Some newbish build questions

[IneedanewPCguy]

Budget is $1300-1400 w/o a monitor

Processor : Duel core, but no idea if I should go AMD or Intel

MB: Asus, but no idea what model

Memory: 2 gig Crucial

HDD: WD Raptor

Vid Card: 512 mb ati 1900xt..I think...there a Nvida alternative?

Case: Antec w/500w PS


My old PC died on me again. Fried vid card and the hdd is slowly dying. I'm building new, ordering from New Egg, although, I'm going to price stuff out at Fry's (i know new egg will be cheaper)

Any tips/advice and parts suggestions would be greatly appricated!! (be mindful of my budget


PC usage is 90% gaming...10% dlownloading. Only game I really play are mmorpgs


Thanks a ton!!

[flanzig1]

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E6600 $315
Mobo: Asus P5B $141
Video card: X1900XT $259
Ram: Check ASUS QVL list for brands that work/ approx price: 2gig $279
these are prices from Newegg
Check the Antec Sonata II case, they come with an Antec PSU

[freakitchen]

Intel Core 2 Duo is the way to go at the moment. Like for like, their processors beat anything AMD has to offer at the moment, and makes for a more stable platform than AMD's equivalent, AM2.

The ASUS P5B is the most frequently recommended motherboard for a C2D system; so far we've had no complaints from our forum members.

Consider Corsair memory, DDR2-667 or higher. Also question whether you *really* need a WD Raptor drive. The Seagate 7200.10 drives offer similar performance, and you get MUCH more storage capacity for your money.

I believe the direct competitor to the ATI x1900xt is the Nvidia 7900GT, and I also believe the the ATI is a much better card, for similar money.

FK

[Science_guy]

Agree with FK, above. I have Raptor drives, and they honestly don't seem to be all that much faster than the much cheaper Seagate. Spending less on drives and going up a notch in video card will be better for gaming, anyway.