Need Part Advise and General Knowledge for a New Builder

[Prsn]

So, I'm pretty much completely new to the actual building of PC, but to some degree good with the majority of the basics or computers.

This PC will be used for mostly graphics intensive games like FEAR and Company of Heroes. Although I am also a common CAD user, but this is probably second rate to the gaming factor. I do NOT plan to overclock.

Feel free to bring up new parts beyond limiting yourselves to the "or" parts, my choices were primarily made on what I have read around the boards and articles on Tom's Hardware.

The price of this is a pretty large deal, and I very seriously doubt I would buy all of the most expensive products below simply because of their price tags.

ALL PRICES AFTER REBATES

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz ($227)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004

Memory: OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 ($214)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139
OR
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 ($224)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB ($250)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102067
OR
PNY VCG88GTSXPB GeForce 8800GTS 640MB ($390)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133188

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB ($95)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

Motherboard: MSI P965 Platinum Socket T Intel P965 Express ATX ($120)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130055
OR
ASUS P5B Deluxe Socket T Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard ($180)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131045

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG Black DVD/CD RW Drive ($30)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151133

Power Supply: ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W ($105)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194003

Case: ENERMAX ECA3052B Black SECC ATX Mid Tower ($65)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811124114

I have been very heavily leaning toward the MSI motherboard after looking at this article: http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/11/13/shootout_at_the_core_2_corral/

Onto the questions...

Do I need an after market CPU fan/heatsink?

Considering the power supply is already blowing air out of the computer, should I have the gigantic 25cm case fan suck air in or blow it out?

Should I consider a high-end non-8800 video card from Nvidia then use the step up program? As you can see, from this being my first post the chances that I will return to actually go through with the plan would be low.

Why do workstations/CAD video cards (Quadro/FireGL) all seem to have hardly any pixel pipelines, while gaming cards have massive amounts? Is this a CAD cards are amazing at CAD but suck at games, while gaming cards are amazing at games but decent at CAD? My current ultra old nvidia 5600xt is alright with CAD as long as I keep my parts somewhat simple >.>, which leads me to believe it is the latter about game cards.

Thats pretty much everything, thank you for any suggestions or comments...

 

[ZozZoz]

1. YEs, you do need an aftermarket heatsink. because things are gonna get somewhat hot inside your case.

2. 25 cm should suck air in, so it can cool MB components, and supply fresh air to your video card and CPU HSF. adding an extra 120 mm exhaust fan on the back would also be nice (if there's already one isntalled - sorry, too lazy to click the links).

3. those cards are optimized for quality and precision, rather than performance, and have specific drivers, that's it. go with 8800 series, unless you wanna spend your cash on obsolete and inferior architecture (yes, i'm talking about g71, g73) only to fork out more for 8800 a few months later

 

[gondo]

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz ($227)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004

Good choice. Intel has AMD beat at the moment unfortunately since I am an AMD fan.


Memory: OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 ($214)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139
OR
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 ($224)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

I'd go OCZ although I'm partial to them. Either company rocks.


Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB ($250)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102067
OR
PNY VCG88GTSXPB GeForce 8800GTS 640MB ($390)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133188

Definitely the 8800GTS if your gaming. Be prepared for the DX10 and Vista. Don't buy a card that's outdated in 2 weeks the day Vista is released.


Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB ($95)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

Good choice. Seagate rocks. Buy as much space as you need.

Motherboard: MSI P965 Platinum Socket T Intel P965 Express ATX ($120)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130055
OR
ASUS P5B Deluxe Socket T Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard ($180)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131045

I hate both boards. And I hate MSI as well as Asus boards. I'd get an Abit IN9-32X Max or an Abit AW9D-MAX


Optical Drive: SAMSUNG Black DVD/CD RW Drive ($30)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151133

I'd go for a Plextor 716SA SATA burner. SATA plus Plextor quality. No more second guessing if your going to get a coaster or not. Use Taiyo Yudens with this and you're all set.


Power Supply: ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W ($105)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194003

I'd go modular. OCZ makes a nice one now. There is also Antec, Zalman, etc....


Case: ENERMAX ECA3052B Black SECC ATX Mid Tower ($65)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811124114

Any case will do. Enermax does seem a bit rare of a choice. I like the Antec P180 and nine hundred series.


