Please check out my unspectacular PC build...

[ImmortalDragon]

Case: Cooler Master Centurion 5
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119068
PSU: Seasonic S12-430W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817151023
Motherboard: Asus P5B-E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131070
Processor: Intel C2D E6320
RAM: Kingston 2gb PC667
HDD1: WD1600AAJS
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136075
HDD2: Samsung Spinpoint T Series HD501LJ
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822152052
DVD: Asus DVD-E616A3T
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827135151
DVDRW: Samsung SH-S183L
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151141
Video Card: Gigabyte 7300GT or Gigabyte 8500GT
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814125036
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125062
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster SB0570
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16829102003

I'm buying these parts from MWave and Newegg, so I believe it comes out to somewhere between $800-900.
Any suggestions?

 

[knowsitall]

do you plan on overclocking? if ur just gonna run at stock speeds get 533mhz ram an save some money.. doing that u ll run at a 1:1 ratio which will be better anyways. do u ga me? if uwanna play games u need to lose those video cards, also lose the sound card. that motherborad comes with decent onboard sound..

 

[goldragon_70]

not personally the type of build I would build, IE SLI, and I not sure if the power supply could handle a power spike considering the amount of power your system will need. But It looks ok.

 

[ImmortalDragon]

I said 7300GT OR 8500GT not both. I'll pick one or the other.
I won't be overclocking, what do you mean by 1:1 ratio?

 

[goldragon_70]

either card is fine, and you won't have a problem with the power supply unless you want to upgrade.

 

[knowsitall]

I said 7300GT OR 8500GT not both. I'll pick one or the other.
I won't be overclocking, what do you mean by 1:1 ratio?

1:1 ratio means the fsb with ur ram is matched with the fsb of ur processor. Since your not overclocking all u need it 533mhz ram which will be cheaper too and better for running stock speeds on a e6300.. also lose the sound card, the motherboard comes with a onboard soundcard.

 

[baddad]

I'd go with the 8500 and not get the sound card.

 

[knowsitall]

yeh so lose the sound card, get cheaper 533mhz ram, and the money u save from doing wut i insist u do, invest in a better graphic card!

 

[ImmortalDragon]

That sounds good, I'll ditch the sound card and downgrade to 533. Does the E6320 need a fan or heatsink when its run at its stock speed?

 

[senor_bob]

That sounds good, I'll ditch the sound card and downgrade to 533. Does the E6320 need a fan or heatsink when its run at its stock speed?

Yes it needs a fan and heatsink - but you can use the ones that come in the box with it. No need to get a fancy aftermarket sink to run a 6320 at stock speed.

 

[knowsitall]

That sounds good, I'll ditch the sound card and downgrade to 533. Does the E6320 need a fan or heatsink when its run at its stock speed?

um if u buy the e6320 from newegg it comes with a stock heatsink/fan. yah so just get it from www.newegg.com. also check toms hardware article for the best bang for the buck video card in ur price category. how much are you willing to spend on a graphics card now that u are getting cheaper ram and no sound card. whut is the most u can afford on a graphic card?

 

[senor_bob]

Case: Cooler Master Centurion 5
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119068
PSU: Seasonic S12-430W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817151023
HDD1: WD1600AAJS
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136075
HDD2: Samsung Spinpoint T Series HD501LJ
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822152052

Good choices there. I know some people prefer the Centurion 534 - same price. Either one will work nicely. I like the CM Centurion series - great quality for the price. The Seasonic PSU is also nice, very quiet.

I'm partial to Seagate drives, but WD has served me well too. Never tried a Samsung HDD but I like most of their other products. By the way, what is the purpose for the small WD drive? For the OS?

 

[ImmortalDragon]

That sounds good, I'll ditch the sound card and downgrade to 533. Does the E6320 need a fan or heatsink when its run at its stock speed?

um if u buy the e6320 from newegg it comes with a stock heatsink/fan. yah so just get it from www.newegg.com. also check toms hardware article for the best bang for the buck video card in ur price category. how much are you willing to spend on a graphics card now that u are getting cheaper ram and no sound card. whut is the most u can afford on a graphic card?

I'm going to buy it from mwave.com along with the mobo and ram, hopefully everything comes with it.
I wanted to buy a card that was less than $50, then I realized there aren't any decent cards under $50. So I'm trying to keep it as cheap as possible, all I need is s-video out and no fan (I want it quiet). The Gigabyte 7300GT has what I need but I figure for $20 more I could be safe for the long term with the 8500GT and its DX10.

