Need Advice!!!

[hendersondayton]

I am getting ready to do a build. I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to combinations of hardware and what works best with what (as if that is something to consider.

I am hoping to get some EXPERT GAMER advice on the combination of items I currently have picked out. If someone has time to look over what I have spec'd out here, point out any flaws or suggestions I would appreciate it.

The links are to NEWEgg and will help you with the tech specs for each part.

Case - only included this for the power supply specs
Eagle Tech CA-DRG-K Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811117069

Motherboard
Intel BOXDG965OTMKR LGA 775 Intel G965 Express Micro ATX Intel

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813121080

Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115003

Graphics Card
EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130071

Hard Drive
SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD403LJ 400GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822152085

Monitor
SAMSUNG 906BW Black 19" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2000:1 DC

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824001094


I will answer any other questions needed to help me out.

 

[blade85]

what are the specs of that power supply?

 

[hendersondayton]

Does this answer?

http://www.newegg.com/product/prod [...] 6811117069


Power Supply 500W
Motherboard Compatibility ATX
With Side Panel Window Yes
Expansion
External 5.25" Drive Bays 4
External 3.5" Drive Bays 2
Internal 3.5" Drive Bays 4
With front LCD display Multi-function dragon LCD Display
Expansion Slots 7
Front Ports
Front Ports USB, Audio, IEEE 1394
Cooling System
80mm Fans 1 x 80mm rear fan
1 x 80mm front fan
120mm Fans No
Side Air duct Yes
Physical Spec
Dimensions 19" x12.8" x 24.5"
Weight 17 lbs.
Features
Features Easy to build design - tool less function
Take it with you - easy carry Handle
Super COOL 2.0mm Heavy duty Aluminum alloy
5.0mm aluminum made high quality dragon front panel door

 

[Daredevil_8]

Don't get that psu..spend the money on a different/cheaper/better case and get a better PSU. Not worth taking the chance.

Also, the E6750 is cheaper than the E6600, so I'd consider finding a motherboard (P35 series) to go with that. Lots to choose from.

 

[Onus]

That PSU is probably a cheap system-killer. Choose one from Tier-3 or better from this list: http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon

While I could see that anyone (especially an old "Kung Fu" fan) would appreciate the looks of that case, I see that it takes 80mm fans instead of 120mm; they will be much louder and/or not move as much air. If you chose this case only because of the PSU, revisit your case selection without regard to PSU and get that separately. Case looks are entirely personal; you might not care for the plain looks of the CoolerMaster Elite or Centurion that I would choose for myself. They are tool-less designs and either have or will take 120mm fans front and rear. You definitely want a better PSU though.

Any particular reason for choosing a micro-ATX board? If you want micro-ATX, this Gigabyte
GA-G33M-DS2R will be better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128053

Otherwise, I believe this full-size Gigabyte Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L will be good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Or, for about $35 more, this Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R also has RAID:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

On the CPU, get the e6750, which is faster, cooler, and cheaper ($205 vs. $227):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

or, because future games will probably be able to use the additional cores, get a Q6600, although it is $290:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

The 8800GTS is nice (too bad I really can't afford one now), but on a 19" monitor at 1440 x 900, you can drop back to the 320MB version and save some money ($300 vs. $380):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130038

 

[hendersondayton]

PSU is a system killer because its onlt 500W and only has an 80mm Fan?

Would u mind suggesting a good Motherboard Processor combo to go with that graphics card (or the 320mb)

 

[Onus]

The PSU might be a system killer because it is a cheap one that comes with a case. The case you chose I said would be louder than one that takes 120mm fans, and would probably get warmer.
The rig I built last month, with which I've been pleased, used the GA-G33M-DS2R micro-ATX with an e6750; links above. Unless you want micro-ATX (I did, for mine), you would likely be just as happy with the -DS3R.

 

[hendersondayton]

what am i looking for in a PSU for my system?

explain the downgrade in graphics card (due to the 19" monitor). how do they relate?

 

[hendersondayton]

If you were going to build a PC with $1300, what would be your wish list? Using New Egg give me your suggestions.

