as high as 3.6Ghz with air cooling

Some people = Me I probably could get higher, I don't think I've reached this chip's max yet, it's just running a bit too hot if I OC it any higher (need a better HSF). I've seen some people get up to 4Ghz on air with it.

But anyways...

Intel's Core 2 lineup is much better than anything AMD is currently offering. I would highly recommend the CPU that James mentioned, the E8400.

The Antec 900 doesn't have doors on it, and it's a very good case.

The HD3870 performs slightly better than the G80 8800GTS, but is much worse than the new G92 8800GTS.

[Titan8990]

I agree with games on the GA-P35-DS3L. I just picked one up myself. As far as the new CPUs go I had heard that they were being released in January but was unsure if that was still true.

Don't get AMD. Either get the E6750 or wait on the new line up. Also I am not sure the Phenoms compared to the new C2D but the Athlon 64 X2s were more engery efficient than the current Core 2 Duos.

Edited by Titan8990, 22 January 2008 - 04:48 PM.

[droidack]

Some people report getting as high as 3.6Ghz with air cooling

Some people = Me I probably could get higher, I don't think I've reached this chip's max yet, it's just running a bit too hot if I OC it any higher (need a better HSF). I've seen some people get up to 4Ghz on air with it.

But anyways...

Intel's Core 2 lineup is much better than anything AMD is currently offering. I would highly recommend the CPU that James mentioned, the E8400.

The Antec 900 doesn't have doors on it, and it's a very good case.

The HD3870 performs slightly better than the G80 8800GTS, but is much worse than the new G92 8800GTS.

Why is intel's dual core lineup better than AMD's ?

For what the AMD lacks it makes up in price, therfore allowing me to get better components i.e 8800gtx

Update: I finally found the E8400 on a uk site www.overclockers.co.uk £146.86 inc VAT is quite a nice price for 6mb l2 cache, 3.0 ghz 1333fsb etc. I'll definately go with that sweet cpu.

Edited by droidack, 23 January 2008 - 09:39 AM.

[stettybet0]

Very good choice on the E8400.

Intel's Core 2s are better than AMD's chips due to their superior microarchitecture. If you really want to know the specifics, google and wikipedia will have lots of info.

[droidack]

Nvidias graphics cards are too expensive for me, I'll still go the AMD/ATI way with the radeon 3870. But still does any on e know when the new gpu nvidia cards will come out and a price estimate?

The only thing that I really don't get is motherboard chipsets which ones should I look out for, for use in a gaming computer?
Nvidia 680i, Nvidia 790i, intel p38??? none of it makes any sense.

[stettybet0]

Hold your horses on that HD3870. NVIDIA's 9600GT is due out on February 14th and benchmarks have shown it to beat the HD3850 and it is cheaper too. I haven't seen any benchmarks comparing it to the HD3870, but since it beat the HD3850 by a substantial margin, I'm willing to bet it could also best the HD3870. The 9600GT should retail for about $150-$170.

As for motherboards, if you are planning on using SLI, the 680i and 780i are pretty much your only options. If you don't plan on using SLI, then a P35 mobo is probably your best bet.

Edited by stettybet0, 23 January 2008 - 03:15 PM.

[droidack]

Thanks for the help with the mobo chipsets.

Basically, the hd 3850 is atis version of the 8800gt
the hd 3870 is atis version of the 8800 gts.

Anyway I'm in the uk things that get released in north america take a while to appear on the other side of the
atlantic.

[stettybet0]

Haha, AMD (ATI merged with AMD) wishes that were so. Neither the HD3850 nor the HD3870 are competitors to the 8800GT in performance. The only 8800 card they outperform is the 8800GTS 320mb.

Here's a few pics of the 9600GT beating the HD3850.






To quote a Google translation of the Chinese site these pictures came from, "the GeForce 9600GT are leading Radeon HD3850".

Edited by stettybet0, 24 January 2008 - 05:48 PM.