Parts list

[alpha]

I'm added this to the Complete Hardware Guide:

Alpha Recommends
looking for some quick suggestions on what to get, here is a general rig that I would suggest getting:

Motherboard: a P35, pick one with the features that you want
CPU: Intel core 2 quad Q6600
Video Card: Nvidia 8800 GT (512 MB)
RAM: PC6400, 4 gigs
Power Supply: 600-800 Watt, reputable brand
Hard drive: Raptor 10k RPM drive and 2 x 7200 RPM in RAID 1 (higher end system) or 2 x 7200 RPM 16MB cache in RAID 1
Sound Card: Xfi extreme gamer

It is in response to one of the most commonly asked questions on this forum of "what should I get?"

Let me know if you see anything you think I should change

[darth_nevus]

curious, why the Q6600 atm?

as far as the card, i'd say the 256mb version of the gt personally, simply cause the curve doesn't really warrent the cost, and since Nvidia put the snuff on it(the oc version) until Feb(which i surmise has to do with their new 9x00 cards not being up to snuff).

also, how would you rate said rig? gamer? hardcore gamer? thats a pretty beefy setup.

oh! and you forgot OS!

[CHOPS123]

How would you compare the 8800 gts 512 oc version to the 8800gt?

The reason I ask is because I just ordered the oc 8800 gts 512

As far as ram speed....why PC6400? What about the PC8500? Its looks like its about the same price.

[random_id]

people who ask "what should I get?" should read teh TR's well-detailed hardware guides instead:
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13660 :P

[Devilguns]

I just got the EVGA 8800GTS 512 and it ROCKS. I'm coming from an AGP based 7800gs and it really made my jaw drop.

[alpha]

curious, why the Q6600 atm?

Its a close call between the 6850 and the Q6600, with some games doing better with one and some doing better with the other. The tie breaker was the future proofing, overclocking ability of the Q6600.

as far as the card, i'd say the 256mb version of the gt personally, simply cause the curve doesn't really warrent the cost

future proofing had a bit to do with this

also, how would you rate said rig? gamer? hardcore gamer? thats a pretty beefy setup.

Its a higher end gamer, but it can be built for about $1250

oh! and you forgot OS!

I would go with XP still (even though you'll only use 3 of your 4 gigs of RAM)

[alpha]

people who ask "what should I get?" should read teh TR's well-detailed hardware guides instead:
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13660 :P

I hadn't seen that, but they recommend almost exactly the same stuff I do

[random_id]

people who ask "what should I get?" should read teh TR's well-detailed hardware guides instead:
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13660 :P

I hadn't seen that, but they recommend almost exactly the same stuff I do

not really, no - they recommend a lot of different stuff, based on user's budget as well as brand name preferences (not everyone wants to buy Intel CPU or Nvidia video cards)

[alpha]

i was referring to their "sweet spot" selection:

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13660/6

which has the same CPU, mobo, ram, graphics, and audio, they just suggested brands as well.

[alpha]

How would you compare the 8800 gts 512 oc version to the 8800gt?

I'll take a look tomorrow

As far as ram speed....why PC6400? What about the PC8500? Its looks like its about the same price.

from what I've seen the extra price doesn't justify the small performance upgrade, although prices may have dropped since I last looked, I'll check again

oh and here is the updated version of the section:

looking for some quick suggestions on what to get, here is a general rig (build it yourself cost of approximately $1250-$1500) that I would suggest getting:

Motherboard: a P35, pick one with the features that you want
CPU: Intel core 2 quad Q6600
Video Card: Nvidia 8800 GT (512 MB)
RAM: PC6400, 4 gigs
Power Supply: 600-700 Watt, reputable brand
Hard drive: Raptor 10k RPM drive and 2 x 7200 RPM in RAID 1 (higher end system) or 2 x 7200 RPM 16MB cache in RAID 1
Sound Card: Xfi extreme gamer
Case: pick one you like with enough slots for what you need
OS: Windows XP home (or Pro for higher end systems)
mouse: Logitec mx518 (alternative is a Logitec G5)

[random_id]

i was referring to their "sweet spot" selection:

http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13660/6

which has the same CPU, mobo, ram, graphics, and audio, they just suggested brands as well.

Yea, I see that, but even they admit that it's a little bit excessive, so not many people would want to (or could afford to) create the exact build. For such people there are plenty of other options provided in that same guide, that is why I think it's an overall more useful guide for wide variety of people than any other guides I've seen or read

[random_id]

How would you compare the 8800 gts 512 oc version to the 8800gt?

It's faster than the 8800GT, even if it's not overclocked. Here:
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/13772

[alpha]

Yea, I see that, but even they admit that it's a little bit excessive, so not many people would want to (or could afford to) create the exact build. For such people there are plenty of other options provided in that same guide, that is why I think it's an overall more useful guide for wide variety of people than any other guides I've seen or read

What I set up was for somebody on a 3 year build cycle (new computer or major upgrade every 3 years) that plays modern first person shooters and wants reasonable frames. It reflects the computer that a lot of people on this forum are looking to build. also, I added the guide that you posted to the Complete Hardware Guide, so that people looking for a more in depth look into what to get (ie the reason the thread was created) could find out what they needed to know. The list is mostly to point people in the right direction if they don't know what to get. If they want to research what to get the rest of the thread is meant for that.

[random_id]

What I set up was for somebody on a 3 year build cycle (new computer or major upgrade every 3 years) that plays modern first person shooters and wants reasonable frames.

I understand that, but I still think it's a little bit excessive, especially teh quad-core CPU. I mean there are only like 2-3 games (like Crysis and Supreme Commander) which can more or less utilize all of the 4 cores, and it's unknown how many future game in the next 2-3 years will be able to utilize it too. So I think something from E6xxx series would be more than enough for people like this (and they can always upgrade later as the price of quad-cores will drop to more reasonable sub-$200 level).

[alpha]

UT3 does better with the Q6600 than the 6850.