Building new comp fast response needed

[tweeky]

I'm building a new computer and need help choosing the parts, i've been unable to keep up with whats been going on in the PC world recently (too busy with uni and playing FF-XI mostly FF-XI :D ). I would also like to start ordering the parts within the next 24 hours.

Here's what i've decided on so far, the computer is gonna be a pure gaming machine p4 3.2 ghz minimum, 1 gig of ram, Western Digital 250GB sata hdd (manufacturer code WD2500JD), Sony Dual layer DVD RW (manufacturer code DRU-710A). I already have the keyboard, mouse and speakers. The area i need the most help in is the with the graphics card, i would like to know what are the best ATI and Nvidia cards available.

I only have 3 days left to order for a guaranteed delivery before christmas eve so I do need a fast response.

[rond36]

We need a place to start.

All of the above can be done either way and they are not compatible with each other.

In most systems you can't mix old and new technologies (some socket 775 boards have both DDR1 and DDR2 slots)

What is your budget for this system

Are you planning on:

Socket 478, AGP 8X, and DDR1
or
socket 775, PCI-E, and DDR2

[Mick_D]

Pure gamers usually go for AMD CPU rather than intel. In fact they swear by them. Also, CPU rated speed is way over marketed as the performance factor in a system. It's more important to match a good motherboard and chipset to a good processor then choose ram and other peripherals to coincide with motherboard compatability.

Personally I would definately go AMD (64 bit) if building a pure gamer for a customer. Much better gaming performance and while 64 bit OS and games are not yet available, they will in the near future.

As Rond asked, are you talking AGP or PCI-E video. PCI-E is the future however the really good card are currently very expensive.

What's your budget for the project?

[tweeky]

I was originally planning on going with AMD but decided not to as i have no previous experience with them and have no idea how easy they are to install. If you can recommend an AMD system to me that would be great, i would also like it if you could give me some links to sites showing me how to install AMD processors (I would much rather build a computer with an AMD processor in it than build one with an Intel processor).

I currently have an £800 budget, I am currently waiting for a cheque to clear it should then go up to £1200 (i am not expecting it to clear in time though).

The stores I am getting my parts from are Dabs (www.dabs.co.uk) and savastore (www.savastore.co.uk).

I was gonna go with Socket 478, AGP 8X but am now willing to go with PCI-E, I have also been hearing a few things about the heatsink for the socket 775 being too heavy and likely to break after a few months of use (I don't know how true this is but i have heard a few rumors). I am also thinking of going with an MSI or Gigabyte motherboard, and using either Crucial or Kingston RAM.

The graphics card has to be at least as good as a Radeon 9800 pro but I would like a better one.

[Mick_D]

Here are a couple of links for AMD cpu installation.

http://www.hardwarezone.com/guides/amd-socket939/index.php?&pg=4

http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/cpu/socka/1.html

If you decide to go with AMD it looks like you can build a system based on the AMD 64 3500 (155)

ASUS A8N-SLI/deluxe (112)
Kingston PC3200 512Mb X 2 (165)

Thats all I have time for now but that can give you a start and your vid card would be PCI-E so you can search those prices. Also your HD, PSU (450W min), DVD RW, case etc.

[Deagle]

To follow up on Mick_D's post. If you decide to go AMD 64, get socket 939 because of built in mem control and dual-channel capability. Also look for the new chip with Winchester core that have 90nm technology. These will run cooler and can overclock high if you want in the future. As for video card, Nvidia seems to be winning so I'd suggest go with a Geforce 6600/6800.

[saphalline]

In PCIe format these days, a nice GeForce 6600 GT seems to be the best deal right now, with Radeon X700 Pro's nipping at their heels. Also, in going with an SLI system (you're stuck with NVidia for this as ATI doesn't have SLI vid cards), two 6600 GT's are cheaper than one 6800 GT, yet are actually faster in most games and benchmarks. Gotta love the power of NForce4 SLI! :D

While I agree that AMD would be the better choice for your pure gaming system, I'd like to know what rumors you've been hearing about LGA 775's "heavy heatsinks"? Sure, Prescotts put out a lot of heat for an Intel CPU, but breaking heatsinks? From Intel?? Impossible. I heard similar things about Socket 423's heatsink design, but the problems from that stemmed from bumpy shipping methods and PC makers that didn't properly attach the heatsink. I'd venture a guess that this round of rumors again stems from improper use.

[tweeky]

I've placed a list of links to the parts that i have looked at below.

Motherboard (http://www.dabs.com/uk/productview?quicklinx=3F61)
CPU (http://www.savastore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=10276796&pid=44)
RAM (http://www.savastore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=10271774&pid=44)
HDD (http://www.dabs.com/uk/productview?quicklinx=2N7D)
FDD (http://www.dabs.com/uk/productview?quicklinx=33PG)
DVD-RW (http://www.savastore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=10277838&pid=44)
PSU (http://www.savastore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=10277788&pid=44)
Case (http://www.dabs.com/uk/productview?quicklinx=317P)
Graphics Card (http://www.savastore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=10279086&pid=44)

I've had a quick look around and all the above items are in stock when i looked, i'm just not 100% sure that the parts are all compatible.

Sure, Prescotts put out a lot of heat for an Intel CPU, but breaking heatsinks? From Intel?? Impossible

From what i've heard the heatsink is heavy enough to put a lot of pressure on certain points of the motherboard causing cracks to appear and in some cases the heatsink to break off damaging RAM, the graphics card and other parts you may have in there causing 100's of pounds worth of damage.

I have heard from a few people about this happening but since I don't have one I can't be sure if it's true or not.

[Mick_D]

Everything looks compatible to me. In fact I'd have to say excellant job in all your choices. The mobo video isn't PCI-E but the graphics choice of MSI GeForce NX 6800 AGP 8x 256mg ram will not dissapoint you. This machine will be a screamer that will leave many gamers drooling.

Consider picking up two additional fans for case cooling. It appeared to me the case shipped with two fans but had space for two more and I would want all the cooling I could, particularily if you are considering overclocking.

To address the Intel heatsink issue I gotta agree with saph on this. I would even go so far to say it's pure internet myth.

[tweeky]

Consider picking up two additional fans for case cooling. It appeared to me the case shipped with two fans but had space for two more and I would want all the cooling I could, particularily if you are considering overclocking.

The case actually ships with 5 fans, i've previously bought this make of case before. I am planning on getting some quieter fans for it after christmas the ones that ship with it are very noisy. I did think the same thing when i got it the first time it wasn't until it arrived that i realised it had 5.

[saphalline]

Nice parts! I particularly like your selection of the mobo. That whole DPS (dual power system) thing isn't just hype. It really does help keep to keep voltages in check, and the fan keeps the MOSFET's and other power components on the mobo nice and cool. As for the vid card, it's better than mine! Yes, I will be upgrading, but not until after I get my Xmas money. ;)

From what i've heard the heatsink is heavy enough to put a lot of pressure on certain points of the motherboard causing cracks to appear and in some cases the heatsink to break off
If the heatsinks in question were larger, 3rd party designs, I can see how this would happen. The Intel stock heatsink wouldn't do this, but who uses that? :p I myself have a very hefty Alpha heatsink on my own P4, and if push came to bump, I don't doubt it could break the mobo much easier than an Intel stock design (which is about a third the weight of my Alpha heatsink! :eek: ). Something like this really isn't Intel's fault, though. They can't be expected to compensate for what others put in their systems.