Building 2 Rigs...Have Tricky Questions

[arson]

Hello. I am building two systems in the coming months and I would like to get some professional opinions.


FIRST:SATA DILEMA

I am going to use an Asus M2N-E. Anyone currently using this mobo with a SATA HD?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131022

If so, my question is do I need to go through the hassle of getting a floppy for the SATA HD installation or will the mobo automatically detect the drive?

I don't want to buy a floppy and I don't want to have to download the drivers from the net, (because my PC won't even exist to download to and the pc that I am on and its floppy doesn't work).

I ask because I am going to buy an OEM Western Digital 10,000 RPM SATA drive that will probably not come with any drivers. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136012 If not, should I just break down and buy the retail box so I will get a disk with the drivers just in case?

SECOND: XP or VISTA
This is very debatable I know. I have read alot of reviews and I am still undecided. I want the build to go smoothly and without headache. Some people swear by VISTA and others swear by XP. XP hasn't let me down in the past so maybe I should stick with what works? I have heard that there could be compatibility issues with NVIDIA 8800 series GFX cards. I wonder if this is true. I am a gamer and this rig will have a 8800 GTS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

THIRD: RAM
I don't know too much about RAM but this looks good CORSAIR XMS2 2GB DDR2 800 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145590

FOURTH: QUIET PSU
I want a powerful and quiet and cool PSU. This OCZ gamerXstream 600w looks good? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817341001

FIFTH: COOLING
I want to get this ZALMAN HS/FAN http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835118223
and I want to get a VGA fan for the 8800GTS GFX card, has anyone modded a 8800 series NVIDIA card before with heatsinks and a new fan? Is it worth it? Is it hard? As the look of the 8800GTS you would have to break through its outer plastic shell which scares me.

SIXTH: CASE
This case makes my mouth drool..Cool Master Stacker http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119103
Should I buy a couple 120mm fans for it? Considering this one... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811999344

SEVENTH: CPU
Finally, I am thinking of getting AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103773

I appreciate in advance any recommendations or answers to some of the burning questions in this post.

 

[rwpritchett]

I just thought that I'd pitch in about the SATA drivers. If you decide to get Vista, there's a very good chance that it will have the SATA driver already and a floppy isn't necessary. If by chance you do need to install the driver for Vista, you can now use a USB flash drive instead of a floppy to 'F6' the driver. For XP, however, you'll need a floppy.

 

[Aljazera]

First off I'd like to know if you were planning on overclocking with this build, ever. What will you be using it for, Home theater PC, Game station, or your Masturbation Machine.

Motherboard
I have the M2N-E and it was my first motherboard for my first build and everything went smoothly you will only need a floppy if you are setting up raid which you aren't. Only restriction on this board is the memory it accepts. It won't take any memory higher than 1.95.

OS
I was lucky enough that when I bought my XP MCE it came with a free upgrade to vista. So I had the opportunity to try both. I would say to hold off on the Vista, it is annoying, and you've got a 50-50 chance that your game or program will work with it. I got annoyed so much that I uninstalled it after 3 days.
The Ram
The ram you have is fine, but if you look into overclocking than there are other options you should consider to get the most out of your chips.
The PSU
OCZ make good PSU's and thats a good choice, but look for future-proofing get something 700W+ and since you are getting a 8800GTS its another reason to get a 700W + PSU.
The COoling
Don't get that Zalman, get this sucker it fits both LGA775s and AM2s and is a great cooler and cheaper... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154001
The Case
Get whatever case, it really doesn't matter. Worrying about cases are dumb, unless you go to lan parties like nerds and show off your gigahertz.

I have a AMD X2 3800 2.0ghz with Asus M2N-E and 2gigs of Mushkins. Now, that I've said that I'd rather of had a Intel C2D, only because I've played on a kids laptop while I was in class one day and it seemed faster, plus all the articles i've read on the matter.

You get a C2D if you overclock, You get an AMD if you don't.

If you choose to go the Intel route; I'll recommend a motherboard and some chips:

Comparable price to the 6000: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2+50001157+40000 343+1050722265+1050922263&name=Conroe
and motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188017

What ***I, ME, MYSELF*** would get for gaming if you can afford the extra 50$ or so:

I'd get the E6750
( http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA24051 )
and Mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128047

 

[arson]

Great info everyone. Thanks for clearing up some info on SATA.

