Building my first comp. - have a few questions

[SwordNboard]

Don't get too sucked up in one processor having 512MB more cache than another. Instead look for hardware that is maybe 1 step behind (not the "cutting edge state of the art" new release). Buy OEM harware, it's cheaper. Why? Because it doesn't come with 20 "free" games and manuals and 7 different connectors. Don't buy Intel, they're greedy with pricing. Otherwise, just make sure all the DIMM slots and processor pin counts on your hardware and motherboard match up. ATI? Nvidia? Hmmmm, Ford or Chevy? Doesn't matter. I've always built my own PCs with this 1 step behind theory and have made awesome rigs for under $1,000. Way under.

Feel free to PM me with some questions.

[Galv]

Thanks for all the info. I have been on that Toms Hardware site every day reading as much as I can about all the hardware. I've put together several rigs on newegg and was surprised at the machine I could build for ~$850-$900. That's complete with OS, monitor, everything.

It's sad to know just how far behind the curve I am on computers. To give you an idea my last comp. was a Dell 4700 series, my current one is an AMD 2850e from walmart. I am use to playing games on very low settings with frame rates of 10 to 20. So being able to play a game on max settings and get 50 to 60 FPS will be unreal.

I currently play on P99 and I cant even turn the settings up past low on my wiz without it bogging down when I cast an AE. Most of the time i just play with them off.