[Nirv27]

Hi,

I am new to computer building and I am trying to build a fast gaming PC. I was hoping for some advice on the current parts I have picked out before I buy them and what all I would need to put it together. Here they are:

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115037

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813188026

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835186134

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231166

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231144

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130325

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822148262

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827129020

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817171023

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129021

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16823126035

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16826105183

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16832116488

Is there anything else I would need to make the computer run? Am I paying too much? In the future I am considering overclocking this as well, but for now I am concentrating on just getting it built. Thanks in advance.

[Advertisements]

also, i am considering switching to a quad core instead of a dual core processor and trying to overclock it. any recommendations? the game i have in mind is Age of Conan.

[Nirv27]

also, i am considering switching to a quad core instead of a dual core processor and trying to overclock it. any recommendations? the game i have in mind is Age of Conan.

[reconman]

Hello Nirv27

Looks like you've got all of the needed components but I think 4 Gigs of RAM is enough for the 64bit version of Vista as you'll most likely never use all 4 gigs of it (I doubt you'll use more than 2 Gigs any time soon.) Also, do you have a certain budget in mind? It'll make it easier for other users to compile a list of hardware.

I have the E8400 with the same Arctic Cooling CPU cooler and I couldn't be more happy. They're very easy to overclock as well (I have yet to OC mine yet).

According to the specs for Age of Conan on wiki, you shouldn't have any problems running it with the hardware you currently have selected. Although you could definitely spend less money on a keyboard But things like keyboards are really up to you.

[Nirv27]

hey thanks for the reply.

as far as a price range. what i have currently selected adds up to about 1350 so i would like to stay in that range. I added the extra 2 gigs because i wasnt sure but if they arent necessary then i can go ahead and drop them.

is a quad core processor better for gaming than a dual core?

and as far as the keyboard/mouse goes, i am really just looking for a good one for gaming so if i can save some money and still get a nice one i can do that too.

Edited by Nirv27, 13 June 2008 - 01:37 AM.

[reconman]

Quad core isn't better or worse for gaming as there are currently very few games that utilize quad core processors. My system consists of an E8400 @ stock 3GHZ, EVGA 8800GT, 2 gigs of RAM and I can run the Crysis demo with everything on very high (I turn off anti-aliasing) at 1024x768 and my FPS are still very playable. But as technology progresses, more applications as well as games will begin to utilize quad core processors. So if you have the money (which you do), I would go with a quad core as it will most likely be worth it in the long run.

The keyboard/mouse you pick out is really up to you. If you like the way they feel and they do what you need them to do, get them. I my self just have a $15 logitech classic keyboard as well as a $15 logictech optical mouse and they both work for me.

Edited by reconman, 13 June 2008 - 02:43 AM.

[Nirv27]

would quad core be better even if the processing speed of the dual core is higher?

[reconman]

As far as I know, the dual core will most likely be quicker with most things it does but if your running programs that utilize multiple cores, the quad core would probably see better performance (unless it's speed is much slower than the dual core.) I'd wait for a techie to answer though as they know a lot more about this stuff than I do.

[Nirv27]

So here is the new build i am considering. Does anyone see any issues or areas of improvement?

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827135156

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129021

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822148262

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130325

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817171023

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835100007

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231166

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813188026

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115018

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16832116488

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835186134

I am still thinking about overclocking, especially if i decide to go with the quad-core over the dual-core.

[stettybet0]

As far as I know, the dual core will most likely be quicker with most things it does but if your running programs that utilize multiple cores, the quad core would probably see better performance (unless it's speed is much slower than the dual core.) I'd wait for a techie to answer though as they know a lot more about this stuff than I do.

A higher clocked dual-core would outperform a lower clocked quad-core in everything except programs which are designed to utilize more than two cores. Then you will see the quad-core gain an advantage, but not a linear one. That is, a 2.4ghz quad-core won't perform as fast as a 4.8ghz dual-core in a multi-threaded application. In gaming, it seems that the developers that use/will be using multi-threading manage to get about 25% more performance out a quad-core compared to a dual-core at the same speed. However, this can be more or less depending on how well the game is coded.

As for the build, a few things I would recommend.

For better cooling (which will be needed for overclocking the Q6600), I recommend getting the Xigamatek HDT-S1283 and some OCZ Freeze tp use with it. Combined, they will offer some of the best cooling performance you can get with air.

I would get the EVGA 780i over the 750i, as it has a better chipset, especially when it comes to overclocking.

Cooler Master isn't a great power supply manufacterer. Some better choices include: PC Power & Cooling, Enermax, Tagan, Corsair, Silverstone, and Hiper.

[Nirv27]

would you recommend the evga 780i mobo over any of the Asus ones? with the change in mobo should I also change the RAM I am getting? (g skill p8500 1066). I am not sure if I need SLi or not. I guess it might be nice to have though just in case.

Edited by Nirv27, 14 June 2008 - 10:27 PM.

[Nirv27]

New build:

ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827135156

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129021

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822148262

EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130325

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817139005

OCZ OCZTFRZTC Freeze Extreme Thermal Conductivity Compound - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835202006

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-2GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231144

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231166

EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813188024

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0678MK - OEM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115053

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16832116488

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835233003

I went over budget a little bit but that is alright. See any compatability issues or anything else?

[stettybet0]

If you aren't sure if you will be using SLI, chances are you shouldn't. Technology changes so fast that it is typically only worth investing in SLI if you buy two high-end cards at the same time. If you won't be using SLI, then get the GA-EP35-DS3L, which is a terrific board, but with no SLI support. It is $130 cheaper though.

Also, don't get 6GB of RAM. Stick with the 4GB set, and if you decide you want more, buy another 4GB set.

Also, I would recommend getting the Seagate 7200.11 500GB hard drive. It has twice the capacity of the one you have picked out, for only $30 more. You will be filing up 250GB pretty fast if you have a large collection of games, especially since some games these days are taking up 10+ GB of hard drive space (looking at you Splinter Cell: Double Agent and Gears of War ) . Also, the 7200.11 is the next generation, with a larger cache and acoustic improvements.

Edited by stettybet0, 15 June 2008 - 12:19 AM.

[Nirv27]

Just wanted to say thank you a ton for the help. It is nice to have someone who knows a lot more than me helping me along.

As far as the motherboard goes. If I don't need the SLI then I should probably choose a different one. What would you recommend for a none SLi motherboard that is OC friendly and stable for the q6700 (or should i revert back to the q6600?). I have heard good things about the Asus mobo's but I am not sure which to choose.

[stettybet0]

I edited in a motherboard suggestion in my last post, so look there.

For the CPUs, the Q6600 is a better value than the Q6700, especially if you will be overclocking, as they both have pretty similar overclockability. So, I'd go with saving the money and getting the Q6600.

Oh, and you're welcome.