Hardware Order - Advice ASAP!

[MOUSY]

Hi folks... been frequenting these forums to learn as much as possible. I've read the Hardware FAQ by Cam & read-up on a few topics in order not to sound like a complete newbie. Will be ordering a new PC in what looks like the next 1.5-4 weeks (must make use of this time frame). I need ya'lls advice ASAP s'il vous plait...

This is what I've been looking at based on Cam's suggested starting list. (Working budget:  approximately $1000 US):

(For those on which I cannot decide I have linked to a narrowed search)

Intel E6600 Conroe(LGA775) - $223
ASUS nForce 590 SLI (LGA775) - $124-$214 (no idea what the difference between these 2 are... does "Open Box" knock of like half the price?)
NVidia 7900GS - $150-$220 (looking at #2 | and should I get the 256 or the 512?)
2GB OCZ Platinum edition DDR2-800 RAM - $126-$141 (looking at #3 | and should I get -1066 instead?)
160GB Western Digital SATA3 - $53 (no cables: issue? do they come with mobo or do I have to order all cables separately? :-/)
Hiper Type R 580W PSU - $85
Above Total -  $761-877 (quite reasonable so far )

Drives/Monitors/OS/Everything else can come later: these are the essentials...

Any changes/suggestions/opinions on what components would be better would be greatly appreciated (this is nowhere near final). In addition: I'm an AMD guy msyelf, but I've read that right now AMD is under-performing and hence there prices are really low, but it would be better overall to stick with Intel for now. I would have shopped at Ebay for a better deal (probably as low as $510) but I don't want to get ripped off and have to wait for bidding times...

Just so that you know, I don't live in the US, they will most likely be ordered on my Uncle's credit card and then shipped to me in the Commonwealth of Dominica (go get your atlas!). The case and monitor will most likely also be bought locally to save on shipping space and cost.

Thanks for any help in advance... I'll be checking back daily....

[rootbeer]

I have an eVGA 7900 GS KO video card. It uses the nVidia chipset, I think. I like the card for what I do in the way of graphics (just FS), but I think you'd be better off going with something with a little more horsepower. Don't underbuy. I suggest you go a little deeper into your pocket and buy something that can handle the software that's coming down the pike in the next year or so. The DX-10 cards are out. My computer guru has two of them in his new rig. How I do envy him...

In any event, take your time and choose wisely...

[MOUSY]

Fast replies... nice...

I was thinking along your lines for the 7900... seems to be a good card but a little bit underpowered compared to whats out there for my tastes... however the 340MB 8800s that people have been talking about are no less that $270... a bit too deep for my pockets... any other DX10s that might be suggested? (or maybe I should just stick with this and then wait till DX10 card prices fall dive...)

[rootbeer]

The 7900 is a mid-range card, yes. I just could not see spending an order of magnitude higher for a card that didn't make the performance leap for the greenbackage demanded. My "graphics" is limited to just FS-- no Halo2 or World of Warcraft for me...

[Ashton Lawson]

if you want real advice, then wait for Cam and Nick and other pro dudes.

i can give you advice, but there is no guarantee that it will be the best decision you make (it'll be a good one, but Cam and Nick can make it better).

in fact, Cam will look at your budget ($1000) and he will write up his own list of parts, that will probably kick your list into the trash (no offence tho).

so, wait for them, and they'll help, THOROUGHLY.

[Ashton Lawson]

btw, are you going to do any overclocking of any sorts, because then, we can get cheaper parts and have them perform a lot better by overclocking.

so heres the deal:

Budget:             $1000
Parts:                Essentials, no peripherals.
Overclocking:     Yes/No

So there you have it.  now, u wait...

[born_2_fly]

Personally I would go with a much bigger H/D, 160GB can be eaten up easily, and once a hard drive is over half full read times can be significantly reduced.

Alex

[MWISimmer]

Sata cables are as cheap as you like and will make little, if no difference to your overall budget.
The last time I saw them on sale was at my local computer fair... about

[MOUSY]

[color=#0000ff]

The 7900 is a mid-range card, yes. I just could not see spending an order of magnitude higher for a card that didn't make the performance leap for the greenbackage demanded. My "graphics" is limited to just FS-- no Halo2 or World of Warcraft for me...

