FTB - New Comp Help

[Hippo08]

Hey everyone! I am a FTB (First Time Builder) of a computer and I am coming to you all for help. I have done an extreme amount of research on all of the parts to build my own computer which may make this discussion a simple one. I want to build a decent gaming rig and I am on a budget of $1000ish. I already have a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. so I am just building the computer.

Here is what I have so far(nothing has been ordered, unless written so):

Case: Antec 900 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%20900 - $70(ORDERED)

Processor: Intel Quad-Core Q6600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017 - $190

Memory: Corsair 4GB(2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 - $84 - $64(MIR)

Power Supply Unit: Corsair 750W PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006 - $180 - $110(MIR)

Motherboard - I don't really know what is compatible with what and what video card/processors will affect the motherboard. Moreover, I was hoping to get a mobo(that is SLI/Crossfire capable, supports DDR2/DDR3 memory and that has more than 1 PCI-E slot) I know its a lot to ask, but it certainly keeps the future in mind.

Hard Drive(HDD) - WD Caviar 500GB 7200rpm - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136149 - $70(ORDERED)

Video Card - Radeon 4800 series?? I don't really know a good brand to get, nor do I know how to know what video card goes with what motherboard correctly.

Sound Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102002

Floppy/CD/DVD Drives - Need some help, I really have no clue.

Is there anything that I am missing or any suggestions that anyone can make? A lot of my concern with these parts are which companies make the best for my money(quality and numbers) and which companies are boasting just numbers.

Thank you so much for everything,

Hippo

[shadowpr]

I really wouldn't suggest a ddr3 motherboard now.

I would get a aus p5q. That's a good quality motherboard.

And for a dvd burner: either a asus or lite-on sata and retail burner.

If you're doing just a gaming build, I would suggest a faster dual core. Either an e8400 or a e8500.

I'm not sure what the total comes to now, but look at the 4850, then the 4870, and then the 4870 x2. Sapphire is a good brand, but most of the brands are good as well.

I haven't used a floppy in a long time.

[Hippo08]

Thank you for the feedback, I guess a few questions from me, haha.

Why is getting a DDR3-capable motherboard right now a bad thing? I mean, in the future if I wanted to upgrade, I could have the choice to do so.

The motherboard you pointed out, when I went to newegg, has a lot a of different options and I am kind of lost of what they all mean and which one to choose? Is any p5q board good?

Also, isn't a dual core slower than a quad-core? Or is there some counter-intuitive knowledge that I need to know for this to work. By the way, I plan to program/edit movies/edit images as well as play the games that I want to play.

Video Card: As for the VC, I don't really understand what I am looking at between the 4850, 4870, and the 4870x2. Am I looking for the price difference or power or...?

Thank you for all the help so far,

Hippo,

P.S.: If you could provide some links it would be greatly appreciated, just to make sure I am looking at the right stuff. Thank you!

[shadowpr]

P5Q: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131295

The reason I don't think it's a good idea to get ddr3, is because right now, unless you're doing major overclocking, you won't see the benefit from it. And intel is chaning it's socket type, so the current processors are just about as good as it will get for current boards. After they change their socket type, and come out with newer processors, then ddr3 will move towards being fully used.

For the same price, dual cores are actually faster then quad cores. You pay more for the quads cause they have 4 cores instead of two. That means it will help with multitasking, and will perform better if the programs can use more then one core. Games currently, for the most part, aren't using multiple cores. So that's why we usually recommend a faster dual core for a gaming build. If you want to do multitasking, then get a quad. And the q6600 is a great processor.

Video Card: 4850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102775
4870: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102769
4870 x2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102768

Of course, the more you pay, the better the performance. You can't really go wrong with any of those.

Dvd Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106265

[Hippo08]

Okay, so I finally have every part and price for each of them. This is a semi-final pass and now I am really looking for some help with any compatibility issues there may be and anything that might be used as some final suggestions for some part-swapping.

Case: Antec 900 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%20900 - $70

Processor: Intel Quad-Core Q6600 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017 - $190

Memory: Corsair 4GB(2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 - $84 - $64(MIR)

Power Supply Unit: Corsair 750W PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006 - $180 - $110(MIR)

Motherboard - ASUS p5q Pro LGA 775 Intel p45 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299 - $140

Hard Drive(HDD) - WD 500GB 7200rpm - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136149 - $70

Video Card - Radeon 4870 512mb with 256bit GDDR5 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102769 - $280 - $260(MIR)

Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102002 - $30

CD/DVD Drives - ASUS DVD/CD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135156 - $35

TOTAL: $969

A few questions:

1. None of the motherboards seem to have consistently good or even great reviews. How do I know that the motherboard I am getting is quality?

2. Processors: Which is better? Dual Core 3.16ghz( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036 ) or Quad Core 2.4ghz ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017 )

3. Heatsink? Will I need one? To be honest I have no clue if I do or do not. Most things I have read on the internet have not been very conclusive as to whether or not I will need one.

4. Compatibility? Which parts work with well with others? Will my RAM work with the motherboard? Moreover, I hear a lot of Intel/AMD ATI/Nvidia compatibility stuff?

Hopefuly, this should be all of the questions I have.

Thank you for everything you have done and helped with I can't say it enough,

Hippo

[flanzig1]

The retail package for Intel CPUs come with a heatsink, which are pretty good for stock speeds.
As for the sound card, we usually say "try the on-board audio first".
The ram is a good choice.
As for the Asus motherboard, most people here have had good luck with the brand over the years.
The reviews on Newegg need to be taken with a grain of salt. The only time I pay attention is if the same problem keeps cropping up.

[Hippo08]

Any advice on which processor to get?

Will I run into any compatibility issues with any of the parts?

Any advice on any of the parts or do they all look good/quality parts?

Thank you all again,

Hippo

[Alaron]

Your list looks good to me.

If you run lots of intensive programs (not IE and Word) at once, go with the Quad Core.
Otherwise, I'd stick with the E8500. Great power for gamers.

[Hippo08]

I can't even express enough how thankful I am too everyone on this board. You have helped me tremendously and have had GREAT advice to offer. Here is my final list of what I bought and how much I paid for it.

Case: Antec 900 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%20900 - $70

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037 - $170

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299 - $140
PROCESSOR AND MOBO COMBO - MINUS $35

Memory: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 - $64

Power Supply Unit: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006 - $110

Hard Drive(HDD) - WD 500GB 7200rpm - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136149 - $70

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102719 - $110

Sound Card - None, going to test on-board audio first.

CD/DVD Drives - ASUS DVD/CD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135156 - $35

TOTAL: $734

Notes:

1. I took your suggestions on the sound card and I will test on-board audio first.

2. I took your suggestions on the dual core processor, here's why. I got the dual instead of the quad for a few reasons. While I do consider myself multitasking, I don't feel that I am doing multiple intensive things at the same time. I don't see myself gaming while editing a video while editing an image in photoshop, it seems a bit unrealistic. While I may do one of those and be browsing web/e-mail/word it shouldn't be a problem for the dual core.

3. The graphics card. I just can't justify me spending $260 dollars on something that is "bleeding edge" technology. Yes, I realize that this is a gaming machine and if anything had more money spent on it, it should be the graphics card. But I feel that even if the card I got IS NOT enough, I can just buy another and use Crossfire. If it is good enough, then I will just keep one card. Was this a good idea or a bad idea or does it not really matter.

Thank you again for everything everyone has contributed,

Hippo

P.S.: Will post pictures of the process as well as the end result when completed!