New Computer build. Opinions welcomed.

[mschmidbauer001]

I am working on building a better computer system. i have selected components from newegg.com and am eager to get started. however, i wanted to drop off my system in a highly acclaimed tech forum site - so why not toms hardware forum...anywho, here is the system:

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=4129666

i am going AMD for now altho i am willing to look into the core 2 duo conroes. i'd most likely choose the e6400 series as i'm on a budget. if i do that tho, can you show me a good yet affordable SLi capable mobo? Here is my Intel build, all the same but the processor and the mobo:

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=4129686

IMPORTANT: i want SLi capabilities all around. i tried to do that with the AMD AM2 build...and think i did a decent job. the two 7600GT video cards WILL NOT CHANGE unless i can have a good deal for 2 other cards. i think they perform quite well.

open to any ideas. i basically want to know if it is a good system and your comments. i dont' want to spend more than 1100 on parts really if possible. thanks for any input!!

 

[rwpritchett]

IMPORTANT: i want SLi capabilities all around. i tried to do that with the AMD AM2 build...and think i did a decent job. the two 7600GT video cards WILL NOT CHANGE unless i can have a good deal for 2 other cards. i think they perform quite well.

Oh boy, I can feel the video gurus getting ready to tear this one apart. It's going to be a lot of "Get one 7900GTX instead of SLI'ing two mid-level cards!"

[/ducksforcover]

 

[mesarectifier]

Oh boy, I can feel the video gurus getting ready to tear this one apart. It's going to be a lot of "Get one 7900GTX instead of SLI'ing two mid-level cards!"

There doesn't need to be a lot of that - it's quite clearly true and anyone wishing to drop any money on a system would know that, wouldn't they???

Seriously, while some people will be impressed with your SLi bragging rights, anyone who actually knows anything will think you're an idiot for wasting your money.

 

[Doughbuy]

Wait until DX10 cards?

If you really can't wait, and really want to go SLI, then P5N32-SLI... but we all would not recommend SLI at this time since there are no adequate mobo's for it and Conroe.

 

[purdueguy]

I'm not going to start a rampage. I will let the analysis speak for itself.

Prices: Cheapest 7600GT card is $119. So 2 cards are $238.

For $241.12, you can get the x1900xt or for $266.12 you can get the eVGA 7900 GTO

NOTE: The eVGA 7900GTO just went up 10 bucks from yesterday. For price/perf for single card solutions, the X1900XT 256MB is the winner. Here.

Looking at these benchmarks, the X1900XT beats 2 7600GT's in SLI mode most of the time. Only in Quake at low resolution does the 2 7600GT's take over.

If no OC'ing is done, the X1900XT is the card of choice. If the eVGA 7900GTO will be OC'd to the max, then get this card.

 

[mschmidbauer001]

Well then crap. i'm glad i came here before buying then. i have to ask another favor then. my problem is that i don't have a computer right now cause i sold it to my friend's mom - her computer died and i was looking to sell mine to ge a new one (didn't plan on that soon tho). So....here are the components i had minus the 2 7900GT video cards and SLi motherboards. The two processors i had picked out are still the same. Please make suggestions as to what i should do - i might just have to suck it up and wait for the DX10 cards and C2Qs....but that could be extra money i didn't plan on spending. Basically - i want a computer that will last me a couple of years that i can do some decent gaming on (mainly FEAR/CS:S/DoD:S/Hitman/Etc.) Once again, i'm open to suggestions...but as i said earlier - my components were:

Processors: (one of the two)

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA4200CUBOX
Item #: N82E16819103747
Here
$183.00

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E6400
Item #: N82E16819115004
Here
$220.00

Power Supply:

Rosewill RT550-135-BK 550W 135mm Fan SLI Ready - ATX V2.2/EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
Model #: RT550-135-BK
Item #: N82E16817182045
Here
$69.99

Case:

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: CAC-T05-UW
Item #: N82E16811119068
Here
$44.99

RAM:

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400c4 - Retail
Model #: TWIN2X2048-5400c4
Item #: N82E16820145015
Here
$270.00 ($240.00 after rebate)

Hard Drive:

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD2500JS
Item #: N82E16822144417
Here
$67.99

Optical Drives: (both)

SAMSUNG Combo Drive Black IDE Model SH-M522C/BEBN - OEM
Model #: SH-M522C/BEBN
Item #: N82E16827151086
Here
$22.39

SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model SH-S182D - OEM
Model #: SH-S182D
Item #: N82E16827151133
Here
$30.99

Like i said, feel free to suggest which processor and then a mobo (or change the processors - i dont' care.) for decent gaming. my budget is still about 1100-1200. Thanks!

 

[rwaritsdario]

Asus P5B Deluxe or Gigabyte DS3

E6300 (OCs to 3Ghz in this whole setup)

X1900XT 256mb

PQI 2x1GB DDR2 667 CL4
PQI25400-2GDB

barracuda 7200.10 250gb

Antec NeoHE 430W or OCZ GameXstream 600W to ensure upgradeability.

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro

 

[shadowduck]

IMPORTANT: i want SLi capabilities all around. i tried to do that with the AMD AM2 build...and think i did a decent job. the two 7600GT video cards WILL NOT CHANGE unless i can have a good deal for 2 other cards. i think they perform quite well.

Oh boy, I can feel the video gurus getting ready to tear this one apart. It's going to be a lot of "Get one 7900GTX instead of SLI'ing two mid-level cards!"

[/ducksforcover]

SLIs two 7600GTs is about the dumbest thing you can do. You are exactly right Rw. One 1900XT 256 at $259 will rip apart the 7600GT SLI setup, only use 1 slot, use less power, and run cooler.

SLI is a marketing trap and is for bragging rights, not productive use. The only thing worth SLIing at 7900s, but with DX10 coming even that is a bad idea.

Avoid SLI, don't fall for the trap OP like so many have.

 

[rwaritsdario]

All newegg prices:

DFI LP UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G $199

X2 4200+ $183

X1900XT 256mb $235

OCZ Platinum Rev.2 DDR2 800 CL4 $245
OCZ2P800R22GK

barracuda 7200.10 360GB $95

OCZ GameXstream 600W $105

Scythe Infinity $52

lite-on or LG $35 0r $29
SHM-165H6S GSA-H10N

And the case of your choice.

This is just about the best setup you can have for AM2. The DFI NF590 SLI-M2R/G is the best OCing motherboard out there and every rave review written about it confirms it. You will have no problems hitting 3Ghz in this rig.
And if anyones got something to criticize from this rig, I wanna hear it! hehe

 

[overclockingrocks]

Nice Rig setup there to the previous poster. only thing I would change is the ATI video card go for a 7950GX2 if budget permits. 1 card 2 gpus sli rips apart everything.

 

[rwaritsdario]

Nice Rig setup there to the previous poster. only thing I would change is the ATI video card go for a 7950GX2 if budget permits. 1 card 2 gpus sli rips apart everything.

Definetly its a good card, but Its not worth the money. Only if youre playing at resolutions higher than 16x12 (wich I doubt is the case here) will you get some improovement. Check out the VGA charts in tomshardware to get what im saying.
While the X1900XT 256mb can be easily OCed to the X1900XTX speeds for half the price

Actually that is the setup im going for in some months. I was thinking of swapping the RAM to this if my budget allows me. Do you think itll get me higher OCs or ill simply be going overkill??

 

[mesarectifier]

No way - buying that card for a screen of 19" or less is pointless, and the tming is horrible.