"cheap" SLI build help

[A.D.]

Given that Supreme Commander is due out on the 20th of Feb, It's time I finally got a new computer.

Here is the deal : Every preview I've come across warns that this is a system hog, so I figure a good way to approach it is with a decent processor + SLI (eventually) + Ram.

Of course like any bachelor cash is an issue so I've been looking (sorta) around newegg for components, and I'm thinking about just getting a barebones and buying components from there as I'm not really that experienced in building computers

I'm trying to keep it sub - $1000, let me know if these are good choices, bear in mind i'm not a computer wiz, some of the choices I made are purposefully low so I can upgrade later when money permits

Barebones system that caught my eye -
Newegg.com - BRBN PC SHUTTLE SN26P+EVGA 7950 GT NVIDIA nForce4 SLI AMD Socket 939 Barebone - Retail
($510)
-hazy on specs, for Northbridge chipset it says Nvidia Nforce 4 SLI, which i'm guessing it means it's SLI capable. It has 2x PCI express slots which I intend to buy a somewhat higher-end card now and buy another later on when the prices fall. It comes with a EVGA 7950 GT Geforce 512MB Video Card... is that worth a damn at all? Is it worth going out to get another for SLI?

Processor -
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4GHz Socket 939 Processor - OEM
($200)
- AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Toledo 2.4GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor. Looked like a hot deal. I noted that there was a lot of talk about how 939's are being phased out? Perhaps I should go a different route with my barebones system?

Ram
Newegg.com - pqi 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
($187)
-2x 1gb's..

Video -
No clue. Appears it would have to be a Geforce based off that barebones system? I'm more or less lost when it comes to late-model cards and SLI capability

Any help would be vastly appreciated!

[Dan]

everything right there looks good, as long as your not planning on upgrading your processor, a 939 will be fine, but if you plan on upgrading it later on, u should go with AM2. the card that it comes with will play pretty much every game with ease, and if you go SLI with it you will be well set. 2xgb ram is enough to do anything in the near future (expecially if you have vista, if you are going to still use xp then 2gb is more than enough). the x2 4600 is a strong proc that will run any game perfectly fine, and will last a while for you.

that setup will run any game just fine

[Morato]

For the video card i would just go with another EVGA Geforce 7950 GT

[slashbomb]

Or a 8800GTS 320MB
Newegg.com - EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320-P2-N811-AR HDCP Video Card - Retail

If you want, you could switch to AM2 socket and get this processor for $10 more then the one you've chosed. Plus, this one has 2x1mb cache

Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2.6GHz Socket AM2 Processor - Retail

[Morato]

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If you want, you could switch to AM2 socket and get this processor for $10 more then the one you've chosed. Plus, this one has 2x1mb cache

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103759]Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2.6GHz Socket AM2 Processor - Retail

I would definitly consider that.

[trayne]

if possible, try the fx-60 or higher. they do good with nvidia chipsets and matching cards. I use a fx-72 with a xfx geforce 8800 gts (680MB gddr3). and it works perfectly for those kind of games.