Need info on intel upgrade

[Packetloss]

Ideally, I'm looking to spend < $500 to upgrade my computer around X-mas. I'm switching from an old AMD Socket 939 setup, so almost everything has to be updated. I DO have a nice reliable Antec 550W power supply, (good and heavy, I don't buy cheap PSUs) and will keep my BFG 8800GT OC. Since I've never built an Intel build and Intel seems to be rockin' top atm, it looks like I get to learn about Intel.


I Need: info to help with the parts I'm looking at.
Used For: Mostly gaming run at Mid-to-High Settings till I need to replace my video card. I doubt I'll ever use a dual-GPU setup. I think they're silly, considering I allready disable Bloom, HDR, and high-res shadows in games (all 3 give me headaches)



Mobo -
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L P45 ATX ~ $100 (before $15 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128345
-or-
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P P45 ATX ~ $130 (before $30 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358
-or-
ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX ~ $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131295

Notes: my last three motherboards have all been Asus and never let me down, but I keep hearing about how nice Gigabyte boards are now, so I'm fully willing to abandon Asus.


RAM -
Mushkin 2x2gig DDR2 800 - 5-4-4-12 ~ $60 (before $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146731
-or-
G.Skill 2x2gig DDR2 1000 - 5-5-5-15 ~ $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231145

Notes: I've read good things about Mushkin, but I have concerns about motherboard/CPU compatibility and I don't know much about DDR2


CPU -
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield ~ $189
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115017
-or-
Intel Core2 Quad Q8200 York ~ $189
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115055
-or-
Intel Core2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale ~ $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115037

Notes: I know I know, "Dual cores for gaming!" But I'd like to listen to Winamp while I'm playing games, or Fraps, and I think 4 really good cores will be just as good as 2 top notch cores for my Casual play style.


CPU Cooler -
Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7 ~ $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186134

Notes: I have an Enermax Chakra case and I'm not sure if this will fit with that big fan on the side.


Thanks in advance!

PS: MIBs don't count against the $500. If I only have about $500 to spend atm I can't count on wacky potential money from the future.

 

[Blazer]

i replaced the cooler of your choice with this one, much better cooler.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835103046

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: blazer
i replaced the cooler of your choice with this one, much better cooler.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835103046

Why is this better??? Cus of the 120mm fan?

 

[DSF]

Fraps and winamp are not going to slow down your dual core even if you're playing games, but that's up to you. It sounds to me like you'll have two cores sitting idle 95% of the time, unless you do processor-intensive stuff you didn't mention.

That said, multiple cores will see greater support in games in the coming years, although not to the extent that dual cores become obsolete for gaming.

Go for the DDR2-800 unless you intend to overclock the E8400 past 3.6GHz. Even then, that Mushkin is good enough that it should handle it just fine. 5-4-4-12 @ 1.8V means it should have some nice overclocking headroom.

 

[Blazer]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: blazer
i replaced the cooler of your choice with this one, much better cooler.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835103046

Why is this better??? Cus of the 120mm fan?

the ops cooler uses push-in retainers = junk imo.
the fan is non shrouded and less effective for moving air across the heatsink.
the heatsink base is to thick which results in to much heat being held at the base near the core.