New build .."future proof" or wait for Nehalem? *EDIT please take a peek at my components :)

[Joeydubbs]

First the formalities...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Email, ppt, photo editing, light video editing, moderate gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$900

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Partial to Intel and nVidia

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Most likely buy all new parts

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
yuppers
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Might tinker but will most likely runs at stocks

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Soon


Currently running:

Pentium 4 with hyperthreading 2.6gHertz
1 gig ddr ram
asus mobo, forget exact model but has AGP graphix slot
nVidea Geforce 6800 ultra on AGP
75 gig IDE HD
430 watt antec psu
windows xp pro
-I built this system about 4 years ago, been a great computer but it obviously is beginning to show its age. This became apparent when I noticed age of conan as being beyond my specs and call of duty 4 runnning sluggish with low settings. Overall I have been very pleased with this sytem as it has lasted me 4 good years of relatively high performance. I would like to build another computer that will last me another 4 years or so (knowing full well that at four years the computer will not be able to run latest games etc...) Here is what I had in mind, generally...


E8400 Wolfdale

P35 mobo

4gig OCZ DDR2 800 RAM

nVidea 8800gt 512 by asus

500gig WD HD

DVD ROM

DVD burner

PSU earthwatts 430

Antec 300 case

Vista 64


Newegg total $960 not including about $90 in mail-in rebates

Would love feedback/suggestions/criticism before ordering as I'm a bit noobish...

Few general questions I had : PCI express 2.0 and PCI express 16 for video cards...same thing? Are they compatible with each other?
Anyone think vista 64 bit is a bad choice?

Newegg is gonna charge me 70 beans for NY state tax...is there a vendor that operates outside of ny that can offer these prices and wide selection of components? (have always been happy with newegg)


thanks in advance

 

[chinaman1472]

Nehalem will probably outperform it, hard to say since it's not out yet, but a new system certainly won't be slow There isn't much "future proofing" you can do with Nehalem coming out either. If you NEED the system now, build it. Something new is always "around the corner."

As far as your outline, it's a basic setup and it's solid. Pick up the Western Digital 640GB hard drive. I suggest researching the overclocking side becaues it's free performance basically, or at the cost of a decent heatsink (Xigmatek HDT-S1283 for ~$40).

 

[biostud]

The best way of future proofing is to have as much cash available for upgrades when necessary. So what you should get would probably be a quad core intel build, a bit of overclocking, 4Gb memory and wait for the ATi 4850 release later this month. Vista 64 will be a good combo for > 4Gb memory, just be sure that the peripherals you have now has drivers for Vista 64. SLI is not really and upgrade path, in most cases when your videocard is getting too slow 2 years down the line you can get a card that is faster than SLI with your old cards. SLI/CF is for people who run games in high resolution and need the fastest solution to run the high resolutions properly.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Joeydubbs
New build .."future proof"

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$900

You can't "future proof" on $900.

 

[Joeydubbs]

I agree, there is no such thing as true future proofing in computing but I was hoping this setup would meet my needs...thanks for the quick responses!

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Joeydubbs
New build .."future proof"

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$900

You can't "future proof" on $900.

 

[DSF]

For a 22" monitor SLI doesn't even need to be in your vocabulary, especially on your budget.

Are you reusing your case or buying a new one? Either way I would go with a new PSU, so don't forget to count that cost in.

 

[Chosonman]

No such thing as future proof. You can pay $$$$$$ way more now for faster parts that'll be dirt cheap in a few months and eclipsed by newer as of yet unreleased technology in the future (eg. USB 3.0, wirelessHD, display port...). Or for half the price get a good enough computer that you can replace with another good enough computer later on.

 

[Joeydubbs]

Think I'm gonna buy now, I chanded original post to reflect components I'm considering...all feedback is appreciated

Originally posted by: Joeydubbs
First the formalities...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Email, ppt, photo editing, light video editing, moderate gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$900

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Partial to Intel and nVidia

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Most likely buy all new parts

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
yuppers
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Might tinker but will most likely runs at stocks

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Soon


Currently running:

Pentium 4 with hyperthreading 2.6gHertz
1 gig ddr ram
asus mobo, forget exact model but has AGP graphix slot
nVidea Geforce 6800 ultra on AGP
75 gig IDE HD
430 watt antec psu
windows xp pro
-I built this system about 4 years ago, been a great computer but it obviously is beginning to show its age. This became apparent when I noticed age of conan as being beyond my specs and call of duty 4 runnning sluggish with low settings. Overall I have been very pleased with this sytem as it has lasted me 4 good years of relatively high performance. I would like to build another computer that will last me another 4 years or so (knowing full well that at four years the computer will not be able to run latest games etc...) Here is what I had in mind, generally...


E8400 Wolfdale

P35 mobo

4gig OCZ DDR2 800 RAM

nVidea 8800gt 512 by asus

500gig WD HD

DVD ROM

DVD burner

PSU earthwatts 430

Antec 300 case

Vista 64


Newegg total $960 not including about $90 in mail-in rebates

Would love feedback/suggestions/criticism before ordering as I'm a bit noobish...

Few general questions I had : PCI express 2.0 and PCI express 16 for video cards...same thing? Are they compatible with each other?
Anyone think vista 64 bit is a bad choice?

Newegg is gonna charge me 70 beans for NY state tax...is there a vendor that operates outside of ny that can offer these prices and wide selection of components? (have always been happy with newegg)


thanks in advance

 

[Joeydubbs]

No love? Looking to purchase and don't want to step in it...

 

[myocardia]

Get this hard drive, and this PSU, and you'll be set, along with what you've already chosen.

edit: Although I'd definitely pay slightly more for this PSU.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Joeydubbs
No love? Looking to purchase and don't want to step in it...

Are you going to order before the 30th when the rebates expire?

"Future proof" and only a P35 MB? :roll: You really need at least a P45...

 

[OCGuy]

Nehalem isnt a close as some like to portray it....server and EE are the only ones slated for 2008, and who knows if Intel will hold true to it due to lack of competition.

Id say get in on the cheap fun now!!!!!

DDR2 = Cheap as dirt
4ghz capable 45nm processors - cheap
Good GPUs (9800gtx, 4850) cheap

 

[Joeydubbs]

Yeah gonna order before those rebates expire most likely...


What are the main differences with a P45? More bells and whistles than P35 no?

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Joeydubbs
No love? Looking to purchase and don't want to step in it...

Are you going to order before the 30th when the rebates expire?

"Future proof" and only a P35 MB? :roll: You really need at least a P45...

 

[Blain]

Die shrink, 1600 FSB standard, not OC mode, etc...

 

[Joeydubbs]

hmmm maybe I'll switch to this asus p45 board

It says in the specs that is takes DDR2 1200 ram, can I (should I) use the DDR2 800 instead (not planning on oc'ing) or am I loosing sig performance?