Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed

insinuwait · 10-30-2007, 04:36 AM

Alright...after conversating with my dad and puttin one together on newegg.com that was pretty fucking kickass and about $1200 I've decided I'm gonna build me a kickin new desktop. Not gonna Get rid of this XPS M170, but it has obviously fallen behind in gaming now and upgrading it is damn near,if not impossible. So I do want to have a high end machine to play games on.

I'm about to be getting my own apartment and since I'm getting an HDTV in the near future to go along with my near future Xbox 360...I can use the HDTV as my monitor.

I'm considering getting these with it:
Mobo - Newegg.com - ASUS CROSSHAIR AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Video - Newegg.com - BFG Tech BFGR88640GTSOCE GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
CPU - Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail

Along with 2 Gb of Corsair RAM. Considering getting 4 Gbs...(wondering if thats easy to get going?)

This is all kind of just picked it out of the store with a quick overview of ratings from the site and users and seemed to be a good combo. I'm gonna do more research into it, but I just wanted to get some of you guys thoughts on this, or what I can get thats better. I'm open to all ideas. If you think I should go with Intel over AMD lemme know, or anything else. I really just wanna build a high end, kick some fuckin ass, rig.

Amraam · 10-30-2007, 11:20 AM

Wait to see what the new 8800GT delivers. It has faster clock speeds (although lacks slightly in other areas) and is cheaper than the GTS.

From current benchmarks, it actually out performs the GTS and in some extreme occasions the GTX also. Not bad for a $250 GPU.

Check out this:
GeForce 9 ::: GeForce 8800GT i 9800 Series

Why AMD over Intel? Just curious.

insinuwait · 10-30-2007, 01:13 PM

I have an Intel inside my XPS, but I've always kind of liked AMD, my first desktop I built I used an AMD processor and was able to overclock it quite a bit. I'm just wondering with today's high end gaming should I go with AMD or Intel?And which of the two looks more prominent for the coming future?

grim reaper · 10-30-2007, 02:17 PM

Go for a Intel Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad. Buying anything else is madness. The Intels are marginally quicker at stock and can be overclocked by huge amounts. For example my 2.4ghz E6600 is happily running at 3.4ghz.

Random Ping · 10-31-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Go for a Intel Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad. Buying anything else is madness.

Sadly I have to agree with Grim here. I'm usually a fan of AMD but they just haven't been competing well with Intel lately.

If you are going for AMD, I would suggest getting the X2 6000+ instead of the 6400+. From what I have seen there is very little improvement for the $70-80 difference you would be spending. I think tomshardware.com had a good comparison of the two. I am looking at the 6000+ myself since it is only about $150 and I have a AMD board. Hopefully AMD will come out with a decent next generation processor soon so they will be back in competition.

Quote:

Along with 2 Gb of Corsair RAM. Considering getting 4 Gbs...(wondering if thats easy to get going?)

Don't get 4 GB's of RAM unless you are using a 64 bit operating system (XP x64 or Vista). Your system won't use the extra 2 GBs effectively otherwise. I would also suggest the XMS Ram; I have had the PC3200 variety for a year or two now and I still load in first for BF2 maps everytime, faster than the people with DDR2 ram.

grim reaper · 10-31-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random Ping

Don't get 4 GB's of RAM unless you are using a 64 bit operating system (XP x64 or Vista). Your system won't use the extra 2 GBs effectively otherwise. I would also suggest the XMS Ram; I have had the PC3200 variety for a year or two now and I still load in first for BF2 maps everytime, faster than the people with DDR2 ram.

Hooray for incompatible ram. Both AM2 and 775 need DDR2 ram to function and DDR is not physically compatible.

insinuwait · 11-01-2007, 04:31 PM

Alright, so Intel it is...but I've been trying to research a little and can't seem to find just a straightforward, simple answer for abunch of questions that are all in the same area...

Whats the difference between the 3 processors I've seen: Duo, Quad, and Extreme, and why the hell is the Extreme processor $1000USD compared to the Duos and Quads going for close to $200USD? From what I've come to understand, the Duo has 2 cores and the Quad has 4 cores? So what does the Extreme have in it that is making it cost 5 times the Duo/Quad core?

And on newegg.com Duo and Quad core are running about the same price range, why is that?

mrhahn · 11-01-2007, 04:48 PM

You're right about Duo and Quad. I'd guess Extreme is better for overclocking...

Amraam · 11-01-2007, 07:39 PM

The extremes are like 3Ghz out of the box. Not sure what else makes them so rediculously expensive.

Buy a cheaper Core 2 Duo, as they will overclock beyond the speeds of the stock Extreme chips anyway.

