Building a Gaming Rig

[FxCMYfOB]

Ok, so I live in Alberta, Canada. I want to build a gaming rig for around 2000-2300. I was gonna get a Socket 939 CPU, then I found out that AM2 was coming out in like a month so I waited. After I saw that the AM2 Socket really didn't do much, I still decided to go with it. Then I found out that Intel's Core 2 Duo is coming out soon, so I guess I'll wait for that because from what i hear and see, it's doing pretty good. My question is, will Core 2 Duo Processors be available at release? Or will we have to wait a couple of months? I also am looking for advice on what parts to get, and where to buy it. The best place I've found around here is Memory Express, it's pretty good but I want to know if there are any other places that may have better deals. Also, I would like to know what parts I should buy. I have around 2000- 2300 to spend but the monitor has to be in it. I have a mouse, keyboard, and Wireless Router already. So what I need is everything else, including an OS. All help is greatly appreciated.

 

[acegazda]

they should be available at release, though they will be HOT so If you want it first day... brew some coffee and sit at your computer untill 12am july23. It should be worth it. For that amount of $$$$ you can either go with a crossfire or sli MoBo and either a 7950gx2 card or x1900xt/xtx. Couple that with 2x1gb of ocz gold ddr2 @either 667 or 800mhz and a 16mb buffer raptor @150gb. Throw in a nice LCD too. Feel free to ask away.

 

[FxCMYfOB]

I mind you that I live in Canada, so prices are different.

 

[alimoalem]

from what i hear, all the canadians on the forums always recommend ncix.com. i'm not sure how pricing is on the site compared to US sites but i'm going to assume they're withing 10-15% of each other.

i would get the following:

CPU: i believe the model number is the 6700 (Core 2). 2.66GHz
Mobo: not sure but around $150-200
GPU: 7950gx2
HDD: Western Digital SE16 250GB or 400GB
RAM: g.skill has some DDR2-1000 ram with low latency (4-4-4)
PSU: Enermax Liberty 500, Fortron 600w, or seasonic 500w
Optical: NEC or some other good brand for a $40 dvd burner
Monitor: good brand 20" or 20.1"

this all should be in your budget. if it's over, i would cut down on the ram and GPU down to a x1900xt

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

DDR2-667 memory, according to Anandtech.com, is more bandwidth than the stock C2Ds can handle (save possibly for the Extreme versions).

The E6600 is the lowest clocked C2D with 4MB of memory.

 

[TomtheBum]

You should check out the thread i posted a few days ago My Post

It helped me out a lot and is up your alleyway