Hey! I'm nearing in my final order and need some advice! I'm ordering over the next day some basic components for a serious upgrade I'm doing on my PC. I already have an Antec 500w psu and a NEC DVD-RW drive on the way. I plan to buy a decent DX10 card in the begining of 2008. I'm currently debating between two CPUs and how they affect the rest of my budget. I already have a 80GB IDE HD The desired setups: 1. Gigabyte P31 DS3L Intel E6420 2GB Corsair DDR2 667 RAM Gigabyte 6200TC 256mb Vista Home Premium 32bit (I'll buy a new HD with the DX10 card) 2. Gigabyte P31 DS3L Intel E4400 2GB Corsair DDR2 667RAM Gigabyte 6200TC 256mb WD 250GB SATAII Vista Home Premium 32bit I have to know ASAP...need to order anytime soon and I'n loosing my mind here! BTW I plan to OC! Thanks!
You wont be able to play the latest games on it, at all.
Otherwise nice build, I'm not sure what the difference is between the P35 and P31 but try and get P35 if possible.
I would go with the 2nd one if overclocking, although it depends how much the HDD means to you - both chips overclock very well but the E6420 willget the highest clock speed of the two.
First off the GPU is only temporary...I'm aware that I will not be able to handle current games with it but my budget has spoken. The 8800GTS or even a 9 series card if out will come by shortly...I can wait ;) Just in case would you consider giving up 1GB of RAM until the DX10 card and going for a simple yet better 7300GS? HDD is quite important because my current 80GB simply isn't enough. Also I think it would be wiser to install the OS on a newer SATAII HD. And the P31 board I actually just discovered today. I'm not sure, but it might be new cause I haven't noticed it ealier. It seems to support the basic things I need like solid caps, support for future 45n CPUs and 1333Mhz CPUs and of course a cheaper price.
Maybe I should stick to DX9 a little longer and get an X1950Pro, an E2160, 1gb ddr2 ram and no HD...therefore not having to wait half a year to play games. an extra GB and a new HD can come some time later. Finally DX10 can wait till 2009 or at least end of '08. Further opinions? I'm loosing it here :P
Maybe I should stick to DX9 a little longer and get an X1950Pro, an E2160, 1gb ddr2 ram and no HD...therefore not having to wait half a year to play games. an extra GB and a new HD can come some time later. Finally DX10 can wait till 2009 or at least end of '08. Further opinions? I'm loosing it here :PPSPsuper
The 1950 would be the wiser choice for a temporary video card. As for the motherboard, the P35 would be the better choice, it's superior for overclocking, and is much more future-proof. Other than that, nice rig.
Maybe I should stick to DX9 a little longer and get an X1950Pro, an E2160, 1gb ddr2 ram and no HD...therefore not having to wait half a year to play games. an extra GB and a new HD can come some time later. Finally DX10 can wait till 2009 or at least end of '08. Further opinions? I'm loosing it here :PPSPsuper
I have an almost identical rig to what you just listed, with my E2140 at 2.95Ghz on stock cooling, so if you know how to overclock, thats the best chocie ;)
Ok...so this is what I came up with: Gigabyte P31 DS3L Intel E2160 (I'll OC) Geforce 7600GS (I'll buy at least an 8800GTS in the begining of 2008) 2GB DDR2 Corsair 667RAM WD 250GB SATAII Antec 500W NEC DVD-RW Vista Home Premium
Ok...so this is what I came up with: Gigabyte P31 DS3L Intel E2160 (I'll OC) Geforce 7600GS (I'll buy at least an 8800GTS in the begining of 2008) 2GB DDR2 Corsair 667RAM WD 250GB SATAII Antec 500W NEC DVD-RW Vista Home PremiumPSPsuper
Everything looks good, only thing I would change is the Gigabyte to the P35.
