I've done my research, and I've come up with the following.. [case] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047 [mobo] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358 [ram] x2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144200 [cpu] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036 [cpu fan] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019 [psu] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817426003 [dedicated psu] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104054 [gfx] x2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150329 [hhds] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136149 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136195 [romdrive] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173 OR all of the above except 4gb ram instead of 8 1 gfx card no dedicated psu with [monitor] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236047 I have a 360 as well, and a 17" monitor I'm stuck at what I should do.. Thanks
Some good choices there, some bad. Zalman coolers are pretty poor for how much they cost. A cheaper Freezer 7 Pro is a more managable size, makes a bit less noise, and costs less, and does an equal job. The Dual core CPU is an interesting choice for a dual graphics system. SLI can't be used with Intel chipset boards, only ATI Crossfire. Since all core 2 based boards that support SLI are absolutely dire, stick to crossfire, or a single card. Your best bet would be to use the EP45-UD3R with just one PCIe port, and get this card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768 Here's the cheaper board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359 With dual graphics, you would also be better off using a Quad core rather than a dual core: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115057 This CPU is very nearly as fast per core, and is a quad core, not a dual. The PSUs are the other weak link. That's an unproven unit at a rather low cost. Dedicated GPU PSUs are not of high quality and are a bit of a con. A much better bet is this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002 I know this PSU is enough to run a quad core and 4870X2, because I did it with only a 520, and it ran fine for months before I sold the PSU to get another X2. HDDs are fine, though I see no reason to buy an 80GB drive this day and age when a 250GB is only $14 more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113&Tpk=WD2500AAJS
Hey sam, thanks for the insight. I think I'll go for the one card, and stick with xfx, simply because I have never used ati cards before, and have had lots of good experiences with xfx in the past, and don't like switching something like that up. I like Corsair a lot, but don't want to fork out that much for a psu atm. My friend recommended this one.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152030 ? I think I will go with that mobo you suggested, I can always upgrade it later, and for now isn't necisary. One question.. Whats the advantage if any, of the dual ethernet ports? As for the 80gb hdd.. well I have a 320 sitting next to me, plus the 500. I really don't want to put anything on the 80gb except os, security, plugins, drivers, etc. I tend to reinstall more than I should.. I've given some thought about the cpu choice, and honestly, I don't see the point in a quad. At least not right now, when they're still new to the market, not to mention overpriced. The dual cpu I posted, has a 6mb l2 cache instead of 4, same fsb, lower wattage, and a higher stock speed. Right now I don't think I need a quad, although maybe I'm mistaken. Again thank you for the insight. I'm not to sure about the psu though..
Unfortunately that Raidmax is another deathtrap. I wouldn't recommend people really expensive PSUs without good cause. Cheap PSUs are terrifying. They can catch fire, and can and will destroy PC components when they go pop. It's something most people at aD, myself included have learned through first-hand experience. You could go with something like this for a slightly lower price tag than the HX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 You do realise XFX make ATI cards right? I have no authority to force you to buy an ATI product, but in every part of the market they currently represent better value, and indeed, the HD4870X2 is currently still the best card that allows dual graphics within a single slot. The GTX295 is more expensive, and far less consistent with performance. How about this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150360 With regard to Dual vs Quad, in a lot of areas it doesn't make a difference. However a select few games (GTA4, and Crysis/Warhead on High settings) are almost unplayable without one. The E8500 is a very powerful CPU, but it is really only 15-20% faster per core at best than the Q8400, doesn't really use much less power (60-65W vs 75W) and costs the same, if not slightly more. Quad cores have been around in the market for about two years, and are proving more and more common. Even if the Dual core is the better buy now for your purposes, what about later down the line? Lastly, the HDD. Because the 80GB drive is an older, simpler design due to its low size, it actually doesn't perform as well as bigger drives for its purpose. You would be better off going with a faster drive like a Samsung F1 or WD Caviar Blue/Black drive, but that's up to you.
Alright. I'm not sure about Raidmax, so thats good to know. Even with other companies, if it seems to good to be true kind of thing, better off going with something trusted lol. I was looking for something modular, but even at that, it can also be something I can upgrade later down the road. So thank you. I know xfx makes ati cards, what I ment was the nvidia/geforce series. Nothing against ati/raedon but I would like to go with one I "know". Well I don't even have to get the 80, because my os is on the 320 hdd that I have now, I just wanted the extra space. I personally am not to knowledgeable on the whole performance/speed of hdds. So I'll look into it more. I'm just trying to stay in my budget, as I really can't spend more, even though I want to in a heartbeat. I am certainly not throwing the idea away of a quad core lol. I just simply don't need one right now, so yes the dual core fits my purpose for the time being. Thank you again
If you have to go with an nvidia based product, the best I can recommend is this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150364
