[lightsource]

Well, it looks like the money is finally coming in...

And as soon as that happens, all the prices seem to start falling, so my question is what order should I buy everything?

Here's my current system:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ {NOT BOUGHT}
MOBO: ASUS AM2-E nForce 570 Ultra MCP {NOT BOUGHT}
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 667 (2GBLA) {NOT BOUGHT}
VC: eVGA 6800GT {BOUGHT}
PSU: OCZ PowerStream 520W {BOUGHT}
HDD: Western Digital SE16 250GB (WD2500KS) {NOT BOUGHT}
CASE: Lian-Li V600B {NOT BOUGHT}

So basically, what I want to know is what should I buy first, becuase I'm pretty sure that somthing here is going to be dropping in price. I don't believe the 3500+ is dropping since its at a set promo price of $108.

I have had some replies to this post on a few other forums, and people have suggested that I go High-End Top of the Line and go with an ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition but I don't want to becuase if I DO go high end it will be a Foxconn C51XEM2AA or of course to wait for the DFI LanParty UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G.

What's a good priced motherboard (Sub $150) that can support 2.2v DIMM and (if possible, but not completely nessesary) NB heatpipe cooling.

I'm also getting this memory, if this changes anything:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231051

What do you guys/gals think?

[The_Neon_Cowboy]

considerd conroe?

If i had to pick another AMD cpu for AM2 woulde the 3800+ for $138 @ newegg
also why not DDR 800 memory?

[hackerx]

i don't think the AM2 3800+ can support ddr2-800 speeds.It runs natively with ddr2-667.
And as cowboy suggested i would suggest core 2duo.
The E6300 costs around $180(not available on newegg though)
As for motherboards,i would suggest one of the 3.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128012
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813127004
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131030
All in and around $150 range.

[lightsource]

Yes yes, I've been looking @ conroe systems and I was really waiting for K8L, I don't really need anything else I just really want my videocard.

And since some guy gave me a sweet deal on a 6800GT for $108 shipped I was very happy so now I'm just trying to get everything so I can use it, but if you guys think that I can pay under $600 for a good conroe system, by all means I'll buy it but otherwise I'm going AM2. I just need to know the memory compatabilities, that's really the only thing that's holding me back and why I haven't yet purchased a motherboard or ram.

[PandaZ3]

I think the AM2 is a good choice, gaming is primarily about the Video card anyway.

Nice Case, I would prefer a 600A as I have had my fill of black cases. The black shows more dust, and it you use black bezeled optical drives the buttons are difficult to see....though if you do use beige bezels it makes a nice contrast.

I think this system will keep you happy for a good while.

[H3X4D3C1M4L]

Go for a 320GB Seagate 7200.10 drive..the 10G drives are perpendicular recording drives and whoop regular ass 7200 drives

[lightsource]

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

Go for a 320GB Seagate 7200.10 drive..the 10G drives are perpendicular recording drives and whoop regular ass 7200 drives

yea, I was told to get that drive but... I read the reviews and.. It turns out that they use twice as much power and still get beat by the SE16's in some tests and they aren't as quiet, and silence is what i'm trying to go for in this build.

[H3X4D3C1M4L]

Well if silence is what you want enable the AAM on the drive

They don't use twice the power either, they use less because they have less platters.

If you really want silence, a 7200.8 Seagate drive with a little AAM can NOT be beat. I don't find WD's to be the most silent drives, just rock solid performers at a reasonable sound profile