My 1st Attempt at a Computer Configuration

aharmona

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PROCESSOR - Intel Core 2 Duo 6600 $225
RIG - Cooler Master CAC-T05UW Centurion 5 $60
RIG COOLING - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Heatsink $30
RIG POWER - Corsair CMPSU-620HX 620W $140
MB CORE LOGIC - MSI P6N SLI Platinum $150
MEMORY - Corsair XMS2 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 DIMM $260
HARD DRIVE - WD Raptor 150GB $210
HARD DRIVE COOLER - Vantec Ultra Thin Aluminum $15
VIDEO CARD - XFX GeForce 8600GT $150
OPTICAL DRIVE - NEC AD-7170A Dual Layer DVD±RW DL $40
SOUND - Undecided $50
NETWORK PORT - Intel PRO1000 MT $40

All for the price of approximately $1,370.

Now as to what I do. I'm a graphic designer who does a bit of everything with graphics, audio, animation and video. I also do some online games when I have time. Time to get a new machine so I give you my very first configuration. Thoughts, comments and suggestions welcomed.

-Andrew
 

apt403

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It looks good. You might want to think about the Gigabyte DS3R instead of the P5N, it's more or less the same price. Review linkage.

The video card is kinda weak, but as long as you're not playing anything really gfx intensive it'll work fine.

Don't worry about the sound, onboard is fine.

If you can wait until July 22nd, you'll be able to get a Q6600 for $266.
 

ethel

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Looks a nice build. As apt403 says, the gfx card is midrange but it should be fine if you're not a big gamer.

I also agree that you don't need a soundcard, as onboard sound is pretty good these days.

You also don't need a LAN card as gigabit ethernet comes standard with most boards now.
 

boner

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wel... let's see... what type of graphics do you do?? and there is cheaper memory in www.newegg.com and some other places and they are still good memory :) 8) :twisted:
 

aharmona

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Ok,

No sound card needed
No ethernet card needed
Look into the Gigabyte DSR3 instead of P5N
Look into better graphics card
Consider waiting until 07-22 for a Q6600

Now, does the configuration I have support the Q6600 coming out?

I'm glad to see I didn't do too bad. I also thought about adding a second graphics card.

Do I need any special cables to connect them? Or do they need connected at all? Will my configuration support dual graphic cards?

You folks have been a tremendous help!

-Andrew
 

aharmona

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Any suggestions? :D

"For the same price as two cards you can always get a card that runs better then the both, unless your running "the top of the line"."
 

systemlord

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Wouldn't you be better off with a faster dx9 card than the 8600?

"VFighterX has a good point." Direct X 9.0c has lots of life left in it. Most games that are releast for DX10 will be releast in DX 9 to. Its going to take some time for DX 10 to take off.
 

aharmona

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Well both wouldn't be bad. Although, if a single card can be better than double cards of a lower quality, then I guess i would go the single card route :)
 

systemlord

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Well both wouldn't be bad. Although, if a single card can be better than double cards of a lower quality, then I guess i would go the single card route :)

Put all your money in one monster graphics card and you'll be good for long time and you wont need a HUGE powersupply
 

goldragon_70

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Well both wouldn't be bad. Although, if a single card can be better than double cards of a lower quality, then I guess i would go the single card route :)

Well for Dual either 2: 8800 gtx or 2: 2900xt !gb (After a few months, when the drivers are more stable with CF, though). I doubt this will fit your budget though so, for a single card configuration I need to know what you are willing to spend on a Graphic card.
 
Good job! What you have will work fine. There are, however some things which I think could be done just a bit better.
Consider waiting until july 22 for the intel price reductions. For the same price, you could get a Q6600, or an E6850.
Where will you put the case? If it is on the floor, the bottom mounted buttons will be awkward.
Your heat sink has a 92mm fan. I like heat sinks that have rear facing 120mm fans. Bigger fans turn slower, and are quieter while moving the same air. Look at the scythe ninja plus for about the same money.
Good PSU, but the 520W version is more than enough, even with a 8800gts vga card.
For a mobo, don't pay extra for sli and other things if you don't need them. A P965 board from a good manuracturer such as gigabyte, intel,asus, msi would be fine. The new P35 boards look good, but for a first attempt, I would go with a board that has had time to get all the inevitable bios updates out of the way.
For two monitors(a good idea) just connect them both to the same vga card. If you think you might want to play some action type games, then a 8800gts is a good choice.
I would agree with others to skip the sound card.
Any mobo you might consider will already have a lan port and decent onboard sound.
I like the raptor, but it doesn't need a cooler.
If you are looking for monitors, I would suggest getting two identical ones. Get the best ones you can afford. They will be with you much longer than the rest of your system, and they are what you will see and touch every day.
 

aharmona

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PROCESSOR
Intel Core 2 Duo 6600 $225
CASE
Cooler Master CAC-T05UW Centurion 5 $60
Antec SOLO $100
COOLING
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Heatsink $30
Scythe SCNJ1100P 120mm $45
POWER
Corsair CMPSU-620HX 620W $140
Corsair CMPSU-520HX 520W $90
Seasonic S12 Energy+ 550W SLI EPS $125
MOBO
MSI P6N SLI Platinum $150
Intel D975XBX2 $210
MEMORY
Corsair XMS2 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 DIMM $260
HD
WD Raptor 150GB $210
GRAPHICS
XFX GeForce 8800GTS $300
e-GeForce Superclocked GeForce 8800 GTS $300
DVD
NEC AD-7170A Dual Layer DVD±RW DL $40

The above is just a recap of suggestions made and their associated cost. I definitely think I'll be going with the e-GeoForce card. Thanks again folks on that. I am keeping the 07-22 date in mind but for the sake of everything else, I'll just run with this.

Price we are looking at a range of $1420 - $1535, a nice tight range there. Considering the original price was $1370 and as per your suggestions, I eliminated a few things and put the $$$ into more practical things.

So as a second round, how do you folks things are shaping up?

- Andrew
 

petevsdrm

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It is looking good now. That e-geforce is probably eVga, which is in my opinion the best manufacturer of nVidia cards. I have one of their superclocked 8800GTX cards, and it has given me no problems whatsoever.

I agree to go with the 620w corsair, because if you do decide to SLI your card in the future, you won't have to upgrade your PSU.

Good luck :wink:
 

Daredevil_8

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I just noticed that you have your mem priced at $260...not sure why but @ newegg its $91 after MIR

Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 @Newegg

and personally..I don't care for either of those motherboards...I noticed both are SLI (I assume thats what you want) so I'd pick from one of these P35 motherboards (better future upgrades! will be compatible with all processors released on july 22nd I think):

P35 SLI Boards @Newegg
 

aharmona

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Sorry about that, the Corsair Memory is the price because I was thinking of getting 2 of them (total 4G) so the price is double the original price.