I have this much to spend...what should I do?

[janitor53]

Okay, it's another new computer thread here, but I seriously need some advice here. I have $2500 to spend and have already resolved to going with AMD. What should I be getting specifically that will maximize my computer? I also need suggestions on the best components to get. I won't be overclocking.
Thanks everyone.

 

[shoRunner]

give it to me...no but seriously, what are you gonna be using if for and is this 2500 for everything or just the computer, and you may want to read the sticky...though it may be alittle outdated now

 

[filterxg]

That's a huge budget, especially without an OC. I'd get an 4000+, w/SLI 6800U, Raptor HDs. Then work around that. As I understand it w/o an OC a lot of the components like high end RAM, and FX chips do very little to nothing.

 

[janitor53]

The computer will be used primarily for gaming.

 

[EndGame]

#1, if you're not O/C'ing, you may want to wait for San Deigo and pick up a 3500/3800 or better.

#2, I'd pick up a nForce 4 Ultra board. May not need the DFI if you're not going to O/C for sure, but the Asus is really good and stable as is the MSI, Gigabyte and Epox I hear.

#3, no need to spend a lot on ram, just get decent PC3200 and perhaps some lower latency modules since you won't be O/C'ing.

#4, get a decent Power Supply like the Seasonic 430W

#5, Video.....like nVidia or ATI? 6800 Ultra or X850XT......SLI??

 

[ssvegeta1010]

#1, if you're not O/C'ing, you may want to wait for San Deigo and pick up a 3500/3800 or better.

#2, I'd pick up a nForce 4 Ultra board. May not need the DFI if you're not going to O/C for sure, but the Asus is really good and stable as is the MSI, Gigabyte and Epox I hear.

#3, no need to spend a lot on ram, just get decent PC3200 and perhaps some lower latency modules since you won't be O/C'ing.

#4, get a decent Power Supply like the Seasonic 430W Definitely the Sparkle 550W w/36A on the 12V line for about $110 PSU

#5, Video.....like nVidia or ATI? 6800 Ultra or X850XT......SLI?? Definitely SLI for that budget, dual 6800Us

Edited

 

[janitor53]

Great stuff guys, what about a hard drive? Maxtor? I see varying opinions. Also, for an optical drive, what do you folks suggest? I also need a case....
What kind of things should I be looking for in a motherboard? I've used the search function and read all the faq's and everything, but this stuff seems to change by the minute! What has a good bios and good onboard "stuff" (like wireless net, etc) but is also stable?

 

[EndGame]

Originally posted by: ssvegeta1010

#1, if you're not O/C'ing, you may want to wait for San Deigo and pick up a 3500/3800 or better.

#2, I'd pick up a nForce 4 Ultra board. May not need the DFI if you're not going to O/C for sure, but the Asus is really good and stable as is the MSI, Gigabyte and Epox I hear.

#3, no need to spend a lot on ram, just get decent PC3200 and perhaps some lower latency modules since you won't be O/C'ing.

#4, get a decent Power Supply like the Seasonic 430W Definitely the Sparkle 550W w/36A on the 12V line for about $110 DEFINATELY THE SEASONIC 430/500/600 OVER ANY SPARKLE.....QUIETER, BETTER COOLING, MOST EFFICIENT PSU ON THE MARKET SEASONIC 500W

#5, Video.....like nVidia or ATI? 6800 Ultra or X850XT......SLI?? Definitely SLI for that budget, dual 6800Us Persoanlly, I'd take the X850XT over the SLI......but that's just me......I don't look for SLI to have longevity and with new cards due in May.....

Edited

EDITED

 

[EndGame]

I'd go for Seagate HD's.......5yr warranty.

Optical DVD DL.......big money Plextor or NEC seems to be an A/T favorite.....

Cases are a personal favorite thing..........I go for cases with 120mm fans because I don't want a DC 9 sitting beside me.....LOL! The Antec, Lian Li, Chenming, Coolermaster are good ones....

Motherboard.....like I said, just stay with an nForce 4 Ultra.....

 

[Kilgore65]

Forget Maxtor. Go with a Seagate.

 

[shoRunner]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-487&depa=1 motherboard $180
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-231-012&depa=1 memory 1gb $100
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-151-025&depa=1 psu $160 (can be had for around $130)
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-152-035&DEPA=1 dvd-rw $55
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-978&depa=1 cd-rw $25
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-062&depa=1 hard drive $135
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-160&depa=1 hard drive 2 $185
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-465&depa=1 processor $375
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-142-037&depa=1 video card $450

$1665 plus money left for and lcd and case

 

[the wombat]

Originally posted by: shoRunner
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-487&depa=1 motherboard $180
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-231-012&depa=1 memory 1gb $100
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-151-025&depa=1 psu $160 (can be had for around $130)
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-152-035&DEPA=1 dvd-rw $55
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-978&depa=1 cd-rw $25
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-062&depa=1 hard drive $135
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-160&depa=1 hard drive 2 $185
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-465&depa=1 processor $375
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-142-037&depa=1 video card $450

$1665 plus money left for and lcd and case

SLI board and an ATI Card? Am i missing something?

 

[janitor53]

wow...great great stuff guys. You folks really came through. Someone mentioned that there are new graphics cards due in may, anyone know what those are going to be?

 

[everman]

AMD is supposed to start selling dual core cpus really soon, next week is what I read today. I'm not sure when you'll actually be able to buy one though. They could drive prices down on the current high end processors.

 

[EndGame]

Originally posted by: janitor53
wow...great great stuff guys. You folks really came through. Someone mentioned that there are new graphics cards due in may, anyone know what those are going to be?

ATI has it's next gen cards coming in may.......but who knows.......you KNOW they'll be faster and KNOW nVidia will be right with them but......LOL!

As for dual proc. .......I doubt they'll have much affect on prices and some have even heard that they will be priced competatively with the single cores (which I'll have to see to believe) but in either case, the first gen of dual proc.'s are not going to be anything for gaming at least until games are made to take advantage of it......which may take quite some time......If possible, I'd say just wait for the San Diego/Venice........

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: the wombat
SLI board and an ATI Card? Am i missing something?

its a great board, has decent onboard sound compared with the realtek of most. if/when ati comes out with a dual card solution you'd be ready most likely. of course there is the non sli board but the price difference isn't that much.