Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
$275.99
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$209.99
Thats at newegg..
I would go with that performace over the dual core that is being out dated. you'll get nearly double the processing power, cooler temps, more expandability, less power consumption for a better Dollar to Mhz ratio.
Simple and I both run that processor, with it.. you won't have to run a 3rd party fan and you can take advantage of Nvidia's controlpanel with on the fly nTune overclocking and fan control when switching to games to Idle.
You're video card choice is primo - keep with that.
as far as memory goes, speed and size is ALL that matters. Young and ignorant people will tell you to get name brand.. well. in my experince, name brand has NO performance increses and life expectancy is the exact same - Unless your digging around in your computer changing parts every week ANY band memory stick will hang in there with you untill it's time for an upgrade.
At Frys Electronics you can get no-brander 800mhz 2gb sticks for $50 a piece on sale. I don't know where you live, but thats a pretty common price (other than rip-off places like best buy and circut city)
Power supply wise a 500 watt will do, I got my 630watt modulated Raidmax Volcano was $40 on sale at Frys Electronics. At the time of this post my whole computer PLUS monitor is only using 275 watts of energy. (i'm running 3 video cards, 2 hard drives, 2 DVD burners, and 6 case fans.)
SO what that means is that people ALWAYS over shoot what their demands are. Also, in my experince, If you're going to go cheap, go very cheap or get a quality PS - not an inbetween one, pricewatch.com has the CHEAPEST powersupply selection, I've burnt up about 3 of the $20 600watt ones in the last 3 years utill my current good one went on sale.
Case! I've been using my same large-midsize tower for going on 8 years now, this is your choice really, I would set $80 aside to pick this - Intel computers run cool, Nvidia video cards run cool (plus you'll have nTune watching over the temp and it will speed up fans according to the temp). The only thing that gets hot in my computer are the memory sticks. It doesn't pose much threat and if you want, they make clipon fans with a fan connected to a bendystraw neck with a clip on the other end that you can hook onto the chassie of your case and point it RIGHT at the memory bays.
My friend bought an antec super expensive case that basicly creates a hurricane inside it... POINTLESS!
His computer produces less heat than mine, he just wasted $150 bucks on a case that does nothing but look rediculus. - Thats what you want to avoid.
Now the operating system is what you cannot avoid with this build, you're going to need Vista 64 (I suggest ultimate PC builder version) $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116215
Youre going to need the driver support/future driver support and 64bit support that vista gives.
With an old copy of XP (wich is what most people have) it won't be able to use the 64 bit, only 32 bit. Also, unless it's XP pro, it will only see 1 processor... and more stuff is just wrong with XP now...
(XP 64bit is now outdated and nolonger supported by ANY compony, don't buy it)
Hard drive and CDrom - These are your pref. Use what money you have left on what you think you want... you could go cheap DVDrom and a speedy name brand Hard drive, or get Mid price and mid price, Hard drives DO increse performance on loading times.
Mouse, keyboard, monitor- Again, personal pref.. I'm more of a "powerful guts of the machine" guy than the fancy outside. I got a nice 3800dpi mouse, and a creative gaming keyboard - Both wired, becasue I hate batteries and they are cheaper for the same performance, but again. Your pref.
That covers most parts really... My moto is ... get the frame of your machine strong and up to date technology, the rest can be upgraded for cheap as the time goes by.
This way... you are keeping up with the top dogs, and not hurting your pocketbook.
Hope this guide helps... my hands hurt from rock climbing today. But it was worth writing this to help a community member make a good purchase
Goodluck hunting!
