Archon612

Ok time to build a new gaming machine for a friend, Ok first off her budget is 1000-1100.

-$100-Case is going to be the LIAN LI PC-7B plus II
-$190-CPU is going to be the Q6600
-$100-Ram I was going to go with some DDR2 800 (Not sure how the DDR3 is comparing so any info on that would be helpful to see if I should get some DDR3 instead.
-$400-Graphics card I was thinking 8800GT in SLI, but anyone know if the Nvidia or the new ATI cards coming out are worth the extra cash, any good graphics card that runs like 400$ be worth it instead of 2 8800GTs costing just under 400$.
-$225-MOBO I was thinking the EVGA 780i unless somone else has a better option at hand.
-$100-PSU would need to be 500-600 watts, no idea here just need best bang for the buck.

Any help on these choices or information on the new technology out there would be helpful. I have been out of the loop since my last build which was when the 8800s first came out.

Thanks!

BeetleMan

Nothing out there can take on the ATI 4870 x2 right now... 2gpu's 2gig memory kicking serious ass, for just about another 150 bucks...

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Archon612

It looks like i might go with 1 4870 right now for 270$, always can buy another one down the road.

Any update on ram or MOBO would be helpful thanks.

Highperf15

I'd lean towards an Intel X-48 chipsets as Nvidia has had alot of problems recently with their recent run of chips.
Newegg.com - ASUS Rampage Extreme LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

I'd go for ATI 4870 in Crossfire mode.....

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godling

BeetleMan and HiPerf15 have you covered well in those categories ... and two 8800GT's wouldn't cost you near $400 these days, more like $200. But the 4870 is an excellent (possibly the best) card at $270, to go there.

That being said, look at a Crossfire-capable motherboard. There's really no way to "future proof" your rig, given that Intel's new architecture gets released soon, making all current motherboard incapable of handling the new chips. However, if you've got the Q6600 there's room to improve in the future with the current line, and with a Crossfire board you can always expand your graphics capability. So good on ya, there.

Current DDR3 prices are still, IMO, not worth it. There are X48 boards with DDR2, and the higher speed RAM (1333) is pretty darned close to the DDR3 speeds, so performance gains are NOT worth the price increase. Again, IMO.

-godling

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