I plan to play lots of other games, so i think a better graphics card would be a good idea... maybe an upgrade later to DX10 will be considered...

btw, are you going to do any overclocking of any sorts, because then, we can get cheaper parts and have them perform a lot better by overclocking.
so heres the deal:
Budget:             $1000
Parts:                Essentials, no peripherals.
Overclocking:     Yes/No...

I think the best for me is to max out what I can get with the present budget and then overclock what I obtain... instead of trying to go as cheap as possible and then overclocking to the required performance... Reason is I want this system to last for at LEAST one year, running most games comfortably... I most likely will not be upgrading it because it will be sold and replaced with a laptop for university...

Another thing, I think I change my mind about the peripherals, they will be ordered along as well... but its these that don't have to be all fancy-pansy.... just the system...

Personally I would go with a much bigger H/D, 160GB can be eaten up easily, and once a hard drive is over half full read times can be significantly reduced.

Ya I know.... thinking the exact same thing.... I currently have an 80 and 20GB working together... but I'm only using about 60% of that... so I don't need tooooo much.... but I remember saying I won't even use more than half when I added the 80GB... If one could suggest and equally good HD for about $60 that would be dandy...

[quote]Sata cables are as cheap as you like and will make little, if no difference to your overall budget.
The last time I saw them on sale was at my local computer fair... about

[born_2_fly]

Only $16 over budget, and 2x the size  ;)

[jimcooper1]

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
 
 
ASUS 18X DVD

[MOUSY]

Thanks jim... looks all good for under $1100... few queries though...
1)Not trying to be a bother but could you provide me with links as to what you're looking at?
2)The 850W PSU is $115 more than my original 580W. Will all the extra power be necessary? Or will my 580W cover my overclocking needs?
3)500GB HD is definitely overkill for me... even Alex's 320 suggestion is too much for me, but a bit more on my wallet's side...

Apart from these everything else looks just as good or even better than my original list 8-)... and I may still have some room in there for a decent flat panel monitor .

[jimcooper1]

Thanks jim... looks all good for under $1100... few queries though...
1)Not trying to be a bother but could you provide me with links as to what you're looking at?
2)The 850W PSU is $115 more than my original 580W. Will all the extra power be necessary? Or will my 580W cover my overclocking needs?
3)500GB HD is definitely overkill for me... even Alex's 320 suggestion is too much for me, but a bit more on my wallet's side...

Apart from these everything else looks just as good or even better than my original list 8-)... and I may still have some room in there for a decent flat panel monitor .

Mouse,

All these were priced at Newegg.com

You can NEVER have too much Hard Disk space

[MOUSY]

OK guys... looks like I'll be waiting a bit longer than expected. The order will most likely be made now closer to late July. Are there any price drops on particular products that are expected within the next month?
Also what sound system, joystick and flat panel could you all suggest, that would fit in to my budget? Or am I asking too much?

Jim... I want to get a PSU that will comfortably meet my needs for the best price. No sense spending extra on power thats not going to be used... Is there any way to calculate the amount of power I'll actually need for all these components?

And the present case looks sexy... I may just stick with that for now...

(Hope I'm not sounding like a miser )...

[Nick N]

If you are waiting till the end of July, wait till August and go with the Q6600 or a QX6700 and a X38 Intel chipset motherboard due out in August

Thats the best advice money can buy


You buy anything other than X38 (or P35 which is available today) and your waisting your money because you wont be able to upgrade the processor and have 100% motherboard support when they cancel and phase out ALL core2 products, including quad, by the end of the year.

Either the Asus P5k Deluxe which you can buy now or the X38 chipset motherboards when they are released in August.. one of the two

All Quads will come down in price by July 22nd. Q6600 will be about 250 and QX6700 will be 550

I would not go less than quad. FSX loves a Quad core processor

I use QX6700. QX6800 is an overpriced QX6700 that is clocked up

You need a HIGH OUTPUT PSU. 580watts is crap. 850 or better

I would at the very least look at the ATI and Nvidia budget DX10 cards. By the time you are ready to buy they will be out and priced right. To go backwards with that POS 7900 is silly. You will kick youself in the arse for buying something so old