Good choices there. I know some people prefer the Centurion 534 - same price. Either one will work nicely. I like the CM Centurion series - great quality for the price. The Seasonic PSU is also nice, very quiet.

I'm partial to Seagate drives, but WD has served me well too. Never tried a Samsung HDD but I like most of their other products. By the way, what is the purpose for the small WD drive? For the OS?

The smaller is for the OS, I picked the Samsung for the bigger HDD because the interactive chart from Tom's Hardware had it beating the other bigger HDDs I was looking at. Although I'd like whatever is most reliable but it seems like thats a crap shoot.

 

[decripple]

well I know Seasonic is a good brand for PSUs, but that is just too much money for a 430W PSU with only 14A & 15A rails. It may be modular, but still. For less cash and a more powerful PSU with the same features look at this XCLIO 500W:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189012

It has triple +12V rails, Active PFC, and it's modular for only $80 versus $95. Also drop that ram for cheaper DDR2 533. Use the money saved to invest in a better video card or CPU. If you must have a DX10 card then get the 8500GT you listed and use the E6420 or just plain save some money and get the 8500GT and the E6320 like you said. If you don't have to have a DX10 card then you're in for a HUGE increase in your gaming experiences if you grab a
X1900GT ($135ish shipped from www.newegg.com) or a X1950Pro ($160ish shipped from newegg before MIR) or a 7900GS ($160ish shipped from newegg before MIR).

 

[ImmortalDragon]

How bad is the 8500GT? It sounds like no one likes it >_>
Is it at least better than the 7300GT?

 

[alcattle]

for now it fits in nVidia's lineup where the 7600 series was, the 7300s are still on the list. It is just the money for the performance level you are getting is up 100% more. So for $99 you can have DX-10 with graphics slightly better than a 7300.

 

[ImmortalDragon]

I think it would be worth it for $20 to upgrade just for the DX10. I want this PC to last me, hopefully, a long time without having to cost me too much. I don't want to get the 7300GT then in a few years a game I want that needs DX10 comes out and I need to buy a new video card.
I don't usually play games, but I know I will in the future. I used to play a few games on my comp but with what I have right now it just gets unbearable and now I just avoid playing altogether. I'm hoping with a new PC I can get back into one or two games.
I don't believe I need anything more than a 7300GT, but I think its worth the extra money for the 8500GT. I mean, as of right now the most intense game I would like to play on the PC is Civilization IV, and I believe either card can handle that.

Outside of clock speed, does the E6420 have any advantages over the E6320?

 

[alcattle]

The e6420 has a higher multiplier, so you can get higher FSB/speed if you overclock

 

[knowsitall]

The e6420 has a higher multiplier, so you can get higher FSB/speed if you overclock

here is not overclocking. so he is getting 533mhz ram which will run perfect with a stock core2 duo. please dont confuse the guy.

 

[ImmortalDragon]

The e6420 has a higher multiplier, so you can get higher FSB/speed if you overclock

here is not overclocking. so he is getting 533mhz ram which will run perfect with a stock core2 duo. please dont confuse the guy.

I appreciate the babying but I understood what he meant :lol:

 

[knowsitall]

here is a cookie for u <^> 8O \m/

 

[randomizer]

well I know Seasonic is a good brand for PSUs, but that is just too much money for a 430W PSU with only 14A & 15A rails. It may be modular, but still. For less cash and a more powerful PSU with the same features look at this XCLIO 500W:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189012

The seasonic has plnty of power for his current proposed system. However, for less money and if he doesnt care about modular cables, this FSP unit is a bit better in that it will be harder to overload the individual rails.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

It has the same total 12V amperage (29A) as the seasonic, but higher max current per rail. It isnt modular but it is cheaper.

 

[alcattle]

just trying to tell him the difference in the CPUs, as he asked.

 

[-xyzak-]

and I not sure if the power supply could handle a power spike considering the amount of power your system will need. But It looks ok.

With all due respect but what power spike? A generic 400 W is way more than enough for that build.

 

[ImmortalDragon]

well I know Seasonic is a good brand for PSUs, but that is just too much money for a 430W PSU with only 14A & 15A rails. It may be modular, but still. For less cash and a more powerful PSU with the same features look at this XCLIO 500W:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189012

The seasonic has plnty of power for his current proposed system. However, for less money and if he doesnt care about modular cables, this FSP unit is a bit better in that it will be harder to overload the individual rails.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

It has the same total 12V amperage (29A) as the seasonic, but higher max current per rail. It isnt modular but it is cheaper.

I'd like to have modular but I don't really need it (BTW the S12-430 doesn't have modular cables). What I was really looking for in a power supply was active PFC and high efficiency.