Recomendations Please

[cr6564]

Hi all im new to the forum, and this is the first time ive ever built a new pc.

I would like to be able to play cod4 on the highest settings possible (anti aliasing doesn't matter). Also I would like to try to play Crysis if it is possible.

I am going salvage parts (case, NIC, fans, sound card, hard drives, and optical drives) from my older pc, to save money.

I am on a budget (less than $600 w/o operating system)

For the Processor, I would like to use something from the core 2 line (core i7 is too expensive)

I have no clue about the graphics card or the motherboard

Thanks for helping!

[RickyTick]

Welcome to the forums.

Have you looked at the Budget Build PLUS+ here (http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?p=9021#post9021). Including the OS it's only $716 after all rebates. It's a great system.

Can you give descriptions of the parts you want to salvage from the old pc? Maybe we can make some suggestions that will fit nicely with those components, and stay within your price range.

[cr6564]

lol i didnt see it below the first budget build.

Case:
Chieftect Dragon Dx-01BLD-U
(Large case -Here is what it looks like)
http://www.chieftec.com/images/dg-01bld-u_03.jpg

Optical:
Sony DWD22A Black 16x double layer dual format DVD-RW

Hard Drives:
(2 drives in Raid 0 to form 138 GB total) 74 GB 10k RPM SATA 8MB chache hard Drive - WD740GD Raptor

Generic NIC and soundcard

Lots of medium size fans

[cr6564]

What Im really wondering right know is if i should go Core 2 Quad or Duo. Is there that much of a difference in performance?

If so, which is better, and what model and speed do you guys recommend?

[RickyTick]

Right now, very little software is written that requires a quad core, but I'm sure future programs and games will be different. A great processor would be an Intel E8500 or an AMD Phenom II X4 940.

[cr6564]

Thanks. Is there something from intel that is a lot cheaper than the e85 and is still good?

I was looking at tom's hardware and found the AMD Phenom X4 9600. What do you guys think about it?

I want to spend more money on the graphics card than the cpu.

[RickyTick]

An E7400 would be great alternative. Putting more money into the video card is good idea, especially if you plan on gaming.
A Phenom II X3 710 or 720 would be really good too.