Help the clueless

Purple,

Check out the expert guide section on this site, it will be very helpful.  (it's a button on the right side of the screen)

Next, play with the configurations, start out with a preloaded computer on the site and play with the tweaks.  Find something you think would work for you and then post your ticket number here on the forums.

The people here are a great help and will give you feedback on your choices and help you make the best choices for you.

Some of the tips that come up over and over

an i7 processor will provide you with a number of years of upgrading (the overclocks are impressive).  Try 2 NVIDIA 260's instead of the 280's for cost saving.


Have DS overclock your processor (liquid cooling will give you more of an overclock, Air stage 2 is less expensive and still does a good job)

The HAF case has excellent airflow

get 6mg RAM and Vista 64

I have heard that the i7 920 and 940 can't use the 1600MHZ RAM here on the forums.  I called DS yesterday cause my system (i7 920) was configured with 1600MHZ RAM.  I was told that it works, but can't be overclocked (must be true cause it passed all the tests and shipped yesterday!!!!!!!!)

Hope that is a good start for you!

Kim

I already explained with an image from Intel, its a waste of money. 2000MHz ram also runs on a mobo that supports it with a q9650 but or qx9770 but that does not mean that the cpu is using it at that speed. yes the 16000MHz ram will run with a 920, thats because mobo can run that ram at that speed with no problems. lets wait and see what happens with his system when he gets it.

Originally posted by purplesniper I am looking to buy a custom Game PC, but I am not sure how far to go with it. I play a few types of games, but mostly WOW, LFD Halo, Warhammer, and ArmA. I have been playing on a standard out of the box PC, and I HATE IT!!! I want No lag. I have been hosting LAN parties, and all my friends have custome PC. When they are playing I get left behind because of lag, or the stupid thing just will not play the game because my video card sux. I know very little about the inner deal of a PC other than what the componets are, and what they do. I have saved up about 3,000 USD to spend on a machine, and want the best I can get for the money. I have gone to the build site to customize, and sellected all the highest priced stuff just to see what the max would be... about fell out of my chair. I have been looking on Alien Ware... about 10,000, Buydirectpc.com... about 8,000. I am not a pro gamer so I do not need to spend that kind of cash. Did not spend that much on my car... I have read a few of the post on here, and it seems like alot of the people on here are really good at building  a PC. Can some of ya give me an idea on what I need, or what I can get for the money? Please keep in mind I am a noob to building a PC, and the games I play.   Yarg!!

what resolution you will be gaming at.

Edited by DST4ME - 30 Dec 2008 at 1:02pm

In short, 1333MHz in triple channel provides more than enough bandwidth for the Core i7 processors at stock speeds.

1680X1050 I think

Nvidia System:

here you go Ticket# 222267 --- Price: $2981 (To see this build click here)

Copy of Specifications:
Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports Dual SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1333MHz OCZ
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x SLI Dual (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260+ 896MB (216 Streams) (Includes PhysX Technology)
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 3: High-Performance Liquid Chilled FrostBite System For CPU
Liquid Color:UV Red: Glowing Non-conductive High-Performance Fluid (Requires H20: Stage 3 & UV Lighting)
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (UV) (Creates Glowing Effect For H20: Stage 3 UV Fluid)
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

---------------------------------------------------------

ATI System:

here you go Ticket# 222268 --- Price: $2850 (To see this build click here)

Copy of Specifications:
Chassis Model: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Trim Accents: - Standard Factory Finish
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core)
Motherboard: ASUS P6T Deluxe (Intel X58 Chipset) (Supports Dual SLI or CrossFire)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1333MHz OCZ
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Set 1 Raid Options: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 2: Multimedia\Data: - No Thanks
Hard Drive Set 3: Backup\Misc.: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 1x ATI Radeon HD 4870X2 2GB
Add-on Card: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 3: High-Performance Liquid Chilled FrostBite System For CPU
Liquid Color:UV Red: Glowing Non-conductive High-Performance Fluid (Requires H20: Stage 3 & UV Lighting)
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: Internal Chassis Lighting System (UV) (Creates Glowing Effect For H20: Stage 3 UV Fluid)
Enhancements: - No Thanks
Chassis Mods: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Virus Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Exclusive T-Shirt: - No Thanks
Priority Build: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

---------------------------------------------------------


you can upgrade to a veloci raptor down the road if you like.

By the way... I do not like ATI. Have had too many probs with them.

hey dst4me dont you want 2 proccesors with the skulltrail.

[QUOTE=DST4ME]I would not recommend a penryn Skulltrail to anybody right now, cause the i7 Skulltrail is coming out in 2009. 

Originally posted by DST4ME Not sure then just know that it was mentioned couple of month ago that intel was working on one. why do you want a skulltrail?

Originally posted by purplesniper Well... It just seems to be the best for games, but like I have said I know little about this stuff. All I know is that I want to have the fastest PC at the LAN parties, and also a friend of mine keeps pestering me about trying to play in HUGE LAN. He goes to Sweden for some pro gamers thing, and he wants me to do it also. Do not want a slow PC for that.

for gaming Skulltrail won't make much of a difference and also Skulltrail is really a server platform, its a server CPU, mobo, ram and etc.,

I'm hopping that the i7 Skulltrail won't be a server platform like the current one.