Amraam

OK cool.

What about thermal paste? Arctic Silver?

Aawa

If you are debating on the dual core vs quad core. Ask these questions. Does he do CAD, video editing/encoding, photoshop work, heavy multitasking, etc etc. If the answer is yes go with the quad core.

If his rig is used solely for gaming you have one more question. When does he plan on upgrade next? If it is within 3 years, go with the dual core. If he has no plans to upgrade the cpu till his next build, go with the quad core. Because within 3 years or so, i would imagine the gaming industry would be designing a majority of their games for quad core processing.

__________________
Riceburner

Spectre21

derfinately

__________________
My BF2 Stats ~Lt.Colonel x2332
Astral Projection

broke 14k in 3Dmark 05 14505

blind_stone

AS5 or MX-2 are good thermal pastes. All in all it won't matter much since no oc.

__________________

Love it or Shove it.

Arch@ngel

OCZ Freeze tends to perform better than AS5, and has no curing time.

MX-2 if you don't want to place a separate order

EDIT: If you have no plans to OC the CPU, definitely go with the E8500/E8600. For gaming CPU clock speed is, and will remain king for some time yet. By the time gaming is using 4 or more cores, Nehalem or its successors will make current Core 2 Quads cry and run in fear.

__________________

lamboman

Mobo: Asus P5Q or an X48 board if he plans on upgrading and getting a faster graphics setup in the NEAR future.
CPU: Q6600 (the Q9550 isn't worth it, especially if he is only gaming)
RAM: GeIL Black Dragon 4GB (OcUK)
GPU: 4870 with P5Q Pro or X48, 4870 Crossfire with X48, or P5Q with 4870X2.
PSU: Corsair TX750
HDD: WD6400AAKS
DVDRW: Asus DRW-2014L1T
Mouse/Keyboard: Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave
Case: Antec 1200
Screen: Samsung SM-2493HM or 245B
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek HDT-S1283

This works out at up to £1300 or so, with the X48 board and 4870X2 (don't buy that combo though). I would go with the P5Q and 4870X2 setup myself. It is the tidiest, most hassle free setup, and is a bit more efficient. You shouldn't need any sort of Crossfire setup with that display, but the option is there.

Amraam

OK, this is his to buy list atm. I think he's more or less made his mind up:



Except that he is now getting the Q6600 (that OCUK guarantees will reach 3Ghz).

For mouse and keyboard he's getting the Logitech G11 and G5.

What do you think?

Nemes

Nice - very very nice

Stick with the Nvidia card dont be pursuaded to go ATI - he will regret it re driver/game issues.

Just make sure he has that decent psu.

His rigs gunna fly

Nemes

__________________
3.6GHz OC Proof

British Overclockers Club

Amraam

Thanks, yeah he's getting the TX650W. I have the HX620W and it's great. The corsair PSUs are very good from what I've read.

Mmansueto

I am not regret that i moved to ATI at all. Whichever one he prefers, he should go with. Both Ati and Nvidia make great cards.

__________________
TV Guide

Water Cooling Setup:

CPU Loop: Tribal Overkill Reservoir-MCP355 w/custom IandH Brass Top-MCR320-Apogee GT-MCR120-Apogee GT-Tribal Overkill Reservoir

GPU Loop: Tribal Overkill Reservoir-MCP655-MCR220-X38 NB-EK 4870X2-DangerDen SB-Tribal Overkill Reservoir