Computer Build Hardware Suggestions - Gaming Rig

[foolios]

I am looking to build a gaming rig and it's been a while. I was hoping someone could point me to two things:

1) The hardware that is recommended

2) A reliable place online to get the parts

Based on my limited knowledge, I am guessing at things like;

10,000rpm drives - Raid 0

SLI or Crossfire video cards(2)

650 Watt P/S

2GB Memory, not sure what memory is low latency or how to tell, I'm guessing numbers like 2 2 2 2 2 is best?

Windows XP Pro

Intel quad processor

No clue about what motherboard brand to go with. I have had bad luck with Gigabyte, I know that...

Thanks so much in advance!

[ripken204]

newegg.com for everything

get a 150gb raptor

corsair 620HX

2x2GB muskin, its only $100 now

Q6600 G0

8800GTS 512MB

[puntoMX]

2) A reliable place online to get the parts

None, but if you need it online, then newegg or tigerdirect..

Based on my limited knowledge, I am guessing at things like;

10,000rpm drives - Raid 0

So that’s Western Digital Raptor…

SLI or Crossfire video cards(2)

nVidia 8800GTS 512MB (yes, the 512MB version, NOT the 640MB)…

650 Watt P/S

Corsair HX620…

2GB Memory, not sure what memory is low latency or how to tell, I'm guessing numbers like 2 2 2 2 2 is best?

No, that’s more 4-4-4-12 or so, or even 4-3-3-12 (800MHz) can be found for a not extreme price, 1066MHz is a bit more expensive and will be around 5-5-5-15 timings, and if you go with 64bits then 4GB, if 32bits then 3GB…

Intel quad processor

QX9650…

No clue about what motherboard brand to go with. I have had bad luck with Gigabyte, I know that...

Well, Gigabyte is one of the best for me, but if you like you can pick directly an ASUS. Go with the still not released nVidia 780 Intel version chipset (out in some days/weeks).

[tim_ver]

I have read that the 8800 GT out performs the 8800 GTS and is less $$. 512mb version of coarse.

http://internetgames.about.com/od/hardware...pvideocards.htm

What about a Case and PSU?

Thanks

[puntoMX]

I have read that the 8800 GT out performs the 8800 GTS and is less $$. 512mb version of coarse.

Not the new one, the NEW GTS I´m talking about here .

[tim_ver]

Like a

BFG Tech BFGE88512GTSE GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $329

or a

BFG Tech BFGR88640GTSOCE GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $399

for $60 more you get Another 128 meg of Ram not bad.

[foolios]

Thanks for the info. I forgot I'll need Vista for DX10!

[tim_ver]

When you are ready to buy post the final specs you will be going with.

Thanks

[Zxian]

Like a

BFG Tech BFGE88512GTSE GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $329

or a

BFG Tech BFGR88640GTSOCE GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $399

for $60 more you get Another 128 meg of Ram not bad.

ACK!!! What are you saying? The first card you posted is the newer card, and will kick the pants off the second (the older).

[tim_ver]

I was just letting him know the cost. I would go with first one also I posted.

Newegg is out of them now. Arghhh

what about a case?

[foolios]

1) What's your budget and what is included in that budget (tax/shipping, keyboard, monitor, OS, etc; if you're not in the US, please specify country)?

$1000 - U.S. - No need for monitor/mouse/keyboard/case

2) What will you be doing with this system besides gaming (eg: media ripping/encoding, watching hd videos, CAD, etc)?

Primary use will be for gaming. Don't know if I should go NVidia or ATI for gaming.

3) If you are gaming, what games will you be playing and at what resolution/settings (eg: cs:s @ 1680x1050 w/ no AA/AF)?

First Person shooters like the Half-Life Family of games for sure. MMORPG's secondary - Probably around 1440x900 resolution.

4) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to get?

It's a 19 inch now, I may upgrade down the road which is why I am not certain if I can hold off on the extra video card now or not, I've been told I'll only need the second card if I have a large screen or two of them.

5) What old parts do you plan on re-using?

I think I will stick with an intel processor for sure. I have no clue what motherboard or video card to match up with it. I want a combination that is proven. As for hard drive, I was thinking of going with a 10,000 rpm drive.

