Gaming Desktop, many questions :-)

Hello

Ive decided to make/ buy a gaming laptop, but ive got a couple questions, so please read and answer what you can, thank you!

1) I'll be connecting this desktop to my 23" HDTV, I understand i need a DVI to HDMI cable etc, hwoever my TV is only 720p /1080i. Will this still work and can anyone tell me what the quality is? VBecause many people say they have there desktop hooked up to there HDTV but non of them say they are 720 / 1080i. So all 720/1080i desktop users let me know. Thanks

2) QUAD OR DUO? Quad is future proof yet google brings up very little information and Duel cores have been out a while but will i need a quad to remain slightly future proof? I'll be going for an Intel CPU reguardless, but any suggestions would be AMAZING!

3) For graphics im not sure if i should go 2x 512 9800's or if i should just get a 1GB Card (maybe the GTX280), SLI sounds great '' WOW TWO GRAPHICS CARDS'' but looking at the cable that connects them both lol, im not very trusting of it.

Huge thank you for reading and answer some or all of my questions before you decided to post me a rig, here is what im'll be aiming for

4 DDR3 RAM

Graphics ----> To be decided (question 3)

CPU ----> To be decied (question 2)

OS: Vista 64 bit

And all the needed cooling equipment

Im using www.Meshcomputers.com

and PC specialist.com

Huge Thank You

2) I'd personally wait for the i7. That is future-proof since it is a Socket B and that is the future.

3) Get a GTX280 since it is only one card and it is of better quality. You can always SLI it later.

Whats I7? Surely its going to be expensive, more so than that its costing to make this at the moment.

Ive wanted a desktop for so long, so if im gonna get one i want it to be right :-)

Ohhh any answers to question 1 out there :-)

Huge thanks

Whats I7? Surely its going to be expensive, more so than that its costing to make this at the moment.

Ive wanted a desktop for so long, so if im gonna get one i want it to be right :-)

Joker1232003

I7 is a new range of CPU's coming out but they are so advanced they perform worse than current CPU's for current games. Just get a core2duo like the E8400 and you will be fine!

As regards question 1 read this topic that was posted a minute ago and hopefully it will answer your question.

http://uk.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26576869

Thanks i should look before posting and i did a little research on i7. THEY WILL BE CRAZY EXPENSIVE lol

Nothing that good comes at a sensiable price. Ohh Daytona im already folding with my PS3 but because of a glitch its stuck on 8 unit. But anyway

So Duo core and not quad

and graphics should be a 1gb card not 2x 512

Any suggested models?

Thanks i should look before posting and i did a little research on i7. THEY WILL BE CRAZY EXPENSIVE lol

Nothing that good comes at a sensiable price. Ohh Daytona im already folding with my PS3 but because of a glitch its stuck on 8 unit. But anyway

So Duo core and not quad

and graphics should be a 1gb card not 2x 512

Any suggested models?

Joker1232003

Well if you was to get a Q6600 you would also be laughing, i normally just dont mention them straight away thought because then you get a bunch of idiots come in saying "quads are **** for gaming".

For a graphics card 512mb is fine for any card upto maybe the 4870. Just dont fall for the trap of a card that normally comes with 512mb of memory but then instead has 1GB to fool noons!

Do you want a budget build?

e5200 - CPU

HD 4850 - GPU

Corsair 550w - PSU

2GB G. Skill - RAM

P43/P45 - Motherboard

250GB-500GB - harddrive

Coolmaster - Case

I aspect i will just stick with a Quad core, alot of people gave the Q6600 a amazing right up. And its quite cheap.Ive never built my own PC so im stick with PCSpecialist.co.uk. So should i get just a single 512 card or should I got straight for a 1GB card.

My budget is around £1000 give or take of course, When is this new CPU coming out and because im not making my desktop myself, how long till site like Mesh or PCspecialist have this CPU in stock? Thanks mathwizard13

so would a Intel 2.4g quad core be a good choice for gaming? And what would be best a 512 graphics card and later buy another to run in SLI or a 1g Graphics card?

