My next build

[O_Negative]

Well, my Video Card in my gaming computer fried, and it's time to build a new machine. I'm not gonna upgrade my AGP comp anymore. I haven't build a machine in about 3 years so i'm a little rusty on some of the things.

I need
1. MOBO
2. CPU
3. Case
4. GPU
5. Sound card (5.1 min)
6. RAM

I have
Keyboard n Mouse, Monitor, Opitcal Drives, and SATA II HDDs, and a legit XP Pro OS

I've always been fond of AMD but it looks like Intel is the way to go ATM

I will either run SLI or Xfire right away or down the road so i need a MOBO thats capable of it.
I also have been trying to find a case that has the room for SLI or Xfire. This is the case I've been wanting for a while but not sure on the space requirements.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112116

I'm open to suggestions on MOBO CPU RAM combinations and GPUs as well.

Not sure about Vista, but open to opinions on upgrading my OS as well

Thanks!

O_Negative

[Cricket]

Budget?

AMD or INTEL?

Cricket

[O_Negative]

LOL i suppose it would help to have a budget, around 1500 +- 200 depending on gains. I'm open to either AMD or Intel, just depends on builds and opinions.

[O_Negative]

I think I've narrowed down the case, i'll either do the Lian Li or this Thermaltake http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133052

[flanzig1]

Wouldn't bother with Sli or Xfire. The cost would first blow your budget. And to take full advantage of Sli/Xfire, you would need at least a 23" monitor.
Mobo: Asus P5K, many models to choose from.
CPU: Intel/mostly gaming: E6850 or E6750 if budget tight. Quad 6600 if a multi-tasker.
Ram: Corsair XMS DDR2 800/2 gig kit
GPU: Nvidia 9000 series. What's best, not sure.
Sound: Try on-board first, it's pretty good these days.

[O_Negative]

Here's an idea I came up with for a build

Case
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811133052

MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813130159

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115043

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814143080

Memory
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145194

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817341008

Surround Sound
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16829118109
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16826235003

It's around 1500 and have 100-200 back in rebates, whatcha think?

[Masaki 7-11]

Some of the parts will work great, but you need to think about getting a different video card and motherboard.

For the video card, take a look at the 9800GTX, it's a decent amount cheaper than the 8800GTX and performs about 10-20% better (possibly better with new drivers, but you get the point that it's cheaper and faster), here is a link:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130339

MSI motherboards have poor customer support for their motherboards, and the 750i in the motherboard you have linked is slower than the P35 chipset, and SLI support is not much more than a marketing gimmick since you usually get only about 30% improvement by getting an additional video card of the same type as the first. Take a look at the P5K series from Asus, they have good performance and are of good quality, here is a link to one of their better P5K motherboards (P5K-E which you can get with a wifi card for an extra $10 if you need it): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131225

[alex530]

If you must go SLI, look at a 780i like one from XFX or EVGA. Also, you could get a 9800GX2 for a little less than $600, it's like SLI on a stick. Using only one PCI express slot you could run it on a P35 board such as the Asus P5K and get a 9800GX2, and you are looking at better performance and possibly saving some money by going with a less expensive motherboard.

[andper10]

$140 - Case - LIAN LI PC-60BPLUSII W Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112116 - Personally, I would not spend $250 on a computer case. I would actually probably just get the Cooler Master Centurion 5 for $55: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119077

$460 - 2x 8800GT's in SLI - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318

$120 - ASUS P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131142 - I don't know a lot about SLI boards, so hopefully someone else can give some input on a good SLI motherboard.

$300 - Q9300 - http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115043 - If you are planning to overclock, you might want to get the Q6600 instead. I don't know how much better this is than the Q6600, so I would research that and see if you can find an answer before you buy it.

$115 - CORSAIR 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184

$150 - PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Crossfire Edition) EPS12V 750W Power Supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341011 - Or the black version ($10 more ) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703009 - This PSU is SLI certified for 2x 8800GT's: http://www.pcpower.com/power-supply/...crossfire.html

$66 - Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102017 - Try your onboard motherboard sound first, it will probably be fine.

$55 - Your headset - http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16826235003

What size and resolution does your monitor support? If it supports at least 1200x1600 (or whatever the widescreen equivalent is if it is widescreen), then you will probably benefit from SLI. If your max resolution is lower than that, I would just get a single 8800GT or one of those new 9xxx series cards (maybe the 9800GTX).

Total: $1406 before shipping and before MIR's. You could probably get a nicer motherboard if you want, I don't really know much about current SLI motherboards though.

Enjoy your build!