Slightly arguable choices perhaps. I've been looking at alot of stuff recently because I am set to built two PCs for different people. Here's a PC setup I was thinking of not with a look to future proofing per-se but with a clear upgrade path for the next 1-2 years.
- San Diego 3700+ - the extra cache gives quite a decent boost in games eg half life 2. If you're looking to go dual core when it comes down in price go for the 3000+ and then save the money for dual core later when they are down in price and the processes refined for overclocking etc.
- Mobo - DFI Ultra D - even if not overclocking it's still the best quality motherboard out there. Then if you do overclock it is the best board the oc with. You can also mod to board very easy to SLI. WHy go for 2 PCI express is so you can get a PPU later down the road - again there are benefits with saving some of that $2000 for later down the road - a PPU would be a much better investment IMO than overspending in any other area eg RAM or CPU
- RAM - I'd say go with 2x 1GB models (maybe 4x 512MB but you may end up having to do lots more tweaking to get the best performance - 4x 512MB might be a decent option for the Diego core because it's extra cache will mean it needs to go to RAM so running at 2T should be a minimised effect). Value RAM would serve you well although for a premium Patriot do some comparatively low latency stuff - Maybe crucial Ballistix 500DDR could do better 400DDR timings. Still with Value RAM if you increase the voltage a bit (eg 2.8V) you could get 2.5-3-3 at 200mhz. But this question about RAM is complex when it's not outright known if/how much the X2s are bandwidth starved.
- Graphics - Go for the 6800GT or else X800XL or X800XT. Probably the 6800GT overclocked to Ultra specs or else the X800XT would be the best at their respective price points. However, I probably wouldn't overclock given the expense of the part unless the warranty covered it (so eg ATI Overdrive function)
- Hardrive - I'd try to go Seagate where possible - try for SATA II hardrives as performance has been increased over the first generation hardrives. Don't worry about NCQ - unless you're pc is a server on a network where your hardrive is constantly accessed there are very little benefits (and disadvanatages with CPU usage)
- PSU - if you're in the US go for the Seasonic 520W one - very quiet and very good performer - will give you enough headroom to upgrade to dual core (and overclock) and also get the PPU down the line too.
- Case - plenty of options here - but for great cooling and good cases generally - Antec 3000B (great cooling+cheap but perhaps not elegant look enough), the P180 (just out and impressive, great cooling but larger), Silverstone Temjin TJ04 (steel, high quality, elegant but cooling not quite as good as the others - still 120mm fans), all the other Silverstone cases as well in fact. Lian-Li I think might have a couple of good cases too. I'd try and get an elegant looking case myself if I could now
- Mouse the MX510 is a great gaming mouse
- NEC 3540 is probably the best quality/price dvd writer driver you could get
- Speakers I have no idea abaout - I have mine hooked up to my amp + other speakers
- Audio card - try out the on-board audio and if it's not good enough try the Audigy2Z or else the Chaintech card for a low cost option. If you want to avoid creative, there are a couple of options.
Now monitor - I'd agree with hoshw10 - a monitor is worth spendin more money on than other parts. On monitors it's worth bearing in mind your graphics card if you go the LCD route as the LCD will limit your graphics card to certain resolutions - potentially a positive or negative thing depending on the power of your GPU - an 'underpowered' GPU trying to push 1600x1200 with lots of candy effects will struggle eg 6600GT. Likewise at X800XT PE pushing only 1280x1024 could be judged a waste (currently anyway) - mind you could be guaranteed that it could do everything utterly maxed at that setting.
The best gaming monitors - colour and response are the 19" monitors. The Hyundai L90 is one of the best but only uses a 6bit panel. However, there is a new 8ms panel out that is 8bit and performs with a lower response rate. That's in a Viewsonic monitor currently - and perhaps a Samsung - need to check that. The latter could be a truely *V* good monitor.
Larger monitors, it's your guess - maybe the Dell a sbeing highly recommended
My recommendatons anyway
- San Diego 3700+ - the extra cache gives quite a decent boost in games eg half life 2. If you're looking to go dual core when it comes down in price go for the 3000+ and then save the money for dual core later when they are down in price and the processes refined for overclocking etc.
- Mobo - DFI Ultra D - even if not overclocking it's still the best quality motherboard out there. Then if you do overclock it is the best board the oc with. You can also mod to board very easy to SLI. WHy go for 2 PCI express is so you can get a PPU later down the road - again there are benefits with saving some of that $2000 for later down the road - a PPU would be a much better investment IMO than overspending in any other area eg RAM or CPU
- RAM - I'd say go with 2x 1GB models (maybe 4x 512MB but you may end up having to do lots more tweaking to get the best performance - 4x 512MB might be a decent option for the Diego core because it's extra cache will mean it needs to go to RAM so running at 2T should be a minimised effect). Value RAM would serve you well although for a premium Patriot do some comparatively low latency stuff - Maybe crucial Ballistix 500DDR could do better 400DDR timings. Still with Value RAM if you increase the voltage a bit (eg 2.8V) you could get 2.5-3-3 at 200mhz. But this question about RAM is complex when it's not outright known if/how much the X2s are bandwidth starved.
- Graphics - Go for the 6800GT or else X800XL or X800XT. Probably the 6800GT overclocked to Ultra specs or else the X800XT would be the best at their respective price points. However, I probably wouldn't overclock given the expense of the part unless the warranty covered it (so eg ATI Overdrive function)
- Hardrive - I'd try to go Seagate where possible - try for SATA II hardrives as performance has been increased over the first generation hardrives. Don't worry about NCQ - unless you're pc is a server on a network where your hardrive is constantly accessed there are very little benefits (and disadvanatages with CPU usage)
- PSU - if you're in the US go for the Seasonic 520W one - very quiet and very good performer - will give you enough headroom to upgrade to dual core (and overclock) and also get the PPU down the line too.
- Case - plenty of options here - but for great cooling and good cases generally - Antec 3000B (great cooling+cheap but perhaps not elegant look enough), the P180 (just out and impressive, great cooling but larger), Silverstone Temjin TJ04 (steel, high quality, elegant but cooling not quite as good as the others - still 120mm fans), all the other Silverstone cases as well in fact. Lian-Li I think might have a couple of good cases too. I'd try and get an elegant looking case myself if I could now
- Mouse the MX510 is a great gaming mouse
- NEC 3540 is probably the best quality/price dvd writer driver you could get
- Speakers I have no idea abaout - I have mine hooked up to my amp + other speakers
- Audio card - try out the on-board audio and if it's not good enough try the Audigy2Z or else the Chaintech card for a low cost option. If you want to avoid creative, there are a couple of options.
Now monitor - I'd agree with hoshw10 - a monitor is worth spendin more money on than other parts. On monitors it's worth bearing in mind your graphics card if you go the LCD route as the LCD will limit your graphics card to certain resolutions - potentially a positive or negative thing depending on the power of your GPU - an 'underpowered' GPU trying to push 1600x1200 with lots of candy effects will struggle eg 6600GT. Likewise at X800XT PE pushing only 1280x1024 could be judged a waste (currently anyway) - mind you could be guaranteed that it could do everything utterly maxed at that setting.
The best gaming monitors - colour and response are the 19" monitors. The Hyundai L90 is one of the best but only uses a 6bit panel. However, there is a new 8ms panel out that is 8bit and performs with a lower response rate. That's in a Viewsonic monitor currently - and perhaps a Samsung - need to check that. The latter could be a truely *V* good monitor.
Larger monitors, it's your guess - maybe the Dell a sbeing highly recommended
My recommendatons anyway
