Advice Building new Gaming PC

[rmdl51]

Hello everybody, I’m looking for some advice about building a new system. I’m planning to spend around 1500 USD total without monitor I already have a 22” ViewSonic X Series VX2235WM . I would like to take (or at least try) full advantage of 64-bit platform, Main use of my computer will be gaming, video edition and music/video storage. So I know I need a powerful system for this since the current one is very slow now for this purpose and I’m stuck on AGP and P4 is kinda old now. This is what I have now: P4 3.4Ghz ASUS P4P800-Dx 2GB DDR400 EVGA 7800GS

I keep my eye on building a Core 2 Duo, I would like the E6600 or E6700 but I guess the E6700 is still very expensive (over $300) I really need advice for Mobo, I definitely want to stay with ASUS but I’m not sure which one can offer best compatibility for everything I want: Fastest RAM possible (also need advice on this one), eSata, SLI support, 64-bit, etc. I’ve think about this models but please let me know if you have some experience with these ones or know any better ones.

P5b deluxe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131045
P5n32 premium http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131071

Maybe Abit IP35: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030


Ram still confuse me a lot, I’ve looked many options and still not sure which one will provide best performance and it’s worth the money I think for those mobo I should go with DDR800 right? Or can I go higher and OC, some are really expensive and some are so cheap that CAS latency times just make me feel I’ll waste my money. I will really appreciate suggestions here. I’m planning to initially install 2x2GB= 4GB

Last but not least: Video card, I definitely want something compatible with DX10 I’ll maybe want to run SLI but there are so many models now. Are the 8800 series still the best? Some GTS with 640MB cost over $400 but some with 320 are about $259 is the memory the only difference? Here are the models I mean:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130080
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

Thank you so much to everybody

 

[vnf4ultra]

For a processor, either choice you list will work just fine. Since you mention video editing, you may consider a quad core, like this(from what I could figure, it would almost fit in the budget, depending on your case/psu choices).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
It is a good bit of cash though, and only an improvement in multithreaded apps.

I think this board would be a nice one for you (and reasonably priced too). P5N-E SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142
The Abit you list seems pretty nice too, but I don't think it support sli.

You should get a ddr2 800 kit with a cas of 4.
Here's what I'd suggest. G.Skill DDR2 800 C4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231114

Or this ram if you want 2x2GB(easier future upgrades, due to empty slots), but it's slightly slower ram at cas5.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

I'd suggest an 8800 card, even though the drivers are not perfect yet.

The difference is the memory size on the cards you list, as well as the 640mb being an overclocked edition(pricier).
If you game at high res(like on your 22" lcd), you will want the more memory, if not, then the 320 will be fine. EVGA makes good cards, so I'd recommend them.
This 640Mb evga is cheaper, which makes the difference $100USD.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130071


Make sure you get a good power supply to power your "beast."
I'd recommend a 600W+ unit of reputable make and that is sli certified.

 

[nrhk]

Wait til July 22nd before building. Intel is cutting the prices of its CPUs. Quad core is going from like $500 to $250.

Also when it comes to RAM, latencies only give minor increases to speed. Don't go out and buy RAM that costs hundreds of dollars because the performence difference is minimal...unless you have hundreds of dollars to blow in which case go for it.