Building a new PC

[mvem23]

This is what I was going to get:

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Motherboard - ASUS P5N32-E
RAM - 4GB CORSAIR XMS2 2GB DDR2 4-4-4-12-2T
Video Card - BFG 8800 GTX
Hard drive - 2X WD Raptor 72GB

If anybody things anything should be changed, please let me know. This PC will be used for playing first person shooters and occasional MMO. Thanks!

 

[engiNURD]

Will you be overclocking? What speed ram is that? What OS will you be using? What size monitor do you have? Will you be playing supcom? Will you be doing alot of video editing? Why do you need 2 raptors?

Using 4GB of RAM would require a 64-bit OS to utilize all 4GB. If you don't have a 22" or larger, then go with the GTS instead. If you won't be playing supcom nor video editing much, then drop the Q6600 and go for the E6600. Even if you are playing supcom and doing video editing... is the $300 price premium worth it to you? Keep in mind the price will drop to $266 later this year. With a 9x CPU multiplier (for either E or Q 6600), you only need DDR2-800, if you're OC'ing. Two raptors for a single user desktop machine doesnt improve gaming performance.

 

[mvem23]

Thanks for the reply,

To answer your questions:

1) I will not be overclocking
2) The RAM is DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
3) I will be using Windows Vista - either version depending on recommendations here
4) I may play Supreme Commander, but likely not a whole lot
5) I have the 23inch Apple LCD display
6) Will be doing a small amount of video editing
7) The two raptor drives are from my old system

 

[Markyip1]

Thanks for the reply,

To answer your questions:

1) I will not be overclocking
2) The RAM is DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
3) I will be using Windows Vista - either version depending on recommendations here
4) I may play Supreme Commander, but likely not a whole lot
5) I have the 23inch Apple LCD display
6) Will be doing a small amount of video editing
7) The two raptor drives are from my old system

Here are my suggestions based on your answer to Enginurd's post:

1) For first person shooters and the occasional MMO, you'll be better served by a dual core processor if you're not going to overclock. Current quad cores sacrifice clock speed for additional cores. In the future, this will likely prove to be a beneficial sacrifice. Today however, and with most FPSes and MMOs coming out in the next year, Cores 3 and 4 will go unused. Save a couple of hundred by buying a higher clocked Dual Core, like the E6700, and realize better performance in the here and now. Keep in mind that Core 2 Duos are highly overclockable. That's why so many here love them. A C2D is an excellent chip at stock speed, but really shines when pushed to the limit.

2) If you're not going to overclock, you can buy cheaper 667 or even 533 mhz RAM, as the default FSB is 266mhz. For PC-6400 RAM to run at its native speed, you'll need a good overclock with either a Q6600 or an E6700.

3) Get Vista x64 Home Premium, or perhaps Business or Ultimate if you a) need to join domains, b) need Remote Desktop, or c) would like Restore Previous Version functionality for files.

4) Go with a dual core proc.

5) An 8800 GTX will serve you well.

6) Depending upon how much, you'll likely want to stick with the dual core proc. If you're doing a lot (or if you'll be using some pretty hefty programs such as Adobe Premier,) then perhaps a Quad will serve you better.

7) Sound's good!

Enjoy,

Mark.

 

[mvem23]

For the Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 CPU, is the following RAM good enough or should it have faster timings?

Capacity 2GB
Speed DDR2 667 (PC2 5300)
Cas Latency 4
Timing 4-4-4-12
Voltage 1.8V - 1.9V

Thanks!

 

[engiNURD]

Thats fine. 4-4-4-12 @ DDR2-667 is avg.