New Computer

[SpedeRacer]

Budget: Approx. $1200 (Video Card excluded and CA tax included)
Purpose: Gaming (Primarily)
Overclocking: Maybe but leaning towards no
Other concerns: I would like it to have decent upgradibility

Here is what I have in mind but I would like recommendations on everything (computer only) if possible please.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 90nm ($252)
Motherboard: Some nF4 motherboard ($200 to be safe)
Memory: OCZ Performance Series 1GB PC-3500 ($205)
PSU: OCZ PowerStream 420W ($86)
Hard Drive: Seagate SATA 200GB ($129)
DVD-Rom: Lite-On 16x ($25)
DVD-R: NEC ND-3500A ($72)
Floppy Drive: Samsung Floppy Disk Drive ($7)
CPU Fan: Thermalright XP-90 w/Panaflo 92mm M1A Fan and AS5 ($58)
Case: Thermaltake Tsunami w/Window ($110)
Total: $1144 (Tax not included)


Last Comments: I doubt I will need 200GB of storage space so maybe recommend a better hard drive. I don't know what NCQ is or does but would it be better to get the 160 or 120GB Seagate with NCQ instead? Also, I don't really know what kind of memory to get. The video card should be a Chaintech GeForce 6600GT so if you feel that sucks, please feel free to suggest a better setup with a video card that falls under the budget because I'll have to buy the video card myself if it's something other than the 6600GT. Please tell me if I left anything out and thanks in advance.

 

[ts3433]

If not overclocking you don't need PC3500, though that or some Patriot CL2 (TCCD chips) like JPeyton recommends would do great for overclocking.

Stick with the single 6600 GT unless you need to run lots of details at resolutions ~12x10 or above, in which case, I recommend another 6600 GT in SLI, or a single 6800 GT (preferable, because on NF4 you could buy another and SLI these later on, or you could just get an AGP version and go down to a cheaper NF3 mobo... and probably not have to spend so much on the PSU, either).

The case... I'm not particularly fond of it, but that's a subjective matter, and since I haven't heard bad things about its construction, I'll leave that to you.

You'll have to ask someone else about the difference Native Command Queueing makes on current platforms that support it (all I know of right now is one of the Intel 9xx chipsets), though I'd wager it's probably nothing special.

Other than that, I think you're good to go with that setup.

 

[rammstein junkie]

what about a mouse everyone needs a nice mouse how about the logitech mx510 it es very nice

 

[mauiblue]

Originally posted by: rammstein junkie
what about a mouse everyone needs a nice mouse how about the logitech mx510 it es very nice

I just got the mx510 to replace my MS wireless optical mouse and I am enjoying using it. It is much better than the MS crap I replaced. I don't have to replace any batteries and the response is outstanding.

 

[rammstein junkie]

heh in my opinion its the best mouse for gaming much better than the mouse im using now

 

[SpedeRacer]

Thanks for the replies and buumpp.

 

[SrGuapo]

On the mobo: Are you planning on getting an SLI board, or just the Ultra? The Ultra shouldn't cost more than 150 USD, and the SLI should be around 200 USD...

 

[SpedeRacer]

I'm not sure on that. I would like SLI for future vid. card upgrades but you never know what technology will bring and the SLI board could be obsolete by the time I decide to upgrade vid. cards. One reason why I am playing with the idea of going with nF3.

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: SpedeRacer
I'm not sure on that. I would like SLI for future vid. card upgrades but you never know what technology will bring and the SLI board could be obsolete by the time I decide to upgrade vid. cards. One reason why I am playing with the idea of going with nF3.

Obviously it will be obsolete by the time you upgrade (that is why you upgrade). The point is to have an upgrade path that has decent yeild for not to much money/hassle. I would much rather have to stick in a new card than buy a new mobo, CPU, and video just to increase performance...

 

[rcomo]

I say go wtih nf3 ultra line; MSI Neo2 plat, and get a 6800gt. You'll save yourself some cash. And you will get better performance.

 

[SpedeRacer]

Originally posted by: rcomo
I say go wtih nf3 ultra line; MSI Neo2 plat, and get a 6800gt. You'll save yourself some cash. And you will get better performance.

I'm in a weird situation--I am getting the video card as a gift so I'm building the computer around it. I don't want to ask for anything over $200 so my best bet is the 6600GT. Given a $1200 spending limit for the rest of the computer, I chose the parts that I did. If I want to get a 6800GT, I'll have to squeeze $400 dollars out of my other components...what do you suggest I downgrade?