Newb help required! What do i need

Cardboard Keith · 25 Nov 2008 at 17:17

Hope you guys can help me. I'm looking to build myself a half decent gaming machine on a budget. My old machine is real old hat:-
Athlon 3000+64
Old 8xAGP style asrock M/B
1 gig of unbranded Mem
saphire x1950GT Gpu

(amazingly runs Cod 4!)

Nothing of this is compatible so I might use this for just web surfing. Anyway my main question is what mobo / CPU to go for. I was looking at the duo 8500 or the q6600 but wondered whether many games use the quads abilities and whether I'd be better off with the duo? I'm not sure I trust my overclocking abilities on a few hundred quids worth of new gear so it may all be running stock speeds for now but a mother board thats good for O/C will be greatlt received (for the future).

I have about 500/600 quid at present to get some hardware sorted then I'll look at a graphic card so can you spec me a CPU/Mobo/memory/psu and suitable case so I can start building. I saw this forum as I was popping stuff into my cart on Overclockers so any advice will be really helpfull.

Regards CK

Ewanb75 · 25 Nov 2008 at 17:18

Ignore!

Cardboard Keith · 25 Nov 2008 at 17:51

Ewanb75 said:
Ignore!

Have I done something wrong?

Tetras · 25 Nov 2008 at 18:11

It usually means the poster said something then realised it wasn't appropriate or relevant and edited it out.

May I recommend the following threads for Quad v Dual (use search for more):
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17942256
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17938104
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17935739
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17933757

Mobo/memory/psu and suitable case

For motherboard choose the CPU first then ask or search for a recommendation in the motherboard section. P43 & P45 are suitable for single cards or midrange Crossfire, X38 and X48 are more for high-end Crossfire.

Memory I'd suggest 4GB (due to price and future requirements) and PC2-6400 for a Q6600 or PC2-8500 for a E8000 series. With an E8400 or Q6600 you get up to 3.6 Ghz without overclocking PC2-6400, E8500 would be 3.8. DDR2 and DDR3 are NOT interchangable, pick DDR2 mobo and DDR2 RAM OR DDR3 mobo and DDR3 ram.

PSU, any decent 500+ Watt brand is fine for single card systems.

Case, check out the case section once you have a complete build ready and a budget and they will help you (also say if you prefer silence or cooling and how important build speed and space in the case is).