6) What features do you need/want in a motherboard and briefly, why do you need/want them? (3 pci slots, raid, firewire, µATX, etc)

I believe the motherboard needs to support at least DDR2, I think there is now DDR3, but I do not know. I was also thinking of raid 0 for two 10,000 rpm drives. Not concerned with firewire unless the new faster version is already out. Never used firewire before and still don't. I believe my case is ATX but if that makes a difference for the board then I can always change it. I believe there is ATX and micro ATX and I would guess that ATX being bigger means more power for the mobo. Not sure.

THanks a bunch for the help.

[foolios]

2) A reliable place online to get the parts

None, but if you need it online, then newegg or tigerdirect..

Based on my limited knowledge, I am guessing at things like;

10,000rpm drives - Raid 0

So that’s Western Digital Raptor…

SLI or Crossfire video cards(2)

nVidia 8800GTS 512MB (yes, the 512MB version, NOT the 640MB)…

650 Watt P/S

Corsair HX620…

2GB Memory, not sure what memory is low latency or how to tell, I'm guessing numbers like 2 2 2 2 2 is best?

No, that’s more 4-4-4-12 or so, or even 4-3-3-12 (800MHz) can be found for a not extreme price, 1066MHz is a bit more expensive and will be around 5-5-5-15 timings, and if you go with 64bits then 4GB, if 32bits then 3GB…

Intel quad processor

QX9650…

No clue about what motherboard brand to go with. I have had bad luck with Gigabyte, I know that...

Well, Gigabyte is one of the best for me, but if you like you can pick directly an ASUS. Go with the still not released nVidia 780 Intel version chipset (out in some days/weeks).

Thanks for the recommendations. I am going to check them out.

[jcarle]

Two 80GB 7200RPM hard drives in RAID 0 will be faster then a single 10000RPM hard drive.

Edited December 27, 2007 by jcarle

[foolios]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130304

Is that the right GTS card?

Also, that proc QX9650, I can only find for over $1,000. Do you know of something close/similar in the $300-$400 dollar price range for a processor?

Two 80GB 7200RPM hard drives in RAID 0 will be faster then a single 10000RPM hard drive.

I was thinking of going RAID 0 with two 10,000 rpm drives. Here's a decent priced Raptor.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136012

What do you think about two of those in RAID?

I've always heard good things about BFG. But here's a card made by two manufacturers:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814143080

and

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814150232

Which of the two would you go with? The BFG or the XFX or neither?

Can someone list the order of best version for the video card?

I see:

GT

GTS

GTX

what's the difference?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115017

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Retail

The reviews talk about GO and B3. What is that all about?

If this is good, I need to find a board for it and a match for one of the video cards 8800(GTX/GTS/GT).

other than benchmark bragging rights, are you absolutely sure that a quad core does anything for games?

I would really like to be as close to being set for a long long time as possible as well. And I love the ability to multitask. It'll be one pc. I need it to do things while gaming as well. I may have to run a personal server on it as well.

I'd like to be able to game and use voice chat, plus still handle my VOIP cable phone.

After looking at it's price, its doable. So I'll go in that direction.

Concerning ESD.

Would it work if I had an extra power cord that I strip of the two prongs for hot and neutral and left the 3rd prong for ground and plugged that in from the power supply to the wall outlet?

I was thinking that if I had my ESD wriststrap on and that cord plugged in as a ground that that would really help my system and not jeapordize it by still having power from the wall outlet?

What do you think?

Edited December 27, 2007 by puntoMX

[foolios]

Ok, so far for the video:

BFG Tech BFGE88512GTOC2E GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136012

For the processor:

Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115017

or

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

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...p?EdpNo=2905631

I'm not sure why the second one has more cache(8mb) for the same price but I would think that makes it better. I need an opinion.

Memory:

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820146565

The only motherboard I can find on newegg that seems decent is:

ASUS Striker Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX The Ultimate Gaming Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131074

For power supply I am still looking at them, it appears that I will need one that has 4 6-pin connector for the PCI-e video cards, if in case I add a second one later on. I am guessing I will need at least 600Watts. I gotta match a lot of things still.

Drives:

2x - Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136012

Thanks for the help so far.