Search
Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

first build in years

Last response: in Systems
Share

ok, so the last time i needed a computer i broke tradition and bought a prebuilt. (alienware) now that i return to the homebuild scene, i find myself a little lost... but after a while i feel like i'm pretty close to having something put together.

the goal i set was to make a strong gaming/multimedia system that could take a couple of decent upgrades in the following year. here's a look at what i have so far:

(reused parts from old rig: dvd, 24-inch dell widescreen, logitech speakers/keyboard/mouse, 120gig backup internal drive, 500 gig external backup drive)


EVGA 122-CK-NF68-AR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1681...

EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1681...

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1681...

CORSAIR XMS2 DOMINATOR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4D - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1682...

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3500641AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1682...

Arctic Silver CMQ-22G The high-density, ceramic-based thermal compound - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1683...

ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1683...


i'm hoping this collection of components is good, but please let me know if one of the above seems out of place. but, what i don't have picked out is a good case and psu. bearing in mind the fact that i will get a quad core when they become necessary, and i'll add a second 8800gtx at some point, what power supply and case would make a good fit for my components?

(oh and as it's been a while since i built a comp, lemme know if i forgot something obvious, heh.)

thanks folks!

More about : build years

Register or log in to remove

You know the Zalman CNPS9500 requires a minor modification for it to fit the eVga 122-CK-NF68-AR. You'll have to cut off a few pieces of the backplate with a utility knife or dremel in order for it to fit properly. The same goes for the 9700 version.
Related ressources
Ask the community

get the tuniq, drop teh corsair for something cheaper, or upgrade to their 1066 version that ocs extremely well for the price, and wait until r600 benchmarks are out before buying this, it's about to come out

according to newegg, the tuniq specifically has problems with the evga mobo, so that is out. perhaps one of the scythes will fit the bill... if not, then i'll just get one of the thermaltakes.

but i'm still unsure about the power supply and case above all else. i guess i could go a little overboard since i plan on making further upgrades in the near future.

ok changes and additions:

Thermaltake CL-P0370 92mm Enter CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1683...

(instead of the zalman)

and i used the wattage calculator found in the psu101 post to find out what psu i'd need a year from now... it gave me a number around 650, so i thought this power supply would do:

Thermaltake W0106RU Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version 700W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1681...

and to round out the thermaltake group, here's a case that seems to fit the 8800 cards just fine:

Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case w/ 25CM Fan - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E1681...

so, that (if it's good enough) is a system that should last me a while for just under $2k. thoughts?

well, I would get a pc p&c psu instead of thermaltake, their efficiency is top notch, so for the same price, there's this model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...
But this model will power even quad sli combined with a quad core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...
It used to be $50 less, but you know how supply and demand goes

I like the armor case, but this one also has a massive fan on it (200mm, a bit smaller), and it has flashy lights too if you're into that stuff, I just happen to like antec the most as a case builder, but it's up to you, both are great cases
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681...

And then don't even bother with that cpu hsf, the two main things you cannot cheap out on when ocing are the psu, and the cpu hsf. I would recommend the tuniq if it's in your budget
http://www.xoxide.com/tuniq-t-120-hsf.html
Or get the thermalright ultra 120, it also an amazing cooler
http://www.xoxide.com/thermalright-ultra-120-cpu-cooler...
otherwise, just get the acf7pro, it's the exact samething as the thermaltake (slightly better imo), but cheaper

Quote:
...
CORSAIR XMS2 DOMINATOR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4D - Retail

Remember that even DDR2-800 represents a 400MHz FSB, or a 50% CPU overclock from the standard 266MHz FSB. You can get good DDR2-800 RAM for less.

Quote:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3500641AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

1) This drive doesn't have the normal 5 year Seagate warranty
2) This isn't one of the newer "perpendicular recording" Seagates
3) A fast hard drive will make your system seem much snappier.
Thus, I'd suggest going for 2 drives: (A) A smaller Raptor like this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1682...) for your OS and programs and (B) a bigger Seagate perpendicular drive, such as this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1682...


Also consider that actually using two video boards in SLI mode is relatively rare, because (A) it's usually hard to find another copy of the same board model some months later and (B) it's usually more cost effective just to buy a newer-model graphics card that takes advantage of then-current technology advances.

dawg, if you are talking about big perpendicular drives, massive terabite drives are about to come out at only $400 for some of the more expensive models. And I agree with you on the ram, I'd either step up to the 8500c5d, which is the only handpicked kit under $400, or I would get something cheaper.

well i do already have a 150gig sata drive, i suppose that could fill in as the os drive. as for the other one you listed, i must say that i don't know what this perpendicular recording business is, heh. i'll have to research that a bit, because i was simply picking hard drives out of a hat anyway :) 
Register or log in to remove
 
Ask the community
Read discussions in other Systems categories
!