Plz Comment on Build (Asus P5B, C2D E6400)

pissedLobster

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Dec 11, 2006
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This is not my first home-build, but I’m always sure to check the specs here in the forumz before I purchase. This build will be my primary work machine. I’ve been researching for about two months, and here are my requirements:

- I work professionally as a web/graphic designer and do some freelance VHS to DVD transfers
- I have another machine for over clocking and gaming (No OC, no Gaming)
- Will run XP Pro until I’m ready for Vista
- My target price range is $1,500
CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case – Retail ($49.99) Link

MoBo: ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard – Retail ($150.99) Link

PSU: COOLMAX CP-500T EPS12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CSA, TUV – Retail ($49.99) Link

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor – Retail ($221.00) Link

CPU HSF: included Retail HSF (If I decide to OC then I’ll buy another HSF)

RAM: OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (ATI CrossFire Certified) – Retail ($285.99) Link
- Realize I should go with lower speed since I’m not OCing, but lower speeds are only $50-60 less in most cases…

HDD: (2x) Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3400620AS 400GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive – OEM ($119.99 X 2 = $239.98) Link

VIDEO: SAPPHIRE 100189L Radeon X1900GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Card – Retail ($154.99) Link

VIDEO Cooling: ARCTIC COOLING Accelero X2 Fluid Dynamic VGA Cooling Fan with Heatsink – Retail ($19.99) Link

SOUND: Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card – OEM ($27.99) Link

DVD-RW: SONY Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM IDE DVD Burner – Retail ($49.99) Link

DVD ROM: LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM ATAPI/E-IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model SHD-16P1S – OEM ($19.99) Link

DISPLAY: SCEPTRE X20WG-Naga Black 20.1" 5ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers – Retail ($199.00 w/ rebate)
- May move to dual monitors when I can afford another display Link

Current Total: $1,470.88

Final thoughts:
I already have two large capacity IDE drives and I’m considering adding a PROMISE ULTRA133TX2 PCI IDE Controller Card. Thoughts?

I didn’t research the monitor too much, but read a few posts that it was a good deal on a great display…

Any thoughts, suggestions & advice would be welcome, thanks! - PL
 

apt403

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Oct 14, 2006
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Crappy psu, this one is alot better. The video card is insane overkill if your not gaming with this machine, something like the 7600gs would be a better choice, alot cheaper too. You dont need an aftermarket hsf got the gfx card, the stock is fine. This ram will save you about $75. Do you really need that dvd-rom drive? That burner can also read dvd's, so your wasting $20 on the lite-on drive.

With those changes you can get another monitor, or get an E6600 instead of the E6400.
 

Featherstone

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pissedLobster

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Apt403 – I too was second guessing the Coolmax PSU, mainly because of another post in the Tom’s Forumz (PSU's to Avoid). The PSU you suggest seems reasonable, and has fairly good reviews. I looked at 7600gs video cards, but I eventually want to run dual monitors both via DIV and most of the good 7600gs only have one DIV port. I do need to do some more research though… That ram looks great, and will help save some money. I went for the DVD-Rom to make duplication much easier… Thank you for your comments!
 

pissedLobster

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Dec 11, 2006
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Featherstone – Thanks your comments on the monitor, I hope to buy a second in the next year and run dual displays. I agree that it’s not worth the cash to go higher on a video card; I already have a great gaming system, which doesn’t get enough use! Thanks!
 

akhilles

Splendid
No, not high end. I never said that. I got a pci matrox dual-head for like 15 bucks + a rebate at TigerDirect. It works great.

Doesn't matter. The pc has NO means of transfering videos from vhs.
 

pissedLobster

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Dec 11, 2006
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Video editing aside, does anyone see any hardware conflicts or have any comments suggestions about the rest of the build? Thanks!

CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case – Retail ($49.99) Link

MoBo: ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard – Retail ($150.99) Link

PSU: COOLMAX CP-500T EPS12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CSA, TUV – Retail ($49.99) Link

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor – Retail ($221.00) Link

CPU HSF: included Retail HSF (If I decide to OC then I’ll buy another HSF)

RAM: OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (ATI CrossFire Certified) – Retail ($285.99) Link
- Realize I should go with lower speed since I’m not OCing, but lower speeds are only $50-60 less in most cases…

HDD: (2x) Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3400620AS 400GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive – OEM ($119.99 X 2 = $239.98) Link

VIDEO: SAPPHIRE 100189L Radeon X1900GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Card – Retail ($154.99) Link

VIDEO Cooling: ARCTIC COOLING Accelero X2 Fluid Dynamic VGA Cooling Fan with Heatsink – Retail ($19.99) Link

SOUND: Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card – OEM ($27.99) Link

DVD-RW: SONY Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM IDE DVD Burner – Retail ($49.99) Link

DVD ROM: LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM ATAPI/E-IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model SHD-16P1S – OEM ($19.99) Link

DISPLAY: SCEPTRE X20WG-Naga Black 20.1" 5ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers – Retail ($199.00 w/ rebate)
- May move to dual monitors when I can afford another display Link

Current Total: $1,470.88

Final thoughts:
I already have two large capacity IDE drives and I’m considering adding a PROMISE ULTRA133TX2 PCI IDE Controller Card. Thoughts?

I didn’t research the monitor too much, but read a few posts that it was a good deal on a great display…

Any thoughts, suggestions & advice would be welcome, thanks! - PL