Future Build (hopefully this by early spring)

[Mithosphere]

====NEWEGG====

SAPPHIRE 100168L Radeon X1900XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 CrossFire Video Card
$249.99

Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2B 1 Pack
$139.99

SeaSonic M12 SS-500HM ATX12V/ EPS12V 500W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC
$139.99

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
$177.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
$224.00

ASUS P5B-VM Socket T (LGA 775) Intel G965 Express Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$132.99


====TIGERDIRECT====
Ultra Black MicroFly Aluminum Micro ATX Tower Case with Clear Sides, Front USB, FireWire and Audio Ports
$69.99

NEC ND3550A / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 16x6x16x DVD-RW / 8x DVD+R DL / 6x DVD-R DL / 48x32x48x CD-RW / Black / Dual Layer / Retail Box DVD Burner with Software
$49.99



====GRAND TOTAL====
$1184.93
without shipping


So i made up my mind on stuff, and yes i realize that stuff will likely change in price and all that goodness, but for now this appears to be what i require to escape my current situation.
Suggestions?

[Tyreal]

Are you sure you want that matx case? I just worked with one... you might want to think it over. Cooling is less than adequate.

[Mithosphere]

Originally Posted by Tyreal

Are you sure you want that matx case? I just worked with one... you might want to think it over. Cooling is less than adequate.

Yes i am quite sure. I need something more portable, my current one is like 20 pounds or something, its a bit to carry in and out of basements and houses. So i figured mATX was the way for me, since laptops become obsolete so fast. And yes i have heard of heat issues, but im not going to be overclocking and im going to atleast try to install some form of fans or aftermarket stuff later on. but my budget is quite tight.

[Tyreal]

Thats ok then. I think the microfly has a front 80mm intake as well.

[gvblake22]

I don't think he isn't concerned with overclocking for now, so as long as you can find a good, efficient CPU heatsink, it shouldn't be too bad. You also might want to look into an Arctic Cooling Silencer for your X1900XT to exhaust the hot air out of the case. I don't think they actually have one available yet, but it would only make sense we will see one eventually (hopefully by the spring because I want one too!).

[Marvin The Martian]

What speeds do you expect to run at? Because a e6300 will do 3.2+ with ease and will prly safe you enough to get a 512mb xt variant which will be allot better with future/present games.

Though if it's not a lasting upgrade just a hitch between now and dx10 ( for which I would wait atm though ) then it wouldn't matter. Anyway, the added x8 multi isn't that important. Also, sorry to say, but anyone getting an allendale and is not overclocking it should be shot on site ;)

The puppies will do incredible things on stock volts and cooling. Mine does 3.5ghz on boxed cooler and that's not uncommon. If you would want I could show you some sandra benches with my 24/7 settings which beat stock x6800 graphs, and that for a 500E upgrade (ds3/e6300/2x512 geil pc800) :)

Short: please oc it, if worried about temps lower the volts a bit and then oc it, me thinks you will get a e6300@2.5ghz with lower then stock volts if you would really try. Also, if ocing and even if not, diffrence between 512mb/256mb x1900 for future games for sure if bigger then the diffrence between e6300/e6400 imho. Since you're going with x1900xt I asume gaming is one off the main things and for that core2due even at stock speeds will be enough for almost anything I can forsee in the near future :)

[Capper]

I am using the E6300 on my test bench, and think its a spectacular processor. I'm currently running it a 355FSB (topped out with this DFI board on air)...which equates to 2.55GHz, and its stomping everything in benchmarks....not too bad for a $180 processor.

[Marvin The Martian]

Originally Posted by Capper

I am using the E6300 on my test bench, and think its a spectacular processor. I'm currently running it a 355FSB (topped out with this DFI board on air)...which equates to 2.55GHz, and its stomping everything in benchmarks....not too bad for a $180 processor.

You should consider switching boards

[Mithosphere]

Originally Posted by Marvin The Martian

What speeds do you expect to run at? Because a e6300 will do 3.2+ with ease and will prly safe you enough to get a 512mb xt variant which will be allot better with future/present games.

...Also, sorry to say, but anyone getting an allendale and is not overclocking it should be shot on site ;) ...

...Short: please oc it, if worried about temps lower the volts a bit and then oc it, me thinks you will get a e6300@2.5ghz with lower then stock volts if you would really try. Also, if ocing and even if not, diffrence between 512mb/256mb x1900 for future games for sure if bigger then the diffrence between e6300/e6400 imho. Since you're going with x1900xt I asume gaming is one off the main things and for that core2due even at stock speeds will be enough for almost anything I can forsee in the near future :)

First of all im am not overclocking anything, if that was my intention i would have gone for something cheaper and easier to replace, im not going to be persuaded in any way to OC. And i find your comment about being shot rather appalling, im not sure why you would say such a thing, even in jest, its really quite rude.

Secondly the cheapest x1900xt 512mb on newegg is at 374.99 and with the lowered cost of an e6300 i still end up using 81 dollars more. And yet you even say that the x1900xt will be sufficient for gaming with the C2D. As for the DX10 cards, i never purchase anything that immeadiately comes out, since it much to high of a price and hasnt quite been fully prepared for most games. I usually wait a few months, maybe a year, that is if i attain the funds.

And like i posted earlier, well in the title atleast, im hoping to get this all sorted out by spring. So by that time DX10 cards may be out and prices on everything will have likely dropped.

From what i can tell, it shows something that a ATI 9600 can run most of today's games (Oblivion, HL2, FEAR, DoW, Civilization 4, CoD2, and numerous others) without a problem, and i bought that over 4 years ago. Besides the rig that i would like to build will actually be able to rework later on in the year if i feel so inclined to upgrade, where as my current POS is too ancient to support anything new. As for benchmarks and all that whoopla, i have seen them multiple times, i chose what i wanted because it fit my budget and idear.

[Capper]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with not overclocking...its not for everyone. I'm not an extreme OCer, nor do I recommend it to people. I do however recommend modest overclocking as a means to save some money.....if you don't get crazy, there is nothing wrong with it.

As to video cards, I like ATI because their AVIVO technology makes videos really nice. Its a free application and the difference between it and NVIDIA's Pure Video is huge, not to mention you have to pay for Pure Video. NVIDIA cards seem to have better FPS during gaming, and most gamers and enthusiasts look at that....personally, as I've said many times....most people will see no difference after a certain point. honestly, for what you want and need, to hold you over til next year....look at a 7600GT....I use one and am more than happy with it.

I'm not a huge fan of benchmarking, like everything else it serves a purpose, for some thats bragging rights, for me its a tool to test and tweak, as well as troubleshoot issues.