New Build...Need Opinions Please

[r6danl]

This is going to be my only computer build for the next 3 to 4 years so let me know if this should stand the test of time. I will not be doing "hard core" gaming but I will play the occasional game and I will have Vista Ultimate Installed on the machine. Thank you for your comments.


Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor $317.00

Motherboard
ASUS Striker Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX $420.00

Hard Drives
Western Digital Raptor 150 GB 10,000 RPM Hard Drive $220.00
Western Digital Caviar 500 GB 7,200 RPM WD5000KS Hard Drive $180.00

Memory
Corsair XMS2 (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit $280.00
Corsair XMS2 (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit $280.00

Video Card
eVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO $176.00

TV Tuner Card
ATI 100-703271 PCI Interface TV Wonder 550PCI $50.00

Power Supply
Antec NeoHE 500 ATX12V 500W $100.00

Case
Cooler Master Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel $50.00

Floppy Drive
Sony Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Model MPF920 Black $8.00

Cooling Fans
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler $30.00
Thermaltake A2029 120mm Case Fan $12.00
Thermaltake A1357 80mm Case Fan $8.00
Zalman VF900 – CU 2 Ball VGA Cooler $37.00

CPU Thermal Paste
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $6.00

TOTAL $2,174.00

 

[yas]

Why do you want that expensive motherboard?? A good quality motherboard is always good but that mobo is really for the very hardcore who want huge overclocks and 2 8800GTXs in sli. The abit AW9D seems like a good motherboard

 

[AMDThunder]

Other than the occasional game, what else will it be used for? Do you plan to OC? Seems like a lot of overkill for a home PC, especially if you don't game much or OC.

 

[akhilles]

Swap the fans for Coolermaster 120mm & 80mm blue neon fans. IIRC, TT fans use thin nuts & bolts. CM & all other fans use the regular thick-threaded screws.

Well, if you spend that much money on a pc, you may as well get an aluminum full tower case like Antec P180.

 

[John_C]

This is just an odd build. I don't know that I have ever before seen someone spend twice as much on the motherboard than on the video subsystem.

I agree with yas, the MB choice doesn't fit with the rest of the build. That board is only appropriate in a "money is no object" super build. In terms of cost/benefit that money is better spent elsewhere.

I am curious about the need for the raptor drive. Again, unless this is a top end build or there is a very specific high speed storage need, I wouldn't recommend going that route as the bang for the buck isn't there.

Video card seems pretty low end compared to the rest of the system. Is the intent to upgrade it later once the DX10 wars sort themselves out a bit? If so, that makes sense.

To akhilles point about the case, you have to decide how important looks are to you and then choose something you like. With the overall budget you're targeting, the Centurion wouldn't be my first choice but there are no right or wrong answers on this one - it's what you like.

 

[enforcerfx]

Swap out the 7900GS for a 8800GTS. You'll be able to see the true performance, and graphics quality on a DX10 supported video card. Most likely that computer will not last a good 3-4 years, especially in the graphics department if you dont swap the 7900 for the 8800. And if you swap the graphics card, swap the powersupply for this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104025

 

[Featherstone]

I don't get it. This is like the most expensive crappy computer ever.

Why the $420 Mobo? Get a decent videocard (ie 8800GTS or GTX). Get a better power supply. Why are you getting a VideoCard HSF? Save yourself 100 bucks and get an E6400.

 

[madmurph]

Agree with John_C; why the Raptor? Better to put a couple of 500gb into a stripe array (Raid 0) for the same price or get 3 of something and build a Raid 5 array, so you've got some redundancy, since it sounds like it's going to be mostly data, as opposed to gaming, esp if it's supposed to be future-proof for 3 to 4 years.

 

[AMDThunder]

If he's not a gamer, no way does he need anything even close to an 8800. Talk about major overkill.