New Build...your opinions

[joez]

Well I'm building my first computer in about 5 years now...alot has changed. I do alot of multitasking, graphics editings, webpages, CAD, and occasional gaming. When I do game, I want to be able to crank the graphics up all the way (or at least close).

I have a list of what I want, and a list of what I've chosen to use. I have ~$2,000 to work with (including monitor). Any input will help!

Case/PSU:
Wanting to have something with good cooling, and black with a front panel. Raidmax has a few I like. I want to keep price under $110 here.

Processor:
Core2Duo E6600. Don't really want anything else...Want to OC to 3ghz

Mobo:
P5B-E, P5B-Delux, P5W DH. Not sure which would be best. I want to OC to about 3ghz. I think the P5B-E would work, and it costs less. Why would the others be better?

Ram:
SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (~$300) or
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (~$210).
Which ever OCs better and is stable...

Cooling:
Scythe Infinity with 2 Silverstone FM121s

Vid Card:
7900GTO $300 on ebay.
I posted a thread here for this specific question.

HD:
2x Western Digital 250GB 7200rpm (not in raid, just want the space)

CD/DVD:
Samsung 18x DVD Burner, LG Combo CD Burner (two burners, but for the price why not?)

Display:
Dell 2407WFP on Ebay for ~$550

Misc:
AVerMedia ATSC HD Tuner
Keyboard and Mouse

Should be around $2100-$2200 when done.

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=3579851&WishListTitle=JoeZ

 

[purdueguy]

Video Card:I actually posted to your other thread on the video game. I'll just summarize here.

7900GTX for $299 at Zipzoomfly after MIR or X1950XT for $269 at Newegg. A 7900GTO for $300 is a waste of money.

CPU: E6600 - NICE!!

Mobo: I'd stick with the P5B-E. It's a better overclocker. See here.

Memory: I'd get the Crucial 10th Anniversary Edition. They may only be DDR2 667 at stock but they have a CAS latency of 3. And when you OC it to DDR2 800 you have to loosen the timing to 4 but it will have better performance and you can OC it further.

HDD: Seagate Barricuda 7200.10 320GB Perpendicular Drives

Cooling: Coolermaster has a smaller heatsink and according to this review, it's actually better. Save yourself over 20 bucks, here.

Case/PSU: Do you want to keep both the Case & PSU for under $110? Or is this just for the case. There are only 2 combos that I recommend: 1) the Antec Sonata II & 2) the Antec Performance TX. The Sonata is a really good deal at the moment having a $40 dollar MIR. The Performance costs $146 after S&H but the 500W PSU is better than 450W PSU in the Sonata.

And you don't want to skimp out on a PSU.

WARNING: Stay away from RAIDMAX PSU's. I've read nothing but horror stories about them. Enermax, Antec, Thermaltake, HIPER are very good starting points. Make sure to get 17 or 18 amps minimum on each rail.

Personally, I'd bump up your budget to around $150-$200. You can get a nice case for around $80-$120 and a nice PSU for around $70-$100.

Well, that's my take.

 

[joez]

Case/PSU: Do you want to keep both the Case & PSU for under $110? Or is this just for the case. There are only 2 combos that I recommend: 1) the Antec Sonata II & 2) the Antec Performance TX. The Sonata is a really good deal at the moment having a $40 dollar MIR. The Performance costs $146 after S&H but the 500W PSU is better than 450W PSU in the Sonata.

I like the idea of a PSU/Case combo that works. Antec Sonata II with that MIR seems like a great deal. If that PSU will work, then I can put the extra money into the Vid Card.

 

[skyguy]

A 6600 is nice, but you don't need it to hit 3.0 ghz. You can hit 3.0 with a 6300 no problem with a Scythe cooler. I've got my 6300 @ 3.01 with a Zalman 9500, but have OCZ Plat DDR2-800. I know people have hit 3.0 commonly with stock cooling, Corsair 667, and at less than stock vCore.

It's your money, and like I said a 6600 is nice, but it's not necessary to hit 3.0.

 

[joez]

DO not try to short cxhange the PSU. Personaly you need to have at least $80 set aside for the PSU alone. Here is a good PSU from Antec. It gives 380W, has 2 +12v rials and supplies 15A to each rail.

Is that enough power for the system? Only 380W? I was thinking more around 450 would be needed?

 

[mad-dog]

Scratch 1 DVD/Burner, replace with DVD/ROM $N/C
mobo: EVGA 680i $275
graphics: EVGA 8800GTS $500
monitor:Viewsonic 19" widescreen $215
hard-drive: 2x250Gig, WD Caviar, Sata, RAID1 $150
tuner: nvidia $
cpu cooler; coolermaster hyper tx $30
CPU: C2D 6400 $220
Case: Antec, Lian-li, Thermaltake or Coolermaster $150
RAM: Corsair. Kingston or OCZ $250
PSU: 600W, mushkin, thermaltake, ocz, corsair...$150

we're still under $1800 with room to grow and the latest technology

you want RAID1 for redundancy, it's just a hair slower than single-disk,
don't buy stuff off e-bay, the risk of getting ripped is too high.....
goto amazon.com and buy reconditioned at the least.

 

[joez]

What about this 600w?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817190007

It has dual 12v rails, seems to have good reviews, and has a $40 mir.

 

[joez]

Could someone also link me to a couple of good sets of Ram? Under $300, 2gb, and MIRs are a plus! I want to spend ~250 here, and remember, trying to OC to about 3ghz.

Looking at these two:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139

 

[joez]

I defiantely found my case, and just still need help with RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811220019

 

[joez]

Will I need an aftermarket HSF such as a Thermaltake Big Typhoon for OCing to 3ghz? Or can I save another $40 there?

 

[bluntside]

The Zalman CPNS9500 is a superior example of what air cooling can do, it should save you a little bit of money and give you performance cooling too