First time gaming build, please help with parts

[Davo_976]

Hey guys. I am going to be putting together a new PC in the next week or 2. It will be mainly for gaming. I have a budget of about $1200 give or take 100. I don't have any expereonce with building my own computer so please give me all the advice you can. I haven't bought a computer for about 3 years, so i have no idea about the new hardware that is out. I am happy to go Intel or AMD, just whatever is best for my price range.
Bacically i will use this PC for a year and a half to 2 years then give it to my son and he will use it for his school work. I will then buy another one. So it doesn't need to be extremely future proof, just keep working for a number of years.
Could you guys please give me a list of the parts you recommend? I am completely lost.
Thanks.

edit: I only need the box for this build, i will use the monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers from my old system.

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMech Davo. Here is the list we recommend to start with for your budget. We recommend www.newegg.com for shopping.

Asus P5K Motherboard
Intel Q6600 CPU
2GB of Corsair DDR2-800 RAM
eVGA Geforce 8800GT 512MB Video Card
Seagate 7200.10/11 series Hard Drive.
Lite-On DVD Burner
Corsair 520watt Power Supply
Any case you like.

That will come out to around $1000.

[Davo_976]

Ok that looks great, thanks a lot Alaron for your help.

Just a couple things.

I don't think that i need quad core, i hear that games can only use 2, am i right?
How about this for a CPU? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

Which of the P5K MBs should i get? they all look the same to me. I don't need WiFi.

I like the look of this case, will it fit all my parts?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%2b900

I think i will get the 320 GB 7200.10 Seagate drive. I don't need a huge amount of storage, if i do later on its easy enough to buy another HDD.

[Davo_976]

Also, because my last PC was AMD and i have had no problems with it at all, i was wondering if it was worth going an AMD/ATI build. I see that you don't really recommend them on this forum, is that because they are not as fast right now or because of stability or what?

[pam123]

Intel out performs them right now.
There are a few sweet spots in the AM2 dual core line up (check my sig.) but for now Intel is the first choice especially when it comes to quad-cores for gaming.

[bucksfanjimj1]

That case should work just fine. The CPU you linked to is out of stock at Newegg. In fact it seems to be out of stock everywhere. I have been chasing that thing since the middle of last week. However if your patient, as I have been requested to be, it will be back in stock.
The problem is who knows when.

[Katreat]

The E8400 is a great processors and faster than the Q6600. The quad is often recommended because it is more future proof. Now that quads are out more software in the next few years will start being optimized for them. Either will suit your needs fine.

I went with basic P5K on my last build and am happy. The P5K-E is the most recommended right now I think. As I understand it, it has a better sound chip and a few other attractive features.

The case will work fine, I used in in my last build. Only problem I have had with it is that it collects a lot of dust. The fans do their job and I keep them on low to keep noise down.

The 320 will work great, again that is what I used. The 500 GB is recommended because it is the new 3200.11 which has a 32 mb cache. They smaller drives only have 16 mb cache.

When you get your final list together post it and we can recommend specific part changes. Alarons list is excellent and all quality parts, but when you start shopping you might find some sells and such and need to twink it a bit.

Kat

[Katreat]

Buck, that processor goes out of stock every couple of weeks. It is popular. usually does not take long to get them back in.

Kat

[Doom]

If Davo_976 (or anybody else) gets a Dual Core processor... how complex/simple is it to switch out processors later on? In other words... if one gets a Dual Core now and wants to upgrade to Quad in a year... is it as simple as switching out the chipset?

[Alaron]

You can simply check your motherboard manufacturer's website for supported CPUs. If the new one is on the list, you're golden. Though it may require a BIOS update.

If its not on the list, you need a new board.

[Davo_976]

Wow, thanks to everyone for your feedback, i will be sure to take it all into consideration.

Here is my updated part list:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037
I will try to catch it when they come back into stock, it sounds like it would be worth it.

EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130319

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288

PSU one of these two. I cant see why the 520w costs more than the 550w, that doesn't make sense.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139001

I am rather confused with the ram. I was looking at all the 2 GB Corsair ddr2 800 rams. All their pictures look different and cost different amounts. I cant really see how one is faster than the other.

ASUS P5K PRO LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131275

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

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 with LightScribe - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106072

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116202

I don't think its worth getting Quad core just yet. I will use this PC for a year and a half then pass it on to my son just for his homework. After i give it to him i will put together a new one. I will get a quad core for that one for sure.

I have a question though. The PC which we have right now uses Windows XP Home and is about a year and a half old now. Will i be able to router this new computer to our original one? even though one is XP and the other is Vista. Also, will both the computers be able to use the same printer and internet?

Edit: Kat said that the case i have chosen picks up a lot of dust, do you guys think it is worth buying some of those fan covers to stop the amount of dust that gets in?
Edit 2: If i decide to upgrade a part later on like add an extra 2 GB of ram will a 520w PSU still be sufficient?

[bucksfanjimj1]

Here are 2 good choices for RAM,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146565

and they both have a real nice rebate. I ended up choosing the Crucial sticks for my build.

[shadowpr]

Here is the ram I would get: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

Either of those psu's will work. The 520 is modular which helps with cable management, and it has multiple rails, while the 550 isn't and has a single rail. They are both quality though.

I have that case myself, and wouldn't use a filter. Just open it up about every few months and give it some compressed air. You should be fine doing that.

[Davo_976]

Alright great. Wow 2gb of ram for $34, I think i will get 4gb of this Corsair in that case
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034

Okay i wont bother with the air filters, but were do i get the compressed air from?

I think that i will get the 550w Corsair PSU, just so that i still have some headroom if i make some upgrades later on. I will just get some zip ties for the cables.

[12twelve12]

Originally Posted by Davo_976 Okay i wont bother with the air filters, but were do i get the compressed air from?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...compressed+air

Can also be found at many retail electronic stores. I usually get mine at Costco for a good price but your buying multiple cans from them.

[Davo_976]

Oh ok. I was just thinking, would i be able to use the compressed air pumps that they have at the gas stations, that you pump up your cars tires with? Those things seem pretty powerful. Yes i know, this sounds really silly even to me.

[shadowpr]

If you want 4gb of ram, then get a 2x2gb pack instead of a 4x1gb pack.

[bucksfanjimj1]

Originally Posted by Davo_976 Oh ok. I was just thinking, would i be able to use the compressed air pumps that they have at the gas stations, that you pump up your cars tires with? Those things seem pretty powerful. Yes i know, this sounds really silly even to me.

I wouldn't recommend the gas station pumps, you have no control on them. I do use my own air compressor to blow out the tower. However I dial it down to about 30 psi so I don't break anything. It's plenty of power to blow dust around. If you don't have access to one of those, cans of compressed air are your best bet and can be bought just about everywhere.

[Katreat]

I would stick with canned compressed air. Air comming from a compressor will have oil in it that it picks up while being compressed. Perhaps using a well tuned home compressor would be fine but usiing one that is not highly maintained would not be a good idea.

the good side of that case collecting a lot of dust is that it circulates alot of air. I run my fans on low and you can still feel the air flow being drawn thru the case.

Kat

[Davo_976]

Ok i will just stick with the cans then.

[Davo_976]

Ok i will only bother getting 2gb (2x1gb), but why is 2x2gb better than 4x1gb?

[shadowpr]

I perfer 2x2 over 4x1 for two reasons. One is that it gives you room to upgrade further. And two, is it seems to have less problems with stability.

[Katreat]

If you have 2x1gb there is nothing wrong with going for 4x1gb at a future date. However, if you plan on starting with 4 gb it just makes sense to go with 2x2gb so you leave the other slots open for possible future expansion.

Kat