Rate My Build Volume 64, Issue 43

[RangerX3X]

This is my first true build from scratch deal:

Case

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119047

Newegg: $49.99

PSU

Thermaltake W0106RU Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, and BSMI certified – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153039

Newegg: $169.99

CPU

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115004

Newegg: $218.00

Motherboard

MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130081

Newegg: $159.99

Hard Drive 1 & 2

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive – OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

Newegg: $84.99 X 2 = $169.98
Memory

Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220144

Newegg: $186.99

DVD RW Drive

LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache E-IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology – OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106055

Newegg: $34.99

OS

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with SP2 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16837116193

Newegg: $189.99

Video Card

EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card – Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

Newegg: $279.99

Total Approximate Current Cost: $1,459.91

I have really no idea what I am doing when it comes to putting it together as prior to this effort my biggest venture into a case was to upgrade video cards and memory.

I will probably wait to see what the end of April brings for the potential CPU price drops that I am reading about, but I think for the price point here it is a reasonable system that can be upgraded without much rework.

 

[rammedstein]

should all go together like lego, lol, it will be easy, the hardest part is actually buying the stuff. since you didn't buy a 3rd party cooler it is pretty straight forward, install the mobo first, screw it in, USE RISERS! then put your cpu in but not the cooler, then put the psu in, plug ti in to the board, not the ac though, then dvd driver, plug it in, then cooler, then hard drive, then video card. pretty much easiest if you do it that way, keeps stuff out of the way.

 

[skyguy]

You've done a very good job with your list, kudos to you!!

Only 2 comments:

-that's a good mobo, but do you really need an SLI mobo? Unless you are planning on adding another card in the not-too-distant future, SLI mobo is a waste. For non-SLI, consider the Gigabyte 965P-DS3....excellent mobo, a proven champ. If you want something basic, then the MSI Neo-F will do just nicely.

-Consider the Coolermaster 534 instead.....better layout and venting, same price

-Lastly, will you be overclocking? If not, then get cheaper RAM. If you are, then that RAM is fine...BUT...you'll need an aftermarket heatsink for your CPU. Noctua UH-12F and Thermaltake Big Typhoon are 2 good ones to consider. Thermalright Ultra (needs a separate fan though) is another, and Tuniq Tower is great but it's HUGE and heavy and hard to find in stock.

Other than that, great list!

 

[sprite]

Arctic Cooling 7 Pro is also another good option for an after market HS/F

 

[skyguy]

True.....not quite as good, but I didn't recommend it because I notice it's HIGHLY overpriced at the major retailers in the U.S right now. I can get it here in Canada for $19 U.S.....and it's $60 on Newegg right now! INSANE!!!

It's a $25 cooler, tops. But $60?!?! Get something else for sure.

 

[GoldenRiver]

i would go for the eVGA 640gts if u don't want a gtx its only like 100 bucks more, and once the prices on the processors get axed you'll be saving a bunch of money which you could spend on the 640 gts.

 

[RangerX3X]

I like the other Cooler Master recommeded above.

I want the SLI mobo because I want to at some point in the future run dual 8800GTX's on this rig.

So I am biting the bullet now and will get a single GTX instead of the GTS.

I also like the mobo because I can upgrade to a Core 2 Extreme or Quad-core later on the same board.

Thanks for the feedback.

I am unsure of aftermarket cooling - is this replacing the heatsink/fan that comes with the processor with something else/better?