Finally I am forced to do it.

[Incongruous]

Finally, after years of faithfull service my computer (made for RTW) has left the plain of overheating and cooked pasta to go to a better one of fans and unlimited cpu power.

I am forced to now begin saving for a new one, a very top of the range one. So top of the range that you could slice steel on it.

I have become, since my last pc, a n00b when it comes to pc hardware. So I ask you learned sages what shall I invest in.
I am buying parts with ETW and the next elder scrolls game in mind:dizzy2:

[Lemur]

Well, you can't go wrong with a Core2Duo proc and one of them shiny, affordable 8800GTs (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130303). Those new terabyte hard drives are also supposed to be lovely. Seagate's (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16822148278) has been getting raves. If you believe what you read, they're almost as fast as a 10,000 RPM raptor. Strange, eh?

Everybody know which case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025) I lust after ...

[Husar]

What the Lemur says though I wouldn't count on it running the games you mentioned on highest settings with 60 fps, but it's about the best value for money you can currently get except if you want only value and spend a whole lot more but I don't think that's advisable.

[Lemur]

For price/performance the 8800GT rules with an iron fist. If you're planning on doing next-gen games at massive resolutions, I would either get two and put them in SLI, or I would buy one and wait to replace it with state-of-the-art when the next game shows you the need.

[Incongruous]

Ok so the 8800GT is really really good. Right that's one box ticked.
Processor to run ETW on maxed out settings? I don't mind If I have to wait a while for it.
RAM?
MOBO?
POWER?

Oh and will newegg.com ship to nz? because damn that's like half the price of one I could buy here.

[Incongruous]

Damn just looked at Intels brand new Duo extreme quadcores (is that right?)
I am guessing thta is the type of CPU you need to run ETW in maxed out settings.

Everything else seems seems very well priced.

[Husar]

Well, if they just optimize the game for dual cores, a quad core won't help you. Apart from that I doubt anyone can tell you what the game will need, that depends on quite a few factors I guess, maybe it will be so demanding that it cannot be maxed out on any CPU, the amount of soldiers present etc will also influence this. There are currently not many games that take advantage of a quad core(Crysis and Supcom do, that's all I know), though you could convert videos in the background while playing or so. :sweatdrop:
It's a question of whether the speed gained by it is worth the money for you, maybe by the time games are optimized for Quad Cores you'll get a new PC anyway. :shrug:

[Lemur]

I think dual-core is going to be the gaming platform of target for developers for at least the next three years. Quad-core is just too rare a beast to spend developer-hours tweaking for. (Feel free to thwack me upside the head if I'm wrong.)

Here's what I would build if I were putting a machine together for ETW and such:

Windows XP Pro (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116400)
Core2Duo E6600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115003)
Any ASUS mobo that supports SLI (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131074)
Thermaltake Toughpower with the chunky 140mm fan to keep it cool (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153043) (I own a less powerful version of this, and I love how quiet it is)
Antec p182 gray case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025) (we wants it, Baginses (http://www.matthewbarr.co.uk/sounds/lotr/precious_curse_them.wav))
The cheapest X-Fi card you can find (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102007)
Some kind of name-brand DDR2-800 RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220144) (2 gigs is still the sweet spot)
A Raptor drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136012), which you would partition into a 20-gig system for C: and leave the rest as your games partition on D: (this is really an optional item, but I love my Raptor, and I pretend that it loves me too)
And/or one of those new tearabyte drives (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148278) (or a 500 gig drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073), if money's an issue)
8800GT video card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130301) (I'd start with one, and see how that scales with games. You can always add another.)

Which monitor you choose is going to have a huge impact on how well you can dial up the visuals. If you go to town with one of those 30-inch monsters (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001098), you're going to need to go SLI right away. Personally, I'm planning to upgrade to a 22" widescreen (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014139) the next time I get a big check from out of the blue.

Sorry to say, checking the NewEgg FAQ (http://www.newegg.com/Info/FAQDetail.aspx?Module=4), you are out of luck:

Does Newegg.com ship internationally?
Newegg.com does not currently ship internationally; we only deliver to locations within the United States and to Puerto Rico.

Which does nothing to stop you from ordering the parts, having them shipped to someone you trust Stateside, and having them box them and send them on to NZ. But returns might be an issue ...

-edit-

The dual-core/quad-core thing is contentious, so don't take my word for it by any means. Here's an article from HardOCP (http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTMwNiwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==) about dual v. quad in a game optimized for both, Supreme Commander. And here's an article (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2050563,00.asp) about Valve and their multi-core plans. I have no idea what CA's thoughts on the subject are, but I'd sure love to know.

[Incongruous]

Ok so using Quad-core gives limited performance increase over the dual in XP so it's un-needed.

About SLI can i simply buy two cards or do they come specialy made?

Oh, and will prices have dropped quite a bit by next year Q1?

[Lemur]

SLI is more dependent on the motherboard than on the cards, if that makes any sense. So long as the cards are identical chipsets running at identical speeds, it works. The cards can even come from different manufacturers. It's a robust technology.

As far as prices dropping, what's to say? Prices always drop. That's one of the things I love about technology. The unattainable techno-bling of last year is available with a Happy Meal this year. So waiting is always good, eh?

Two developments that will probably happen in Q1 08: Nvidia will update their high end cards. I doubt the 8800GT will be retired, it's too new and too loved, but there will probably be a high-end replacement for the GTX, since it's now living in the shadow of its little brother.

Also, Intel will probably drop some faster/cooler Core2Duos. They won't make a big deal about it, since they're busily trying to convince everyone that quad-core is the way to go, but I would definitely keep an eye on their dual-cores. A cooler, smaller Core2Duo with more cache would be a happy thing to pop into your rig.

[CBR]

Intel should be releasing their new (45 nm) dual/quad core CPU's early next year. Should be worth waiting for.


CBR

[Incongruous]

Ok, so the core2duo will be ok, next year are cooler faster ones, which will be more expensive? No matter.

So if I get a mobo that supports SLI I'll just buy two of the same cards.

[Lemur]

Bopa, please let us know what you decide to purchase. I need to get my techno-lust satisfied, if only by proxy.

[Incongruous]

Ok well, I have consulted Pater Familias and he has agreed to my Imperial sized computer.

Two 8800 GT's overclocked.

I still need some help on a good mobo.

4 g's of Kingston DDR2.

The cpu will be either one of the newer and fast core2duo's out next year or if deemed necessary for Tw gaming needs, heaven forbid, I will get a quad core, but only when I know it is needed. No sooner.

The sound card, well soundblaster have released a nice new card, forgot it's name but by next year it is set to drop in price so that will be mine!

I will see if the seagate HDD drop in price by a few hundred, if so I will be getting one of those monsters.

And the case, well I'll show you. http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=228&code=031
mmmmm, silence given form.

[Lemur]

I would think any one of these (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280+107171927+1071725373&name=NVIDIA+nForce+680i+SLI) would do the trick. People seem to like the 680 SLI very much.

Your case is a little bling-tastic for me, but then cases are very personal. I know that one is supposed to be very well-made, so all else is aesthetics.

[Incongruous]

changed case to this one, much nicer. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235005