$1400 conroe rig

[ctrl_alt_del]

Well since this is my first post I'm going to be short and to the point. I've decided that I'm going to build a conroe rig mainly for gaming and...well, gaming. Though I would really like to stick as close to $1400 (including shipping, but not the monitor and perifials) as I can, but I don't want to at the cost of performance, I have $1700 that I can spend, but really would prefere to to save the last $300. Here's what I have picked at the moment
corsair xms2 2gb ddr2 800 $177
Windows XP home $95
Samsung dvd burner $33
Tuniq case $90
XFX GeForce 7600gt $185
c2d 6600 $340
Segate 80gb sata HDD $50
Asus P5W DH Deluxe Mobo $277
Coolmax 600w PSU $110

 

[battousai831]

i think i heard something somewhere that ddr2 533 runs better on conroe because its insync with the fsb but don't believe me on that until somone says i'm right or wrong :?

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

How about one of these video cards? ATI
saphire

 

[jaguarskx]

The X1800XT competes against the 7900GT. It is definitely an upgrade to what the 7600GT you have selected. The X1800XT arguably offers better picture quality and trades blow for blow with the 7900GT.

 

[k-]

If that's what you got with your $1400, go with the list that i made before.
I have already posted this but, still why not.

They are all from www.newegg.com and do not include s/h and it will probably be close to 1.4k after s/h.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 $360 (tigerdirect price, should be around the same and likely lower)
Abit ab9 pro $160 (good, stable, mobo)
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM (F2-6400PHU2-2GBZX) $178 (cheapest one with 4-4-4-14 timing)
eVGA 7900gt $240 after $30 rebate (life time warranty)
Cooler Master Centurion 5 black $35 after $10 rebate. (good case)
Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 $80 (great psu)
WD Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM $80
NEC DVD-rw Drive Black $31
$1186

 

[battousai831]

conroe's do not benifet from lower timings like an amd does, don't waste your money on super low timings, get some cheaper relaxed timings but upgrade another part, you might beable to afford a x1900xt or so

 

[ocnewb]

check out sipzoomfly.com their prices are competitive and shipping is free =)

 

[Doughbuy]

Don't know if your thinking of OC'ing, but I would suggest getting a better fan if you want. The Arctic Cooler Freezer 7 Pro is only $40 or so, or you can get a scythe ninja, much better coolers than stock.

Also, the sunbeamtech Transformer is a nice case with good cooling, and decent looks. Even though it kind of looks like a true nerd's computer, there are some great reviews out there for it, and its around the same price.

 

[ethel]

If the only way you're going to stress the machine is for gaming, then concentrate your finances on the gfx card.

Maybe get a lesser Core 2 Duo, or even consider an Athlon 64 - the 4800+ is great value at the moment. The mobo is probably a little over the top, too.

As for the graphics card, probably the best bang for buck is the X1800XT or 7900GT - or if you can stretch too it, a X1900XT as it has a ridiculous number of shaders and is probably a little more future proof.

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

Well I've decided to go with this gfx card, there is an x1800xt card that is made by ATi should I go with the cheaper one here or the one that costs an extra $30 for that one?
Saphire X1800xt

Maybe get a lesser Core 2 Duo, or even consider an Athlon 64 - the 4800+ is great value at the moment. The mobo is probably a little over the top, too.

I plan on having this system for some years to come thats why I'm not going with the discounted AMD chips. And I do plan on to OC thats why I have P5W picked out right now.

The scythe ninja is a huge hsf are their any smaller ones that are comperable to it?

 

[ethel]

Well I've decided to go with this gfx card, there is an x1800xt card that is made by ATi should I go with the cheaper one here or the one that costs an extra $30 for that one?

Get the cheaper one - I think they all have the same GPU and Memory clock speeds.

And I do plan on to OC thats why I have P5W picked out right now

$277 seems a lot to me for a motherboard, but then again I'm a bit of a value for money freak when it comes to PCs

 

[Assman]

Well since this is my first post I'm going to be short and to the point. I've decided that I'm going to build a conroe rig mainly for gaming and...well, gaming. Though I would really like to stick as close to $1400 (including shipping, but not the monitor and perifials) as I can, but I don't want to at the cost of performance, I have $1700 that I can spend, but really would prefere to to save the last $300. Here's what I have picked at the moment
corsair xms2 2gb ddr2 800 $177
Windows XP home $95
Samsung dvd burner $33
Tuniq case $90
XFX GeForce 7600gt $185
c2d 6600 $340
Segate 80gb sata HDD $50
Asus P5W DH Deluxe Mobo $277
Coolmax 600w PSU $110

I would go with e6400 about $100 cheaper and extra 2mb cache will not give that much of a performance boost, 3.5% avg. plus even on air you can easily clock it to e6600 and more :!:

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

I can get an e6600 to go farther than an e6400

As far as the video card goes I've decided on this one x1900xtx

 

[Assman]

I can get an e6600 to go farther than an e6400

As far as the video card goes I've decided on this one x1900xt

I see your point :lol: but still a 100 bucks is a 100 bucks

 

[Assman]

FORGOT to add good video choice, you linked to 1900xtx though 8)

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

*fixed my last post*

Are there any horror stories about this case or PSU that I should know about or are they alright? If they are then its a great deal. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2215103&Sku=TC3J-2145

 

[Assman]

*fixed my last post*

Are there any horror stories about this case or PSU that I should know about or are they alright? If they are then its a great deal. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2215103&Sku=TC3J-2145

it looks good, correct me if im wrong but for the card you want, 1900xtx, 30 Amps on 12 volt rail is recommended and the psu that comes with the case has 17-18 amps. If you dont have enough power on vga it might lead to stability issues.
Once again, if im wrong correct me

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

shat your right... that means I have to go and spend more hard earned $$$.

Cna you help me find a decent one with a 30amp rating?

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

I've been looking for a good 20 minuets and can't find a single psu with a 12v rail @30A is there something that I don't know here?

Would 12v@25a work? cause thats all I can find.

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

*BUMP*
Anyone?!?

 

[Assman]

*BUMP*
Anyone?!?

found one with 30A on 12V2, 48 amps combined on 12v rails.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817147026

But i think any Crossfire psu will do just make sure it has 30amps 8)

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

Thanks for the help finding that but I would really prefere modular cabeling if at all possible. If I can't find one taht has both modular cabeling and 30amps on a 12v rail then I'll just have to live with a messy case. Thanks though

 

[Assman]

how about this one Rosewill RP600S-2MK ATX12V 600 W

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

it doesn't have the 30amp rating, and I prefere to stay away from rosewill and other cheaper brands.

450-Watt power supply or greater, 30 Amps on 12 volt rail recommended (assumes fully loaded system)

Will a 25amp psu suffice if I don't have it under under full load?

 

[ctrl_alt_del]

Final order
Corsair Ram 2gb ddr2
Windows XP $95
C2D e6600 $340
Asus P5B $166
Seagate HDD $54
AG Neovo 19" LCD monitor
Samsung DVD burner $40
MSI X1900XTX $350
Coolmax 700w psu $140
Kingwin Case $70