computer spec:: what you think?

[dark_sounds]

heres a computer i think im going to build.. tell me what you think of the spec... is there any areas i could improve if i spent a little more?

is the graphics card good or can i buy better?

By having dual graphics cards, can i run 4 monitors?

thanks

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair) Retail Boxed Processor
150 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131950

ASUS EN8600GT SILENT 512MB GDDR3 HTDP Dual DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card
77 each x2 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132310

ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP AiLifestyle Series P35 Socket 775 Socket eSATA 8 channel Audio ATX Motherboard
85 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129126

Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty
61 -http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429

hard disk,,, + case + dvd rw

total = 568 posted.... good??

[Ryan.]

not bad at all. i have an 8600 and its a good card. The cpu will be pretty good aswell. Just remember unless you have windows 64 bit you wont use 4gig of ram, only 3.25gig

[TomG]

what's your reasoning for the quad core?

[dark_sounds]

reasoning.... why not?!? if im gonna get a semi decent comp , i may as well no? opening several applications and screens i will be doing, and no doubt a dual core is plenty, but unless theres something to really disway me from quad its just a case of why not.

[TomG]

I was under the impression that it's not really beneficial at the moment, that's all

[dark_sounds]

your probably right, but no harm i suppose. my main concern is the graphics card tbh, im lost with all of this stuff

and psu, how many watts will i really need??

[Stu@OX]

There's a lot of crap floating around about how useful quad processors are.... it really depends on what you're doing. A lot of benchmarks are done based around games which isn't necessarily useful to someone. Bottom line is, Windows will use 4 processors quite happily, as will any of the Microsoft software you want to run on it. You can run several apps and windows will make use of all the processors - just because an app may only use one or two threads doesnt mean that you'll be wasting the other two cores - windows and other apps will quite happily be using them!

I'd probably buy an OEM Q6600 - then you can buy a decent heatsink/fan as no doubt you will want to overclock it a bit as you're opting for the G0 stepping version! (I would, anyway).

Doesn't seem a bad spec. Prices aren't the cheapest though. Make sure you get a good quality power supply (400-500w).

[ChrisC]

For the money you are spending on a processor I'd go with a FAST dual core. I went with an average dual core when I built mine (2.2ghz now at 2.5ghz) and I know that in a years time when I consider putting in a new chip I'll probably spend out on a quad core. I'll only do this then because the prices should have dropped a shed load by then.

[dark_sounds]

dont know much about overclocking,,, didnt even know what go stepping meant if i can clock it ,,, i suppose why not, i know it has to be kept very cool , tbh i think i may opt not to ,, maybe later date, though would rather stability.

wouldnt it be debatable? fast dual vs not so fast quad??

saqmaster... where do you buy your stuff from? what prices should i expect? surely ebuyer is pretty good no ?

[Stu@OX]

dark_sounds- normally just places like scan/overclockers/aria

[James_A4]

It dpeends what you are using it for. Genral lots fo working and apps then yeah quad is nice and fine. But for gaming a dual core would be much better. Quad cores are effectivly a dual core anyway with only 2 lines of cache.