Once again... new build help!

[Trick414]

EDIT: Really, I need to figure out (have told to me) what exact chipset to go order from newegg, along with the parts listed below, to get me back up to speed.


Heyas!

I need a new MB, CPU, and memory.

I've got a micro ATX case and new/good power supply.

I haven't kept up with the very latest blow-by-blow in the industry over the last two years.

Here's where I'm thinking right now (newegg):



ASUS EN9600GT silent/HTDI/512M GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

$154.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400

$194.99


I need a MB (or altogether better combo).

I'm thinking 4GB of ram this time just to take care of business.

I really don't need a full out discussion of all the various nuances of each MB and chipset. Although that used to interest me (and still does in some respect) I just don't have the time to devote at this time.

Ok, not to offend anyone... I just want the "forum consensus" on what is the the thing to buy RIGHT NOW. Nuances and personal speculations and preferences (while generally valuable) are of no real concern to me at this particular moment.

Use(s): Some online game playing such as Lord of the Rings and Age of Conan.

Everything else, like email and internet, are happily handled by what I have now (which is of no consequence).

So, I need a new rig for gaming, but nothing over the top like I need to be in the Alienware class.

Thanks!

 

[MrWizard6600]

eh... motherboards come with explaination... so you're going to get some weather you want it or not lol. For a graphics card its simply whats your budget. For a CPU its simply whats your budget.

For a motherboard its:
Whats your budget?
Do you plan to overclock?
Do you need RAID?
How many SATA ports do you need?
How many PCI expansion ports do you need?
Do you need SLI/Crossfire? (this requires some serious thought).

The general census right now is Nvidia chipsets are epic fail, AMD chipsets are becoming increasingly decent but, of course, its all AM2 stuff. If your going with an E8400 its pretty well in stone that you're going to want P35.

The Gigabyte DS3L is something easy to reccomend.

So, I need a new rig for gaming, but nothing over the top like I need to be in the Alienware class.

Thanks!

And for the record, your talking to hard forum... putting Alienware in a good light not appreciated, when I can build a rig that will outscore their best rig for 1/3rd the cost.

 

[Corbin]

And for the record, your talking to hard forum... putting Alienware in a good light not appreciated, when I can build a rig that will outscore their best rig for 1/3rd the cost.

lol

 

[Trick414]

Yes, you're right on most every thing you said.

I'm long time [H] guy, but have fallen off the wagon the last year or two because of work.

Let me clarify a bit:

No real budget. If there is a certain MB out there that is the "one to buy", let's do it.

Again, I'm talking about a a good, solid home use computer that can run the games I play.

No overclocking - I love the discussion about it, I just don't have the time to devote...

No RAID, just a good, solid performer.

No crazy PCI expansion ports required. I'm thinking about rigging the home/office for some type of surround, but nothing that requires 6 PCI ports to run. A Creative surround sound sytem will be fine for this guy. If I ever get that far...

I don't think a SLI setup is necessary, as my games are usually MMO's. I played some BF 2142 with my current 7600gt just fine.

ANYWAY, I was looking at the P35 chipset. But, I really needed someone to tell me, "Yep, that's the one!"

Thanks!

EDIT: By long-time [H]'er, I mean much longer than the 4 years that my current profile indicates. My first profile dates to sometime in 1999 or 2000. That profile has literally been lost to time. I've been lurking pretty religously since then. I just haven't kept up in the last year or so. I've been upgrading my computer regularly since that time with the recommendations on this board. In the past, I was able to tell anyone that asked what was the "system to buy" at any given time taking all the discussions into consideration. Now, I find myself on the slightly-out-of-touch category due to other obligations. No doubt I will catch back up, but Age of Conan is kicking my butt in the hardware scene and I don't have the energy or desire to spend the next two or three months researching the best possible bang for the buch build.

 

[Head Hunter]

Well there are plenty of good mobos out there atm but will be tough to find one for a micro ATX case. I know the 630i mobos are micro ATX but not sure about others with P35 chipset, hopefully somone will chime in. You would have more options if you snagged the PSU out of the micro ATX case and put it in a full size ATX case.

 

[Trick414]

Yes, I can certainly pull the good stuff out of the micro ATX system I have now and put it in a bigger case.

So, let's say the micro ATX isn't critical.

The reigning consensus, then, is a P35 board?

Thanks!

 

[gaspah]

GA-EP35-DS3R
8800GT
4GiB Corsair DDR800
Core2Duo E8400
samsung dvd
western digital hdd
minimum 22" swxga LCD... MINIMUM... seriously... thousand dollars worth of hardware through a tiny 22" screen is just plain wrong...
Nice Kenwood 7.1ch Amplifier...
Sweet Bose Speakers...

done

 

[Dangman]

The reigning consensus, then, is a P35 board?

Yup, that's the general consensus if you don't need Crossfire or SLI. The P35 chipset is an excellent choice. So for your needs, all you need is this mobo:
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $90

However if you have to stick with mATX, the G33 or G35 chipset is the mATX equivalent of the P35 chipset but with onboard video. So I recommend this mATX mobo if you need mATX:
Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2L Intel G33 mATX Motherboard - $95

What power supply do you have?

 

[gaspah]

but neither of those boards have any raid capacity whatsoever... even the cheapest nvidia/amd boards have some raid functionality... a second pcie x16 isn't that likely to be utilised in the future... but raid is a nice option to have, at least you know you can stripe or mirror if you decide you need it...

plus i don't like the idea of the DS3L having a smaller NB heatsink than the standard DS3 or DS3R....

I have the heatsink from the P35-DS3 on my 965P-DS3P (which originally was the same heatsink as the P35-DS3L...

I can tell you first hand.. the temperature difference is 5°C

whether it be overclocking, or longevity of the board... the advantages are clear..

 

[Dangman]

The OP doesn't want RAID. And most likely won't need any sort of RAID.

And the difference is only 5C. Not too big of a difference IMO. He can always stick a small fan on it if he feels that the temps are too high.

 

[Jammer Jones]

ok deleted per BUI

 

[Dangman]

Please make your own thread. You're pretty much thread-jacking.