Time for a new PC

[Caspian]

OK I am currently on my Mac it is old, Dual G5 2.5 GB ram. Runs up to 3 WoWs ok. Never been super but never really sucked either. It is time for an upgrade though. The new Mac Pros are 3 grand. They rock but I can build something much cheaper that is close enough in performance. My goal is under $1000 (us).

This is my starting point
UPDATED THE LIST BASED ON THE GREAT FEEDBACK BELOW
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...stTitle=Boxing

I have a Fry's close by as well. It has been a few years since I have done this and, after going through New Egg, I am behind the times. Are there any suggestions or comments on what I have going in my list? I have no clue on things like cases and the last power supply I bought was like 400W and very close to cutting edge.

Goal is to 5 box on 1 computer. Probably going to go to 64 bit Vista (shudder)
Thanks for looking.
I have two HDDs already that I just remembered I will raid 0 them in my new box. 7200RPM Seagates@ 350GB, more then enough.

[-silencer-]

This is my starting point
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...stTitle=Boxing

That looks fine, but I'd use an HD4850 over 9800GTX based on reviews at Anandtech.com & Tomshardware.com. Stick with Vista 64, and keep the option open of possibly adding another 4GB of memory. 5-box machines can be done fairly easily for $1k, if you don't include the display(s).

[Naysayer]

OK I am currently on my Mac it is old, Dual G5 2.5 GB ram. Runs up to 3 WoWs ok. Never been super but never really sucked either. It is time for an upgrade though. The new Mac Pros are 3 grand. They rock but I can build something much cheaper that is close enough in performance. My goal is under $1000 (us).

This is my starting point
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...stTitle=Boxing

I have a Fry's close by as well. It has been a few years since I have done this and, after going through New Egg, I am behind the times. Are there any suggestions or comments on what I have going in my list? I have no clue on things like cases and the last power supply I bought was like 400W and very close to cutting edge.

Goal is to 5 box on 1 computer. Probably going to go to 64 bit Vista (shudder)
Thanks for looking.
I have two HDDs already that I just remembered I will raid 0 them in my new box. 7200RPM Seagates@ 350GB, more then enough.

Nice, very similar to what I upgraded to.

q6600 2.4
4gig ddr2 1066
Asus EAH4850 x2 crossfired (1 was enough, but i went 2 since the price was right with a newegg $30 rebate x2 and my mobo supports pcie 2.0 16x2)
Gigabyte x48-ds4 mobo
Vista64bit Service pack 1
22" acer widescreen monitor (FREEKING HUGE)

I run manually capped at 60 fps on the main and 40 fps on the slaves set by maximizer and have no issues whatsoever. The game has never looked so pretty.

This is a great card and the price is amazing.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Asus%2bEAH4850

[Caspian]

Thanks for the responses.

Does the Crossfire on the 4850 work like SLI? Does WoW gain anything from that?

[Naysayer]

Thanks for the responses.

Does the Crossfire on the 4850 work like SLI? Does WoW gain anything from that?

The idea is the same as sli.

From what I've heard, WoW is not very crossfire/SLI friendly and you gain almost nothing from it for WoW. That's why I would only suggest just the single card unless you're going to be doing more heavy gaming other than WoW.

[Caspian]

That's what I thought, thanks! Looks like I will have to switch my basket to the ATI card.

[Esquilo]

I'm not sure if you bought anything or not, but I'd suggest this power supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151028

It's very quite and 85%+ efficienct.

If you don't plan to overclock, then there's no need for anything other that PC5400(667mhz). Unfortunately, it's hard to get good timings unless you step up to PC6400(800mhz) Look for 4-4-4-12 timings, that'll give a slight edge on access times(micro seconds, but running 5 clients it'll help). Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145194

For video, I haven't used the new ATI 48xx's yet, but the reviews look good. A single 4870 should be able to handle 5 boxing, but I haven't done it so I can't recommend it. What I have used(currently using) is a single 8800gts 640mb. 2 monitors w/ clients set at 30fps max and main at 60fps.

But... the 8800 series has been dropped, so what's out there is all there is. If your going to get one, get it now before they're all gone.

[-silencer-]

I'm not sure if you bought anything or not, but I'd suggest this power supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151028

It's very quite and 85%+ efficienct.

I *always* use SeaSonic (who also made the Corsair 520W & 620W PSUs) power supplies for all builds 700W or less. If something needs more than 700W, it's PC Power & Cooling or Enermax Galaxy series.. although I hear Corsair's new 1000W PSU made by Channel Well is actually a good one too.

[Caspian]

Thanks again for the additional input. I still haven't bought anything. It basically comes down to the fact that I am cheap. The money is there, I just can't pull the trigger. That does buy me more time to gather more information though, which is a good thing.

I went with the RAM I chose because it matched the speed of the FSB on the motherboard. I thought there would be an advantage to that.

I like the power supply you recommended as well. It looks a little more efficient and has more connectors. I'll have to consider that as well.

Thanks!

[Sina]

My home PC is a crossfire'd 4870 with core2e 3.2ghz 2gig of hyperx ddr3 and 2 western dig black sata's at 7500 rpm.
i Run 4-5 wow clients with over 50 fps in shat and over 1100 frames in arenas.