New computer

[#43 fan]

The game he currently wants to play but can not is Neverwinter Nights 2, possibly with the expansion pack. He can not play it on his integrated graphics. It plays easily on my computer, an Athlon XP, Geforce 6800, and 2 gigs of RAM.
His current computer is a Dell with a Celeron D, Integrated Graphics, and 1 gig of RAM.
He doesn't care much about graphics quality too much. The main purpose of this computer is work, actually. Gaming is a secondary purpose of it (general family computer).
So, let's see what I agree with so far:
The hard drive looks excellent, a speedy hard drive is a must.
The RAM looks ok, but as I've said, I haven't used Super Talent before.
If the 9600GT is a lot cheaper, that's probably going to be what is bought.
The maximum amount of money is probably going to be 1000, the optimum is around 800-900.

[KarmaKiller]

I only recommend the Super Talent stuff because it was cheap, and runs at the speeds it's suppose to with no problems.
If your not liking that though, I'd also recommend:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146565
Crucial has a lifetime warranty, and generally known as some of the best RAM you can get.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227139
OCZ makes very good RAM too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146673
And Mushkin again, is some of the best stuff money can buy..

Does that look better?

[qrs321]

Yah the 7600gs, i think can be called officially obsolete. And between the 8800gts and the 9600gt is the 8800gt. you can get an xfx 8800gt for $160 with rebates @ newegg. not a bad choice. It's what i'm leaning towards for my new build.

[thephilosophizer]

If you are thinking of spending a little more on RAM I would go with these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231144
G.Skill, 1066, lifetime warranty. Also, I would recommend this mobo, gigabyte EP35, up to 1600 fsb and pc2 1200, and they just dropped the price to $120 from $130.
I agree with Karma on the 45nm chips, fast, highly overclockable, and low consumption, but the E7200 ($135) and E8200 ($185). The E7200 is about the same as the E8200 but with 3mb L2 cache instead of 6mb. But the difference in performance would be negligible, and on the listed mobo with the listed ram, you could probably get cpu speeds at 3.5ghz+ without much trouble.
As far as gfx, the 8800gts is a really good card and $225 for one is a good deal, the next best card is the new 9800gtx which comes in at $300, though the performance difference doesn't seem to be worth it over the 8800gts.

[#43 fan]

This rig will not be overclocked, stability is far more important than performance.
I love FSP power supplies, myself, how about these-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104034
500 watt, $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104014
600 watt, $110
As far as Memory, I've had good experience with Patriot-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104014
$43
As far as CPUs go, AMD is very competitive at the low end.
For a very low cost/low power (45 W, 2.5 GHz)-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103255
Very fast dual core (2.9 Ghz @ $124)-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103234
A Phenom tricore $~150-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103254
On the Intel side-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115052
The Wolfdale that was suggested earlier.
Now I need a motherboard for the Intel.
For the AMD, a value mobo-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128327
$80
A slightly better one-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128335
$100
Windows Vista Premium-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116202
Win XP Pro-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116400
I need a link to a 8800GT, 8800GTS, and 9600GT (my internet isn't working too well today) if possible. I will let them choose their own case later.
So, the price so far-
PSU $90 or 110
CPU $80 to $150
Memory $45
Windows $90 or $130
Case ~$80-$130
Videocard $150-$250
Hard Drive $115 (640 GB WD)
Total $650 minimum or $930.
Thanks for the help so far.

[JPMiller]

I'm a huge fan of FSP as well but at the BlueStorm series is overpriced and underpowered...
I wish they had never bowed to popular demands
Skip the paint, and or sleeving and just stick to basics

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256032
Silverstone is the new king of bang for buck

Dont bother with so much overkill unless your SURE your going SLI

[KarmaKiller]

I agree with JP on this one. There are better bangs for the buck then FSP now a days.
Like this OCZ PSU. It has FSP components in it, and is 600watts, for only $80. (with rebate only $55)

Along the same lines, IMO, there is no reason to not buy a Intel for a new setup. They are faster, and just as stable. The new 45nm cores use the same amount of power as the AMD counterpart, and will be faster. With the budget your working with, you have plenty of options available. You could even throw a Q6600 into the mix, and have plenty to do the rest of the system with.
Again, just IMO. Good luck with the build.

[RamonGTP]

Actually the Intel 45nm will use far less power than the AMD's. AMD, especially with the tri and quad core CPU's have been under-rating the TDP. If it says 95watts, expect it to pull around 110 actual.

[#43 fan]

Originally Posted by RamonGTP

Actually the Intel 45nm will use far less power than the AMD's. AMD, especially with the tri and quad core CPU's have been under-rating the TDP. If it says 95watts, expect it to pull around 110 actual.

I thought AMD over-rated its TDP (at least they used to).
I'll probably go with the Intel, then. I was simply keeping my options open.
For the amount of multitasking they do, a Quad would be overkill.
That Silverstone looks awesome, great PSU. That would work with the 8800GTS, correct.
So far we have:
Silverstone PSU (47)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256032
Intel 45NM CPU (135)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115052
Memory (this Patriot good? $43)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104014
OS of the users choice, I'm leaning toward XP for software compatibility(130).
The MSI 8800GTS linked earlier would be a great card(225)-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127325
This motherboard will probably roll it out (120).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128086
And whichever case they decide, a max of $130 ish.
Hard drive: WD 640 GB $115
Total is= 945. Seems like a great build to me.
Any other suggestions. Thank you all for the help (I've been out of building computers for a little too long ).

[RamonGTP]

Originally Posted by #43 fan

I thought AMD over-rated its TDP (at least they used to).

They use to also have the fastest processor