GAMING rig ... are these good parts?

[Hattrix]

Because BLAIN said so:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
<<Gaming

2. What YOUR budget is.
<<less than $1500

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
<<USA - probably NewEgg.com

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
<<INTEL, NVIDIA

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
<<No

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
<<Yes, but I could find a thread that answers my questions exactly.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
<<DEFAULT

• CASE = Antec Sonata III Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply

• CPU = Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6850

• MOBO = ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

• RAM = CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4

• VID CARD = EVGA GeForce 8800GTS SSC 640-P2-N829-AR Video Card

Thanks to all who take the time to read this and respond. Also, I'll be getting a generic DVD burner and a cheap 250gb WD Caviar HD to round out the hardware. I'm fine with on-board sound (if you think the mobo is not a decent one) and I'll be installing WinXP.

Questions:

1. If I decide to go SLI with another 8800 vid card, will the 500W PS be ok or will it be underpowered? If underpowered, what case + PS would you recommend?

1. Which processor will be better today, in 2 years, in 5 years? The one I have listed above, or the Intel 2.4 quad Q6600??

1. Will the E6850 CPU require a bigger PS? Will a Q6600 require a bigger PS? What if I do an SLI config with 2 8800s, will either processor need a bigger PS due to the draw from both vid cards?

edited: Fixed E6600 to Q6600 and fixed the link to the Q6600 (was to the E6600). Thanks to DSF for correcting my Q6600 mistake.

 

[oynaz]

The 8800GTS 640 is a poor choice. A 8800GT 512 or a 8800GTS 512 will give you better performance for a lower price.
Yes, the 8800GTS 512 is faster than the 8800GTS 640. No, the part names do not make sense.

The PSU will do fine for a single card setup, but is cutting it very close if you want to go SLI. You will probably need about 650 watt to be safe.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Hattrix
Questions:

1. If I decide to go SLI with another 8800 vid card, will the 500W PS be ok or will it be underpowered? If underpowered, what case + PS would you recommend?

1. Which processor will be better today, in 2 years, in 5 years? The one I have listed above, or the Intel 2.4 quad E6600??

1. Will the E6850 CPU require a bigger PS? Will a E6600 require a bigger PS? What if I do an SLI config with 2 8800s, will either processor need a bigger PS due to the draw from both vid cards?

1: It should be fine. Don't buy components based on an upgrade to a mid-range SLI setup, it's a waste of cash. Get a better card now or save your money later.
2: You'll not notice a huge difference. In 2 years we'll all have processors 3 times faster anyway. The E6850 is a bit better for now.
3: No, it'll not need a bigger power supply. 500W is fine, as long as you get a good quality one like Corsair or OCZ or Seasonic.

By the way, get the 512MB 8800GTS instead of the 640. It seems counter-intuitive but it's the better card as it uses a newer chipset revision.

 

[DSF]

There's no reason to buy an E6850 right now. If you have to have the computer in the next two weeks, go with an E6750, which is plenty fast. If you're looking to keep this system for five years without a processor change, quad core may be best. The quad core is the Q660 by the way, not the E6600.

If you don't have to have the system in the next two weeks, wait until the 45nm CPUs are out and buy one of those. At that point $190 will buy you more performance (and at a reduced power usage) than $290 does today.

You can't go SLI with the motherboard you've chosen - SLI requires an Nvidia chipset. Generally speaking, you're better off without SLI anyway. In a couple years the performance might scale better, but for the time being it doesn't provide enough of a performance bump to justify the cost, unless you're looking for the best of the best at the time you buy. As an upgrade path, it doesn't work as well.

 

[amdfansftw]

that system looks great actually. i would get the revised version of the 8800GTS. other than that solid system should last a while.

--edit btw you can get a 2x2gb kit of adata ram for 87 on the egg now it's an instant rebate i would get that regardless of the haters that say it's useless if you don't have a 64 bit system. you can always upgrade your vista to 64 bit for free. i don't remember where i saw it search m$ website.

 

[oynaz]

you can always upgrade your vista to 64 bit for free

You can? How?
(sorry for the thread hijack)

 

[Andvari]

Originally posted by: DSFIf you don't have to have the system in the next two weeks, wait until the 45nm CPUs are out and buy one of those. At that point $190 will buy you more performance (and at a reduced power usage) than $290 does today.

The new ones will cost less, and do more? Or are you saying when the new ones come out, the old ones will drop in price drastically?

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: Andvari

Originally posted by: DSFIf you don't have to have the system in the next two weeks, wait until the 45nm CPUs are out and buy one of those. At that point $190 will buy you more performance (and at a reduced power usage) than $290 does today.

The new ones will cost less, and do more? Or are you saying when the new ones come out, the old ones will drop in price drastically?

The new ones will cost less and do more.

There isn't a huge jump in performance/clock, although my understanding is that there is a slight one. The real difference is that a 3GHz chip, the E8400, will be at the price point the E6750 (2.66 GHz) is at now.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: amdfansftw
you can always upgrade your vista to 64 bit for free. i don't remember where i saw it search m$ website.

except not really

 

[CitizenSnips]

Originally posted by: oynaz

you can always upgrade your vista to 64 bit for free

You can? How?
(sorry for the thread hijack)

As someone who just paid Microsoft $10 for the 64 bit DVD, no, it isn't free.