How To Build My New Cpu?

[Yanamana]

Please excuse my grammar and spelling, there horrible I know.



I had a budget similar to yours 2 years ago and I run 4 instances of wow just fine. 60 FPS ( stable on main screen) and 15 fps on clone windows.

Here are my specs

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 ( there is zero need need to overclock this, just make sure you get a core 2 duo with at least 4 megs of L2 Cache, and no you dont need the quad core)

Memory: 3 gigs of Mushkin DDR2 667mhz ( this is about half the price of 1066, and you wont see to much of a performance boost between the 2)

Buying 4 gigs of ram is pointless, unless you are going to use a 64bit windows operating system. If you are going to run linux then 4 gigs might be worth it for you.Windows cant even acknowledge you have more then 3 gigs unless your using the 64bit version of those operating systems.



a side note with memory, If it comes with a life time warenty, its good.

Video Card: Nvidia Geforce 7900GT. Good card, still is a good card, and is dirt cheap now that the 9000 series are coming out. ( you will get about the same FPS as the 8800GT except the 7900 is not direct x 10 compliant, but seriously, what games are out that REQUIRE direct x 10, .. Crysis ? please the game runs like shit on any system you put it on.

You are going for a budget pc right? that means SLI is out of the question.You generaly only see a *marginal* performace boost from this as well. Is 10-15FPS worth double the cost for a video card?

Power Supply: I use the Enermax Libery 500watt Modular power supply. This is one of the most over looked componets of a computer, dont let it be with yours! Get a good, brand name power supply and spend no less then 100$ on it. If you like random reboots and lighting shooting out of the back of your computer ( happened once ) go ahead and spend 50 bucks on that cheap, generic, bargain bin, power supply.

Now comes the motherboard

I currently use an Asus P5N-SLI Motherboard ( no i dont run SLI )

Since you wont be needed SLI

Here is a list of Motherboard brands that I have used over the years.

Gigabyte: Solid customer service. If you do have a problem with your board you wait generaly no longer then 5 minutes to speak with someone who *Actully knows what there talking about*. RMA's are not a issue with this company. A good product.

(ive owned 4 Gigabyte motherboards)

Asus: Horrible customer service. Expect 3+ hours minium to squeeze a RMA out of them. Generaly stable, but hope to god you dont have any problems.

( ive owned two Asus motherboards)

Really what ever you can squeeze into your budget should be ok. Just be aware of off brand motherboards(Dont buy!) IE PC Chips, or Manufactorers that only have 1 or 2 models for sale.

Again for 500-1000~$ dont run SLI ( thats a 1000-1500~ project )



As for the case anything you think looks sexy works. You can get a case with all sorts of lights and fans and nifty attachments for like 50 bucks shiped. A more functional case is more expensive ;P



www.tomshardware.com Check that site out if you want to be informed about what your buying.

and as far as the quad cores go? all if you elitists can check this link out.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/11/...ad/page41.html

its unbiased.

[bugilt]

I don't use a case atm, the MB is just sitting on my desk. My desk is coated with spray on rubber. I'm still trying to decide on where I want to mount my MB.

I'm still sorting out my old HDs that got kicked a few times when my old computer got jumped in. It's nice to be able to install new components without fumbling with a case.

[Gallo]

You may not need Quad Core now, but if he's building a computer for the future, and he wants 5 clients, AND he can afford it, going quad core is a great idea.

When I was building my computer, I wanted a setup that would safely play the next xpac with 5 clients. The CPU load may not be THAT much more on the xpac, but it will probably be more graphics intensive... just like the transition from Azeroth to Outlands was.

If his budget is $1000, why not get a quad?

[Yanamana]

why not quad core? its 100 bucks more . 1000$ is a limiting factor for a game machine ( and he did mention 500-1000, so the closer to 500 the better right? ). And the perfomance increase .. is painfully marginal. A videocard upgrade would be more justifible then a quad core. You would see more performance as well.

[bugilt]

$ 242.00 - core 2 quad q6600
$ 242.00 - core 2 duo e6850
$ 200.00 - core 2 duo e6600

I would say go for the quad. I'm running the e6850 with 5 clients, firefox, vent, and a movie running. I'm not sure if it's needed, but it's cheap and it's there.

[Cripes]

Q6600 - can overclock past 3.0GHz with stock fan.
4GB DDR2 PC6400
8800GT
Motherboard socket 775 of your choice (Depending on what assorted rubbish you need, firewire, USB, Blah blah blah)
A good 600+ watt PSU.
Tower of your choice
Sata 2 HDD's of your choice.
Random CD/DVD Drive.

Thats it.

what he said.