Need help with new desktop parts.

[Iku]

So my gaming laptop is pretty dead now, im looking forward to build a new desktop.

Budget: 600-800

Motherboard: Dont know much about motherboard. Recommendations needed.

CPU: I am leaning toward Intel. I stopped reading Computer Magazine so i dont know what is going on but last time i heard that Intel is alot better. However, if AMD offer better deal, i dont mind using AMD. Duo or Quad?

GPU+RAM: I have some ideas about GPU but not much about RAM. Once again, recommendation needed.

Cases+ PSU: no idea. Help needed.

My laptop has a 7800 GTX Nvidia GPU, i wonder if i could use it instead along with 2 RAM.

Last but not least, should i buy the parts now or wait until the Black Friday?

Thanks.

[Tymon]

AMD will almost always be cheaper than intel and overclocks easier, but as someone who seems to be new to custom hardware that might not be too much of a solution for you.

personally, I prefer intel. also take note that a high end dual core processor (e6800, etc) will likely perform better than a low end quad core..

a motherboard is less of an investment, but you probably want to get one without onboard video (this is useless extra money, since you seem to be wanting a card yourself)

ASUS makes great motherboards. I can't really recommend one in general, but they have lots of good choices.

as for a GPU, right now, I prefer ATi to NViDIA cards. I actually have a NViDIA 8800GT at this time, but I feel that ATi cards last longer and tend to perform better, especially on alternate operating systems or with custom firmware.

The Radeon 4870 HD is an incredible card for it's price (which is a bit high but it's totally worth it)

you can get really good quality corsair RAM for cheap on newegg, an example would be:

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory - why 2gb? unless you have a 64 bit os and run insanely high settings games in multiple windows, you won't need more.

Spoiler: show

or if you use vista, lulz

case: totally up to you, but you'll likely only be paying for aesthetics. you should look for a case with as much space as possible, though

as for a power supply, 750w should be plenty, but any more is up to what you think you may use, or what you might buy in the future.

you should stay in budget if you don't spend a huge amount of money on a motherboard or a case, the rest can be bought on combo deals and such especially around the holiday season

[Isiolia]

I've built a couple machines lately, one for myself, one for my mom...

Motherboard I would recommend the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R ( Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards ). Not too expensive, nice features, but not much you don't need. Also quite good for overclocking if you choose to.
ASUS is also a good brand to look at.

CPU, for gaming value, probably an E8400 or E8500 at the moment. I used an E8500 in my build. Both can overclock well if you are inclined to, or are solid performers stock as well. Quad Core is good, a Q6600 is about the same price as an E8500, however, for gaming, outside of a few apps like Crysis or Supreme Commander, you'll usually be using 1-2 cores, so the higher clockspeed per dollar for dual cores is better.

GPU, right now the ATI 4830, 4850, and 4870 are all good deals, as are the nVidia 9800GT/GTX/GTX+. I've read pros and cons for either. For your budget, you'd probably want to look at the 4850 or GTX+, but a 4870 is quite nice if you can find the extra change.

IMO, get a 4GB kit for RAM, and just get DDR-800 or 1066 to keep the cost reasonable. I used this kit Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory in both of my recent builds, and it's been great.

PSU, unless you're going with SLI or plan to have a lot of HDDs, 500W or so is probably fine. Getting more is fine too, but chances are you won't actually need it. More important to get quality. I've wound up using Antec's Earthwatts series lately, which are pretty basic, but are 80+ certified and not too expensive. Antec also makes good basic cases, as does Cooler Master. The 300 is a pretty solid case by them. That plus a 500W Earthwatts should be around $100 total. I used the Sonata III 500W for my mom's computer, which is nice as well, though is a bit lacking in places to mount fans.

HDD and optical drive aren't too bad, you can get a 250GB HDD for around $50 for a basic system drive to start with, and a DVD burner will be $30 or so.


My system was a touch over $800, using dual 250GB HDDs for a RAID1 system drive (and including shipping), so you should be able to put something similar together within your budget. It's been a great system so far.

[Iku]

Im torn between

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

and

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor


They are nearly 80 bucks in difference for .16 Ghz CPU speed.

:X

And thanks for all the recommendation. They are really helpful.

[Shuemue]

Get the E8500, you'd be very happy with the E8400 even, I'm running the E8400 and I love it.

[Isiolia]

Im torn between

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

and

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor


They are nearly 80 bucks in difference for .16 Ghz CPU speed.

:X

And thanks for all the recommendation. They are really helpful.

I'd save the $80. The 160Mhz won't make a real difference, and quite frankly, an E8500 can more than likely overclock a lot more than that (not uncommon for people to run E8400/8500s at 4Ghz).

[Shuemue]

(not uncommon for people to run E8400/8500s at 4Ghz).

Yeah, I'm running my E8400 at 3.6Ghz, I'm sure I could get a few hundred Mhz more even before switching to water.

[Iku]

So i just ordered

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retai
Antec NeoPower 650 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

That combo gave me like 100 bucks off if i bought them seperately.

So I am about to order the

Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

should i buy it combo with this mobo? Or there is a better mobo

Newegg.com - ASUS P5Q SE PLUS LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Also, i just check out the 4850 ATI video card and there were like 10 with the same price but the number or whatever is strangely confusing. Any recommendation? Thanks.

[Shuemue]

Do yourself a HUGE favour and buy an E8500 instead of the E8600, and put the cash you save towards a HD4870 instead of the HD4850. In my opinion that'd be an overall performance boost for gaming.

With regard to GPU brands, I'm running a Sapphire atm and I'm very happy with it.

[solsirt]

As Shuemue said, ditch the e8600. It's just not worth the extra $80. The 8400 or 8500 will do (arguably worth the extra $25 for an extra .5 multiplier on the 8500, but your choice) Do you intend to overclock it at all? Have you thought about hsf?

Mobo above would be fine. any of the p5q's are good... just depends on what you need.

For 4850's I'm an asus fan here... the asus top is overclocked slightly out the box, and still priced about the same as most other 4850s. Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

again personal preference, but how much of a break are you getting with that PSU? Antec has improved a lot, but I still prefer the Corsair's...

[Shuemue]

I also prefer Corsair PSUs, but I've had good experiences with Antec, I think he's saving $35 with that combo, and my gf has that Antec PSU in her PC and it's been really solid.

[Iku]

So this is what i bought

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500

RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

DVD: SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q

Cases: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

PSU: Antec NeoPower 650 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Total: $655

Still missing a GPU lol.

I guess i spent a little too much on the cases

i didnt expect them to cost that much

[Calina]

iam also building new comp this is GPU iam going with


Newegg.com - BFG Tech BFGE98512GTXPOCE GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

169.99 after mail in rebates iam getting 2 of these maybe 3 but for a bugeted comp this dosent look have bad and cant go wrong with that price