Questions about new pc I'm building

[Kanedax]

These are the parts I'm getting, I just need to know what you folks think of them if you're considered experienced in this area or have used them yourself.

Mobo:ASUS P5N64 WS PRO WiFi LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

GFX Card:CHAINTECH GSE96GTC GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Processor:Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 Allendale 2.4GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E4600

RAM:Patriot Viper 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS32G2000LLKN

I know about all there is to know concerning my powersupply optical drives and HD these are the only bits I don't know too much about, so yes, halp plox.

[james_finn]

These are the parts I'm getting, I just need to know what you folks think of them if you're considered experienced in this area or have used them yourself.

Mobo:ASUS P5N64 WS PRO WiFi LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

GFX Card:CHAINTECH GSE96GTC GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Processor:Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 Allendale 2.4GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E4600

RAM:Patriot Viper 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS32G2000LLKN

I know about all there is to know concerning my powersupply optical drives and HD these are the only bits I don't know too much about, so yes, halp plox.

OK first question needs to be what do you want to do with the PC? We need to know roughly what the PC will be used as to be able to guage what hardware you will require. The hardware you have put down seems to come from two different angles, DDR3 RAM implies you want a high performance high spec machine, but then you are pairing it with a 2.4 Dual Core, and a 9600GT.

Give us more info (and a budget), and im sure we can come up with a spec for you

[Kanedax]

Well I want a pc that will get decent performance but my budget is around 900 USD, the only reason I went with the DDR3 is because DDR3 is going to overtake DDR2 as the memory standard fairly soon anyway. I basically want to be able to run most games, photoshop, pretty standard stuff. This pc ends up coming to around 860 USD so I'm a little close to the budget now anyway :P

[flib]

Nice choice on the motherboard, can't get much better than ASUS.
My GeForce 9500M GS runs everything I have tried to play on it without a problem (Even Crysis at low settings), so the 9600 GT should do the job for you.
Processor sounds pretty good.
RAM sounds good too.

Also, did you make sure that the motherboard supports DDR3 RAM and the architecture that the CPU is, and if it has PCI Express?

[Necpock]

To be fair, you could get more "pooter for your money" if you go with DDR2. Sure you're not going to be futureproofed, but DDR3 is at pretty extortionate levels atm.
900 USD, being about 550 quid.
Like with any newbuild, never budget on a powersupply. The case isn't too important, and frankly, it shouldnt be on a budget pc (I know mine isn't)

8800gt's are still game, ofcourse not the most powerfull thing around, but probably better then a 9600 gt (havn't seen any benchmarks so its a linear guess). They are pretty cheap now too.

You can pick up fairly good dual channel ram kits pretty cheaply now, something rediculous like 130 quid for 4x1gb sticks of fairly good ram.

Also, to be fair, motherboards aren't necessarily too important either, as long as it has the ports and slots and memory/CPU specs as what you require, the rest is just fairly unimportant. (unless ofcourse you are set on overclocking your processor to as far as it will go, then you'd probably need a 100+ quid motherboard with all the bells, whistles and old women you can possibly find)

And remember, depending on the resolutions you play games in, can change what you budget for the most in a pc. if its a fairly small resolution, you can budget on the card and slap it in ram or processors.

(Sound cards aren't important if you just play music or games casually through a 2.1 speaker or headphone setup, otherwise go for a X-FI gamer card, fairly cheap too)

Perhaps not too into detail, but its another side of the coin.

(note on processors: I beleive the e4600 has 2x1 megs of cache and the e6600 has 2x2 megs of cache -- upgrading won't put a large holy in the budget p.s.s. Check this fact out and correct me if I'm wrong )

[Kanedax]

Yeah basically I'm building this pc as a temporary budget pc, my old one died on me so I'm computerless except while at work. I plan on transforming it into a very high end performance pc as it goes along which I was gonna do from the start originally but now with my old pc dead I'm pretty much in crisis mode and need a quick solution.

Edit: @ flib: Yeah I did my research as far as that goes.

[Rob01m]

You might not like my advice, but I'll give it anyways.

Future proofing rarely works out as planned.

By the time you would want to replace your processor or whatever, chances are there will be a much better motherboard chipset as well and perhaps a whole new socket, meaning a motherboard would need to be purchased agian.

I say just purchase for today. I wouldn't get DDR3 right now. It offers very minimal performance gains for the price over DDR2. By the time it's cost effective, chances are, you'll want to change everything else anyways.

Instead of a 9600GT, I'd rather pay a tiny bit more (or less depending on the deal) and get an 8800GT. Despite early benchmarks, the 9600GT does not perform better on modern drivers. If you want ATI, the 4850 and 4870 are great price/performance.

Dual Core is fine.

The nForce motherboard you selected is a high-performance part. Unless you really want SLI, it's a bit overpowered compared to the other components you are selecting. You might want to find a nice cheap Intel chipset motherboard. ASUS is a pretty solid brand.