Im stuck on what graphics card to buy, i keep here a model like 8800 but i cant select that when making ym PC online so is that an older model?

so would a Intel 2.4g quad core be a good choice for gaming? And what would be best a 512 graphics card and later buy another to run in SLI or a 1g Graphics card?

Im stuck on what graphics card to buy, i keep here a model like 8800 but i cant select that when making ym PC online so is that an older model?

Joker1232003

A 2.4Ghz Quad core would be PERFECT for gaming,,,iam going to buy one as soon as i get the cash!

In order to be future-proof, you will want to wait for the LGA1336 motherboards right??

ok below is the list of Graphic cards i can get (from the website)

So what do you think...Which is best for running a gaming desktop Quad Core?

1024mb geforce GTX 280

512mb geforce 9600gt

768mb geforce 9600GSO

1024mb geforce 9600gtx

512mb geforce 9800gt

1024mb geforce 9800gt

512mb geforece 9800gtx

1024mb geforce 9800gx2

896mb geforce gtx260

Sorry there is alot to choose from on the site, id rather hear peoples opionion that google review EVERY card

Thanks

In order to be future-proof, you will want to wait for the LGA1336 motherboards right??

siskokidd

Whats are the benifits?

im not really too intrested in i7, nd i have no idea what difference this new motherboard would make. Everytime i think im closer to finalising my wish list of a gaming laptop, somthing new pops up lol

Today ive learnt about i7 and now this new LGA 1336 thingy ahhhhh

Well you have several options and all are very good.

Core 2 Duo - Cheap and fast but maybe not too future-proof. You will be able to run every game, but games will soon come out with quad-core support.

Core 2 Quad- Future-proof, made for gaming but the i7 might be better. We just have to wait and see

i7 - Utilizes the new socket but it might no be good for gaming. They are also coming out with the X58 which uses the LGA 1336 but I know nothing about that chip.

Yea i understand the whole i7 think buts it the waiting thats gonna get to me, loads of people are debating if its going to be good for gaming

Where as if i have

So would it pay to just get normal DDR2 ram or should i just take some off

I keep hearing the 4GB of ram is key to a gaming machine

So what should i do 4gb of DDR2 or 2gb of ddr3?

Thanks for your help btw, your a real HELP

That sounds good although I don't think you'll need 4GB or DDR3 memory. And for the graphics card, forget about memory capacity and focus on the GPU itself. A GTX280 is a good choice.siskokidd

I have 2gb of DDR3 and i am soon upgrading to 4 so i can run more things at once....

The i7 is coming out sometime later this year.

And I would say get the 280 GTX or the 9800GX2.

They are both very good cards.

That sounds good although I don't think you'll need 4GB or DDR3 memory. And for the graphics card, forget about memory capacity and focus on the GPU itself. A GTX280 is a good choice.siskokidd

I have 2gb of DDR3 and i am soon upgrading to 4 so i can run more things at once....

The i7 is coming out sometime later this year.

And I would say get the 280 GTX or the 9800GX2.

They are both very good cards.

Thanks for your help, i expect i'll post my PC specs here in a little while

Thank you so much for the help :-)

So after 2 pages of amazing feedback from the pro's :-)

Here is my finalised Gaming laptop for £1200

Intel® Core™2 Quad Q6600 (4 X 2.40GHz) 1066MHz FSB/8MB Cache

4GB CORSAIR XMS3 DDR3 1333MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY (2x2GB)

ASUS® STRIKER || EXTREME: DUAL DDR3, S-ATA II, 3 x X16 VGA

Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium 64-bit Edition + SP1, CD

8 x USB 2.0 PORTS (6 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD

160GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

20x Dual Layer LightScribe DVD Writer ±R/±RW/RAM

1024MB GEFORCE GTX280 PCI Express + DVI + TV-OUT

700W Quiet Quad Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan

ASUS SILENT KNIGHT II PURE COPPER ULTRA COOLER

With 2 years Warenty

And to fill in the gaps,

I have a PS3 for a Bluray Drive, I have a spare DVD drive should i need to install it and hard-drive space isn't a biggie I can expand when I need it...

