First Time Builder Seeks Gaming Rig Advice

[layer3switchguy]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to build my first PC and need some advice on which mobo and CPU combo would be best. I'd like the machine to have the horsepower to run FPS type games as well as flight simulator. I'm at a loss as to dual core or quad core, and which processor would be ideal for ultimate performance.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[swtethan]

wait for july 22nd, pick up a Q6600 for $266

by then, you could buy 8800gts for under $300 (640mb)

get a new bearlake motherboard

 

[layer3switchguy]

Thanks... Only issue is, I need a new PC now... Mine is shot...

 

[Timecop1967]

I'm also looking at the quad core upgrade option. Have a few questions. Will a quad core work under Win XP....in other words does it support quad processors or will Windows Vista be required? How many games currently available make use more than 1 core? The only thing I've heard is that the Valve company might include multiple processor support sometime in the future for new versions of Counterstrike or HalfLife games. If the games don't include the support isn't the better option to get a higher clocked Duo Core to get better frame rates...like opting for a 6700 instead?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Asus P5K (bearlake) $145

E4300 $115

2 x 2gb Aeneon ddr-667 (Infinion IC's clock to 800 cas4) $145.50


Overclock the E4300 then you could swap it for a Q6600 in august for <$300, I would probably wait to swap the E4300 until the 45nm quads comes out in in late 2007.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: Timecop1967
I'm also looking at the quad core upgrade option. Have a few questions. Will a quad core work under Win XP....in other words does it support quad processors or will Windows Vista be required? How many games currently available make use more than 1 core? The only thing I've heard is that the Valve company might include multiple processor support sometime in the future for new versions of Counterstrike or HalfLife games. If the games don't include the support isn't the better option to get a higher clocked Duo Core to get better frame rates...like opting for a 6700 instead?

Quads work on XP just fine.

There are a handful of current games that take advantage of multi cores and several in development that will be out by the end of the year. Athough there are only a 1 or 2 that show an increase in performance from 2 to 4 cores, but the numbers will grow rapidly in the next year or so.

Probably for the next 6mos or so a highly clocked core duo will still be the standard for gaming for everthing but the new titles that are written with quads in mind. Some of the titles that come to mind are Supreme Commander, Alan Wake, and Crisis

Thats why I recommended the P35 motherboard above, it is supposed to support the current chips plus the next generations of 45nm quad chips Penryn and possibly Nephlam.
Plus support for DDR2 and DDR3

 

[Zardnok]

Originally posted by: layer3switchguy
Hey guys,

I'm looking to build my first PC and need some advice on which mobo and CPU combo would be best. I'd like the machine to have the horsepower to run FPS type games as well as flight simulator. I'm at a loss as to dual core or quad core, and which processor would be ideal for ultimate performance.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

How much do you want to spend total??

The Asus P5K board and an e6420 is a super nice combo right now and can be OCed really well.To save money, go with the Gigabyte S3 or DS3 965 board and a 4300. RAM is cheap, so pick out your 2 gig pack of preference and rock and roll!

 

[o1die]

Fry's has their own brand called "gq" which stands for great quality for $369 less $20 rebate this weekend. With it you get a sempron cpu, vista basic, and 19 inch LCD. You could gut it later, adding a newer cpu, better power supply and video.

 

[hardwareking]

for now buy a core 2 duo E4300 and an ASUS P5K Deluxe
Also look into the geforce 8800 GTS 640mb or the radeon HD 2900 xt

And on or after july 22nd or l8r get urself a quad core intel core 2 quad Q6600 for about $266

The E4300 will act as an interim CPU

 

[Timecop1967]

On the Asus P5K is there room for a good aftermarket cooler on the CPU...noticed the heatsink next to the CPU slot. I'd like to get a Thermalright LGA775 RM Retention Bracket and just use my Thermalright SI-120 on the quad core CPU. Or have people just been going with the stock fan and heatsink on the Quads?

 

[layer3switchguy]

Hey guys,

I'm still trying to figure out which core to purchase for my gaming rig... Which one represents the overall best platform in terms of price/performance for the next 12-18 months. I will be using an SLI setup with 2x Nvidia 7900GTX cards...

X6800
QX6700
Q6600
E6700


Would the Q6000 @ 2.4GHz be the best choice? It looks to have the same L2 Cache as the QX6700 Extreme, just a lower clock speed. How possible is it to overclock this processor?

Also, which mobo would be ideal???

Thanks,
Speedbird

 

[Timecop1967]

I really believe waiting for next generations of 45nm quad chips...the Penryn is the best choice since I don't want to deal with the extra heat heat of the current quads....not many apps anyway. I'll use my 3800 AMD venice core until they arrive late 2007. And at that time the Asus P5K might be replaced by something better.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Timecop1967
I'm also looking at the quad core upgrade option. Have a few questions.

Will a quad core work under Win XP....in other words does it support quad processors or will Windows Vista be required?

How many games currently available make use more than 1 core? The only thing I've heard is that the Valve company might include multiple processor support sometime in the future for new versions of Counterstrike or HalfLife games.

If the games don't include the support isn't the better option to get a higher clocked Duo Core to get better frame rates...like opting for a 6700 instead?

first question yes:

Second question: quite a bit, but whats rare are the ones that support all 4 cores. But there are games like supreme commander that do use all 4 cores.

Lat quesiton, You will most likely get better clocks on a dual core system because you dont have exotic cooling. What people fail to note is to get nice overclocks, and i mean above 3.3ghz+ on acceptable load temps at 24/7 an exotic form of a cooling is required.

And once again i ask all the people on this thread that dont have a quadcore please dont contribute to quadcore discussions. Let the op make his decision based on reviews from PEOPLE THAT DO have quadcores.

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Asus P5K (bearlake) $145

E4300 $115

2 x 2gb Aeneon ddr-667 (Infinion IC's clock to 800 cas4) $145.50


Overclock the E4300 then you could swap it for a Q6600 in august for <$300, I would probably wait to swap the E4300 until the 45nm quads comes out in in late 2007.

+1 this statement, however, i would pick up a E6600 right now during memorial day weekend sale. Then again, you can pick up a Q6600 for 479 at frys. However, YOU WILL NEED AN AFTERMARKET HEAT SINK.

Also i would recomend you look at some Gskill, and Crucial Ballastix PC8500. Thats the ram i currently use.

And no ZALMAN CPS9700 WONT CUT IT. Look at tuniq tower, or ultra120. <-- more leaning to tower if you want air solution.



Op, if you have no overclocking experience, Dont get a quad. IF you dont intend to overclock ever in your life, then get a quad.

IF you do have overclocking experience, and you know about thermal cooling, then get a quad.

IF you think all you need to do is drop the heat sink on, pop the voltage a little and throttle a Quad, then go out and buy a bottle of jack and daniels, because your in for a long night trying to get her stable.

Any more questions? and yes i own a quad. I actually own 2, and a third one coming soon.