Need advice for new build please

[Phant0m32]

I'm planning on upgrading my two year old build very soon. Gaming performance is the primary concern and getting the best product for the money at the price range I'm shopping at(mentioned below for each part). I'm not a fanboy of any brands and I don't plan on doing any overclocking. All parts will be purchased in the USA. I will be using this new build for the next two years before upgrading again.

For the most part, I plan on keeping my old monitor, case, sound card, keyboard, mouse, HD, optical drives, and PSU. I know very little about PSUs though and I'm not sure if it would support the latest video cards and CPUs, so any input is welcome. My current PSU is an Antec 430W TP430... Here is a link with the specs. It has supported my current build without issue(7900GT, A64 3800+, 1HD, 2 optical drives, 3 case fans). I would like to save money and continue using the same PSU, but only if it won't compromise the stability of my new build.

I only have a vague idea of what my next build might include right now. I should also say I'm not very knowledgeable about the latest hardware performance specs, as I only tend to research hardware when I want to upgrade. Anyway, here's what I'm looking at right now, any suggestions are welcome:

-CPU: My price range is from $200-300. Perhaps the core 2 quad q6600 or the core 2 duo e8400? Any thoughts on quad core vs. dual core? Other processors to consider at this price range?

-Motherboard: I would prefer to pay less than $100 if possible. No idea what's popular lately. I don't need any fancy overclocking features, just a reliable and affordable chipset. I also wont be needing onboard sound or video.

-Video Card: Price range is $200-300. After the small amount of research I've done, I was thinking about an Nvidia 8800GTS . Any other cards I should consider at this price range? I should also mention that I only use a 17 inch monitor at 1024x768 for gaming. I'm happy as long as I can play the latest games at this resolution with mostly high settings for the next two years.

-Memory: I would prefer to pay less than $100 if possible. I'm thinking 4GB would be ideal for the new gaming build. What speed/type of memory should I get? Aren't you supposed to match the CPU FSB with the memory speed/type? And since I'm not overclocking, should I pay much attention to the various timings or voltages when purchasing? Any reason to buy DDR3, or should I go with DDR2?

-Operating System: My current system is using Windows XP, but I also have a 32 bit copy of Windows Vista Home Premium. I would like to use Vista on the new build... but should I buy the 64 bit version instead to go with the new CPU? Is this really necessary or useful... particularly with respect to gaming performance? I would like to save money and use the 32 bit version if possible, but not if it will really slow my system down. Also, how much HD space does a typical Vista install take up? And is it more difficult... or easier to setup/install than XP? I mean, are there any notable differences regarding the installation process I should be aware of?

 

[DSF]

You're pretty much on the right track. For a purely gaming build the E8400 would be more useful than the Q6600, especially since you're not looking to overclock. Between $200 and $300 the 8800GTS is indeed the best buy. As far as the motherboard, the two most frequently recommended around here are the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L and the Abit IP35-E. Both can be found for just under $100.

Go ahead and get 4GB of DDR2 while it's cheap. Since the price difference are generally minimal, go ahead and get DDR2-800. It will be fast enough for any non-overclocking use, and will allow you to tinker with a little bit of overclocking should you so desire down the road. Stepping down to DDR2-667, the minimum speed you'd want to pair with an E8400 isn't going to save you much money. Since you're not planning to overclock, buy memory that's designed to run at 1.8V to reduce any compatibility/stability headaches. Due to its relatively high price tag, there's no reason to buy DDR3 right now.

 

[chinaman1472]

The 8800GTS will crush anything at 1024x768... hell an 8800GT would.

 

[Phant0m32]

Thanks for the replies. So it sounds like the E8400 and the 8800GTS are good buys for my price range. Any thoughts about my questions regarding the PSU or Windows Vista?

 

[Urtho]

Originally posted by: Phant0m32
Thanks for the replies. So it sounds like the E8400 and the 8800GTS are good buys for my price range. Any thoughts about my questions regarding the PSU or Windows Vista?

If it was brand new when you built your current system 2 years ago it should probably be fine. Just make sure it has all the connectors you'll need with your new hardware. If you're feeling nervous, there's a fairly cheap yet still good 430W PSU located HERE that should work great for you for only $40 AR.

If you're building new and going with 4GB of RAM, I would look no farther than Vista 64-bit. 32-bit OS's are only the present and soon to be the past, if you're going new go all the way. The vast majority of the issues that came up for Vista on release have been mitigated or eliminated altogether. On modern hardware, install should be a breeze. If you really want to cut down on your costs, XP is still a fine choice, I just wouldn't build new and then put an older OS on it as my first choice.

 

[Phant0m32]

I've heard that security is a little better on 64-bit vista than 32-bit, but does anyone know if it significantly improves performance when using a 64 bit CPU... especially in gaming?

Also... does an 8800GTS require any more/different power connections than a 7900GT? If not, I'll probably just use my old PSU...

 

[roguerower]

Not looking to derail the thread, but what are the differences between the different versions of the Abit IP35...Pro vs. -E for example

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: roguerower
Not looking to derail the thread, but what are the differences between the different versions of the Abit IP35...Pro vs. -E for example

The Pro version has more features, but not everyone needs the extras. To see the differences more specifically, go to Abit's website or Newegg and take a look at the specs. It will be pretty obvious.

 

[Roguestar]

The Pro has eSATA, optical in/out as opposed to just out, 2 more SATA ports, a newer HD audio chipset and firewire. The Pro also has another x16 PCI-E slot (although x16 shaped it is electrically only x4) and also has a little LCD display thing built in to show the POST codes.

Edit: ... left this tab open for 4 hours before replying and now I'm beaten to the punch!

 

[roguerower]

Does that mean there's the ability for SLI in the future or is that only available on Nvidia chipset boards? What about crossfire?

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: roguerower
Does that mean there's the ability for SLI in the future or is that only available on Nvidia chipset boards? What about crossfire?

SLI is only for boards with Nvidia chipsets. Crossfire is possible, but it would be hamstrung by the fact that the second PCI-e slot isn't operating at full capacity.

If you have any more questions you probably ought to start your own thread so that this one can be about the OP's build.