Spend my money on a new computer!
DogSoldier
The heart of radical Amish country..
At the recommendation of my girlfriend, I'm going to get a new computer. 
No. You read that right. She realizes that computers are my bread & butter, and that my current machine - while still very fast - is getting old and it’s time for an upgrade.
So, I’ve budgeted $2000+ for the project (About $1,700 US) and I’ve decided to base it on a Core 2 E6600. I started researching mobo+ram+video combinations and frankly, I’m a little overwhelmed by my ignorance. So I’m asking you guys and girls to help me sort out the possibilities. I use my computer for heavy duty Photoshop, Illustrator, Web design, Web dev server and competitive gaming. I’m also an avid overclocker. I will be keeping my CRT monitors, G5 mouse and KB but everything else is open.
So, I’m looking for recommendations for Operating System, HSF, motherboard, ram (2 x 1024), hard drives and video card. Must be DX10 capable as I see Crysis in my future. I must also be able to transfer the data from my old IDE HDs.
I’m not sure what to do with my current system. It’s a P4 2.4c overclocked to 3+ Ghz (currently running at 41C CPU and 33C Mobo while Folding), Arkua Heatpipe + AS5, Asus P4P800, 2 x 1024 OCZP5001GXTC 1:1 255Mhz 3-3-3-10, nVidia 7800GS, Enermax EG365P PSU, CDROM & Floppy, Enermax FS710 tower, 4 x 80 mm case fans and a couple of WD IDE hard drives. I suppose I could sell it, or maybe donate it to the SMX project.
No. You read that right. She realizes that computers are my bread & butter, and that my current machine - while still very fast - is getting old and it’s time for an upgrade.So, I’ve budgeted $2000+ for the project (About $1,700 US) and I’ve decided to base it on a Core 2 E6600. I started researching mobo+ram+video combinations and frankly, I’m a little overwhelmed by my ignorance. So I’m asking you guys and girls to help me sort out the possibilities. I use my computer for heavy duty Photoshop, Illustrator, Web design, Web dev server and competitive gaming. I’m also an avid overclocker. I will be keeping my CRT monitors, G5 mouse and KB but everything else is open.
So, I’m looking for recommendations for Operating System, HSF, motherboard, ram (2 x 1024), hard drives and video card. Must be DX10 capable as I see Crysis in my future. I must also be able to transfer the data from my old IDE HDs.
I’m not sure what to do with my current system. It’s a P4 2.4c overclocked to 3+ Ghz (currently running at 41C CPU and 33C Mobo while Folding), Arkua Heatpipe + AS5, Asus P4P800, 2 x 1024 OCZP5001GXTC 1:1 255Mhz 3-3-3-10, nVidia 7800GS, Enermax EG365P PSU, CDROM & Floppy, Enermax FS710 tower, 4 x 80 mm case fans and a couple of WD IDE hard drives. I suppose I could sell it, or maybe donate it to the SMX project.
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Comments
I built a c2d system for my primary graphic design / prepress system and I've been very happy with the performance of the asus p5b deluxe. Your video card is almost certainly going to be an 8800-series card, but I'll let the video guys chime in on that.