Building New Gaming PC: Help :)

[spyblog]

hey, been a while since I've posted. I'm thinking of building a new PC after selling my old one for extra cash a while back. I want to do it for around $1000 CDN ($1200 max), making the best Gaming PC possible. Questions:

1) It's been a long time since I looked into PC parts, what is the new/best socket out for AMD atm? I think I'd like to stick with AMD and nVidia in terms of Processor/Video Card. A processor/mobo combination I'm considering is:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor S939 Manchester 2GHZ 512KBX2 90NM Retail Box

MSI K8N NEO4 Platinum Motherboard ATX S939 DDR PCI-E16 PCI-E4 PCI-E 4PCI SATA RAID Sound LAN 1394

Is that a good choice, in terms of current technology? I want to get the latest tech, to keep upgrades an option down the road, getting quality parts but not at the top end prices. Any feedback on that?

2) I do not want a sound card for now, but for video card I'm not sure what is best right now. I saw 512mb is out now but price is prob a little more than I want to do so I assume 256 will be my best bet. What is the best video card for my price range? About 300-350 CDN. I'd prefer nVidia and the option to add a second for SLi down the road is a benefit. Any suggestions? SLi aside I was looking at:

EVGA E-GEFORCE 7900 GT KO 500MHZ PCI-E 256MB 256BIT 1.5GHZ GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDTV Out RoHS Video Card


Feedback or suggestions?

I think the case, ram (pc4200 DDR2-533 1GB), hard drive, and power supply are still easy enough :) Any input greatly valued!

[Mr.Ferrari]

-If your looking at sli I highly suggest a proper sli board. Something like the a8n-sli from asus.

-For an amd build it is a good choice, there is core 2 duo but thats totally your decision, either will make good gaming pcs, but c2d will be latest tech.

-My personal suggestion for nvidia would be the 7950GT if your can afford it.

-You need DDR400 ram with 939 NOT DDR2**

-For hdd get something sata and 16mb cache. If you can afford it I highly suggest one of the Seagate 7200.10s

-For a powersupply that will power a dual card sli config w/7950gt
Thermaltake Toughpower 600w (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18631&vpn=W0103&manufacture=THERMALTAKE)
Corsair HX 520W (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=19832&vpn=CMPSU-520HX&manufacture=CORSAIR)
Silverstone Strider 560W (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=19644&vpn=SST-ST56F&manufacture=Silverstone%20Technology)

[spyblog]

Okay yeh like I said it has been a while since I've looked at this. Forget SLi for now, I can't really afford a set up for it. What I want is a quality AMD processor (assume duo core is best), 1GB single stick of pc-4200 (DDR2 or whatever), best video card for my buck, etc.

I need the CPU, video card and mobo for about $550-600 USD.

Like I said, 7900 GTO seems like a good bet for what I can afford. Can anyone recommend the best CPU/mobo combo that gives me the best performance and latest tech, etc.? Suggestions for video card is fine too, but I'm not sure I will find better in my price range.

Basically my problem is that I'm not up to date on which tech is new/best and what works with what lol. Any input again appreciated.

Edit: So dumb question, is AM2 the new socket following S939? I don't have much time to research atm, sorry for the dumb question. Anyway, if so does AM2 require DDR2? Processor I looked at was AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core Processor Socket AM2 Windsor 2.0GHZ 2X512KB 89W 90NM Retail Box. Is that a good choice for what I'm looking to do? For motherboard, would this be a good choice to provide solid performance at the start with SLi options down the road: ASUS M2N4-SLI ATX AM2 Nforce 4 SLI DDR2 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SATA2 Sound GBLAN Motherboard ?

Thanks

[Mr.Ferrari]

Well the parts in your first post are skt.939.

AM2 is good too, just requires more costier parts to get the same job done as with skt.939. So if your on a budget then go 939, if not then skip am2 and go Core 2 Duo. As not only is it a more stable platform, but it is kicking amd butt.

