spec help for first timer!

[tech inept]

Hey, Looking to get the parts together for my first build and could use some advice/suggestions. Ive noticed theres an influx of these threads atm and i did use the "spec me" thread, so hopefully i havent broken any forum rules!



Budget: 600-700 ( the cheaper the better)

Use: Gaming primarily, everyday use and uni work. Would like to be able to play the latest stuff, however money is tight being a student and so would like to try and future proof it a bit.

chosen so far:

Q6600 - Not sure whether i should go for a higher clocked dual core or a quad for gaming, bearing in mind trying not looking to upgrade for quite some time ( age old debate im sure )

4gb ram - not sure on best brand here

4850 - so many brands of this, a little confusing

mobo - whatevers best

PSU - whatevers best

Antec 300

onboard sound will do

hoping to include a 19/20 inch monitor aswell

Optical drive

HDD - 500gb or above, 1tb would be great if it could fit within the budget

As for cooling, I may try to overclock at some point ( nothing hardcore) so not sure whether ill need an after market cpu cooler here.

no need for an OS, got xp

hope i havent forgotten anything, if i have ill edit it in later! Cheers in advance, appreciate it!

 

[tech inept]

Thanks for taking the time out to post.

i may be able to stretch the budget just a tad.

at pastymuncher: why that mobo over the others, better for a quad or the suggested dual cores? btw, did u mean the artic cooling extreme (95thrifles spec) or the other arctic cooling in ro550's one? Or would either do?

ro55o: Cheers for the info. If im going to be sticking with this build for a while, will that suggested dual core be ok?

95thrifles: if i decided to upgrade to the Q6600 would the mobo still be ok?

any thoughts on case fans, will i be ok with what comes with the antec or will i need additional fans? Also, ive noticed the artic cooling CPU coolers have been getting a bit of stick as of late, anything to be worried about - seen the Bequiet coolers suggested a few times

Was leaning more towards the Q6600 as per my future proofing needs but seems its a bit of a push with a monitor and all ; / Still open to more suggestions/advice however, cheers in advance!

 

[tech inept]

Decided to opt for the E8400 instead, can anyone suggest a good mobo for this? Planning to keep it at stock for now ( but may venture into OC'ing at a later date so Mobo would need to acomodate this). Is it ok to stay with the stock cpu cooler if im not planning to Oc it for now?