Set up for games and Animation.

[c0nst4nt1ne]

All right guys, I know a little bit about hardware but not much. I have taken apart my parent's old computer a few times and put it back together but not much more than that. As for the computer I'm looking to build, I want it to run games(Oblivion, Neverwinter Nights 2, and Hellgate London when it releases), some animation software such as 3ds max, and also the game editors for Oblivion and NN2. I wish for all this to run smoothly and hopefully quietly. I hope for a price around $1500 but will go higher for better performance if need be. I have never done this before so I'm not sure of all of the parts that I need, I know of basics like a video card but not of any cables or different kinds of cooling systems.

P.S. I saw that you guys are recommending 2 gigs of ram to lots of people, I have heard that Vista runs better on four, is there really not a difference or is it just not cost effective.

Sorry for the length and thanks for your input!

[tigstah]

will this total include monitor, keyboard and mouse too.....

[c0nst4nt1ne]

I already have a samsung monitor that I play my 360 on, so no monitor, but yes to a keyboard and mouse.

[Jimmy0]

Here is a basic list to work around:

ASUS P5B motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131030

Core 2 Duo E6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115003

EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130038

Corsair 2GB DDR2-667
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098

Seagate 7200.10 320GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

SeaSonic M12 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151030

Lite-on DVD-RW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106057

Total:$982.84

This still leaves plenty of room to upgrade anything if you wish, and also to add in a case of your choice, an OS, a keyboard and a mouse also.

[c0nst4nt1ne]

anyone else got any recommendations? Is upgrading any of my stuff going to boost my performance? If any one replies with some good advice I will give you an imaginary cookie!

[tigstah]

what jimmyo posted was a great links to components. consider those. if you wait til july 22, you'l be able to get a quad core for the same price as a dual core, you'll just need a different mobo.....

[c0nst4nt1ne]

what about a GTX card instead of a GTS, and windows only really supports 2 gigs of RAM right?

[doubledragon5]

Windows 32 bit will use only 3.2gigs of ram.. Two gigs is more than enough, anything else is over kill... I'm running two gigs now and have no issues with Vista Home Premium 32bit version..

[c0nst4nt1ne]

How about the GTS card jimmy0 posted, is it good enough or will I be better off with a GTX?

[LeftyAce]

Here's a comparison of the two gpus: http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=707&model2=706&chart=296

The GTX looks quite a bit better....

[Jimmy0]

Seeing as you do have the budget, you could get the GTX over the GTS I listed if you so wish. :)

[BeepBeep2]

i really dont think you will need a GTX but that's just my opinion... I run a GTS 320 and play all games with 8xAA 8xAF with an average of 70fps

My specs:AMD 5600+ (=E6400) 2 gigs Supertalent DDR2-800 4-4-3-8, sli 590 mobo Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB Vista Home Premium...everything works like a charm

it's just my opinion

LeftyAce: Those gpu's perform much closer than that. That is just 1 game.

[LeftyAce]

I run a GTS 320 and play all games with 8xAA 8xAF with an average of 70fps

Ah. Well, even that's almost overkill :-)

Good point about other games... I just went back and looked, and even on the tom's hardware ratings that one example was kind of extreme, sorry.

[BeepBeep2]

eheeheehh....

[Mr.Ferrari]

If your monitor can support high resolutions, 16X10+, and if your looking to spend, the 8800GTX would be a good upgrade.

The Corsair HX 520W is made by Seasonic but has modular cabling. $95 (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=373100) at zipzoomfly. Rebate expires tomorrow.

[BeepBeep2]

i really dont think you will need a GTX but that's just my opinion... I run a GTS 320 and play all games with 8xAA 8xAF with an average of 70fps

My specs:AMD 5600+ (=E6400) 2 gigs Supertalent DDR2-800 4-4-3-8, sli 590 mobo Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB Vista Home Premium...everything works like a charm

it's just my opinion

LeftyAce: Those gpu's perform much closer than that. That is just 1 game.

Hey look.....:D Mr. Ferarri.....i get 8759 3dMarks...and i game at 1680x1050 most games maxed...and look above

[c0nst4nt1ne]

Here is what I'm looking at right now...


CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail =$222.90


MOTHERBOARD: ASUS P5B LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail =
$116.99


POWER SUPPLY: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail = Original Price: $189.99
You Save: $20.00
$169.99

MEMORY: CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory - Retail
$64.99


HARD DRIVE: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM =
$79.99


OPTICAL: LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - Retail =
$37.99


VIDEO CARD: EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail =
$559.99


Anything need to be better or maybe downgraded? I am looking to build for the long run so I need parts to last at least a couple years. Should I wait till July 22nd and get a Quad core instead?

[doubledragon5]

Nope those parts are top notch and look good... I wouldn't bother with the quad, that is just for those who need to keep up with the Joneses.. If the C2D works for you and does everything you need, then no since in wasting more cash of a quad core for nothing...

[Mr.Ferrari]

Stick the Corsair HX 520W, the 620w is unnecessary overkill.

The list looks great otherwise.

[Johnyhard12]

he suggested the quad core because it would be the same price if he waits another month.

[doubledragon5]

Ok missed that part.. If it is going to be the same price than that is different..:)

[c0nst4nt1ne]

It looks like I got my final build worked out then, thanks for the feedback. What other stuff do I need though besides a case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Any other cables or smaller parts I need to buy separately in order to start building?

[doubledragon5]

Nope,You should have plenty of cables that will come with the MB.. Yor optical drive will have a cable as well... What you have listed will be all you need..

[c0nst4nt1ne]

cool, now i just need to figure out how to put it all together after it ships.

[c0nst4nt1ne]

What should I go with for a sound card(do I even need one?) and for a wireless NIC.

[LeftyAce]

Most people are fine with the onboard sound built into the motherboard. Wireless cards can be purchased at newegg.com; get one that's PCI (not usb).

[c0nst4nt1ne]

k, thanks

[Jimmy0]

For the sound card I would suggest first just using the onboard sound, and then if you are truly not satisfied you can purchase a sound card.

[c0nst4nt1ne]

I have all my parts and software in my cart at newegg.com, it's gonna cost me close to 1700 dollars. So i'm gonna have to wait two weeks for my next paycheck to be able to afford it. I am going with the 8800 GTX video card. If I step down to a GTS I can get it now. Is the GTX really worth the wait and the price jump or is going with a GTS a better choice.

[c0nst4nt1ne]

I now have all my parts and am doing fine, except the 8800GTX card wont fit into it's slot. I have the Asus P5B mother board that was recommended to me.
Now I have heard something about needing SLI, I'm assuming that's for the motherboard. Do I need a new one?

[LeftyAce]

No, SLI is a system for running 2 video cards at once, and isn't relevant to your motherboard or situation. Is the video card not fitting in the motherboard? Or in the case? Make sure you're putting it in the right slot; double check the diagram in your motherboard manual for the location of the PCI Express slot.

[c0nst4nt1ne]

nvm, just had to jam it in there.