Onto the questions...

Do I need an after market CPU fan/heatsink?

No. But you should. The OEMs can heat up enough in the summer to cause trouble and rebooting. ALso the noise level of an OEM is high. And you'll always be nervouse with the OEM wondering if your too hot. Solve it all with a Zalman. Very cool, very quiet.

Considering the power supply is already blowing air out of the computer, should I have the gigantic 25cm case fan suck air in or blow it out?

You can never have enough airflow. More = better. Noise is the only drawback. You can use a fan controller if you like. Don't forget fan filters to keep dust out. They are amazing.

Should I consider a high-end non-8800 video card from Nvidia then use the step up program? As you can see, from this being my first post the chances that I will return to actually go through with the plan would be low.

Just get the 8800 and your DX10 ready without frigging around. The card will last longer too. If you want more performance consider a GPU overclock.

Why do workstations/CAD video cards (Quadro/FireGL) all seem to have hardly any pixel pipelines, while gaming cards have massive amounts? Is this a CAD cards are amazing at CAD but suck at games, while gaming cards are amazing at games but decent at CAD? My current ultra old nvidia 5600xt is alright with CAD as long as I keep my parts somewhat simple >.>, which leads me to believe it is the latter about game cards.

Workstation and gamming cards are pretty much the same. Gaming cards have their OpenGL crippled with drivers that render them not as good for CAD. If you want to game get a gamming card, it will be good enough for CAD. If you a pro working at an architecture firm or with Disney and you don't game at the office, a Quadro/Gire GL card is worth it. For home use forget it. You want to game. AutoCad will work fine for you, the CPU and RAM will make more of a difference than the video card will. Go 8800 and enjoy the games. Get a 22" widescreen LCD and enjoy the CAD.

Thats pretty much everything, thank you for any suggestions or comments...

Your welcome.

 

[Prsn]

Good Setup?

ALL PRICES AFTER REBATES

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz ($227)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004

Memory: OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 ($214)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139

Video Card: PNY VCG88GTSXPB GeForce 8800GTS 640MB ($390)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133188

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB ($95)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

Motherboard: MSI P965 Platinum Socket T Intel P965 Express ATX ($120)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130055

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG Black DVD/CD RW Drive ($30)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151133

Power Supply: OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W ($102)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341001

Case: ENERMAX ECA3052B Black SECC ATX Mid Tower ($65)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811124114

Total: $1243

 

[Prsn]

Have I hit the nail on these components or...?

 

[yas]

No no no, get an enermax PSU they are much better than OCZ.Stay with your old one. Also if you do not plan on OCing then you will not need an aftermarket heatsink. THe msi board isnt that good, look at some other reviews not just tomshardware. Go with a gigabyte S3 or a biostar Tforce 965PT. ALso you wont need 800mhz ram, if your not OCing get the cheapest 533 ram you can find. Perhaps something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231018

 

[gondo]

I checked and enermax makes a modular. No problem there. They are good. Check the reviews.

Motherboard. Gigasbyte is pricy with problems. If in doubt there is always Asus which I don't like but they are good. DFI is nice. I'm an Abit fan. CHoose wisely.

RAM. You need 800. That's what the CPUs are. Over 800 is for OC.

Good luck.

 

[evongugg]

Here is a review of your motherboard:

Shootout at the Core 2 Corral: Seven P965 Motherboards Compared

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/11/13/shootout_at_the_core_2_corral/

 

[AMDThunder]

RAM. You need 800. That's what the CPUs are. Over 800 is for OC.

Incorrect. FSB is what drives your cpu and memory speeds. The CPU does not drive your memory speed. Stock FSB is 266. That's 533 Ram. Nothing else needed if you're not OCing as your 800 ram will be running at 533.

 

[yas]

Exactly dont give ppl wrong facts because he said he didnt want to OC. And that motherboard round up is very inacurate if you ask me. Just check out some other reviews. The motherboards I listed are the same price if not cheaper than the msi.

 

[gondo]

Sorry for the wrong info. I must have been day dreaming. The Intels run at 533Mhz which is DDRII 533 or PC4200. This is what you would want. A kit of PC4200.

I must have been thinking the new AMD AM2 CPUs which support 800MHz.

 

[yas]

lol, no problem happens to me all the time