If your still insistent on am2 then these are the parts I suggest-
-Asus M2N-E, take the sli version if your interested in that.
-Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800, the cas 5 versions.
-That x2 3800 is a good choice for the processor
-Seagate 7200.10 in the GB flavor of your choice, although I suggest 250G
-On the psu is your choice, either get a quality psu that will just power your single card build or get a quality psu that will run sli in the future. In the end you will have to buy a SLi psu when and if you go Sli.

[spyblog]

Is Intel's new chip really that dominating? I assume it will be costly, will look into it later. Otherwise, you're saying AM2 isn't much better than s939? Is AMD bringing out anything new that I should wait for? Thanks

[glc]

No, the C2D is not that costly. The old saw that AMD is cheaper does not apply these days.

[spyblog]

Can probably afford the 6300 or 6400 but will it be significantly weaker with only 2m instead of 4m at the 6600 level? Still worth going Intel? Also can anyone recommend a good D2C mobo for around $80-120 USD?

[glc]

I'd look at more like $150 US for a mobo - the Asus P5B. Even the 6300 is a worthy competitor to any AMD in that price range.

[spyblog]

So for about $250 CDN would the 6300 be worth it over $200 for the 3800+ Duo Core? I'm reading some benchmarks, still trying to figure this out. If anyone has a cpu-mobo-ram combo for 550-650 USD that gives me the best performance for the price I'd love to hear it.

[Cricket]

So for about $250 CDN would the 6300 be worth it over $200 for the 3800+ Duo Core? Yes, the C2D would give you a better performing gaming rig.

:) Cricket

[spyblog]

Okay, I think I'll go with C2D 2.16gig since I just can't afford the next one up. Motherboard I had in mind was:

ASUS P5N-SLI - MB-AS-P5N-SLI

Any opinion on that?

What kind of ram should I look for? As in, will I need high quality or valueram will do? Would like to overclock, want 2x512 for now and add 2 more down the road I think. Should I be looking at 4200?

Thanks

[spyblog]

Also, anyone have feedback on : Antec SP-II -500 500W Smart Power 2.0 in retail box.

Good PSU?

And how big is the dif between 6300 and 6400? I'd save like $70 going with 6300, but I don't want to lose a bunch of performance.

[glc]

Forget SLI and get a P965 based board such as an Asus P5B.

Get DDR2-800 ram if you want to overclock. That is not value ram.

Good power supply.

[spyblog]

Okay, can you explain why to go with that mobo rather than one with SLi?

I looked at some RAM and found a few options. I don't want to do extreme overclocking but if I get the 6300 C2D I'd like to put it up a bit for sure.

Corsair XMS2 PC2-5400 1GB 2X512MB DDR2-675 CL4-4-4-12 240PIN DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit

OCZ GX XTC PC2-5400 1GB 2X512MB DDR2 CL4-4-4-12 240PIN DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit W/ Heatspreader

Any opinions on those for what I'm looking for? I'd like to stay around or under $200 CDN for 2x512. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.

[Mr.Ferrari]

1. That mobo is a nforce 570 chipset. Although being better, stability wise, then Nforce4, you really cant beat an intel chipset. The 965p based P5B that Glc suggested would be the best pick.

2. Nforce motherboards just plain suck at overclocking. You'd be lucky if you got 30 fsb out of them. I highly suggest the P5B in this manner too, as its a very decent overclocker for the price.

I would pick the corsair xms.

[spyblog]

How about this ram, anyone opinions?

OCZ Platinum EL XTC PC2-6400 1GB 2X512 DDR2 CL4-5-4-15 240PIN DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit

[Mr.Ferrari]

No it has major issues with 965 chipsets. If anything get the Revision 2 sticks. They have been released to supposedly fix these faults.

I would still go for the corsair. They should definately have no issue...

[spyblog]

Hmm yeh, but it's only 5400 and not 6400. That's why I thought of the OCZ stuff, can't find many options that won't break the band ;)

[glc]

I would go for Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 if you want to overclock.

[spyblog]

I dont want to do extreme overclocking like up to 3.4 or anything, but I would like to bump it up a bit. Will 5400 do the job here?