custom pc help

StrikeRaid

New member
hi all ive finally decided to build my own gaming pc. This pc will hopefully be able to run new games (especially crysis) at mid to high (DX10), and be upgradable in a few years. After researching for a while, ive chosen some parts to use. Right now the total is running around $2000, which is the limit of my budget. Im fairly new to building computers so any suggestions would be helpful and thanks in advance.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Processor - 2.66GHz, 4MB Cache, 1333MHz FSB

EVGA GeForce 8600 GTS Superclocked Video Card, 256MB GDDR3

Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit

OCZ Ultra 5+ Silver Thermal Compound

Asus P5N-E SLI Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI

Logitech X-230

Acer AL2216WBD 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 5ms, WSXGA+ 1680x1050

Apevia Multimedia Keyboard and Optical Mouse Combo

Ultra Black Aluminus ATX Full-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, Firewire and Audio Ports

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE

Ultra / X-Finity / 600-Watt / ATX / Dual 80mm Fan

Masscool 8W553 / Socket 775 / Aluminum / CPU Cooling Fan

AOpen COM5232PA DVD-ROM Combo Drive

Western Digital Caviar SE16 400GB Hard Drive

Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz E.P.P. Memory (2 x 1024)
 
Looks pretty good... of course if you could stretch to a Q6600 and/or an 8800 you'd see a marked improvement in performance. But, that's almost always the case, spend a bit more, get a bit more. The question is where to stop. ;)
 
I`d have to echo that.

Imo, if u`r looking to especially play Crysis in some glory, start with 3 components and buy the rest with what u have left.

@ least a P35 - 650 if u`r intent on looking at SLI.

E6750 is the best c2d, imo. The E6550 is the best per money, but a Q6600 is an excellent quad for the money.

8800 - something, and the flavor atm is the 8800GT, b4 an unholy step up in price to the gtx.
 
You really need a better graphic card then 8600gts if you want to play crysis or other DX10 titles at mid/high. either u put up some more cash and buy 8800gt or wait for ati 3850/3870.
 
Looks like you have a good start. Here's a few changes I would consider however.

Step down a notch on the processor, with the cooling you have chosen you will more than likely be able to clock a lower chip to the same speed as what you were hoping to get from the E6750. Use that saved money to step up to an 8800 series card if you're really serious about Crysis. I hear that it runs like a slug on Quads w/ 8800 SLI setups on high settings at max screen res.

I agree with Rast on the motherboard, no reason to go with an nVidia chipset board unless your hearts desire to go SLI, which IMHO is a waste of money. Your clocking capabilities on a P35 or new Intel chipset based board will be much better.

Step that Audigy up to an X-Fi gamer.

Ditch the Ultra PSU. Not bad units, but there are much more reputable PSU's to be had for the same or less money that you will end up being much happier with. I suggest something from Tagan, Corsair, Enermax, or OCZ, a few other brands as well, see what you can find for a similar price and we'll tell ya whether or not it's a better choice than the Ultra.

How much are you spending on the Corsair memory? Since I've been out of the game so long I don't know the current position for good OC'ing memory but I can almost guarantee that there is RAM on the market that you can find for less that will clock better than that Corsair.

Cheers, let us know if you decide to make any changes.
 
Thanks for the useful information... I upped the graphics card to an 8800 GTS it does look like the better buy ATM. I was looking at different mobos and im liking the abit IP35 Pro. Also, what do you think of Centon 2048MB Dual Channel memory? Ill look at all the other suggestions in a bit... Keep the opinions coming

PS How many watts will i need for this system?
 
8800 GT or 8800GTS

IP35 Pro ftw

Centon? Hmm, how about try some Crucial ballistix? Komplett have a nice set @ very cheap
 
i also switched out the PSU to the OCZ StealthXStream

i looked at the X-Fi sound cards and wasnt very impressed lol... alot of reviews where people said "it lags my computer... it pops and crackles" ect... also it is about $70 more expensive.
 
Seriously, u better buy 8800gt than 8800gts.

ip35 pro +1

I don't know much about Centon, but their ddr3 is used by a few people in XS.
 
GTS has less shaders and the 640mb has a tad more memory (though 512mb is more than enough).

GT is a superior card right now
 
wow thanks tigerdirect... for whatever reason my cart has been reset so now i have to input all my parts again

ive been reading the GT vs GTS discussions and i think ill go with the GT
 
Heres the updated list:

Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit

Centon 2048MB Dual Channel PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB) $79.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 400GB Hard Drive - 7200, 16MB, SATA-300, OEM $109.99

AOpen COM5232PA DVD-ROM Combo Drive - 52x32x CD-R/RW, 16x DVD-ROM $36.99

Masscool 8W553 / Socket 775 / Aluminum / CPU Cooling Fan $24.99

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE $36.99

Ultra Black Aluminus ATX Full-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, Firewire and Audio Ports $85.99

Apevia Multimedia Keyboard and Optical Mouse Combo (Silver) $24.99

Acer AL2216WBD 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 5ms, WSXGA+ 1680x1050, DVI, VGA, Black $264.99

Logitech X-230 / 2.1 / 32Watt / Black / PC Multimedia Speaker System $42.99

Abit IP35 Motherboard - Intel P35, Socket 775, ATX Motherboard, Audio, PCI Express, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0 & Firewire, Serial ATA, RAID $195.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor - 2.40GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Kentsfield, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket 775, BX80562Q6600, Processor with Fan $335.99

XFX GeForce 8800 GT Video Card - 512MB DDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, HDCP, Video Card $365.99

EDIT: OCZ / StealthXStream / 600-Watt / ATX / 120mm Fan / SATA-Ready / PCI-e Ready / Active PFC / Power Supply 87.99

in total (taxes shipping ect) its $2060 canadian
 
i edited my post to include the psu

also i was considering the ballistix but it looks out of my price range... its stretched thin as it is
 
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