New system build(gaming)

[flyfly]

Motherboard: MSI P45 Neo3-FR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130180
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122
Hard drive: WD 32M 640G http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Graphics Card: SAPPHIRE 4870 1G http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

Total: $650

Any suggestions or comments?

I've got everything else. I currently have a 500w power supply and a case. I don't like the case though. So I may want to buy one too.

Also I will OC but I am not sure what kind of fan I should have. Please give some advice on that too.

My budget was $800. So I am still flexible with the price.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[Proximon]

This would be a far better board, for just a bit more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

I hope it's not a cheap PSU. Despite what they say, you need a very good 500W PSU to power that card.

Then you will need a CPU cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

 

[waynec121]

I would not go msi for the mobo i would switch it to a asus or gigabyte mobo and for the case the antec 900 is always a solid choice

the asus p5q pro is always a solid choice for a 775 mobo

 

[flyfly]

thanks. I will switch to the asus mobo.

Any suggestion on the graphics card?

 

[Chronobodi]

try going for nivida cards, i heard they have more consistent driver support,
here's one: GTX 260 Core 216
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130434

same performance as the ATI one you picked, for a bit cheaper price.

 

[waynec121]

This would be a far better board, for just a bit more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

I hope it's not a cheap PSU. Despite what they say, you need a very good 500W PSU to power that card.

Then you will need a CPU cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

I would go with Proximon's choice for the board rather than the p5q pro i suggested...Proximon knows alot more then me about computers. I have learned most of the stuff from him and a few others on here! But Proximon's recommendation is excellent.

 

[flyfly]

try going for nivida cards, i heard they have more consistent driver support,
here's one: GTX 260 Core 216
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130434

same performance as the ATI one you picked, for a bit cheaper price.

this is where i really got confused...GTX 260 or 4870?

What are the real differences between them?

 

[flyfly]

I would go with Proximon's choice for the board rather than the p5q pro i suggested...Proximon knows alot more then me about computers. I have learned most of the stuff from him and a few others on here! But Proximon's recommendation is excellent.

thanks. I will go with the gigabyte one then. :lol:

 

[Chronobodi]

this is where i really got confused...GTX 260 or 4870?

What are the real differences between them?

well, here's an article on the face-off between the two
http://techgage.com/article/ati_hd_4870_1gb_vs_nvidia_gtx_260216_896mb/7

and they say you should get the GTX 260, but make sure it's the 216 core variety, not the older 192 core one.

 

[flyfly]

well, here's an article on the face-off between the two
http://techgage.com/article/ati_hd_4870_1gb_vs_nvidia_gtx_260216_896mb/7

and they say you should get the GTX 260, but make sure it's the 216 core variety, not the older 192 core one.

I am reading it. Thanks.

One more thing. My monitor is small though 17". Does that have any impact on the choice of graphics card?

 

[Chronobodi]

it depends on the native resolution of your monitor. Both cards do pretty damn good on the top 2 highest resolutions (2560x1200 and 1900x1200), so if your monitor is 1400x900 or 1280x768, you don't have to worry, as the GTX 260 is over kill at those lower resolutions.

 

[Proximon]

The Gigabyte UD3P is a crossfire board, meaning it will run two 4870s together for increased performance.

If you are certain you will not ever need a second card, go with the GTX 260.

If you want to keep the option open, go with a 4870. The differences are not so big as to be a deal breaker.