First time builder for a gaming machine

[avatar9]

Basically im amped about ut3 coming out and im looking to you guys for critiques and help please! Here are the specs im looking to get. My spending limit is 2000 dollars.

CPU: (Sckt775)Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6850 CPU @ 3.00GHz 1333FSB 4MB L2 Cache 64-bit

MOTHERBOARD: (Quad-Core FSB1333) Asus P5N32-E nForce 680i SLI Chipset LGA775 FSB1333 DDR2 Mainboard

MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Mushkin Xtreme w/ Heat Spreader)

VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB 16X PCI Express (($30 off Mail-in Rebate) MSI NX8800GTS-T2D640E HD OC Powered by NVIDIA)

HARD DRIVE: Single Hard Drive (500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)

First question - memory is there really a big difference with the heat spreader stuff?

second question - mobo, is the asus one any different from the evga nforce one?

also wtih this stuff should i be running this on 64 bit vista or 32 bit?

Thanks all for the help!

edit - my cooling fan = Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooling Fan

[Yellowhello]

Welcome to HL! I believe UT3 utilizes a quad-core much better than other games, so I think you'll be better off going with a quad-core for this build:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

Also with that budget you might be able to fit an 8800GTX into the build:
EVGA 768-P2-N835-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB Video Card About the questions:

1. Any high-quality memory usually has a heatspeader. Those without are usually intended for the budget market.
2. Both the ASUS and the Evga motherboards use the nForce 680i chipset, so I doubt there is much difference at the user-end. Mostly it's just looks and the price that's different.
3. I think you should get the 32-bit Vista, if Vista at all. I like XP a lot, and I see no reason to switch to Vista, especially if this is a gaming rig. From the comparisons and benchmarks I have seen, You usually get a framerate boost with XP because of the better drivers. Also 64-bit OS's in general have compatibility issues with a lot of software.

Again, welcome to HL!

[_WBaS_]

Hello and welcome to HL! When are you looking to have this built by?

I have high expectations for the new yorkfield cpus that intel is coming out with. If you can wait for them I would recommend getting their Q9450 which should cost probably around 350ish? It's 45nm technology with 12mb cache 1333mhz fsb and 2.66Ghz. I've already seen some posts online about people getting their hands on pre-release cores and overclocking them easily over 4ghz on air! Should be exciting. I would def. try to wait for them to come out and see how well they work. Should see them in January 2008.

I'm not sure about the memory... I've never used mushkin. Personally I think I would go with 2x1gb of either patriot, ocz or crucial ddr2-1066 ram. You'll want more than 800 if you're going to overclock... especially if the yorkfield is as good as I hope.

If you can afford it, I would go with an 8800gtx by evga or xfx.

The HDD is really up to you... it's not very important for gaming.

You may also want to put some money towards a good PSU. They are really important when you're running power hungry VGA cards such as the 8800 series and overclocking. You want to make sure it has enough amps and good voltage regulation.

As far as vista goes... I would go with 64bit. Support is growing for 64bit and you may not see a difference in performance in some things... but some things you will definitely notice a difference in. Your machine should have plenty of power to run it.

[Yellowhello]

Good catch about the PSU, _WBaS_... The Corsair HX620W PSU is a great choice. Also the Silverstone Decathlon and Olympia 750W PSU's are also good choices. I personally have my eye on the PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750W for my next build, but most people would say it's overkill. I'd get the Corsair or the Silverstone's if I were you.

EDIT: What case are you looking at for the new build?

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

Have you considered the Intel Xeon X3210 Kentsfield 2.13GH ... it clocks btw 3.2GHZ and 3.5Ghz on air ... Clubit has the G0 stepping one for $25-$35 cheaper than the
Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield ... headroom on both seems to be about equal ... except the XEON likely is a better chip.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by Tech Geek Deluxe

Have you considered the Intel Xeon X3210 Kentsfield 2.13GH ... it clocks btw 3.2GHZ and 3.5Ghz on air ... Clubit has the G0 stepping one for $25-$35 cheaper than the
Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield ... headroom on both seems to be about equal ... except the XEON likely is a better chip.

Good idea man. You'll likely get a pretty good OC out of it together with a nForce 680i mobo. More on the X3210 in this thread: Want Quad Core? Get the G0 X3210

[avatar9]

Would this work better for a hard drive?

150GB Gaming Western Digital Rapter 10,000RPM SATA150 16MB Cache WD1500ADFD[+0]


and this is the case im looking at

Xion III Gaming Mid-Tower 420W Case with Side Window

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by avatar9

Would this work better for a hard drive?

150GB Gaming Western Digital Rapter 10,000RPM SATA150 16MB Cache WD1500ADFD[+0]


and this is the case im looking at

Xion III Gaming Mid-Tower 420W Case with Side Window

Yes, that HDD is faster, but I'd look at having a backup drive incase that one shits on you, and also 150GB isn't really that much room, so it's also good to have more space if you need it.

It you get that case, dump the PSU that comes with it, and get a PSU previously recommended in this thread.

[avatar9]

if im ordering from like cyberpowerpc and on the pc configurator...if i select a new psu will they take the one out that came with the case and put the psu i paid extra for in?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by avatar9

if im ordering from like cyberpowerpc and on the pc configurator...if i select a new psu will they take the one out that came with the case and put the psu i paid extra for in?

Yes, Cyberpower assembles the whole thing for you as you had it configured (similar to Dell or something). If you want to go the route of pre-built, you should really check out Puget Computer Systems. They offer a few different choices of very good, reliable components (which cannot be said for all the parts offered on Cyberpower's website). You might pay a little more, but you get a system that is assembled very well with quality components that give you a good upgrade path later on down the road too. Plus you can always count on good service from the "smaller guy". You can read our review and interview of Puget Computers here...

We also reviewed the CyberPower Gamer SLI KO QX6800 system and CyberPower Gamer Infinity 7500 System.