New PC

[Paquito]

Hi folks... :D

Ok, I guess I have done enough research in the web. I have more or less what I want for putting together a new PC, however I need some advice for the CPU and video card.

I would like to have a versatile PC that I can surf the web, make general work, and also for gaming with titles such as Crysis, Enemy Territory among others. I want to keep the cost as low as possible.

Should I use the latest CPU? Should I get a SLI/ATI Crossfire capable MOBO or a single video card one? What about OS? Vista or XP? :confused:

Thanks. :)

[George Hallam]

how much is your budget? (really helpful to know)

well CPU wise i would go with the E8400 or if you cant afford that try the E7200

Video card wise try to see if you can fit the ATI 4850 into your budget if not go down to a Nvidia 8800Gt

for an OS go with Vista 64bit Home premium

MOBO all depends on your budget and GPU choice really

[frost]

Since you want to run crysis you going to need a pretty good graphics set up. I would get 1 9800 GTX for $200. You should get some good proformance out of it. Like the guy said above the E8400 will give great performance. Which then you could always Overclock. Or if you will be doing alot of multitasking/gameing you could go with the Q6600 quad core which is $200. This will give you very good overall performance. I would recommend overclocking this.

OS- windows vista home premium

Motherboard- depends do you want 1 or 2 pci-e x16 maybe 3. Sli? and whats your price range it would be a little easier helping you.

[frost]

BTW 1 9800 GTX will give you a 18 to 37 avg FPS.

[Paquito]

Thanks, folks. What about AMD CPU? :D Intel is quite pricy.

If I get a SLI MOBO with a 2+ PCI Express Slots, can I go first with a single Video Card and latter upgrade with a second? Is this SLI plug and play? I mean, once two video card are detected is the SLI mode turned on automatically?

I have a decent budget. I haven't put together a PC for 6 yrs. However, every buck counts. :D

Thanks.:)

[George Hallam]

BTW 1 9800 GTX will give you a 18 to 37 avg FPS.

valid point frost but but vague on a few things there ;)

a 9800Gtx is a good card but no way will give you 37 fps on a decent resolution and a 4870 would be alot better for his money and they give better performance (way better) also he is looking for a card a bit cheaper (i think :confused:)

[George Hallam]

Just read Paquito thread, you can go with AMD if you want but you will get better performance out of an intel and you have a much larger chioce with both CPU's and MOBO's

if you have a reasonable budget get
-Intel E8400
-P45 or X48 MOBO
-ATI 4870
-4Gb of DDr2 800Mhz Ram or 1066Mhz if you can afford it

[frost]

Thanks for the info....but the only thing was he said he was on a budget and the 9800gtx is $200 as opposed to the ATI 4870 which is $300.

Some of the people that benchmarked the 9800GTX were using 1440x900 with settings on very high res with 20+ frames. Its pretty decent but remember this is crysis if you were to play other games it would probably run better :)

[George Hallam]

he said he was on a budget and the 9800gtx is $200 as opposed to the ATI 4870 which is $300.

my mistake then, in the UK the 4870 (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-090-PC&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=939&name=Powercolor%20ATI%20Radeon%20HD%204870%20512MB %20GDDR5%20TV-Out/Dual%20DVI/HDMI%20(PCI-Express)%20-%20Retail) is the same price as the 9800GTX (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-142-LT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1009&name=Leadtek%20GeForce%209800%20GTX%20512MB%20GDDR 3%20TV-Out/Dual%20DVI%20(PCI-Express)%20-%20Retail)


yet saying that the 9800GTX+ are dirt cheap look :eek:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-146-LT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1009&name=Leadtek%20GeForce%209800%20GTX+%20512MB%20GDD R3%20TV-Out/Dual%20DVI%20(PCI-Express)%20-%20Retail

Its pretty decent but remember this is crysis if you were to play other games it would probably run better

very true

didnt mean to sound such a grump in the last post :p

[frost]

you werent a grump your providing good info :)

[Paquito]

Thanks, folks. I can afford ATI. Well, answers about the SLI set-up stuff?
I have seen single video card that requires two slots. Others only one. INFO?: confused:

BTW, I have tried in the past ATI with no sucess (AGP). The two times that I got an ATI, I have had to returned them. I only saw colored lines around the monitor. Unlucky guy me!

Also, may I go to a higher CPU (maybe 9450). If this is worth for the difference in price?

Finally, any suggestions for power supply. May I get one of >1000 Watts?

Thanks! :)

[George Hallam]

I have seen single video card that requires two slots

they take up the space of two slots not two PCI slots themselves

SLI is simple (i hear) just get another card add it in use the bridge connector and in Nvidia control panel enable SLI

The Q9450 is an amazing CPU :D

if you get a 9800GTX a 620w PSU will be fine but finding one with four PCI-e 6 pin cables is hard so go with a 750w by corsair

[frost]

heres a psu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

The QX9450 is a good cpu from what i heard.
But personally i dont want to spend that much on a cpu im going to go with the Q6600 and just OC it to liek 3.0GHz or something.