With the price of DDR2, you can easily shoot for 4GB. Might as well.

[SorkZmok]

First off, DDR3 is a complete waste of money. You will not see a difference, at least nothing thats worth the huge cost of these things.

Mainboard:
Gigabyte EP45-DS3 or even the DS3L version if you're not planning to use 2 gfx cards. (waste of money anyway, imo)

CPU:
Either a E8400 or a Q6600. First one is a bit faster for gaming but the quad should only be about 10€ more.

RAM:
Get a 4GB kit, DDR2-1000 is dirt cheap these days.

GFX:
Radeon HD4850. Awesome gfx card for the price.

PSU:
Get a good one. Seriously. Seasonic, Enermax, Corsair is what i recommend.

Cooling:
Whatever you like. I got a Noctua-NHU12P. Huuuge thing but its quiet and works great so far.


This should be around 500 to 550€.


I got that setup (with the Q6600) and its awesome. Neat OC potential even. Careful with a case though if you want that Noctua cooler, the heatsink is nearly 17cm high.

[Okran]

You're on a budget, so:

Don't bother with DDR3 as the price doesn't justify the gain, get DDR2.

Don't bother with a quad core, get a dual core (a e7200 or e8400).

But don't get a cheapy PSU, make sure you get a decent one, like SorkZmok says.

If you're considering the 8800gt:
Don't get a 8800gt, get the 9800gt - it is cheaper and is the same as the 8800gt but with extra technology like Phys-X for example.

Don't get an expensive motherboard that will give you more than you need.

[Rob01m]

If you're considering the 8800gt:
Don't get a 8800gt, get the 9800gt - it is cheaper and is the same as the 8800gt but with extra technology like Phys-X for example.

8800GT has PhysX acceleration.

I forgot about the 9800GT.

[Kanedax]

You guys are quite helpful. I will be doing some modifying to my list.

Also a question, when a motherboard's memory standard is, say, DDR2 1200 will it run DDR2 1000 without any problems?

[Rob01m]

You guys are quite helpful. I will be doing some modifying to my list.

Also a question, when a motherboard's memory standard is, say, DDR2 1200 will it run DDR2 1000 without any problems?

Yeah, it will be compatible.

[Kanedax]

Sweet, thanks to all who helped out.

This thread can be closed now if it pleases the management.

[IceStorm]

Closed? HELL NO!

- Dump the nVidia-based motherboard. Unless you are going to SLI from the start, just chuck it in the circular file. Go with an Intel chipset.

- Are you SURE you want a 9600GT? Are you sure you don't want an ATI 4850 that stomps all over it for $160 USD, or a 4870 for $260?

- You do not, in any way, need anything faster than DDR2 800. The fastest available CPUs today from Intel run their FSBs at 1600Mhz effective. Dual channel DDR2-800 keeps that fed. The CPU you're buying is considerably slower on the FSB front than 1600Mhz, so there's absolutely no need to go that way. You're much better off finding bog-standard DDR2-800 with decent latency that operates at 1.8v.

If it was me, for $900:
Gigabyte P45 board w/dual x16 slots $126
G.Skill 4GB DDR2-800 kit (2x2GB) $47
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 - $190
Tuniq T120 Tower HSF - $46
Gigabyte 4870 - $270
Seasonic 430watt PSU - $65
WD 640GB HDD $75

That's about $820 before rebates (there's $60 in rebates there). Gives you $80 for a case, optical drives, and extras.

If you need to cut a bit, drop the 4870 to a 4850, the CPU to an E8200, and lose the Tuniq. That will free up around $175. You can fit a case, optical drives, and 1680x1050 LCD into $255.

[flib]

Closed? HELL NO!

- Dump the nVidia-based motherboard. Unless you are going to SLI from the start, just chuck it in the circular file. Go with an Intel chipset.

- Are you SURE you want a 9600GT? Are you sure you don't want an ATI 4850 that stomps all over it for $160 USD, or a 4870 for $260?

- You do not, in any way, need anything faster than DDR2 800. The fastest available CPUs today from Intel run their FSBs at 1600Mhz effective. Dual channel DDR2-800 keeps that fed. The CPU you're buying is considerably slower on the FSB front than 1600Mhz, so there's absolutely no need to go that way. You're much better off finding bog-standard DDR2-800 with decent latency that operates at 1.8v.

If it was me, for $900:
Gigabyte P45 board w/dual x16 slots $126
G.Skill 4GB DDR2-800 kit (2x2GB) $47
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 - $190
Tuniq T120 Tower HSF - $46
Gigabyte 4870 - $270
Seasonic 430watt PSU - $65
WD 640GB HDD $75

That's about $820 before rebates (there's $60 in rebates there). Gives you $80 for a case, optical drives, and extras.

If you need to cut a bit, drop the 4870 to a 4850, the CPU to an E8200, and lose the Tuniq. That will free up around $175. You can fit a case, optical drives, and 1680x1050 LCD into $255.

Oh lord.