Ok, I can afford a Gigabyte P35 S3L...no solid caps but still a P35 Also would it be worth changing the RAM to G.Skill 2GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM and go for a 7300GS instead of the 7600GS? Or should I keep the setup as it is? OR I can get 2GB PQI DDR2 800Mhz and get a 160GB HD instead of the 250GB (better choice I think since I also have 80GB) Is the 800MHz really worth it?
Ok, the order will be made within the next few hours...still going through many thoughts and setups in my mind. Until I get the DX10 card I plan to do no serious gaming with current games. Will stick to GTA SA, COD 2, Sims, maybe COH at the most. This setup I now have in mind: Gigabyte P35 SL3 E4400 2GB PQI 800Mhz DDR2 7300GS DDR2 80GB IDE+ WD 160GB SATAII ThermalTake 470W (they didn't have the Antec in stock) Sony NEC DVD-RW Vista Home Premium 32bit BTW I have a couple of questions: 1. The MB I listed doesn't have solid caps while the other MB I listed (P31 DS3L) has. I heard solid caps are important for OCing so wouldn't it be better getting the P31 version? 2. Is the E4400 really worth the 50$ (where I live) over the E2160? Would the performance once OCed be noticable? 3. Is the 7300GS sufficient for basic setting on the games I mentioned with the rest of my setup? Just until the begining of 2008 when I have some more money for the 8800GTS. 4. With these CPUs (and possibly future) should I go for the 667RAM or 800RAM considering the 25$ gap.
NM that I'm making the order now!!! Quickly: Should I get the E6550 (I'll have DDR2 800RAM) or the E4400 with 160GB SATA II (I currently have 80GB IDE)?
Get the faster RAM 800 and the E6550 and if u can E6750. Graphics not enough for DX10 and games perf will be slower than XP wih games stated on vista. Go for XP at this time and upgrade Graphics and OS later.
Ok guys...after LOTS and I means LOTS of hesitation and confusion I made my order. I didn't expect to make such an order but it was really a last second decision and I think it was a wise one. I ordered the following: Gigabyte P35 S3L Intel E2160 Sappire X1950 PRO 2GB PQI DDR2 800Mhz ThermalTake 420W Sony Nec DVD-RW Vista Home Premium 32bit I guess I understood that DX10 isn't so special, at least not at this stage. In a year or two when I'm ready I'll go for it, I could even consider a new CPU at that time. For now this will do, and a new HD will come eventually. Thanks everyone for the help!
Ok guys...after LOTS and I means LOTS of hesitation and confusion I made my order. I didn't expect to make such an order but it was really a last second decision and I think it was a wise one. I ordered the following: Gigabyte P35 S3L Intel E2160 Sappire X1950 PRO 2GB PQI DDR2 800Mhz ThermalTake 420W Sony Nec DVD-RW Vista Home Premium 32bit I guess I understood that DX10 isn't so special, at least not at this stage. In a year or two when I'm ready I'll go for it, I could even consider a new CPU at that time. For now this will do, and a new HD will come eventually. Thanks everyone for the help!PSPsuper
[QUOTE="PSPsuper"]Ok guys...after LOTS and I means LOTS of hesitation and confusion I made my order. I didn't expect to make such an order but it was really a last second decision and I think it was a wise one. I ordered the following: Gigabyte P35 S3L Intel E2160 Sappire X1950 PRO 2GB PQI DDR2 800Mhz ThermalTake 420W Sony Nec DVD-RW Vista Home Premium 32bit I guess I understood that DX10 isn't so special, at least not at this stage. In a year or two when I'm ready I'll go for it, I could even consider a new CPU at that time. For now this will do, and a new HD will come eventually. Thanks everyone for the help!skinnypete91
I went just a tad above my budget. I reached close to 800$...things are a little more expensive here in Israel... Anyways, I'm pleased! This rig should do the job. I'm on my senior year this year and after that I'll be joining the army and who knows if I'll even have much time for gaming...this way I win now and in the future :)
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