Building computer for cousin

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I'm building this system for my cousin (budget build to last a bit- she currently has a slot-P2)

Processor: E2160/2180 (will most likely OC to a min. of 3ghz on stock cooling if possible)
Mobo: Gigabyte GAP35-DS3L (standard 1066mhz ram)
Memory: choice of two for 2x1gb (unless suggestions otherwise)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231098 G.Skill 6400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146720 mushkin 8500
250gb seagate sata-300 drive(16mb cache)
xfx 8600gt (the one factory oc'd to 620mhz)
Centurion case

she has a copy of xp, and a monitor and such, so we're looking at about 500 dollars here


so with regards to the overclock, price,a nd the longer-term performance she'll need:
Which is better- the 2 gigs of 6400 or 8500?

 

[Quiksilver]

I'd go with the G.skill just because your on a budget and that you really wouldn't need any thing more than that. Also your links are borked.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

Thanks- I fixed the links. But is there much of an improvement between 6400 and 8500? She has a tendency to stick with a computer for a long time, and although it may be a bit unnecessary now, 10 years from now (she will most likely still have it). Would I still be able to overclock it to 3ghz? My overclocking experience is mainly with AMD configs, and I have little clue about how the system handles ram speeds under the max supported rate. Does it automatically hand it a smaller divider to let it run at, say, 800mhz, or does it run that at the 1:1, first boot, stock?

 

[imported_Scoop]

I couldn't stay with that second post of yours. But I gathered this much..

No, there's really no need for the PC-8500 RAM, not now, not in 10 years. Why? Because it's DDR2. Just a waste of money.

I don't think you'll be able to make 3Ghz on neither of those chips with the stock cooling but you can always try.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I went with the E2180 and the mushkin 8500. I decided for 20 dollars more it'd be a better deal. If the speed difference between 800mhz and 1066mhz is negligible, then I'll give the memory a divider to set it in the middle, and tighten the timings down from the stock 1066 timings.

 

[nefariouscaine]

if she is gaming I might look at getting a used or even new last gen card as she isn't going Vista so DX10 shouldn't be a concern and the 8600 will be under performing in most games

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

I figured she'd maybe get a monitor too- and as the analog blackout is coming in a little over a year, she might not do media type things on her tv so much. Down the road it might be less expensive for her to watch a blu-ray on the computer than buy a set- better quality I'd suppose over the analog conversion to a composite-fed television... I had looked at the 7600gt, as that is what I have, but I figured the newer process and architecture would conserve power better as well