My First Build

[ScottThomas]

Hi All,

Currently looking at making my first foray into gaming rig building. I have seen a couple of posts saying to go with Intel instead of AMD since the prices are about to drop. I went with AMD on this build because it served me well on my last rig (which was built for me) and I like AMD (and was less expensive). However, suggestions of compareable Intel components are more than welcome. The processor is $360 USD and the Mobo $159 USD. So, I would like to see comparable performance/price point numbers on Intel along with any suggestions on the other components I am considering.

• Case: NZXT Apollo ORANGE NP Orange SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811146027
• Mother Board: GIGABYTE GA-M59SLI-S5 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813128011
• Video Card: XFX PVT80GGHE9 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 GRAW Bundle HDCP Video Card http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814150172
• Power Supply: COOLMAX CUG-700B ATX 12V( V.2.2) 700W Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817159058
• CPU: AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Dual Core Processor Model ADAFX62CSBOX http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103861
• Memory: CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145566
• HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822148140
• CPU Fan: GIGABYTE GH-PDU22-SC EVR Sleeve CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16835128012

Thanks!
-scott

[flanzig1]

Would look towards this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139001 it will power your system well and is a better quailty brand than Coolmax.
The retail CPU heatsink should do you fine but that Gigabyte unit is quiet and isn't as heavy as others.
The rest looks compatable, don't know enough about the mobo to say yah or nah.

[ScottThomas]

Thanks for the reply. The reason I went with that PSU is that I can get a combo deal with the Mobo and PSU ($40 savings). Is it worth the extra cost for the Corsair?

I just looked at the upcoming reduction in the Core2 duos from Intel. More specifically looking at the E6700 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115002) which will actually be cheaper than FX-62 I had in mind (that is, if AMD doesn't drop their current prices to compete). How do those two processors comapre in terms of performance, overclockability, etc. I apologize, I am fairly ignorant when it comes to trying to compare the two brands.

Thanks,
-scott

[flanzig1]

Getting a good quailty PSU is always better that getting a PSU bundled in a "special" deal. If you look here: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195 , Coolmax is in the Bad list. The Coolmax may be OK in a basic system but with the hi- powered video card you picked, you want a good quailty supply from a known good maker.

[Alaron]

Yes, Corsair is a very high quality unit for use with 8800 series cards. Well worth the upgrade.

If you are interested in Intel, the price drops make that platofrm very attractive. The Core 2 Duo line of chips currently outperform chips from AMD. If you want to make a switch, look at the Asus P5B motherboard and DDR2-667 ram.

[ScottThomas]

Originally Posted by Alaron Yes, Corsair is a very high quality unit for use with 8800 series cards. Well worth the upgrade. If you are interested in Intel, the price drops make that platofrm very attractive. The Core 2 Duo line of chips currently outperform chips from AMD. If you want to make a switch, look at the Asus P5B motherboard and DDR2-667 ram.

It looks like the ASUS P5b series support the Intel P965 Express chipset. How does this compare with the nVidia's nForce 590 and 600? Sorry again, not well versed on how the chipsets stack up aginst one another?

So, somtehing like this maybe?

Motherboard: ASUS P5B Deluxe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131028
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115002

Would give me superior performance at a similar price point? That is, once the E6700 drops into the $300ish USD price range.

[flanzig1]

To compare chipsets, you compare the different chipsets for a brand and model of CPUs. To compare chipsets used for Intel or AMD is like comparing oranges to potatos.

[Alaron]

Originally Posted by ScottThomas So, somtehing like this maybe? Motherboard: ASUS P5B Deluxe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131028 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115002 Would give me superior performance at a similar price point? That is, once the E6700 drops into the $300ish USD price range.

Good combination. Yes, it will be plenty of power.

[ScottThomas]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 To compare chipsets, you compare the different chipsets for a brand and model of CPUs. To compare chipsets used for Intel or AMD is like comparing oranges to potatos.

Ah, guess you are right. So this means no SLI on Intel motherboards?

[LeftyAce]

Correct, but that's not much of a loss; SLI is a (very successful) marketing gimmick; you buy two cards and a more expensive motherboard and PSU for less than double the performance. And, when the next gen card comes out, ONE will beat your two sli cards. (IE the 8800 will smoke two 7900s in SLI). Save your money. Also, a couple of the old hands on here strongly caution against using anything BUT an intel chipset for an intel build.

[ScottThomas]

Good to know. I was wondering just how much a gimmick the SLi thing was. I have even read that certain games' frame rates actually degrade when using dual cards. I have a link to performance chart however I was unsure what the forum rules are on posting links to other hardware sites.

[LeftyAce]

True, some games get confused by dual GPUs lol. People link to TomsHardware all the time, so you should have no problem there.

[Staren]

Originally Posted by ScottThomas Good to know. I was wondering just how much a gimmick the SLi thing was. I have even read that certain games' frame rates actually degrade when using dual cards. I have a link to performance chart however I was unsure what the forum rules are on posting links to other hardware sites.

If there is one thing no one minds having too much of around here, it's information. Doesn't matter where it comes from as long as its accurate.

There is one little thing about the Intel 965 boards you want to keep in mind. The IDE controllers aren't that hot. It's easier to go SATA for everything. There are a fair number of SATA DVD/CD drives out now at good prices so it isn't really that big of a deal.

[Katreat]

Something to remember is that Intel’s C2D product line is new architecture. AMD has dropped prices to compete, but even if performance for dollar is close you are still buying an older technology. You are better off going with Intel right now because it is a more advanced chip which runs both cooler and uses less power. The current crop of AMD chips are still competing against the Pentiums in features, not the C2Ds.

If you really want to stay with AMD then that is fine, they are great chips, but it is hard to just make a direct comparison because they are dated at this time. The new crop of AMD chips that are designed to compete with the C2D are suppose to release sometime in the 3rd quarter, which is probably why Intel is planning a second round of price cuts at that time to deny AMD a chance to gain back market share.

I love price cuts! But I hope AMDs new offering is really up to par because I would hate to see Intel’s success run AMD out of the market because competition is good.

Kat