Ordering parts for a new computer

[Venom]

I've already decided on a video card and RAM. I'm also trying to decide if I should wait for the new Intel 45nm technology, or just go with a Core 2 Duo right now.
I don't know what motherboard to get though. Any suggestions?

[|Quintus Sertorius|]

Depends on your budget. If you got plenty of money, wait for some kickass quadcores to come out.
If you have a tight budget, buy an E6600. Great processor for just 200 euros and it can be easily overclocked to 3ghz.

But we can make a better configuration for you if you post all the hardware that you already have.

[Venom]

OK.

My current specs are:

Athlon 64 3400+ 2.20 GHz
1 gig RAM (512 Mushkin DDR PC3500 and 512 Corsair PC3200)
Geforce 7600 GS, AGP8x (512 VRAM)

This computer does not have PCI Express capability.
-------------------------

This is the video card for the new computer I'm planning to build:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102082

And the RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220144

Total price of all parts needs to be within the $1300 range. Note that this need not include hard drive expenses, since I can re-use my existing ones for the new machine.

[|Quintus Sertorius|]

Okey, if you only need a new mobo, RAM, videocard and processer, I would recommend the following:

mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188011
A nice stable motherboard with all the features you'll need.

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220144
Left it the same. Good, quick and stable RAM

Proc (550 watt power supply combo deal)
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16819115003
The famous E6600. Fast and stable and ready for the coming next gen games. Includes a good 550 watt power supply.

Graphic card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130071
A great directX10 card. I chose the 640mb version because it will be needed with nex gen games.

That leaves 300 dollars for the case, dvd burner/player etc etc.

[Aristocrat]

You might want to consider a video card that is DirectX 10 capable.
Like this one.

It's $280, so $30 more expensive than your choice.
On the motherboard, have a look at the Gigabyte DS3.

For the CPU, well, I would get the 6600, it sits in the upper sweet spot and so is a good buy for top performance.

[Venom]

You're right. The 6600 is by far the better deal.

I've also been recommended this motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813127011

It seems pretty good, and has potential for upgrades. What do you guys think?

[|Quintus Sertorius|]

Sounds like a great board indeed. The only problem I have with "modern" motherboards is the lack of PCI expansion slots. Other that that, a great board.

[Erik]

I'm also trying to decide if I should wait for the new Intel 45nm technology, or just go with a Core 2 Duo right now.

Go for one now.

Technology is always progressing, by the time the 45nm C2D's come out you will ask the question "Should I buy a Core 2 Duo/Quad, or wait for the Core 3 Duo/Quad to come out"
Next it's Core 3 45nm or Core 3 30nm.....Core 3 or Core 4...etc, etc, etc.
You'll end up waiting forever.

And this is a good time to buy a new CPU because the prices have just dropped considerably, and thus won't drop that much in the next months.

What you might want to consider is future upgrades.
I bought DDR2-800 RAM although I only really needed DDR2-667, for the simple reason that it will make future upgrades easier. (and it was only a few euro's extra)
And my E4300 was only 110 euro's, so it won't hurt me too much when I replace it with a new CPU in two years time.

Sounds like a great board indeed. The only problem I have with "modern" motherboards is the lack of PCI expansion slots. Other that that, a great board.

That's only true for boards with two PCIe-16x slots I think.

I have a Gigabyte 965G-DS3, which has just one PCIe-16x slot, but it has 3 PCI slots which is plenty in most cases.

It wouldn't be an issue if the industry made more PCIe cards.
So far I haven't seen a single PCIe sound card, so even if you buy a brand new sound card you'll end up using a PCI slot.

[Venom]

That's not good that this motherboard only has one PCI slot though. I'm going to need space for a sound card, and wireless network card.

[sdjenkyn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130071this video card and strongly urge you on a gigabyte board also. Most sli boards from gigabyte have 2 pci-ex16 slots 2 pci-e slots and 3 pci slots. You only run into trouble sometimes with dual vid cards as they may overlap up to two pci slots but asus has a wireless pci-e card now and you only need 1 pci slot for sound so its doable. Go to gigabyte.com and see what they offer for motherboards that meet your specs and then shop around for that model.

[Venom]

I'm seriously considering getting that video card you mentioned. The original plan was to go ATI, but this has been recommended to me by every person I've asked. I can't ignore that.
Just one question, would anyone happen to know if that card is capable of running TES: Oblivion with AA+HDR simultaneously?

