Need new extra Rig till Nov-Dec 09

[alan671]

I have this dilemma in where I am currently running a pretty ok 8800GTX gaming rig (the one I'm using right now) and I plan to retire this system to one of my siblings and are in need of slowly building 2 new rigs, one that I plan to build sometime during the month of December of this year and a current one very soon. The thing is for now, I'll be using this gaming rig as a second computer for some gaming and just about any other things I would be using it for. Plus I'll be lending this rig to my girlfriend for her own personal use. This new gaming rig that I plan to build will be used in conjunction with my current rig that I am using now to write this topic, until November-December for it is When I will retire my current rig to one of my siblings and this new build will be set for use for my girlfriend and then finally building a high-end "i" series gaming rig, by the last few months of this year. So basically rig #1 (this one I'm using now) will be given to one of my siblings after, rig #2 (the system I plan to build very soon) will be given to use by my girlfriend, since by that time I'll be having yet another new gaming system, rig #3 (to build by Nov-Dec) will be using the "i" series platform.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming is basically what this system will do *since I already have a current rig for use*

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Basically my budget is around $1200 for the Tower alone *no higher* just minus the video-card and PSU since I have already purchased them

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

I prefer Intel (with my current rig I'm using an Intel e6600) but want a better gaming rig till the i7 platform becomes mainstream. I already have a video-card *eVGA GTX285 2GB* on standby, a Corsair 850W PSU, to start with. And I'm a Western Digital fanboy as well.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Basically only need parts for the tower since I already have speakers, keyboard, mouse, and a Hewlett Packard 24" inch LCD Monitor.

6. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Actually plan to OC my system to reach at least 3.7ghz or more (if the need should arise)

7. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Within the span of this month hopefully.

This is what I have so far:

Processor: was thinking of a q9550 or spend an additional $100 for the q9650 just to help with the OC
Motherboard: most likely the best single PCI-E 16x 2.0 motherboard if I ended up sticking with a LGA775 platform / ASUS-Gigabyte-eVGA x58 motherboard if I ended up sticking to the i7 processor
Memory: 4GB if I'll use the LGA775 platform or 6GB if I'll use the LGA1366 platform
Hard-drive: 350GB Western Digital (since its only going to be used as a gaming rig, figured just one hard-drive and then partition it into 3 sections maybe)
Video-card: eVGA GTX285 *expecting to arrive tomorrow*
CPU-fan: leaning towards the Coolermaster V8
Optical Drive: Using one of my old DVD drives (or should I just get me a new Optical Drive?)
PSU: Corsair 850Watt *expecting to arrive with the video-card*
Casing: a Lian-Li mid tower with a side window

I hope this makes sense and that I hope anyone could help me. And if you are still confused feel free to ask me some questions.

 

[Axon]

With that kind of budget, you don't need to hold back on an i7 1366. Anyway, under a 775 build, I'd do the following:

CPU: E8400 or higher (overclocked). Not every game takes advantage of the quad-core. But if you insist on quad core, I'd save the $100 and get the q9550.
CPU Fan: http://www.frozencpu.com/produ...6_Xeon_AM2.html?tl=g40
Motherboard: Gigabyte UD3P
Memory: Corsair or GSkill DDR
HDD: I'd splurge for the one SSD drive and then get a low-store drive like the one you indicate above
Case: w/e you like in terms of aesthetics

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

The Q9550 is the best choice as I have 2 Q9650's and one tops out at 4.25Ghz - You'll probably hit the CPU wall before you hit any other wall on a UD3R or P board

never will overclock the other

 

[alan671]

Originally posted by: Axon
With that kind of budget, you don't need to hold back on an i7 1366. Anyway, under a 775 build, I'd do the following:

CPU: E8400 or higher (overclocked). Not every game takes advantage of the quad-core. But if you insist on quad core, I'd save the $100 and get the q9550.
CPU Fan: http://www.frozencpu.com/produ...6_Xeon_AM2.html?tl=g40
Motherboard: Gigabyte UD3P
Memory: Corsair or GSkill DDR
HDD: I'd splurge for the one SSD drive and then get a low-store drive like the one you indicate above
Case: w/e you like in terms of aesthetics

reason for quad core for this rig was to help extend its life (the system overall) for the next 2-4 years as this rig will soon be used by my girlfriend by the time Nov-Dec 09 hits. That's when I'll be building a better rig for myself. So for now I'll be using this new gaming rig while my girlfriend will be using my current rig (the one I'm using now to write this) That's why I chose Quad over Dual.

As for SSD, I'll hold off till December for when I build my other gaming rig.

THANKS for the tips though, much appreciated!:thumbsup:

 

[alan671]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
The Q9550 is the best choice as I have 2 Q9650's and one tops out at 4.25Ghz - You'll probably hit the CPU wall before you hit any other wall on a UD3R or P board

never will overclock the other

I'm actually leaning towards the Gigabyte UD2R board, but could I be able to reach at least 3.8Ghz with a Q9550 running off 1066Mhz memory?

 

[Denithor]

DDR2-1066 won't hold you back unless you try to go past 4.5GHz. 3.8GHz should be a no-brainer OC - but there are never any guarantees.

Is your GF going to be gaming on this system once you turn it over to her? I would actually suggest going with an e8x00 CPU for this build. Plenty of power for light-medium gaming and overkill for general use. And much cooler-running than the quads so her room won't turn into an oven.