Parts advice

[fallensight]

1 - Games and general computing use. No plans for video/audio editing/encoding.

2 - for the parts I'm after(CPU, MB, ram) the budget is about $350,there is wiggle room, but I really want to keep it under $400

3 - Parts from USA. Newegg or ZZF most likely.

4 - No real brand preference, I am more familiar with AMD however.

5 - Keeping my power supply(550w), HDs(3 SATA drives) and vid card (8800GTS), Sound Card(X-Fi), DVD drive, and case.

6 - I have browsed some, but it didnt really get my question solved.

7 - No OCing for me, just going stock speeds.

8 - next 2-3 months.

What advice I'm looking for is about current CPUs and MB chipsets. I'm a bit out of the loop, I have not kept up on things in the last couple years from when I built current system(AMD 3500+ and nForce4) and the old single core setup I built in '05 just isnt hacking it anymore. For a CPU I'm interested in what amounts to the best 'bang for the buck' set up right now. I dont upgrade often(as my current CPU attests to), but do not have the budget for a high end CPU.

 

[DarkRogue]

For quick and easy upgrade, try an Intel E8400 (or E8500 since they've come down in price) and a good P45-based motherboard. Also, 2x2GB of DDR2-800.

 

[DSF]

If you're not planning on building this for 2-3 months you're not going to get a good answer.

It's impossible to say right now what the best bang for your buck will be in 2-3 months. Keep reading the forums, especially the CPU forums to stay abreast of what's going on. In 2-3 months Intel's newest processor line, Nehalem, will be on the verge of release.

 

[DarkRogue]

That's true, but the cheapest Nehalem CPU will probably be more than his allotted $350 budget, so I'd advise not to wait for it, unless you're going to be able to spend gobs for all the new hardware it requires.