Building new budget gaming rig, need advice!

[Scosglen]

So I'm building a new computer, it will be my first homebrew rig, and while I'm somewhat confident in my hardware knowledge, this being my first attempt at building my own computer, I'd like to make sure I've got all my ducks in a row. I'm working on a budget of around $800, and sans any glaring compatability issues or serious hardware ommissions on my part, I think I've got a pretty solid higher end gaming rig set up for a reasonable sum.

Keep in mind that I do NOT plan to do any significant overclocking on this system. Extravagent cooling accomodations outside of what is neccesary to maintain a safe and cool stock setting/possibly a very conservatively OC'd component or two are not needed.


CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103539

MOBO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131570

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130271

MEMORY:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820141423

HARD DISK:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144151

CASE:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129152

WIRELESS ADAPTER:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16833338014

TOTAL: $737.81

Assume I have monitor, keyboard, mouse, and headphones covered. I am cannibalizing my DVD-Drive from my current computer. I've purposely omitted a soundcard for budget reasons, I'll likely be installing one later.

The Sonata II case was specifically reccomended to me by a friend, and it was cheaper and better than the individual case and PSU I had picked out. The specs say there is only 1 120mm fan, although I could swear in the pictures there is a smaller fan down by the front, near the HDD slots, it isn't included in the specs. I'm wondering if I need to buy any additional fans to provice sufficient airflow for this case. Also, will the micro ATX mobo I picked work with this case, or do I need a specific make of tower to accomodate the smaller dimensions.

It also seems that Newegg deals largely with OEM HDD's. I rarely buy OEM parts so I'm not sure if I need to purchase any kind of cable for the hard disk, or if that is included with my mobo package.

ADDENDUM: A lot of people have been suggesting that I go for a AMD 3800+ X2 instead of the 3700+. Is it really worth the extra $82 for a dual core chip if this is first and foremost a gaming rig?

If you notice I am missing ANY kind of vital component, such as a major piece of hardware, any sort of cable or cooling devices, any compatability issues between the parts I've selected, any issues with specific hardware that you may have bad experiences with, please PLEASE indulge me.

Although I'm mostly fishing for compatability errors here, if you have any suggestions for better deals, I am also wide open to suggestions for alternate componants that might yield more bang for my buck.

Thanks for any help at all~

 

[p8ntslinger676]

Do not get a dual core if you are going to be using it for gaming, you will want and need the extra clock speed, i had to make the same decision when buying my 4000, unless you are going to be doing a lot of multi tasking then it will not help much at all, and i have a problem with the mobo you chose it seems to be a piece of sh!t if you get my drift. If you are planning on using this computer for a few years then go ahead and get a better mobo now with good overclocking abilities so in the future you can buy a better processor like a FX 57 or 60 when they come down to reasonable prices, meaning $300 or so. heres another mobo that will be better for this, it is worth the few extra bucks believe me i have one, it comes with a really good overclocking program that runs in windows so you dont have to go into the bios to overclock. and the case has an open spot for another 120mm fan so you might want another one of those, theyre only like $12

ABIT AN8-SLi

 

[p8ntslinger676]

At first i didnt want to overclock either but then when i found out the great improvements i loved it. Plus the mobo is SLi so you can get another graphics card later and SLi them.

When i bought mine the salesmen was like "are you goig to overclock" and i was like "no i dont think so" and then he said "well get this mobo so if you want to you can and it doesnt cost you an arm and a leg", at that time i didnt know much about computers, now i am so happy i did cus it doesnt limit my CPU, i love my MOBO and i would only trade it for the FATAL1TY verson cus it has OTES.

 

[p8ntslinger676]

O and one more thing, it also comes with a pretty good sound card, 7.1 channel, and SATA cables so you dont have to worry about them comeing with your hard drive,I LOVE IT :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Scosglen]

More of a general question than a specific question, but could someone elaborate on how exactly a motherboard's quality impacts the system? I suppose what I'm wondering is outside of card slots and ports, and what components it's compatable with, how do you really tell a good mobo from a bad one? Aside, obviously, from ones that have a tendancy to start electrical fires or melt.

 

[p8ntslinger676]

Pretty much it is just on the ifo that you get from the users of it and how reliable it is, does it have tendencies to fall apart, poor workman ship, does it run like you want it to, stay consistant without flaws, does it last, will it break dow over time, and does it allow expandability for futureproducts, can you use it in years to come without having to rushout and buy a new motherboard cus the drivers arent up to date and cannot be updated, etc. and really this is one of the best mobos out there for the money, another good one is made by DFI.

 

[clue69less]

More of a general question than a specific question, but could someone elaborate on how exactly a motherboard's quality impacts the system? I suppose what I'm wondering is outside of card slots and ports, and what components it's compatable with, how do you really tell a good mobo from a bad one? Aside, obviously, from ones that have a tendancy to start electrical fires or melt.

There's an article in the current issue of Computer Shopper about Mobos. It's a little thin on content but gets the fundamentals right. Basically, the Mobo is the backbone of the system. The chipset quality and OC flexibility on the Mobo determines if the CPU can work at or near it's potential and the same is true for the Mobo's effect on the RAM and GPU. So I agree with p8ntslinger676 that a better mobo is a good upgrade to do now. You might also consider going to 2x1Gb RAM right off the bat. Some decent deals can be found if you shop around.

It's just way too easy to upgrade yourself right out of the price ballpark!

 

[p8ntslinger676]

CLue69less i like you, you get what im going at, its people like you make this world a better place. And acctually im getting another gig of ram too now that its come down to 100 from 160 a stick.

 

[clue69less]

CLue69less i like you, you get what im going at, its people like you make this world a better place. And acctually im getting another gig of ram too now that its come down to 100 from 160 a stick.

Cool! My mom never liked me as much as she liked my brother so it's nice to be liked. Have fun with the new RAM! I upgraded my kids rigs a while back and I've been their hero ever since. No more herky-jerky video on their favorite games.

 

[p8ntslinger676]

LOL you seem like a good person and thanks for supporting me in my conquest of getting stupid ppl to understand the greatness of knowledge.

 

[Scosglen]

Alright, some updates~

The Abit mobo you linked for me looked nice, but I really don't need an SLI motherboard at all.

How's this instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569 ?

For GPUs, I'm now instead looking at either an X850 XT ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102505 )

or the possibility of sucking up an extra $100 expense and going for a 7800GT ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130247 )


Is the GT really worth $120 more? How does Shade Model 3.0 factor into this decision. Am I really going to regret buying a SM 2.0 ATi card or is this just a matter of buzzword marketing.