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New custom build, need some suggestions

Z

Zinthar

Member
I've never built a PC before, but have always wanted to do so and I'm sure I'd enjoy the building/overclocking experience. I'm planning on selling my Xbox 360 and building a mainstream gaming PC. I already have a 20.1" Viewsonic 2025 (1680x1050) and a great keyboard and mouse, so I just need the tower.

I'd like to stay under $1000, but if the options here keep the system from becoming obsolete sooner, then I'm flexible to go higher.

I'm estimating in the following fixed costs:
HDD: Hitachi 250GB 7200RPM HDD ($80)
Optical: Pioneer DVD/RW ($35)
Video Card: Radeon X1900 XT ($325, Open Box)
TOTAL: $440

Case: ?
PSU: ?
TOTAL: ?

The real issue I need to solve first is what kind of system to build...

Option 1:
If I go AMD, I'm guessing that I want to AM2 at this point, since AM2 should support the AM3 AMD processors as well as the fact that the DDR memory in socket 939 will be obsolete sooner. Is this a fair statement? I'm looking at:
CPU: Athlon 64 X2 3800+ ($159)
Mobo: ASUS nForce 570 Ultra (AM2) M2N-E ($104)
RAM: Corsair XMS DDR2 800 2x1GB ($177)
TOTAL: $440

If I go with Intel, I might have 2 options...
I was considering foregoing Conroe initially while it's hard to find and priced over MSRP and pairing a new chipset with an ultra-cheap Pentium D 805...and then upgrading to a better Conroe in a few years when they're faster/cheaper. Or, I could spend extra and go with an E6300 and OC it right now.

Option 2:
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6300 ($219)
Mobo: Gigabyte P965 ($154)
RAM: Corsair XMS DDR2 800 2x1GB ($177)
TOTAL: $550

Option 3:
CPU: Pentium D 805 ($97)
Mobo: Conroe/Pentium D Compatible Mobo (?)
RAM: Corsair XMS DDR2 800 2x1GB ($177)
TOTAL: ?

Price before Case/PSU:
AM2 Option: $880
Conroe E6300 Option: $990
Pentium D Option: ?


Thoughts? Suggestions? Alternatives? I haven't bought anything, so I'm wide open to suggestions.

I want something that's going be easy to upgrade and so I want compatibility for the future. I don't care about SLI or Crossfire, but I do want a stable Mobo that will OC, so long as its reasonably priced. I don't need a ton of CPU performance at this point, but I don't want gaming performance to be held down by the CPU (it usually isn't though).

Also, what are the chances that AMD will be able to retake the performance crown in the future with their AM3 processors?? I'd be more inclined to go with an AM2 system now if AMD will be more competitive with Intel's future offerings, as I'd like to avoid investing in a new mobo and RAM in the next couple of years. I haven't ruled out going with a cheaper 939 system if chances are that current mobos will pale in comparison to systems in 2 years that would be worthy of changing everything.

Thanks.

 
If you have the mone for a Conroe then do it... they are great CPUs

however if you don't want to spend that much money on a CPU just get the X2 3800 (AM2) - the differnce shouldn't me to drastic for gaming...

you need a *horrible* CPU to be held back in games (besides that extra 1 or 2 FPS)

Don't go Pentium D:disgust:
__________________________

Power Supply: FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954
$51.50

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN1 Black Aluminum bezel, SECC chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119094
($44.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)


No matter what you get this RAM is great
Ram: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...90&ATT=20-145-590&CMP=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r
($177.00 after $40.00 Mail-In Rebate)

 
Originally posted by: Henny
Option 2 but I'd spring for the extra $30 and get an E6400
Click to expand...

I would do...for $30. But I'm seeing the E6400 at $60 over the E6300 at launch...have you found it anywhere for sub-$250??
 
Gamers on the other hand are probably going to at least want to think about SLI/CrossFire, as typical gaming settings will be GPU limited with just about any current single GPU.
Click to expand...

From the 6300/6400 review. CPU doesn't really matter, an overclocked 3800 (single core) would be enough for a X1900XT at a fraction of the price of your options, an overclocked 3800X2 will give no noticable improvement, an overclocked 6300 no noticable difference either as in all situations you're GPU limited. If you can afford it you'll feel happier with a conroe, and if you do need to do something that'll tax the CPU (i don't class gaming as one of these any more) rather than the GPU then it'll shine. If not, no big deal (just don't count on upgrading with the same motherboard, it's easy to say that AM3 will be supported, odds are that it won't work quite like that.)
 
Why would AMD come out and say otherwise then? They said it should drop right in, probably a bios update or something, but Amd would advertise it if it didn't work that way.

