My first PC build - high end system, please help :)

[cuse]

Simply wait awhile and let the prices come down a little. By then some new patches will probably out from AMD.

Yeah but when you spend 40-50+ hours per week working on your PC, and then in addition you want to be able to spend another 5+ hours gaming per week... it's tough to wait.

I *need* a new PC *now* because this laptop is just killing me. *Pats laptop on the monitor* - she served me well for a while, but it's time to lay her to rest.

I wouldn't buy one of the flashy new Intel processors anyway, so a high-end AMD system now that will still be considered high-end a few months from now would serve me well anyway. I'm sure X2 4800+ processor will still be able to handle pretty much any game a year from now, and I can always upgrade the cheaper components if necessary. *Shrug*

I think the toughest choice to make at this point is what type of video card to go with. Or even if I should go with a X2 4400+ instead of X2 4800+ that way if in 6 months from now I want to get a much cheaper FX-60 or something, I would be losing less money.

Plus, isn’t that DDR RAM just high quality stuff? Why would I even need DDR2 at this point? DDR can get the job done.

 

[PC eye]

DDR2 is the newest 533mhz or what not for some of the latest boards out. Yet you still DDR400 quite usable on many new models. When the dual cores by AMD were first coming out I was taking a serious look at the 4800+ X2. But after some consideration the wait for the Opteron 185 dual core for Socket 939 not 940 server cases looks more inviting. The cost factor will see a hold on that however. As far as video cards there are some good ones put out by both ATI and NVidia alike. See what meets your needs the best.

 

[asdfguy]

From what I've read, the 4800 isn't really worth it. That's why I bought the 4400. I'd say one gtx, drop to a 4400, up your HDD to a 10000 rpm SATA. I would stay away from a SCSI (unless you stated why you needed it and I missed it) and go with the view sonic. I have one (20" wide screen - check the prices, at the time with the rebate, the 20" normal and widescreen cost the same) I can't imaging you'd need more cooling than stock fans. Hope this wasn't too redundant.

 

[PC eye]

Do you want a 19" viewable lcd with only 2ms as the response time? I just ran across a BenQ that has that. http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=3876308 It does cost a few bucks more then other models. But then I paid $289.95 for that old Proview 15" that got tossed for the 17" 12ms BenQ now being used. I'll spend $5- less for the one there very soon. As far as occasional gaming and not being that much into OCing I'll be waiting for the Socket 939 Opterons to come down in price. Some more serious gamers have been looking at the Opteron 165 lately. I went from looking at the 4800+ X2 to start pondering on the Opteron 185 due to being the top model of the AMD line. For any real OCing many are pointing at the 165 there.