New rig suggestions.

I'm hoping to get a system together for gaming and I was thinking of the following:-

Mobo - http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=329724
CPU - http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=322635
RAM (4 sticks total) - http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=313834
Graphics - http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=324998&s=sc
HDD - http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=320128&s=sc
DVD/RW - http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=331155&s=sc

I would like to know what people think maybe advice now changing item. My buget is about 2000 Euro including OS, monitor, speaker, mouse and keyboard.
This is the first machine I have assembled from start are there any guides about the order of assembly and loading software/drives etc?

You should be able to save some Euro with these two changes.

First, get the E6600 or E4300. The E6600 will overclock the same as the E6700 and cost less. The E4300 cost evan less and will overclock the same but has 2MB less in L2. The extra 2MB L2 in the E6600 only give you a very small gain in performance over the E4300. If you want best value per performance, the E4300 is the best choice. If you really need the extra little boost, then get the E6600.

2nd, there are plenty of less expensive boards. The AB9 Pro is more than good enough to overclock your CPU if you don't plan to go SLI. If you plan to go SLI, the ABIT AW9D is fine. The CPU will max out around 3.4 to 4Ghz. Both of these boards will allow you to get in this range easily.

With the money you save, you can get a good PSU and maybe a better video card (if you need something better).

Thanks for the advice, I'll look in to the components you mentioned. The CPU/Mobo/RAM are a kit bundel fromthe company, there isn't really a difference in prices just makes it easier for people like me who aren't sure about component compatablity. I don't think I will actually be overclocking this, I've never done it and it's a lot of money to spend on something I could blow in a few minutes!! lol.

Both Abit AB9 pro and AW9D comes with a windows based overclocking utility called uGuru. This makes it very simple to overclock. It'll test the overclock and will let you know if it is not stable. It takes all the bios overclock out of the picture. You should at lease overclock to 3 Ghz. These are great boards for beginer overclockers. Plus there are lots of people here that will help you if you need more help.

What are you using the computer for? I really don't think you need more than 2 GB of RAM.

I was going to set it up for gaming mainly. I wasn't really sure about the extra RAM. I won't actually be getting a new system until April, I like to keep track of things before I buy preticuarly when spending this much money.

April is when Intel releases a couple new processors and has a big price drop.

Spider,
You mentioned overclocking a cheaper CPU, would I need much extra in the way of cooling for it once overclocked?

You can overclock safely to 3.0 to 3.4 with stock cooler. Just make sure you use a good air flow case. Here is an inexpensive case at this website.

CASE --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=323394 --> 57.00
Side : 1 x 25 cm - ( 1 installed)
Front : 4 x 8 cm - ( 0 installed)
Rear : 2 x 8 cm - ( 0 installed)

This case looks like it has good cooling with the 25cm side fan. You may want to add a couple fans in the front to cool the hard drive. Hard drives will last longer if you keep them cool.

Mobo --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=323531 --> 146.00
CPU --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=330167 --> 165.00
RAM --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=313834 --> 178.00
PSU --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=327671 --> 122.00
CDR/DVDR -->http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=331155&s=sc -->35.50
VID --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=330740 ---> 133.00 (or something better depending on your budget)
HD --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=320128&s=sc ---> 115.01
Mouse, keyboard ---> 50.00 max

---> total 1001.51 for system

If your buget is 2000.00, you still have plent for monitor, speaker, headphones, etc. Maybe get a nice cpu cooler from a different site. I can't seem to find one here.

Monitor --> http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=330051 --> 385.00

The 7600GT is good enough to play all games but is you must go all out, you can choose a different card.

Spider,
You have given me a lot of options to think about, after you first suggested the cheaper CPU I did up other list of hard within my buget which has a better gaphics card. I don't know how fast the technology is progressing these days but someone mention new CPU's will be available around the time I was thinking of buying. I may get back to you closer the time to see if theres any changes.
Thanks.

Intel will be release a few new version of this CPUs in April which will drop the price prices of the E4300. The new CPU releases include the E4400. The E4400 is not necessarly any faster. It just have a higher mulitiplier. It'll overclock about the same as the E4300. The E4300 will still be the best value CPU for overclocking. The price should drop about 50.00 to 60.00 if you buy in April.

<<Spider>> said:

Intel will be release a few new version of this CPUs in April which will drop the price prices of the E4300. The new CPU releases include the E4400. The E4400 is not necessarly any faster. It just have a higher mulitiplier. It'll overclock about the same as the E4300. The E4300 will still be the best value CPU for overclocking. The price should drop about 50.00 to 60.00 if you buy in April.

Click to expand...

I read that the E6600 will drop from $316US to $224. The E6700 will drop from $530 to $316. Gotta love oligopolistic competition!

Yes prices of other Core 2 Duo will drop. Probably drop evan more in July when they release the E6350 and E6450. Even then, the E4300 will still be the best Value in overclocking CPU due to it's 9X multiplier. 9X is perfect for overclocking because this will allow your FSB to be around 350 to 420. The E6600 also has the 9X but it's twice the cost of the E4300 with not much performance gain (when both CPUs are overclocked). If you want the small performance gain of the extra 2MB L2, get the E6600.

It wont be until the end of the year when the 45nm CPUs are out. These are expected to hit 4 Ghz and above. That is fine if you want to wait until then but I'm sure something new will be annouce. Until then the E4300 is the best value overclocking CPU.

If you are a beginer overclocker, the Abit AB9 Pro or AW9D with uGuru are good choices. It'll max it's FSB around 420 to 450. This is perfect for the 9X in the E4300 and E6600. I've seen only a few that is able to get as high as 525 but that requires a little mod. You wont need to get that high unless have a 7X multiplier or doing extreme overclocking with subzero cooling.