[newb] Help with ~$1000 gaming build

[iamtehwalrus]

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

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$800-1000

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.
No preference really

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
just 1 IDE dvd burner

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, but I still don't quite know what I'm doing. I know this is one of 12839 similar threads, but I just wanted to get a second opinion on my build before I go ahead and drop $1000 on a computer. Chances are I probably messed up somewhere.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I don't plan on overclocking

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
More or less now

This is my first build. I'm pretty sure I want a Q6600 and the radeon 4850 unless you convince me otherwise. I'm up for suggestions for any other part. This is what I have so far

Case: Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129024 - $124.95

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148288 - $84.99

Memory:
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145184 - $66.50

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115018 - $194.99

CPU heatsink/fan:
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186134 - $26.99

Motherboard:
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131299 - $149.99

Video card:
ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121253 - $164.99

Grand total (including tax, free shipping, rebates): $852.16

Thanks 🙂

 

[DaveSimmons]

Looks good, except the core 2 E8400 is better for gaming, 3.0 GHz vs. 2.4, the extra 2 cores are useless for games.

The heatsink with the retail E8400 is fine for stock speed, the only reasons for buying a different one are to overclock or to cut the noise (but the intel HSF is OK noise-wise).

Be sure to get the bundle price on the P5QPro + Asus 4850 (this is on top of the rebate).

 

[iamtehwalrus]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Looks good, except the core 2 E8400 is better for gaming, 3.0 GHz vs. 2.4, the extra 2 cores are useless for games.

The heatsink with the retail E8400 is fine for stock speed, the only reasons for buying a different one are to overclock or to cut the noise (but the intel HSF is OK noise-wise).

Be sure to get the bundle price on the P5QPro + Asus 4850 (this is on top of the rebate).

The reason why I'm considering the quad core instead of dual core is because I plan on keeping this computer for 4 years or so. If I'm planning for the long run, won't a slower quad core be a better investment than a faster dual core?

As for the heatsink/fan, I figured an aftermarket would be good, but since I'm not overclocking, I guess I don't need it. I'll stick to the stock fan then.

And yeah, I was planning on getting that video card/mobo combo. Newegg woudln't let me put the combo in my wish list, so I had to link all the items separately.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

If not overclocking I would have to agree with Dave. If OCing however I would say the quad is fine... I just bought a nearly identical rig and for folding I intend to be extremely pleased.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If I'm planning for the long run, won't a slower quad core be a better investment than a faster dual core?

There is a small chance that after 2-3 years of being slower, the quad might catch up 🙂

3.0 vs 2.4, and right now even the second core is often not fully used.

If I'm wrong, you can always decide to overclock the E8400 to 3.6 GHz in a couple of years. just by setting the FSB to 400.

 

[iamtehwalrus]

oh ok
I'll go with the e8400 then. I just didn't want to "regret" going with the dual core if/when games started using quad cores