Comments on this build

[bentgate]

I am an MMO player and will be doing some video and photo editing on the machine. I wanted something around $2000 range that will play EQ2 well and other MMOs. I was thinking of somthing like this rig below.

ALso, what would be a good case and power supply?

Thanks in advance
(Sckt775)Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6400 CPU @ 2.13GHz 1066FSB 2x1MB L2 Cache EM64T
MOTHERBOARD: (Quad-Core Supports) Intel DP965LT P965 Chipset LGA775 Supports Core 2 Duo CPU FSB1066 DDR2/800 Mainboard w/GbLAN, USB2.0, IEEE1394&7.1Audio
MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair)
VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB 16X PCI Express Video Card
LCD Monitor: ViewSonic Q9B 19" COLOR TFT Active Matrix SXGA LCD Display Monitor (Black) (Original Black)
HARD DRIVE: Single Hard Drive (150GB Gaming Western Digital Rapter Optical Drive: 16X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER

 

[bradfel]

Looks good...

As far as a power supply goes, go for 500W or more with dual 12v rails, modular cabling is a plus (and is coming standard on more PSU's nowdays)... Corsair, Ultra, and Antec make good PSU's...

For a case, an ATX mid tower should do fine, Cooler Master, Thermaltake, and Raidmax make some good ones... just if one comes with a PSU don't use it, included PSU's are usually pretty crappy.

 

[skyguy]

Do you plan on doing any overclocking? If not then downgrade the RAM to DDR2-667, something like G.Skill. That Corsair stuff is overpriced and built for overclocking. That motherboard is not exactly built for overclocking, so you'd be wasting money on the Corsair RAM if you're staying at stock speeds.

If you have no intention of overclocking whatsoever, then just get some cheaper 533 or 667 value RAM.

Other than that, looks good. And I agree on the PSU, get something DECENT. Spend a $100 at least, you won't regret it in the long run.

 

[bradfel]

DDR2 667 or 533... Perhaps with an older Pentium D, Core 2 and the motherboards for it are designed with DDR2 800 in mind though. True that you can run it with 667, 533, or even 400 if you want a 1:1 ratio, but the 800 will provide much better performance. Given his budget the extra cost shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

[bentgate]

Thanks for the comments. I dont plan on overclocking and had a thought that the Core DUO 6300 might be better if I am not overclocking. Would this be the case?

 

[skyguy]

The 6400 is better, it'll fit your budget, so go with the 6400.

Since you're not overclocking, go with some cheap 533 or 667 RAM. The Corsair stuff is overkill for you. If you like Corsair, get their value stuff.

You can also get by with a Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 hard drive. The Raptor is probably overkill.

If you can save enough money on the RAM and the hard drive, consider upgrading your CPU to a 6600. It will help alot, but it depends on your budget.


Other than that, great specs.

 

[bradfel]

With an E6600, 2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800, and a 150GB WD Raptor

Intel BOXDP965LTCK Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - $108.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - $309.00

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - $284.00

eVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - $429.99

Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - $229.99

LG 18X DVD±R Super-Multi DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model GSAH22N-BK - $30.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply - $169.99 (after -$20 instant)

COOLER MASTER Wave Master TAC-T01-EK Black All Aluminum Alloy ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $129.99 (after -$15 instant)

Viewsonic Q9b-2 Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor - $209.99

Total - $1,902.93

With an E6600, 2GB Corsair ValueSelect DDR2-667, and a 500GB Seagate 7200.10

Intel BOXDP965LTCK Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - $108.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - $309.00

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - $207.99

eVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - $429.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $209.99

LG 18X DVD±R Super-Multi DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model GSAH22N-BK - $30.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply - $169.99 (after -$20 instant)

COOLER MASTER Wave Master TAC-T01-EK Black All Aluminum Alloy ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $129.99 (after -$15 instant)

Viewsonic Q9b-2 Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor - $209.99

Total - $1,806.92

 

[skyguy]

Wow, great work Bradfel!

I'd go with Option #2 definitely if not overclocking. Option #1 if overclocking.

 

[bentgate]

Thanks for all the advice. One last question

Should I go with a RAID array ar 160x2 or just one HD at 320. EQ2 is hard drive and processor intensive. Would I benefit from a raid or is that overkill?

 

[bradfel]

RAID 0 is generally overrated.... it only really increases load times. plus the 2GB of memory should keep EQ2 from accessing the hard drive much.

if you do wish to go with a RAID 0, two Seagate 7200.10s would work nicely... 250GB (about $75/each) is my choice, but the 320GB (around $90 i think...) isn't much more...

 

[bentgate]

OK I went back to the drawing board with some of the specs - namely the case, the ram, and the PSU. Here is what I came up with. Any comments would be helpful. The two questions I have is - which case is better? And how much better performance would I see using the WD drive as the main drive and the seagate as data storage. This machine will be used to play EQ2 and other mmo's as well as video and photo editing.

Here are the specs.

Case:
Wave Master http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068 $49.99
Antec http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129017 $129.99

CPU: $224.00
Intel 6400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004


GX Card:
8800GTS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143074 $429.00

PSU:
OCZ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002 $149.00

RAM:
Gskill http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231108 $194.00

MoBo:
MSI 975X http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130051 $168.99

HD:
Seagate Barracude 320 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140 $94.99
WD Raptor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136011 $229.99

 

[skyguy]

Those cases aren't really "comparable".......they're entirely different budgets by ALOT. I suppose the Antec is "better" in that it has more space, better design, etc, etc. But the Coolermaster is definitely more affordable and a great case for that price range. So it depends on what you're willing to spend and what features/space you want in a case.