please help a total NOOB build a great gaming rig

[urbex]

okay, urbex those pics convinced me...maybe i will be running NMCs texture pack in conjunction with FOOK or FOOK2 and the MMM...does that mean i need more RAM or a better GPU?

 

and what is "3DS max" exactly?

It's 3d editing software you'll probably never have to use.

 

You'll be fine with a Phenom X4 and 4GB of RAM.

The graphics card is really up to you. I have a GTX 460 and it's great, but my FPS drops to 30 in some areas and even 20 in rivet city.

GTX 460 - $180

6970 - $220

GTX 560Ti - $250

You'll probably want one of those.

[HellsMaster]

Youll be fine with a Phenom II x4, and a HD 6950 (Upgradable to 6970).

 

AMD and ATI works nicely together. 4gb of DDR3 is good

[Vecna6667]

Youll be fine with a Phenom II x4, and a HD 6950 (Upgradable to 6970).

 

AMD and ATI works nicely together. 4gb of DDR3 is good

 

The amount of ram should be based on what you plan to do with the computer. I record gameplay videos on my laptop from time to time so I would need more than 4GB and with a multi-monitor setup, I can stick a digital map of Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallouts(1, 2 ,3 and NV), Borderlands, and Neverwinter Nights on the non-gameplay monitor.

[urbex]

Youll be fine with a Phenom II x4, and a HD 6950 (Upgradable to 6970).

 

AMD and ATI works nicely together. 4gb of DDR3 is good

 

The amount of ram should be based on what you plan to do with the computer. I record gameplay videos on my laptop from time to time so I would need more than 4GB and with a multi-monitor setup, I can stick a digital map of Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallouts(1, 2 ,3 and NV), Borderlands, and Neverwinter Nights on the non-gameplay monitor.

That wouln't really cause any memory usage, the second monitor might strain the video card a little more.

 

Basically, stick with 4GB for a dual channel mobo, and 6GB for a triple channel.

[Thandal]

To reiterate the point I made earlier, you can never be too rich, too thin, or have too much RAM! :laugh:

 

I've never heard anyone say, "Gosh, I wish I hadn't gotten all that RAM!" I've heard plenty say, "Gosh, I wish I'd gotten more." Your rig, your money. And if the trade-off is between more RAM and getting a good enough video card, than cut back on the RAM. But in a brand-new box today, the delta between 4GB and 8GB is what? US$50?

 

Here's a link to a current NewEgg special, 8GB DDR3 @ US$99! "NewEgg RAM deal". :thumbsup:

[GremlinArsonist]

in the link posted by Thandal, there are the following details on the RAM

 

Cas Latency:9

Voltage:1.5V

Multi-channel Kit:Dual Channel Kit

Timing:9-9-9-24-2N

ECC:No

Buffered/Registered:Unbuffered

Heat Spreader:Yes

 

 

i have no idea what any of this means

[Thandal]

None of those specs matter to you. What matters is the info ABOVE those items:

 

"8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)."

 

The most important detail there is the "(PC3 12800)". And please ensure that your motherboard can support a 4GB chip in single slot. :thumbsup:

[urbex]

To reiterate the point I made earlier, you can never be too rich, too thin, or have too much RAM! :laugh:

 

I've never heard anyone say, "Gosh, I wish I hadn't gotten all that RAM!" I've heard plenty say, "Gosh, I wish I'd gotten more." Your rig, your money. And if the trade-off is between more RAM and getting a good enough video card, than cut back on the RAM. But in a brand-new box today, the delta between 4GB and 8GB is what? US$50?

 

Here's a link to a current NewEgg special, 8GB DDR3 @ US$99! "NewEgg RAM deal". :thumbsup:

But when you're never going to use the extra 4GB, what's the point?

[Vecna6667]

To reiterate the point I made earlier, you can never be too rich, too thin, or have too much RAM! :laugh:

 

I've never heard anyone say, "Gosh, I wish I hadn't gotten all that RAM!" I've heard plenty say, "Gosh, I wish I'd gotten more." Your rig, your money. And if the trade-off is between more RAM and getting a good enough video card, than cut back on the RAM. But in a brand-new box today, the delta between 4GB and 8GB is what? US$50?

 

Here's a link to a current NewEgg special, 8GB DDR3 @ US$99! "NewEgg RAM deal". :thumbsup:

But when you're never going to use the extra 4GB, what's the point?

 

You never know if one of the RAM sticks might fail, I've had this happen to me in the past and I've helped others identify the same problem on their computers. Ram is also rather dirt cheap compared to most other parts so it is very convenient to get it done now. 16GB is overkill on a gaming rig, 8GB is insurance.

Edited March 3, 2011 by Vecna6667

[GremlinArsonist]

so, i am cruising on newegg.com, and i see that this Phenom II X6 1090 is only $20 more than this Phenom II X4 970 -- so is there a reason i shouldn't just pony up the twenty bucks? Especially considering i can get the X6 in a combo with an MSI mobo here at newegg Edited March 4, 2011 by GremlinArsonist