general questions as well as system critique $3K

I'm a type of gamer who likes to try the newer (good-looking games). I'd like to be able to play Q4, Bioshock etc. as well as what will come in a couple out this year or next.

I don't need any killer system, but something that's very good with todays games and could possible be good for a few years.

My current computer is old.  I have been doing OK can play most games but needless to say not up to the eye-candy I'd like.  I currently have 6 year old P4 with 512K RAM Win XP.

I don't like to tinker with my rig, so while I could open up the case to add a HD or such, I prefer not to.  So I like to be more or less not looking to replace the video cars in 6 months etc..

As such, I would like to get something all around good and keep it going a while.

This is a reason I like DS seems to have great warranty and support.

couple general questions my system budget ~$3K and this is kind of firm, this price for the whole deal including a monitor.  I was going for 24" monitor but don't have to. 

I asked DS support for what they would say for $3K and they gave me an Athlon (seems to be lesser than Intel)  with $735 in video cards.  

I don't say this is wrong, but to me with the new ATI cards cost half that I'd rather put the money into the whole system not just in the video cards.
here is the DS suggested system they gave me - http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=174901

my few questions:
what type of RAM and how much?  I know there is a lot of different speeds but what's the best bang for the buck?[

What's the idea get a faster dual-core or a slower quad-core? (again bang for the buck)
How is the new ATI Video cards?  I read they are near best for considerable less money.
Why is DS price some video cards over $600 like nvidia 280 when the real price is nowhere near that?  There has been consederable price drop but DS is not close to what it could be.  I know they have to make some profit but seems like the price of the VC is a big place to cut hundreds of dollars especially with the ATI having great performance for low $300s.

I don't think I want overclocking since longevity is a big plus for me, I'd rather keep more stock.

here is one build I am thinking but could change if you think I'm off.  -- http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=176318

note: I see my posted system is $3121 so over my budget but that's OK, I could go lower if you think I can drop something or a bit higher but this is the ballpark price.  Note my system has 2 HD (500G x2) and my system has 2x as much RAM as the DS proposed system had just one HD and 2G RAM so that's most of the price difference.

Edited by rai-zero - 18 Aug 2008 at 11:13pm

I guess the first thing I would say, is that the video cards should not be views as "just" add-ons. I know, back in the days when graphics cards were new, that was the perception we all had. They were something you added to a system, but the main show was still the CPU. Today that is no longer the case and for a gaming computer, the graphics cards should be viewed as more important than the CPU- crazy reversal there huh?

Edited by Tyler Lowe - 19 Aug 2008 at 2:06am

Originally posted by rai-zero Tyler, I don't understand OC.  I guess it's getting a faster CPU or the cost of a 2.5 mhz.. sounds too good to be true.  I keep thinking there's no such thing as a free lunch.   does this make the CPU unstable or prone to early failure?   what clock speed would a 2.5 chip be with the DS OC?   Just so I can have an idea what to expect.   thanks

Its not a free lunch, at stock the chip is not running any where near what it can run at, so you can take a 2.5 and go upto 3.0 atleast.

this is the biggest difference between Intel and AMD, Intel chips can run much faster then the stock speed they are sold at.

so all you are doing is making it go faster but no where near where it would hurt the chip.

the whole point of places like DS and other places is that they will sell you an overclocked PC with warranty, so if something does happen you are covered.

but to answer your question of stability and failure, no, DS tests the system extensively before they send it to you, they make sure the OC speed is stable and no failures. Once they have a stabled OC-ed PC, then they ship it to you with up to a 4 year warranty on it.

I just like you didn't like OC either and was misinformed about it and that it could hurt the chip. But after reading about it and talking to people who know about, I understood what I explained to you at the beginning of this post.

Hope that helps ;).

Originally posted by rai-zero Tyler, I don't understand OC.  I guess it's getting a faster CPU or the cost of a 2.5 mhz.. sounds too good to be true.  I keep thinking there's no suich thing as a free lunch.   does this make the CPU unstable or prone to early failure?   what clock speed would a 2.5 chip be with the DS OC?   Just so I can have an idea what to expect.   thanks

Edited by Tyler Lowe - 19 Aug 2008 at 12:08pm

Harleyman has it. The overclocked RAM selection does include a RAM cooler, which will influence your final overclock. I think it is less important than putting that same money into an improved case for instance, but if you already have something like an 850i, and 780i motherboard with stage 3 cooling or better selected, and don't mind spending the money, selecting the RAM OC can squeeze a touch more out of your overclocking results. I would put budgeted money towards any/all of those other items before even considering selecting the RAM overclock.

Edited by Tyler Lowe - 19 Aug 2008 at 12:58pm