View Single Post - If you had $1000+/-

Kilamon · Rated XXX

Here's the hardware leaderboard. http://www.pcper.com/hwlb.php It's not updated as often as I'd like, but it's a good place to start. Personally, I'd just upgrade my video card cause my system is already pretty kickass and, while not bleeding edge, it certainly isn't healing up soon.

For you, however, I'd start looking at pricewatch.com and start considering a DFI motherboard. In my opinion, the rest suck. I've worked on MSI and ASUS and ABIT and none were as supported or as easily worked on as my DFI. Even the post codes are easy on DFI.

Honestly, though, you're best off to start by making a list of the parts you'll need (Evaluate your case, your keyboard, mouse, monitor, cdrom drives, etc) and determine which parts you're going to keep and what will be replaced. Determine where you're going to skimp (get a less expensive video card, but better quality ram so you can overclock or get the noname/LQ ram and a better video card without being able to OC reliably). Once you've figured out your priorities, then you can start ordering. Start with the basics, like a case PSU, CPU, RAM and hold off on the video card for a week or two. I read that Nvidia will be releasing their new N80 spec next month, which is a week away, so you might be able to save some cash on a 70 series nvidia when they drop the prices as the 80 series is release.

Finally, you'll need to consider cooling. The stock heat sink in the retail box of intel and amd sucks. Get a new one. The Thermaltake Big Typhoon is popular but you may want something else so look around and plan to spend about $100 on peripherals and fans (cables, LEDs, other must-haves and incidentals). I saw a review posted here for the latest Armor case that includes water cooling so you might check that out too.

Good luck! You're the only one who can pick the parts you want. I can only suggest what I like and think is best. Grin