Well first off I have some money to spend from work and my dad decided he would help me also. So I have a little over $1200 to spend. I want my computer to be able to last a decent time with out part upgrades. I want to be able to play CS: Source and Battlefield 2142, but Also future games. My knowledge of computer parts is not up to date on what it should be. So If anyone can help me design the best computer I could get for $1200 I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks to anyone that can help!
as far a CPU get an Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 or the E6600 the 6400 goes for around the $220 range and the 6600 goes around $320 and they overclock real good too
I'd say something like these parts: Core 2 Duo E'6400 Biostar TForce 965PT (or a different board if you want RAID, etc.) Corsair XMS/Patriot LLK 2x 1GB DDR2-800 eVGA 7900GS* Seagate Barracuda 320GB NEC CD/DVD R+RW A case of your choice Silverstone ST56ZF Zeus Series 560W Power Supply If you live in the U.S., all of the parts are available via Newegg.com. The Power Supply can be bought here for less then Newegg, though. *I suggest you get the 7900GS, which will EASILY play BF2, Source engine (hell, my 7600GT plays it great), and can last you quite a bit on DX-9 games. If you are looking forward to playing DX-10 games (liky Crysis), I suggest you still get the 7900GS, and in 3 months, use eVGA's Setup Program (click here to read more about that; basically it allows you to trade in an eVGA card purchased in the past 3 months, for a newer video card, and you only have to pay the difference between the two. For example, if you pay about $160 for the 7900GS, and in two/three months you decide that you want to play DX-10 games, then you just pay (lets say the 8800GTS is $300): $300-$160=$140.) I suggest using the stepup program to allow prices on the Geforce 8800s to drop.
John's suggestions are sound. RAM should be checked by model in specific as thigns change and a lot of Corsairs kits use PROmos and a fair amount of elpida's current its use elpida.
Walsfer don't i repeat don't get build a PC now. Why? because after January 30th Windows Vista comes out bringing out the new technology DirectX10, and a few months down the line your going to get all the new DX10 cards, and i guess the motherboards will change.So building a PC now is jsut going to be a waste, especially if you want to play future games what will need DX10.