TitanSound · 11-01-2007, 08:15 PM

I suggest building a small nuclear reactor and attaching a monitor too it to get OMG graphix. Go on...try it....I dare you.

hsimah · 11-05-2007, 11:37 AM

They made a game about the last guy who did that... STALKER I think it was...

10-30-2007, 04:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
insinuwait First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Posts: 1,861	Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed Alright...after conversating with my dad and puttin one together on newegg.com that was pretty fucking kickass and about $1200 I've decided I'm gonna build me a kickin new desktop. Not gonna Get rid of this XPS M170, but it has obviously fallen behind in gaming now and upgrading it is damn near,if not impossible. So I do want to have a high end machine to play games on. I'm about to be getting my own apartment and since I'm getting an HDTV in the near future to go along with my near future Xbox 360...I can use the HDTV as my monitor. I'm considering getting these with it: Mobo - Newegg.com - ASUS CROSSHAIR AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail Video - Newegg.com - BFG Tech BFGR88640GTSOCE GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail CPU - Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail Along with 2 Gb of Corsair RAM. Considering getting 4 Gbs...(wondering if thats easy to get going?) This is all kind of just picked it out of the store with a quick overview of ratings from the site and users and seemed to be a good combo. I'm gonna do more research into it, but I just wanted to get some of you guys thoughts on this, or what I can get thats better. I'm open to all ideas. If you think I should go with Intel over AMD lemme know, or anything else. I really just wanna build a high end, kick some fuckin ass, rig. __________________ I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out. - Bill Hicks Last edited by insinuwait : 10-30-2007 at 01:14 PM.

10-30-2007, 11:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Amraam First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 1,631	Re: Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed Wait to see what the new 8800GT delivers. It has faster clock speeds (although lacks slightly in other areas) and is cheaper than the GTS. From current benchmarks, it actually out performs the GTS and in some extreme occasions the GTX also. Not bad for a $250 GPU. Check out this: GeForce 9 ::: GeForce 8800GT i 9800 Series Why AMD over Intel? Just curious. __________________ My BF2 Stats The cake is a lie!

10-30-2007, 01:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
insinuwait First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Posts: 1,861	Re: Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed I have an Intel inside my XPS, but I've always kind of liked AMD, my first desktop I built I used an AMD processor and was able to overclock it quite a bit. I'm just wondering with today's high end gaming should I go with AMD or Intel?And which of the two looks more prominent for the coming future? __________________ I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out. - Bill Hicks

10-30-2007, 02:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,256	Re: Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed Go for a Intel Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad. Buying anything else is madness. The Intels are marginally quicker at stock and can be overclocked by huge amounts. For example my 2.4ghz E6600 is happily running at 3.4ghz.

11-01-2007, 04:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
insinuwait First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Posts: 1,861	Re: Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed Alright, so Intel it is...but I've been trying to research a little and can't seem to find just a straightforward, simple answer for abunch of questions that are all in the same area... Whats the difference between the 3 processors I've seen: Duo, Quad, and Extreme, and why the hell is the Extreme processor $1000USD compared to the Duos and Quads going for close to $200USD? From what I've come to understand, the Duo has 2 cores and the Quad has 4 cores? So what does the Extreme have in it that is making it cost 5 times the Duo/Quad core? And on newegg.com Duo and Quad core are running about the same price range, why is that? __________________ I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out. - Bill Hicks

11-01-2007, 04:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
mrhahn General Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,966	Re: Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed You're right about Duo and Quad. I'd guess Extreme is better for overclocking... __________________ Donate to help keep BFN running.

11-01-2007, 07:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
Amraam First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 1,631	Re: Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed The extremes are like 3Ghz out of the box. Not sure what else makes them so rediculously expensive. Buy a cheaper Core 2 Duo, as they will overclock beyond the speeds of the stock Extreme chips anyway. __________________ My BF2 Stats The cake is a lie!

11-01-2007, 08:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
TitanSound Captain Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London, England Posts: 2,811	Re: Building a high end desktop, recommendations/suggestions needed I suggest building a small nuclear reactor and attaching a monitor too it to get OMG graphix. Go on...try it....I dare you. __________________ "You often find drummers have amazing memories, they have to remember long musical phrases as pure data, its almost binary"

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
High Def Tuner for my lappy...very cool.	insinuwait	Off-topic	14	09-24-2006 01:03 PM
High Caliber Combat looking for members	sethbek	Clans	2	08-12-2005 03:00 PM
Chopper School	ChopperSchool	General Modding	22	06-30-2003 07:47 AM
New Solution for choppiy grafix w high Frame Rate!	Anonymous	General Battlefield: 1942	23	05-08-2003 12:12 AM
Got all new PC components... advice on building it needed	ColKilgore	Off-topic	2	03-21-2003 10:10 PM