New Computer - Opinions

[Roman_Man#3]

Hello. I have gotten a list of parts for a computer I want to build, and I would like to know your opinion on it ie. how it will run, does everything work together, price, etc.

Motherboard - ASUS P5K ATX - $144.90
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Dual Core Processor - $195.00
Video Card - BFG GeForce 8600GT OC 565 mHz 256KB - $179.19
Memory - Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 DDR2 2GB 2X1GB DDR2 - $109.99
Power Supply - OCZ Stealthxstream 600W - $77.08
Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB SATA2 - $79.93
DVD/CD Drive - Samsung SH-S203B Black SATA - $39.75
Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE PCI 7.1 - $29.77






Total - $904.34
All the prices are from NCIX.

[Slug For A Butt]

If you are going to go with the 8600 instead of the 8800, this may look a better option.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150229

[Roman_Man#3]

Ok, I don't want to break the $200 mark for a video card, and the 8600 GT looked good. can you please explain how that one may be a better option?

[Slug For A Butt]

It's $129, not over $200.
Mind you, that's still a fair bit more expensive than a 7600 which isn't drastically different in terms of performance. Unless you are running Vista of course. ~;)

[Roman_Man#3]

well, what I'm going for is a computer that will run RTW on full high and hopefully M2TW as well, but M2TW doesn't have to be full high settings. I would also like to be able to do work on it and possibly some next-gen games. Maybe that helps narrow down the graphics card?

[Husar]

I'd get the 8800GT, it's around 250 but in performance it comes close to the 8800GTX!
It should be a lot faster than the 8600GT.

[Roman_Man#3]

I'd get the 8800GT, it's around 250 but in performance it comes close to the 8800GTX!
It should be a lot faster than the 8600GT.

Is it worth the $60 increase though? If the 8600GT will run RTW and M2TW very well, I'll stick with it. But for future, I might get the 8800GT.

[Slug For A Butt]

I personally would go for the 8800 instead of the 8600 for the price difference.
It would make sense to go for it as you say you want to play cutting edge games in the future. Compared to the price of your rig $60 is not a lot, but it may make a big difference. Check out Nvidias website, it has all the stats there.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce8.html

[Husar]

It's a german page but just have a look at the charts (http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/hardware/grafikkarten/2007/test_nvidia_geforce_8800_gt_sli/14/#abschnitt_oblivion), compare the 8600Gt vs the 8800GT and then decide whether it's worth 60$ more.

Hint: You can find the 8800GT way up and the 8600GT way down. ~;)

[Roman_Man#3]

very good point. It seems very much worth the $60 increase.

[AggonyDuck]

Another option would be the just released Radeon HD 3850. It has the same price tag as that 8600 GT, but is lightyears ahead of it in performance. From what I've seen its closer in performace to a 8800 GTS/320 MB, which is definately not bad for a card that costs under 200$. The 8800 GT might be the better card, but on the other it is also a bit more expensive, especially when the prices have climbed up now due to a low supply compared to the demand of the 8800 GT.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26986&vpn=H385F256&manufacture=HIS

Btw those that claim that the 8800 GT is just 60$ more than a 8600 GT, check what the prices on Newegg are now. ~;)

[Husar]

There are still two for 270 and I'd personally wait until after Christmas anyway.

[Roman_Man#3]

As stupid as it sounds, I'd go for nVidia over ATI anyday.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

As stupid as it sounds, I'd go for nVidia over ATI anyday.
It's not stupid. nVidia's top-of-the-line cards are much better than ATI's. ~:)

[AggonyDuck]

It's not stupid. nVidia's top-of-the-line cards are much better than ATI's. ~:)

Hence why ATI is focusing on the midrange markets now and the newly released HD 3850 really is the best graphic card available for under 200$.

[Slug For A Butt]

Looks like the 3850 performs well in crossfire too , when you compare them to a single more expensive (than the pair) card.

[Judge]

i have just bought a Geforce 8800GT 512mb for £160,, BARGAIN:thumbsup:

[Slug For A Butt]

Used from Ebay?