Intel Build I suppose

[Smidget]

I'm still a week away from begining to purchase parts. I've seen some good posts about going intel, GLC and the rest of the pro-intel crew and I'll be able to say I've build an Intel machine at least once. I've build AMD machines years ago.

It will be going into a gaming setup Here is what I need:


Nvidia PCI express (256mb - 520mb range) are there bad ones?
Mobo (here is where my 'out of the loop'ness shows, dont' know which brand is good for Intel)
Proccessor(s) (for C2D) will I need to buy 2 processors?? or do they come in a pair?
RAM (?) 2 GB's worth

Will my current ram work? (DDR400) Or does C2D need different? Will my games performance benifit from going dual proccessor?

Will my Current PSU work? Enermax 420


I do not need to buy another LCD monitor
I do not need to buy a mouse
I do not need to buy a soundcard
I do not need to buy a DVD/CD
I do not need to buy an Operating System
I do not need to buy a new HDD (I will probably buy those 16 mb cache ones eventually but not until the new year) or I might have to if no IDE option is available on MOBO, then so be it. If so do not calculate HDD price into budget either way.
I do a fresh install of windows every now and then.

Quality parts takes priority over budget, so it is negotiable. Say 1000 CDN. If I recall correctly from a few years back, the most expensive items weren't neccessarily the best. i'll be back to modify if I forgot something and/or my cpu question is cleared up for me.

Currently I play BF2 however will play other new games in the near future.

This build is customizable with nVidia PCI-Express being the only non-negotible thing in mind, if you have a better suggestion based on that; I'm all ears!

[newbuilder14]

It is hard to say whether your current PSU will work or not. To be on the safe side I would purchase a new one if your goal is a high powered gaming machine.

Just because the processors are dual core, they are still one processor.

Here is what I would look at:

CPU: Core 2 Duo E6600
MOBO: P5B of your choice
RAM: 2gb Corsair XMS2
Video Card: Really your choice here. ATI's X1950PRO is a good choice right now. Right on par with the 7950gt for cheaper (info from GLC)

[786ARS]

i doubt that smidget would be able to afford that setup. As a gfx card, i am thinking 7600GT,
1 gb of corsair value,
Probably an E6400, maybe E6600 if he can stretch (the doubling in cache makes a difference)
As for the PSU, enermax is on the recomended list.
And if the RAM is DDR2 400 then it should work, i think. But i know that normal DDR400 ram wont.

[newbuilder14]

DDR2 400 would work? The FSB is 266mhz default, I'd recommend a bare minimum of DDR2 533 to maintain a 1:1 ratio. He did mention his budget was $1,000CAD and he didn't need perhipials. Looking at around $875USD.

In that case, look at what I'm building this week:

e6300
p5b
7600gt
liteon dvdrw
wd caviar se 160gb
coolermaster centurion 5
fsp 450w
1gb ValueSelect

Something around that would be nice...

[glc]

E6300, Asus P5B, DDR2-667 or 800. The Enermax will only work if it has a 24 pin main connector.