Need Help with New Gaming Build Please

[goldenboiyaj]

Hello, I am preparing to build a new complete system for a family member and would appreciate if anyone can give inputs or help me. Looking to use tigerdirect or newegg since i've ordered from them before. The system cannot go over 1,000 after everything. I've heard that shipping will be about $100 so really i'm working with about 900. Hopefully I can find some deals with free shippings or rebates. I am waiting for the july 22 price drop to actually order(couple days away, woot!!!)

System will be mostly for gaming and everyday use as burning cds and running 1 or 2 apps. Games play are WOW, CS:Source, FEAR, BATTLEFIELD. Nothing too heavy. Won't be doing any overclocking as I dont know how. looking for a decent system, not a powerhouse as i'm budgeted. Below are some of the things i've liked. would like this system to last atleast 1yr and maybe 2.


CPU: I am 90% leaning towards the e6750($183=july22) with the 1333fsb. is the quad e6600 any better although they wont do much multitasking. pretty sure with my budget, the quad is out of the question. From reading around, I hear if you're not doing much multitasking and just gaming, you should go not go with the quad core since it's useless, i hope it's true. ($190 total).

CPU FAN: Stock or not?

MOBO: Must Have onboard sound, will not be running SLI/CROSSFIRE. I am really not sure which boards are good. I hear that asus and gigabyte are the best. What should I go with?
ASUS P5K-VM LGA 775 Intel G33 uATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (117+7=$124)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131187

MSI G33M-FI LGA 775 Intel G33 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (93+7=100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813130120

Should i go with this other board for $7 more from MSI? Which is a P35, I hear it's better.
MSI P35 Neo-F LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813130095

VIDEO CARD: ? DX10 a must? ATI/NVIDIA? is 256mb/gddr3 better than 512mb/gddr2?
XFX GeForce 8600 GT XXX / 256MB DDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / DL Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card (150+9=$159)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...=3048552&Sku=P450-8650

eVGA e-GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB PCI-Express 256-P2-N761-AR Graphics Card (159+10=169). Weird, say's item ships from Tigerdirect but I can't find item on TigerDirect at all.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...A9B09ZK9BZJQ6&v=glance

HIS Radeon X1950 Pro / 512MB GDDR3 / PCI Express / DL Dual DVI / HDTV / CrossFire Ready / Video Card (170+9=$179)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=2855874&CatId=1826

HD:Minimum 250 Sata 3.0
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM ($65)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16822144701

RAM: 2gb
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual - Retail (89+5=$94)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231098

MONITOR:
Hanns·G JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor w/Speakers - Retail (160+14=174)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824254001

CD/DVD:
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model LH-20A1H-185 - OEM (32+6=$38)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16827106055

CASE: Can I go with a cheaper price case that can provide enough power for build? Case does not have to be fancy looking. I was also looking at the JPAC brands on newegg. Are they any good?
hec 6C28BB8SX585 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 585W Power Supply - Retail (55+16=$71)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16811121002

PSU: ??? Do I need one or is the one on the case good enough?

MOUSE/KEYBOARD: standard, nothing fancy
Microsoft A4B-00007 Black 104 Normal Keys USB + PS/2 Standard BUSINESS HARDWARE PACK MAC/WIN Mouse Included - Retail (30+5=35)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16823109035

HEADPHONES:
Logitech 980231-0403 Gold Plated Audio Connectors Connector Circumaural Precision PC Gaming Headset - Retail (20+6=$26)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16826106935

SPEAKERS:
Logitech S-100 BLK 5 Watts RMS 2.0 Speaker - OEM (12+7=$19)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16836121125

So right now, I'm sitting at $712+shipping and w/o a definite mobo and vid. It leaves me with 288. With the asus mobo and xfx vid, that'll take me to $995. Wow, I guess that $5 can go for me, hahaha. can anyone recommend a vid and mobo for me as i'm not too sure at moment or make any changes to improve the system. I think all is compatible in my build. is there any overkill or bottleneck? I'm also thinking of adding a power surge strip for 18 dollars total from newegg.

thanks,
ky

 

[zach0624]

It looks like you did a pretty good job. With a video card don't get the 8 series instead get a cheap 7900 (EVGA 7900gs=105 and is what I use will work great at 1440x900 and will run most games a full detail) wait till dx10 cards mature a bit more. don't get a radeon x2000 series same as 8 series. I would go with the p35 because I've seen some pretty good reviews on it. And also ditch the case and get a centurion 5 and a 50 dollar psu (if you look hard enough you can find a name brand for that price) the centurion has great airflow for a 35 dollar case( where were these cases 5 years ago?)

 

[goldenboiyaj]

thanks for reply. i guess i'll skip the dx10 8800 series for now. since the system will be running xp pro only. how about these cards

EVGA GeForce 7900 GS KO / 256MB GDDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card (135-20mib=$115. shipping not-included)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=2458745&CatId=1560

BFG GeForce 7950 GT OC (OverClocked) / 256MB GDDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / DL Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card (180-40mib=$140. shipping not-included)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=2918356&CatId=1560

BFG Tech BFGR79256GSOCE GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail (136+6=$142)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814143070

EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail (105+6=$111)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130056

 

[LOUISSSSS]

basically u just did a rundown of nvidia cards. where there are MUCH better cards from Ati at that price point

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102061
-x1950pro 256mb $136

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102075
-x1950pro 512mb $159 for gaming at higher resolutions

-i also agree with getting a centurion 5, much better case
-and you'll def want this PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817151032 quiet, high efficiency and will power your system fine

 

[zach0624]

Louis that power supply is pretty good especially since its quite.
I like this power supply though http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817182016
You're right the x1950 is better, for higher resolutions and if he doesn't overclock, than the 7900gs but for the money a 7950gt is better than both especially oc'd.
video card roundup

 

[goldenboiyaj]

Any input on my vid question?
is a 256mb ddr3 better than a 512 ddr2?


I've chosen the MSI p35 mobo.


do I go with Sapphire x1950 pro or one of the other 4 79xx?

thanks,
ky

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: zach0624
Louis that power supply is pretty good especially since its quite.
I like this power supply though http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817182016
You're right the x1950 is better, for higher resolutions and if he doesn't overclock, than the 7900gs but for the money a 7950gt is better than both especially oc'd.
video card roundup

ok that psu is utter crap compared to the seasonic. Quality watts of Quanity of watts there my friend. Rosewill is known to make crappy PSU's.
the 7950 can't even compare to the x1950 when taking image quality into account, this debate has bee covered over and over. the end conclusion is that the x1950 wins hands down in that comparison.

 

[mrblotto]

I would go for a PCI sound card IMO. Anything but a creative preferably......