CPU doesn't matter now, in games only. CPU will mater in the future with the next generation graphics cards. It's stupid not to get the more powerfull cpu.

I'd only go dual core, nobody just plays games. It makes surfing the net, listening to music, etc that much easier. And the price for a dual care is super cheap now days.

I'd go option 2. The conroe mobo's are also suppose to suppore Kentsfield although it hasnt been official said, but people have been running Kentsfield ES chips on conroe mobos, so thats a great upgrade path too.

Either way you can't loose.
 
both option 1 and 2 are good but i agree with the previous posters...if you go with option 2, get the e6400 unless it's $100+ more
 
My thoughts:

Definately get a Conroe! Wait a couple weeks when you can pickup a mobo in the $90-$99 range and when the CPU's are readily available E6300 prolly around $185.00. Also with the Intel Core 2 Duo's fast memory doesn't really help all that much. I would just go with 667 DDR2. You'll still get a super powerful system! Much better than an AM2 for prolly less money!

I'm not rich so I am always looking for the best performance/dollar ratio!

My Option:
Option 2:
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6300 ($185)
Mobo: MSI/Asus/Other P965 ($95)
RAM: gigaram DDR2 667 2x1GB ($140)
TOTAL: $420
 
I would pick option 2 if I were you, though I picked option 1 for myself (see below).
 
Originally posted by: MightyJD
My thoughts:

Definately get a Conroe! Wait a couple weeks when you can pickup a mobo in the $90-$99 range and when the CPU's are readily available E6300 prolly around $185.00. Also with the Intel Core 2 Duo's fast memory doesn't really help all that much. I would just go with 667 DDR2. You'll still get a super powerful system! Much better than an AM2 for prolly less money!

I'm not rich so I am always looking for the best performance/dollar ratio!

My Option:
Option 2:
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6300 ($185)
Mobo: MSI/Asus/Other P965 ($95)
RAM: gigaram DDR2 667 2x1GB ($140)
TOTAL: $420
Click to expand...

I'm liking this option a lot...just gotta wait for price drops and be patient for a few weeks.
 
i'd go with option 2 and grab an e6400, i just ordered one for $249 at clubit.com, so it's only $30 more, not $60. plus if you look at current prices, the e6300 is $40 over MSRP, while the e6400 is only $25 higher, so its being less price gauged. while i'm betting both the e6300 and e6400 can hit pretty good overclocks, the 7x multi on the e6300 is gonna be a limiting factor because it's hard to find mobos that can support higher than 450FSB. i wouldnt bother with the 805d since you're spending $100 so that you can save a few bucks down the road, but there is no way the e6300 is gonna drop $100 any time soon to make up for the waiting, and once intel ramps up core 2 production, nobody's gonna want to buy a low-end pentium D. plus Pentium D performance blows in games (and most other things).

the X2 3800+ is certainly not a bad buy though, they OC pretty well and performance in games is good.
 
Originally posted by: gobucks
i'd go with option 2 and grab an e6400, i just ordered one for $249 at clubit.com, so it's only $30 more, not $60. plus if you look at current prices, the e6300 is $40 over MSRP, while the e6400 is only $25 higher, so its being less price gauged. while i'm betting both the e6300 and e6400 can hit pretty good overclocks, the 7x multi on the e6300 is gonna be a limiting factor because it's hard to find mobos that can support higher than 450FSB. i wouldnt bother with the 805d since you're spending $100 so that you can save a few bucks down the road, but there is no way the e6300 is gonna drop $100 any time soon to make up for the waiting, and once intel ramps up core 2 production, nobody's gonna want to buy a low-end pentium D. plus Pentium D performance blows in games (and most other things).

the X2 3800+ is certainly not a bad buy though, they OC pretty well and performance in games is good.
Click to expand...

Ok, Pentium D is defo out of consideration.

After re-reading the Core 2 Duo Overclocking report and comparing the way that an OC'ed E6400 crushed every single X2 available (including far superior fps performance in CPU-limited games...and I like strategy games like Civ4 and Rome: Toal War), I think that's the way I'm gonna go. $249 is very reasonable for that performance.

What mobo and RAM are you pairing your E6400 with?

And does anyone anticipate serious potential problems with OCing a first run Core 2 Duo chip?

 
Currently have my E6300 @ 2.35GHz on my P5B-D.
$110 PQI 2GB PC2-5400 is running 1:1 with it.

Still stock voltages, stock heatsink. Gonna wait till I get an aftermarket cooler before I push it further. Seeing this beauty in the 55c range is just scary to me.
 
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