So I await your critism from uber gamer leet forum users who spend £££££ on i7 and all that stuff :-)

Thanks

digit-life, read the games section

xbit labs read the conclusion

extreme tech, read final paragraph.

I can go on adding reviews links, but what you really want to know about is that ddr3 has larger bandwidth but a disadvantage is that they also have longer timings,which don't help with overall performance,unless they produce ddr3 with low timings and better prices,its completely useless

The probelm is though

If i buy DDR2 ram, my motherboard will be be DDR2 therefore meaning that my DDR3 Graphics card wont work?

Or am i gettting that wrong

The probelm is though

If i buy DDR2 ram, my motherboard will be be DDR2 therefore meaning that my DDR3 Graphics card wont work?

Or am i gettting that wrong

Joker1232003

NO, you're getting it the wrong way, graphics card memory has nothing to do with you ram, grahic cards with GDDR3 has been produced 4 or 5 years ago long before they invented the DDR3 ram and has been working in perfect harmony with the ddr2 ram and if you look at my sig you will find that I have and HD4870 which is a GDDR5 which doesn't mean that I have to find a DDR5 ram to work with it, any more questions ?

Edit: If you are going to stick to DDR2 then you need a change the ASUS STRIKER || EXTREME to a mobo that supports DDR2

So if i swap the DDR3 for DDR3 my graphics card will still work? If so i'll swap it over for the DDR2 model ASUS Striker Mobo.

Im apsect i'll put my CPU up a few GHZ with the money i save, im starting to learn that DDR3 has no really advantage at the moment.

So is everything else good on my rig? Would you be able name a game and tell me what setting id be running it at?

Just so i get an idea of what im gonna get. Its been ages since i got a PC, Im currently on a 2.2 single core lol

You can max out games like Assassins Creed, COD4, UT3, Grid, Bioshock ,Far Cry 2, Spore, World in Confilt, Company of Heroes and the list goes on

as for crysis it varies from one system to the other, But I think you should be able to play it on very high with good frame rates since its nvidia Friendly.

Im building this desktop using a website (PCspecialist) They are great and the price is too, its just that they dont have the biggest range for graphics card or motherboards

so im limmited to what they want to provide

So for mobo all i can select is

ASUS® P5N-D

ASUS® P5N-T DELUXE

ASUS® Striker /Formula

im confused as the title says "Gaming Desktop, many questions :-)" but your asking about a laptop?

unless you travel alot, are a student or have wads and wads of spare drug money do not purchase a laptop with the intent on gaming.

think about a desktop, build it yourself and get quality parts, may a recommend an hd4870x2 for starters :P

Laptop?

No...soory this topic has evolded alot lol...im making a Gaming desktop with the above specs running on a 23" HDTV

Its just finding the right motherboard now lol

ASUS® P5N-D

ASUS® P5N-T DELUXE

ASUS® Striker /Formula

Im building this desktop using a website (PCspecialist) They are great and the price is too, its just that they dont have the biggest range for graphics card or motherboards

so im limmited to what they want to provide

So for mobo all i can select is

ASUS® P5N-D

ASUS® P5N-T DELUXE

ASUS® Striker /Formula

Joker1232003

Dude they have every thing you're just in the wrong section,check this link

get the p5q deluxe its a p45 motherboard with support for ddr2 up to 1200 ,supports pci-e 2.0 and it can oc well

but do you really want that gtx280 when the hd4870 x2 is just around the corner for 100$ more ? Ask others and 9/10 pepole will say the HD4870 x2 is hell better than the gtx280, (sorry for confusing you with new choices but I felt guilty letting you buy that GTX280 )

Spoil me for coice I dont mind :-)

However like i said i can only select what to put on my PC as its avlible on this site

go to this link

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php?page=intelpcsystems

thats how im making my PC ...frustrating but hs its benifits

Thanks