Another computer build help thread...

Alright im looking to build a system for around $600 or $800. It doesn't have to be high end im just looking for something that will play games such as bf2 and fear pretty well. The main thing is i am looking to move my ram to my next rig which will more than likely be built around the release of crisis and will run a quad core proc. So i would like to just buy my ram now for this machine and hopefully maybe move it over to the future one when it comes time. If this is a bad idea please let me know if not please suggest some ram. I would like to go 2x1gb preferably. And since i will be running a quad core i don't know what kind of power supply i will need. Im thinking somewhere in the 800w range? I do not plan on running vista on this system. going to wait till the next one after all the driver issues are resolved

So far ive got this.

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131142

Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814143070

Proc
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115004

Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817256007

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146565

I understand there are extras that arent included such as hard drives, coolers etc. but im taking some of that stuff from my current rig. And will be buying all new stuff for the future rig when the time comes. This all will be running on a 22'' monitor.

Basically im planning on the processor, motherboard, and video card be obsolete when it comes time to upgrade but would like to minimize buying other parts as much as possible.

anybody?

You picked out some great components. You have obviously done your homework.

I personally would pick a different motherboard if you don't need SLI. I've seen too many people have problems overclocking the Nvidia 650i chipset. The Asus P5B-Deluxe is a great choice and is only a little more.

Since I recommend a slight more expensive mobo, I'll save you some money on the PSU. You don't need 850 watts. While Silverstone indeed makes good power supplies, that unit has four +12v rails rated at 18 amps each. So, your CPU/mobo will be limited to only 18 amps. If you aren't planning on overclocking, that's ok, but you need more amps than that if you want a decent O/C.

Get a PSU with a lot of amps on a single +12v rail. The OCZ 520W Powerstream would be fine for what you listed, but if you want a nice PSU so you don't have to upgrade when you go with a quad core, then here is an excellent choice, the PC & Cooling Silencer 610 (see link). Look at the specs, 49 amps on a single +12v rail, awesome.

http://www.pcpower.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S61EPS

I recently got it's big brother, the 750W version which is rated 60 amps. Newegg carries them both, but it's cheaper to order them direct from the manufacturer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Subcategory=58&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

Agreed on the motherboard selection. Also the p5b supports matrix raid which the 650i didnt. I dont plan on the sli so i dont know why i chose that one. the p5b is a good board from what i read. Thanks for the suggestion on the power supply. right now i think 610w will be enough but will it be fine when i start adding a quad core, 4 hard drives, r600, ect?

Also cant remember if this is a good choice but im only thinking this one cause its able to accept quad cores so if later on i can keep my board for my quad if i want to. I would rather keep my options as open as possible.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025

I thought your budget was 600 to 800 dollars.... All that is over a grand? I was going to get the p5b but i went with a gigabyte 965p-s3 instead... I probably should reconsider for quad core.

Yea good point i was originally going to go for around $800 so i could save for the next rig im going to build around april or march but im going to spend some of the money now on things such as ram and power supply so i can just use the same parts for the future system. Most dx10 games such as crysis will take full advantage of the quad cores so going with quad will be beneficial with games in future. You will still be able to run the games fine with single and dual cores but will notice a huge difference when ran on quad cores atleast from what i've read so far.

Oh yeah, that PC & Cooling 610W will be plenty for a quad core upgrade and a case full of drives. No problem. It's 49 amps on the +12v rail.

The P5W DH is a good motherboard too. But, the P5B Deluxe is indeed quad core ready (see link).

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1295&l1=3&l2=11&l3=307

Ok didnt realize that. That will save me about $40 going with the p5b instead of the p5w. Anything else you would change with it? Ive chose to do a matrix raid and will go with two of these. I can then take these and use them on my future rig as well. And should be a good set of drives to use.

HITACHI Deskstar T7K500
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822145129

Would you keep the video card i have or maybe change to something else. i dont know about the bfg only because evga has better customer service and was thinking of going with them. I could up the video card to around $200 range. I keep going up in range with this system but what the heck its been a while since i had a good comp so i figure ill splurge now and splurge in april too.

I'm a little out of the loop regarding vid cards, so I'll let someone else answer that question. Everything elese looks good to me now. I have a couple Hitachi harddrives and they are good. But, if I were buying right now, I'd seriously consider the Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 Perpendicular drives. They are fast and only $5 more than the Hitachi drives.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

EDIT: corrected link

you mean these seagate's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

the ones you pasted were the ata drives ha you just linked the wrong drive. ill change to the seagates.

Oops. Yeah, you have the right ones now.

Ok another thing should i stay with the ram i have or should i go up $40 or so and get the DDR2 1000?

DDR2 1000
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146563

thinking getting this ram only because i plan on overclocking both this c2d and the quad when i get it.

Have you checked out the CORSAIR Dominator thats some mean looking Ram. I've been a Corsair fan for a long time though so I'm a little biased.

I'll put in another vote for PC Power & cooling Power Supplies, I was having them shipped over the boarder since they were not avaible in Canada for the longest time. they are AMAZING PSU's my 510 has lasted me though brown outs when other PC's I didn't build in the house would shut down. I'd have almost 5 extra seconds before it shut down, enough time to save a document, and hit shutdown.

Thanks for the input. But seriously is the ram going to be worth the $389?

Probably not worth it really, I'd actually buy the Dominator 800 for OCing.