Couple of first build worries...

[EffeX]

Alright here is my problem. Remember this is a first timer here.These are my possible builds:

Remember im purely gaming.

Build 1 (Overclocking)- Worried that 3 80mm fans are not sufficient. I also dont like DFIs chipset fan or colors

CPU- Opteron 170
MOBO-DFI CFX3200
GPU-X1900 XTX
RAM-OCZ PC4000 Gold XTC
PSU-Seasonic 600w (Not compatible eh?)

Build 2 (Stock)- Cool and quiet

CPU-X2 4200
MOBO-ASUS A8R32-MVP
GPU- X1900XTX
RAM-OCZ PC3200 Platinum
PSU-Seasonic

I really dont want system instability.... Im a hardcore Cal gamer.
Please help me make this tough descision and provide some good reasons for each.

This is all being bought at the end of this month and I could buy AM2 if it is far better and the same price.

 

[Cinna696]

am2 is only slightly slightly better and will certainly cost more when it comes out.

if your just playing CAL, you won't need all that power, save some $ and go with a 7900gt or an a lesser ATI version of the x1900xtx.

you wont need more than a 400W psu, seasonic is fine, good efficiency and they stay cool. I'd go with cool and quiet after changing the video card

 

[EffeX]

Well im building this for UT2007... And I havnt built a pc since my pentium 2 im on now. Id like to play Quake 4 and FEAR on max settings.

 

[Cinna696]

no one plays those games on max settings, even using sli or crossfire its hard to get decent frame rates, im also going to assume that ut2007 will be just as taxing if not more so on current hardware

 

[EffeX]

well high settings

 

[Cinna696]

i'd find a case with 120mm fans, an amd dual core cpu, 4200 is fine and get a zalman cooler. im pretty sure the 7900gtx out performs the x1900xtx although i may be mistaken, someone can correct me on that. 2gb of ram is a must, 2x1gb PC3200, preferably OCZ.

A WD raptor hd, probalby the 150gb 10k one. and a second 300gb or so hd for storage, best price point i think is at 250gbs on newegg.

a creative x-fi sound card, xtreme music is best value.

seasonic 430w psu

an asus mb, nothing to expensive, and no need for the 32 lane version if your not going to sli or crossfire

 

[secretanchitman]

i would drop that x1900xtx down to a 7900GT or around that range card, get some 2GBs of PC3200 ram in dual channel (2x1GB), an opteron 165/170 if you are overclocking or a x2 3800+/4200+ if not, and motherboard wise...dfi, asus, or epox are great. oh and seasonics are excellent psu's, no matter how many watts you get.

 

[EffeX]

Yeah i was planning on 2gb of OCZ, but I def want to do crossfire for UT2007

 

[InlineFour]

wait until UT2007 comes out before you build.

 

[Cinna696]

so get an amd 4200, 2x ati x1900xt, and 2gb 2x1gb OCX 2-3-2-5 ram. and the asus mb you chose.

as far as psu, the seasonic 500W is atleast SLI certified, im not sure if ati does the same thing for crossfire but i believe its enough juice none the less.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: EffeX
Yeah i was planning on 2gb of OCZ, but I def want to do crossfire for UT2007

Build 2 looks good but it looks like AM2 is going to be the platform for AMD for awhile, meaning your upgrade options might be pretty limited by the time UT2k2 comes out, something to think about seeing how close AM2 is. Also keep in mind while AM2 doesn?t offer much in terms of improved performance now there will likely be improved K8 cores that ride on AM2.

Lastly I would probably stick with value RAM, and the bigger names like Corsair & Crucial.

 

[EffeX]

I thought OCZ was a big name

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: EffeX
I thought OCZ was a big name

Well it?s all relative I suppose. Its more of a personal preference, OCZ should serve you fine.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i'd go with the second. it will be a very powerful system. overclocking doesn't give you much real world performance increase.. stick with stock if u want your system to stay with you longer
i'm not really sure if cinne knows what hes talking about. i play fear on MAX settings @ 1280x1024 with no lag and butter smooth gameplay. dunno the requirements for UT yet but i'd go with something similar in my signature so u can add the crossfire card later on. you dont get 2 x 1900xt's unless u wanna run 4 x monitors lol? if you can?
gl with your build

 

[LOUISSSSS]

oh and IMO i'd get the seasonic 600 watt version even though its a lil expensive.. its worth it