2 questions. (Intel prices and Monitor resolutions)

It makes a difference, but the question is whether or not that difference is worth the extra money to you. Higher resolutions = more detail, but at the same time a higher tax on your graphics card.

I'm more of a conservative gamer, so if it was me I would just go with the 19' and 8800 gts 320mb considering the difference isn't that noticable (theres plenty of benchmarks to prove an 8800 gts 320 and 640 are nearly identical in almost every game at lower resolutions).

Anser to Q1: Nobody knows how much the prices will drop except for the Q6600 (approx.), and what the prices of the new processors will be. FYI things don't ship over the weekend. I just got my PSU from newegg with 3 day shipping (today is Thursday I believe :D) and I ordered it Sunday.

Answer to Q2: Don't get glossy. It looks terrible. Anywho, a 320mb will handle a 19" very well, probably the 20" as well. Remember, the resolutions are pixels :). I think you would be fine with a 320mb, the only difference between the two gts's is amount of memory.

Also, a little off-topic note:

Why is everyone building a computer now? So what if Intel's having a price drop, the Penryn architecture will be so much faster and all-around better that you will look at your C2D and feel like you have a Celeron when C2D's first came out. I recommend to everyone: go ahead and buy a new video card now if you already have a PCI-E x16 slot. Hold up on processor and motherboard and ram (wait for DDR3). By beginning to mid of 2008 you will look at your computer and wish you hadn't bought it when you did, and waited like I suggested :D.

Well the main reason, I would think, is because C2D still max out every game being released this year, and probably the next few years. The actual amount of games that take full advantage of a C2D are rare enough, with most games being optimized for single cores still. The real question is why you would need a Penryn now for games like Crysis and Bioshock, when a C2D will max them just fine?

By the time the next uber detailed and expansive game comes out, the penryn will probably be outdated or ridiculously cheay anyway. Just my opinion though...only upgrade when you absolutely need to.

Well if you want to spend money on better stuff, then by all means do.

As for glossy, I too find it kind of distracting. My old laptop had a glossy screen and it reflects everything.

Well the main reason, I would think, is because C2D still max out every game being released this year, and probably the next few years. The actual amount of games that take full advantage of a C2D are rare enough, with most games being optimized for single cores still. The real question is why you would need a Penryn now for games like Crysis and Bioshock, when a C2D will max them just fine?

By the time the next uber detailed and expansive game comes out, the penryn will probably be outdated or ridiculously cheay anyway. Just my opinion though...only upgrade when you absolutely need to.

Peter_Darkstar

Thanks for your 2 cents Peter, I appreciate it. I might just go out and get an e4300 and new motherboard since I have a Fry's $130 gift card that's starting to collect dust :D. I would get the e4300 only because it has a 9x multiplier compared to other C2D's that have lower multipliers. Might even save up for a Q6600, we shall see :).

Well if you want to spend money on better stuff, then by all means do.

As for glossy, I too find it kind of distracting. My old laptop had a glossy screen and it reflects everything.

Peter_Darkstar

That's what I meant. I went to the ZOMG APPLE STORE WTF BBQ! and the MacBook screens are terribly annoying witht teh glossy finish.