[Erik]

Just one question, would anyone happen to know if that card is capable of running TES: Oblivion with AA+HDR simultaneously?

Yes it can.
But Oblivion doesn't know this so it won't allow you to select AA+HDR in the menu.
You can solve this by setting "Antialiasing mode" to "overwrite any application setting" in the nVidia driver and then select HDR/noAA in Oblivion.

I have a 8800GTS 320MB and I can play Oblivion at the highest settings with HDR, 16xAF and nVidia's "16x" (*) AA setting.
Although in some places the frame rates drop a little below what I'd like it's acceptable 99% of the time.

(*) nVidia has several optimized AA settings they call "8x", "16x" and "16xQ".
"2x","4x" and "8xQ" are true 2x, 4x and 8x AA modes.
"8x" ranges between true 4x and true 8x.
16x ranges between true 4x and true 16x.
And 16xQ ranges between true 8x and true 16x.
Complicated? Yeah, but the bottom line is: "16x" gives much better quality than 4x, at almost equal performance. (8xQ and 16xQ are much slower).

[Venom]

Yeah I read up on the whole Quincunx AA and other stuff on Tweakguides when Oblivion came out. Typically I select 2xQ in my graphics control panel instead of using AA settings in game.

On an unrelated note, I recently heard Intel is rolling out some revolutionary new processor technology in the second half of 2007. I'm wondering if it's something I should wait for.

[Incinerate_IV]

Yeah I read up on the whole Quincunx AA and other stuff on Tweakguides when Oblivion came out. Typically I select 2xQ in my graphics control panel instead of using AA settings in game.

On an unrelated note, I recently heard Intel is rolling out some revolutionary new processor technology in the second half of 2007. I'm wondering if it's something I should wait for.

Technology is always moving forward. Wait if you want, but there will always be some revolutionary new technologies coming out. From what I heard, it's not even that revolutionary. Just a small upgrade from current Core 2 Duos.

By the way, check out the PC Hardware buyers guide if you need some help on the parts.

[Erik]

Yeah I read up on the whole Quincunx AA and other stuff on Tweakguides when Oblivion came out. Typically I select 2xQ in my graphics control panel instead of using AA settings in game.

You have a 2xQ setting?
I only have 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, 8xQ and 16xQ.

And from what I understand 2x uses two layers in the z-buffer.
4x 8x and 16x uses four layers.
8xQ and 16xQ uses eight layers.

Assuming "Q" stands for eight layer z-buffer, it doesn't make sense to have a "Q" setting for less than 8xAA because "2xQ" will only sample two layers at most.

On an unrelated note, I recently heard Intel is rolling out some revolutionary new processor technology in the second half of 2007. I'm wondering if it's something I should wait for.

I think that's about their upcoming 80-core processor.
Revolutionary indeed, because it brings supercomputer performance to a desktop.
But it's really just for scientific research and some very specific applications.
I don't think it will run any game any faster than a quad core CPU will.

On the regular CPU front nothing revolutionary will come from intel.
Core 2 will get a smaller die size, which will allow for higher clock speeds, more cache and twice as many cores.
But other than that they will be the same old Core 2's.
More interesting will be AMD's new processor, claimed to be a good competitor against Core 2.

[Incinerate_IV]

Too expensive? If you want to have SLI go with one of nVIDIA's 650i or 680i motherboards. If not then just get a Gigabyte P965-DS3, it's much cheaper and has the overclock capability in case you need it later on.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128042

[Freddie]

I've already decided on a video card and RAM. I'm also trying to decide if I should wait for the new Intel 45nm technology, or just go with a Core 2 Duo right now.
I don't know what motherboard to get though. Any suggestions?

At this time I would employ a wait and see policy. Intel will be launching Peryrn very soon, which will have a dramatic effect on current CPU prices also (although I can't confirm this) Peryrn might herald the realisation of bring quad core to the masses.

[Venom]

Freddie, I'm going to take your advice. I think it might be wise to wait a month or so. From what I've been told, there are some big things going down right now, such the upcoming release of ATI's new übercard.

[Venom]

Assuming I used these parts though, what would be a good power supply unit for this set up?

I'm looking at these two:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139001
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139002

Do you guys think the second one is really worth the extra money, or is it unnecessary/wasteful?

[sdjenkyn]

post the components you plan on going with first. Corsair is a good brand but you can get more for less going with one of the established power supply makers.