Aljazera, I have never built an Intel rig before. But maybe I should break out of my comfort zone this time. I checked out that Intel cpu at Mwave, and wow a quad?

How about this one at newegg for a 100 dollars more.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

I am trying to stick with newegg since I have a preferred account and no payment for 6 months there.

I really think you convinced me to go Intel this time. By the way what is future-proofing in a PSU? I will take your word on the Heatsink Fan.

I still would like to get Vista but I am still very weary about it. Its like taking a gamble. So I will probably stick with XP for myself and as far as the other machine I will let the new owners (next door neighbors) figure out what OS they want and let them deal with it.

And thanks supremelaw for clearing up the SATA.

 

[arson]

Failed to mention that this will be strictly a gaming machine. I am a big MMO player and this rig doesn't have to have bleeding edge hardware. Just enough to handle the massive amount loading that can be involved in massive raids in these games. I will be playing Warhammer Online, and WoW. However I will dabble in other games such as some FPS games like, BF2, Crysis and Call of Duty 4 and finally, for RTS games; Supreme Commander and Starcraft 2. And like I said before I want to get Vista but I am still very weary of it.

Lastly, will the Antec case width of 8.1 inches be wide enough for the Torque Fan?

Physical Spec of the HSF
Fan Dimensions 120 x 120 x 25mm
Heatsink Dimensions 131 x 108 x 153mm

Phys Spec of the Case
21.3'' x 8.1%u201D x 19.9%u201D(HxWxD)

Update on current build


CASE: Antec P182 - 159.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129025

HD: Western Digital Raptor 150GB 10,000 RPM - 194.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136012

MON ITOR: SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - 319.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824001096

PSU : OCZ GameXStream 600W - 109.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817341001

RAM : CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - 104.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145590

MOB O: GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - 114.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128012

CPU : Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model - 309.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115017

HSF : Tuniq Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler - 45.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835154001

GFX: EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 - 280.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130082

TOT AL: 1659.00 with shipping.

Not too bad. My budget is 1500.00.

So according to what I just described the use for this system (Heavy MMO and RTS gaming) is it on the right track? Personally I think it will get the job done and then some.

 

[MrTechnoFreak]

Just a sidenote...I installed Vista-64 on this system, and even if you need 3rd party software, it can now look on CD, not just floppy, hence, no floppy here

Thanks for that article Supreme...I'm going to look into a new cooler I think

 

[arson]

Just a sidenote...I installed Vista-64 on this system, and even if you need 3rd party software, it can now look on CD, not just floppy, hence, no floppy here

Thanks for that article Supreme...I'm going to look into a new cooler I think

So you didn't have any problems with Vista detecting and properly installing? And you used similar hardware that I have listed? How does it run? Fast?

 

[MrTechnoFreak]

So you didn't have any problems with Vista detecting and properly installing? And you used similar hardware that I have listed? How does it run? Fast?

I'm running:

GA-P35-DS3R
E6850
4gb Crucial Ballistix
eVGA 8800GTX
Antec 900
Corsair HX620w
2x 74gb WD Raptors

on Vista 64, and it's blazing! The only thing I had a problem installing was my Belkin Nostromo n52 (addon game controller) because of unsigned drivers, but I found a pretty good link for that and got it fixed quickly. Fear maxed is really sweet

My 3d mark:

This is not OC'ed either. Once I get a new heat sink for the CPU, we'll see.

 

[Aljazera]

Now that I see your budget, I think you might like this:

The Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129154
Same thing just different color; You save money overall by $5 dollars.
The PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817341001
This psu has the exact same specifications and is the same brand saving 20$.
The Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
These sticks are faster and only 5$ more.

 

[GenericName]

I flashed my BIOS from a USB stick as I too didn't want a floppy- worked great

You have to format the USB so only the BIOS is on the stick and its named the correct ".BIN" - I'm sure Asus has instructions if you download the manual from their site and read through it. I did it on my Asus P5N32-e Board without a problem and wasn't in a windows environment.