New system, your thoughts?

[trenchtoaster]

I think I have most of the computer picked out, hopefully it will run WoW well especially in Raid/PvP situations, and allow me to use FRAPS with decent FPS.

-----LIAN LI PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16811112025

-----Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V TUV, UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

-----G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Standard System Memory - Retail -210$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231098

----- Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail -183$ OR the 6400 depending on funds
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115005

-----ASUS P5B-E Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail -153$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813131070


==============================================================================
-----SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail -269$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814102067

OR

-----eVGA 512-P2-N573-AR GeForce 7900GTO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail -259$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130065

Which of these two video cards would work best with WoW?


And then just some random hardrive. How do you think that will work out? Will those pieces fit in the case fine? Are those nice choices to get the biggest bang for the buck?

Will that RAM work with that motherboard, and is that a decent choice for a motherboard (I dont know much about them).

Also, I only plan on using one hardrive (no raid), one video card, and one PCI slot. Will that PSU be adequate?

 

[testbenchdude]

That looks like a pretty sweet system for the money. Don't forget to include the cost of a CPU heatsink though, unless you're going to use the stock one.

That 500w PSU should be fine for your hardware. I wouldn't try to OC your system too much, but you should be able to run WoW at high settings with FRAPS just fine.

GL and HF

 

[Heyyou27]

That should be more than enough for your needs; enjoy the new system.

 

[trenchtoaster]

Sweet good news, ordering it now =)

I didnt plan on overclocking or buying a heatsink, how expensive/hard to install are they?

 

[Qeldroma]

I think you made a very good choice. All those parts are an awsome bang for the buck. The only thing I would recommend is a better PSU. I would look into an antec Neo He 500 Watt or a Thermaltake Toughpower Series. Both can be had for about $100-$150.

I used to have a cheap 450 Watt, when I switched it out for my Thermaltake Toughpower 700 Watt it made my system alot more stable.

But that should run WOW at max settings I would think.

 

[trenchtoaster]

This video card was recommended to me instead of the X1950XT I had linked up there. Is it better?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16814130061

Also, is this motherboard better?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131070R

 

[mad-dog]

This video card was recommended to me instead of the X1950XT I had linked up there. Is it better?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?Item=N82E16814130061

In most tests, the X1950XTX is only bested by the 8800 series, but if you prefer NVIDIA the 7900GTX, 7950GTX and the 7950GX2 are worthy competitors.

Also, is this motherboard better?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131070R

Better how, different motherboards are better or worse in different areas, pick the motherboard that has the features you enjoy most.
Some motherboards are geared towards audiophiles, some for gaming, some for workstations, some for overclockers and some for good old-fashioned internet browsing.
Look at the specs, read the reviews.........however i don't agree with your high-end graphics card and low-end motherboard mentality.
A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, a low-end motherboard in a otherwise high-end system can bottleneck overall system performance, you can have your cake and eat it too, but it's gonna cost ya.

 

[fatcat]

I think you made a very good choice. All those parts are an awsome bang for the buck. The only thing I would recommend is a better PSU. I would look into an antec Neo He 500 Watt or a Thermaltake Toughpower Series. Both can be had for about $100-$150.

I would tend to agree with this. We rencently bought a new system for my wife and we got a Raidmax case as well but we didn't keep the orginal power supply. I don't remember the brand but the dude at the shop were we got the system told me that it was a pretty good PS, he also told me that he always change the PS when selling one of these case.

 

[shadowduck]

I think you made a very good choice. All those parts are an awsome bang for the buck. The only thing I would recommend is a better PSU. I would look into an antec Neo He 500 Watt or a Thermaltake Toughpower Series. Both can be had for about $100-$150.

I used to have a cheap 450 Watt, when I switched it out for my Thermaltake Toughpower 700 Watt it made my system alot more stable.

But that should run WOW at max settings I would think.

Agree 100%. Raidmax PSUs are trash. AVOID THEM or you are asking for problems with your computer.

 

[trenchtoaster]

Hmm can someone point out a decent PSU then? And a case that would be sure to fit everything?

Also, anyone have any better ideas about which motherboard to get?

 

[mad-dog]

motherboard, if ya wanna stay with gigabyte:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

Recommended case:
depends on your preference, mid-tower, full-tower, super-tower......those components will fit in almost any ATX case.
Style, Material, Size, Weight, Serviceability, Cooling, Price...........
way too many factors for anyone but you to decide on.
Look at other systems online and see what catches your fancy, stay away from the thrills and chills line and look for a common sense case to grow with.

PSU Recommendation:
I aint touching that with a 10ft pole, too much controversy...

 

[trenchtoaster]

Found this case on sale:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16811112025

And this PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817371004


I will only use one hardrive, one video card, one PCI slot (soundcard). Right now my PSU is only 350w. I don't overclock either.

 

[trenchtoaster]

So far I have decided on:

Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply - Retail

SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Standard System Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6300 - Retail

SONY Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1615/B2s - OEM

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Total: 1028.66$