New PC Please Help

[Abernus]

Hi all,

O.K so it's time to upgrade and it has been over 5 years since i last built my PC. I am really out of touch with hardware now and need some advice on the parts I have chosen. If you can think of any better alternatives I would like to know. So here are the parts I have chosen so far:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6000+ 3.00GHz (Socket AM2) - OEM
Motherboard: Asus CROSSHAIR nForce 590 SLi (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Memory: OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-8500 1066MHz SLI-Ready Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2N1066SR2GK)
Video: BFG GeForce 8800 Ultra OC 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Soundcard: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro 7.1 Soundcard - Retail
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower 750W Modular Power Supply

This will be used for gaming and I hope it will last me a few years. I already have a 19" TFT and a good set of speakers. I have left HDD and DVD burner off the list as I have not yet decided on those.

look forward to seeing what you have to say about the setup.

Thanks

 

[stickroad]

Will you be overclocking?

Also how much are you looking to spend?

 

[Abernus]

I wont be looking to overclock as it will be air cooled unlike my current PC that is watercooled.

I have priced all this up on OC and it comes to about £1200. I can extend this budget by about another £200 but thats my max.

 

[stickroad]

Hows this:

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "LGA775 Kentsfield" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler (Socket 478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)
Gigabyte GA_P35_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C3 667MHz Dual Channel Kit
BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB 5000AAKS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Professional 7.1 Soundcard - Retail
Samsung SH-183LBEBN 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer Serial ATA Lightscribe ReWriter
Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU
Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case

Total : £1,087.87

If your looking to spend that much go for a Intel system.

Theirs nothing stopping you overclokcing on air.

Anyway the 750 wattage PSU is a bit of an overkill go for one of the Corsair PSUs.

Just quick question, any reason for that really expensive Soundcard?

 

[Abernus]

Nice build but have a few questions for you.

The change in CPU the AMD is rated at 3.0GHz but the Intel is only 2.4GHz. My current PC had an AMD Athlon 2.3Ghz CPU. Would I see much of a difference in performance between the new AMD and the new Intel CPU.

The other thing after compairing the 2 video cards I see the one you specified is of slightly lower spec than the one I originally specified. Again would there be much of a difference.

No reason for the expensive sound card. I do like my audio and films to sound good on my PC, I guess it was just a case of must have the best.

The only reason I ask is this is likely to be the last PC I get for the next 5 years as we have a child on the way soon. I figure upgrade while I can

 

[Abernus]

Can anyone please advise?

 

[Nebzor]

The AMD architecture is slower than Intel's, anyway. You're comparing a 3GHz slow processor with 2 cores, to a 2.4GHz fast processor with 4 cores. Hopefully you can figure the difference out for yourself

 

[Abernus]

Doh, sorry my bad I didn't notice that was Quad core. Hangs head in shame So it looks like I know what PC to buy from OC then. Now where did I put my credit card........

Thanks all for the help and replies, much appreciated

 

[DavidB]

The other thing after compairing the 2 video cards I see the one you specified is of slightly lower spec than the one I originally specified. Again would there be much of a difference.

Basicly the ultra version is only slightly better with a performance that normally dosnt justify the additional cost.
If your using a 19" i really dont think youd need an ultra, the spec stickroad has quoted you sounds good to me.