Ok how about this setup?
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CPU:
Intel Dual-Core E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

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CPU HEATSINK:
Thermaltake / Max Orb / Multi-Socket 775/AM2/939/754 / Copper Base / CPU Cooler

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MOBO:
MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

I was looking at something that I could expand on over time.

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MEM:
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

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CASE:
Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

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VID:

UP IN THE AIR, AS I THINK THAT THE NIVIDA SLI IS ALOT BETTER THAN THE ATI SETUP CORRECT? SO WHAT NIVIDA CARD THAT CAN CUT BIOSHOCK? MINIUM?


comments?

SLI is never a budget friendly solution, ever. So I wouldn't concentrate on that at all

Darn! Brand new review, if I had known last week...

Anyway, the X2600XT still performs better than the 8600GT in bioshock, was cheap (111euro in belgian shop) and passively cooled. Not a total waste of money, but if i had seen the review earlier I would have bought an X1950Pro. :)

Yes SLI is not budget, but then I'm willing to wait a month or two save up to get it, as I hate to buy things that dont let me expand.....I find it stupid to get things I cannot latter on when cash is avail, expand to a better system.

So what you think? look good? My friend suggested that I get a this instead of the cpu I had first picked...its a bit more cash, but he said its a good cpu, and he used to be hard core AMD, but now swears by intel...go fig that?

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor


It would be nice if things were cheaper, but then if your gonna pay cash for items, you might as well be able to expand latter on, wihtout paying again for a new mobo....might as well have a mobo that will let you expand right?

the cost of one midrange card now + same midrange card later on, equals one next gen midrange card which will be quicker in all games compared to the two previous generation midrange cards in SLI

Hmmm possibly true, but I do like that the sli mobo has the 2 ide ports and sata ports as well....

Though if I buy a midrange card today, and latter on buy that same card at half the cost....might not be to bad of a deal....:)

Though I do get your point....

NV7600 GT new price €200
NV7600 GT price now €120
total for SLI = €320

New midrange 8800 GTS €250
http://www.dollarshops.eu/product_in...roducts_id/543

Performance gap between 8800 and 7600 is huge :)

well if two older cards dont pair up to a newer card they do they even sell sli?

How well does ATI sli work? From what I hear so far, its a hit or miss thing....

As for vid cards, I usualy buy mid range and stick with it till I cant run a game and then move onward to a new card. Like I'm doing now....

So two 8600 gts aint gonna cut newer games?

if you buy 2x8600GTS now you pay more money than 1x8800GTS which is faster than those two ;)

ATI Crossfire is pretty much the same, the only time when CF/SLI offers a performance advantage is with high end hardware, but then you are throwing price/performance balance out the window;)

Ok I see your point with the sli no working well, there is only a slight advantage.....can you recomend a mbo that can work with the older ide hard drives but still have no bottle necks for the vid cards?