Gaming Rig - Advice Needed!

[MageOfGeno]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mostly gaming.

2. What YOUR budget is.
600-700$

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
None

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
OS / Keyboard / Mouse / Monitor / HD / DVD ROM

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Ive read some threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Ive never actually overclocked before but im planning on trying it.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Here in the next week or 2.

Ok so i had a friend of mine help me look at parts and stuff and here is what i have picked out. Any thoughts on the parts or any suggestions of items that would work better would be appreciated.

Power Supply

Case

Video Card

MOBO

CPU

RAM

 

[t0rs0]

for the video card,
I found this on tom's hardware guide
here

 

[bamacre]

With that budget, I'd snag a Dell Inspiron 530 (important to make sure it has the Q6600) and replace the video card with an HD 4850.

 

[fire400]

Originally posted by: t0rs0
for the video card,
I found this on tom's hardware guide
here

"The Radeon 4850 is the new people?s champion, instantly bringing yesterday?s $300 performance level down to the mainstream $175 price pointPrice point . The Radeon 4850 will best the GeForce 9800 GTX, stand toe-to-toe with the newer GeForce 9800 GTX+, and do it all for less money. This card has a lot of potential when used on its own, and becomes a devastating force when paired with a second 4850 in a Crossfire configuration."

If you're not breakin' the bank, from the article, this pretty much 'sez it all.

Now, that's money nVidia can't buy. I'm like "holy s*.."

 

[MageOfGeno]

Ok so ive picked out the parts for my new computer now i just need some input on them! Also thanks in advance for any advice you give me.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Most of those parts will be fine, but I have one critical suggestion: Get a different power supply. Specifically, this 550W Corsair unit is a really good buy:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139004

I question the durability and build quality of the A-Top PSU. I can also guarantee the Corsair Power supply is more efficient, and it will provide more than enough juice for your system.

If you really want a modular power supply, then consider these choices:
Antec 550W http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371016
Silverstone 600W http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817163109


I think the following offers a more than the Gigabyte EP35-DS3L:
Gigabyte EP43-DS3L http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128347

 

[MageOfGeno]

Thanks for the input Cusidabelin i was already looking into getting a different power supply since the one i had picked out before but i wasn't very sure how much power i was gona be needing, and also with that MOBO you suggested is it going to be able to support DDR2-800 ram? because from what i understand from what ive been reading if i install DDR2-800 ram as dual channel its going to hit this MOBO's OCed Memory standard of 1200.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Ah, you're right. The EP35-DS3L will be a better overclocker, or at least some people haven't had so much luck with the P43-DS3L. Gigabyte's website claim they both have the option of hitting a 1600 MHz FSB. I didn't realize how much you wanted to overclock, but for the first time you should definitely make it easier on yourself! The P35-DS3L is a pretty proven board, so you can expect good results.

 

[MageOfGeno]

So i decided to go with a 650W power supply cause it was only 10$ more then the one u linked me and i figured haveing that little bit of extra power wont hunt. Any other opinions about the items i have picked out would be helpful! and thanks again

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: MageOfGeno
Thanks for the input Cusidabelin i was already looking into getting a different power supply since the one i had picked out before but i wasn't very sure how much power i was gona be needing, and also with that MOBO you suggested is it going to be able to support DDR2-800 ram? because from what i understand from what ive been reading if i install DDR2-800 ram as dual channel its going to hit this MOBO's OCed Memory standard of 1200.

Not entirely sure what you mean by this but long story short the motherboard he linked will have no trouble at all running DDR2-800 memory at the standard speed (usually 2x your CPU's actual FSB speed, or half the "effective" speed) or up to 1200 if your memory will overclock that high.

 

[MageOfGeno]

According to this article that i found in another post http://www.nehalemnews.com/200...mc-and-why-fsb-is.html it says that when you use your ram as dual channel that they will perform at double there normal performance for the 800's which would hit the 1200 cap for the MOBO

 

[Roguestar]

This doesn't mean the RAM will run at a higher speed, it basically just doubles the bandwidth of the RAM, so my assertion about the motherboard being able to handle them still stands. Dual-channel RAM has been around for years, you can take it for granted so long as you pair up your memory sticks and put them in the corresponding slots on the motherboard.