My New Build - Work In Progress

[Holesto]

So I'm going to upgrade my PC finally to get back into the PC game world. I want to make one that will play all of today's games at high or max settings (preferably max) and be good for the next year or two. Games that I'm really interested in are Bioshock, Age of Conan, WoW, Oblivion, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos, etc. A lot of the high end graphics games.

Here is my parts list as of right now.

Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail

MOBO - ASUS P5K-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Vid Card - EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC,

RAM - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Optical - 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 - Retail

OS - Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

How does this build look? Also would the superclocked 8800GT be a better buy? And is the OS good for gaming?

[faint545]

If money isn't an issue and you want to be "future proof", I would get a motherboard with DDR3 memory support or one that has PCIe 2.0 support.

Personally, I don't like Vista. I still think XP is the better OS right now between the two and if your going to get a x86 OS, I would probably get 3GB of RAM to save some $$. I would also get a 9600 card since they are pretty much around the same price for the 8800.

The lineup you have posted should be able to play just about all of todays games at max (except for Crysis).

[Holesto]

Well money is an issue, so I can't make a super gaming computer. I need to keep under $1000 USD. I want Vista because of the DX10. Also I have read that the 9600 isn't nearly as good as the 8800GT. Maybe I misread or something.

[Alaron]

Looks like a good list to me Holesto.

[faint545]

well, i have an 8800GTS which is under the current 8800GT and i am capable of playing Crysis on high settings so i would imagine the 8800GT wouldnt have an issue playing on high settings either...

[Holesto]

Well thanks for your input guys! If possible could you give me some estimated FPS on high/max settings from these games that I could expect?

Bioshock, Crysis, Supreme Commander, World in Conflict, Age of Conan. I know this is asking a lot but I'm super excited about this new PC and I really don't wanna be disappointed with my framerates when I'm expecting so much.

Thanks a lot!!

[Holesto]

I been worrying more and more lately about my build (getting paranoid i guess). I really wanna just make a badass gaming computer with no probs (wishful thinking?). I was looking at my RAM and MOBO...my MOBO says DDR2 1066 but my RAM is DDR2 800. Will this not work?

Also I have been reading about Vista vs XP and I'm currently unsure of what I want to get. I've read that vista is horrible for gaming, I've read that 64 vista is the only way to go, I've read that XP is the only way to go. I just want a straight answer on which OS is the best for JUST gaming as that is all I will be doing with this PC.

[Alaron]

The DDR2-1066 spec is the max the motherboard supports. The DDR2-800 is the better match for your CPU. It will work fine.

[Holesto]

Okay thanks a lot for the help on that issue, Alaron. Any recommendations on the OS problem?

[Dave21]

I read vista 64 does not support age of conan.

I say go with vista 32 personally because I like the eye candy. It is fine for gaming... and is the only way to futureproof with you want dx10.

[Holesto]

Thanks Dave! Really appreciate the input! I see you have more or less the same build as me (minus the video card) what kind of frame rates do you get in the games you play? And do you play at max settings? I'd love to get a 9800GTX but dunno if I wanna spend the extra money to get one...