New System Time!

[Regk]

Hello Fellow Anandtechers!

I am looking to do my first scratch build in what seems like for ever! I was trying to keep hope alive waiting on a bulldozer system, but with those hopes dashed, I am looking to reality.

What I have: A SFF Dell w/C2D E6600, 4gb ddr2, Radeon 5670 lowprofile
What I was in the process of building/finished and gave to parents for being awesome: C2Q 8200, 4gb ram, Radeon 3650

What I want: A platform that will be capable of being upgraded into a formidable gaming machine down the road.

My budget: 350$ CAD +/- 15%

Preferred vendors: I live in canada so I would be looking at Memory Express (local), NCIX or Tigerdirect, maybe newegg.ca

Existing Parts: CM Storm Scout Case (NIB, paid 60 for it last year, still waiting to put together a build with it!) Antec Earthwatts 650watt PSU, CM hyper 212+, Blu Ray Drive, (Nvidia 9600GSO 512mb)

My thought is that my current need is for this machine to basically function as an HTPC to get me ready for the holidays, and do some light gaming with older titles at 720P resoloution w/titles from 2007 and earlier)

My Initial thoughts are to go with a Z68 motherboard (capable of supporting IB if I am correct?) a cheap I3 2100 CPU and 8 Gigs of ram.

This would leave me open for a nice IB cpu upgrade when I have more money in the summer, and would also allow me to drop in a shiny new radeon 7xxx series when they eventually come...

thought on this plan? Hardware suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[GoStumpy]

What can I say...

Good plan!:thumbsup:

 

[gmaster456]

Sounds good.

 

[Puppies04]

Sounds like a good plan, pick up a GEN3 PCIe board for better future upgrade options no point in skimping on it and having to swap it in the future.

 

[Regk]

Good Idea, Any suggwestions ona mobo?

 

[volcane]

Asrock Z68 Etreme3 Gen3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157271

Another option: The Asrock Z68 Pro3 doesn't have Gen3 PCIe but is great value: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157251

I'm not sure on IB compatibility though.

 

[Regk]

Hmm, thanks for the above link.

After doing some research, I think I might go with a Pentium G620/840. The intention of the CPU is to be a placeholder for IB. I currently do alright on a stock E6600@2.4ghz, and as far as I know, even the 620 should be able to outpace it by a good bit. Thoughts?

 

[mfenn]

A G620 is roughly 10-20% faster than an E6600, so you should be OK there. As for the mobo, I would get the GA-Z68A-D3H because Newegg.ca's price for the Pro3 sucks. PCIe Gen3 is a complete non-feature because GPUs barely touch the limits of PCIe Gen1 and have a long way to go before they're limited by Gen2.
http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c....ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502