I already have the 19" 2000:1 contrast ratio monitor with 2ms refresh rate:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824001094

not including a keyboard and case, but include the essentials:

Graphics Card
Motherboard
Processor
Hard Drive
Memory
Power Supply

 

[Onus]

I do not believe you will see a notable improvement in quality between the 640MB and 320MB versions of the 8800GTS at a resolution of only 1440 x 900. If you had a 24" monitor at a much higher resolution, you might, or you may even want to get the 8800GTX.
I'll see about another list; I'm still at work so may be a little while. I'm sure others could post agreeable builds as well.

 

[evongugg]

The Gigabyte GA-935... is a hit or miss right now.
Several people are reporting problems.

This might help:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2157&page=15

 

[Onus]

Here is a list:
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=7640667&WishListTitle=Craft
at $1242, the rest will be taken up by shipping and/or extortion, depending on where you live.
I did not include an OS, speakers, surge protector, or UPS. I chose the Retail DVD burner because it includes the software. A Q6600 would have been more future-resistant than the e6750, but would have surpassed the budget; I preferred the better 8800GTX for gaming. If you drop back to a GTS320, you could get the Q6600. With your monitor's max resolution of 1440 x 900, that might be a reasonable move. It would also allow you to get the smaller Corsair HX-520 PSU and save a little there. Another alternative is to drop the CPU back to a 4400 and wait to see what Intel unleashes next year. Use the money saved for an aftermarket cooler (also not on this list) to overclock the CPU.

 

[hendersondayton]

How does this look:

Power Supply
Rosewill RT750-135-BK 750W SLI Ready, ATX12V v2.2 Power Supply 115/230 V UL, FCC, CB, CE, TUV

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817182079

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128050

Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115029

Graphics Card
EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130038

Hard Drive
SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD403LJ 400GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s

http://www.newegg.com/product/prod [...] 6822152085

Monitor
SAMSUNG 906BW Black 19" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2000:1 DC

http://www.newegg.com/product/prod [...] 6824001094

 

[Obtuse]

$1300 is a pretty good budget for a gaming PC, usually when my friends ask me, I say you can build one for 800-1000 dollars. The reason someone told you you only need the 320 mb GTS instead of the 640mb gts is that the extra memory on the 640mb really only comes into play at the higher resolutions (i.e. 1600 x 1200, 1920 X 1200, etc.) The reason people have admonished you not to go with that integrated 500w PSU is that for most case manufacturers (I would exclude Antec from this list), the PSU they give you with the case is crap. If you are going to be running a higher-end system with a Core 2 Duo processor and an 8800 series card, you need a PSU with at least 500 watts and at least 28 amps one the combined 12v rails (according the specs for the 8800 cards on BFG's website).

For cases, the 3 I've liked recently are the Sonata III (which has a DECENT integrated PSU) Link.

The Aurora 3d from gigabyte Link

The Antec P180 Link.

If you get a case w/o PSU, there is a very good sticky in the PSU forums about which manufacturers are the best, you're probably safe going with one of them, with anything over 500 watts. I myself thought the new corsair 550vx PSU sounded great (can't link, doesn't go on sale until Sept, but corsair's website has info).

For graphics card, I'd probably go with the one you chose, EVGA is pretty good from what I hear, remember, at your resolution, 320 is just about on par with 640 mb, so there's $100 you don't have to spend.

For proc, I like the e6750. Link. It's fast, dual cores, don't have to bother with OC, and it uses the new higher FSB. Some people like the q6600 for 4 cores, but it's slower (2.4 vs 2.66 ghz) and it uses a slower FSB, so for a pure gaming rig with no overclocking, I like the 6750.

For a mobo, everyone seems to be in love with the Gigabyte p35 motherboards Link. They seem to garner pretty good reviews.

For memory, take the same tack as PSU, read about the top tier memory makers, I like Corsair and Crucial myself, but there are others in tier 1. Get 2 X 1gb sticks, go for cas 4, it's not that much more, you'll be fine with DDR 667 or DDR2 800. Link.

HD's I like WD, but that's personal, I'm sure other people like Samsung or Seagate. 500 gig drives are almost $100 dollars now, that's enough storage for most people. Other alternative is something like a 150GB raptor Link. If you don't need a ton of storage but want fast access times.

 

[Onus]

Rosewill is on Tier-5 ("Do not buy") on the PSU listing I put in my earlier post. Corsair is on Tier-2, and FSP is Tier-3.
Otherwise, your build looks good but don't forget some DDR2-800 RAM.

 

[hendersondayton]

jtt283 (and everyone else) I appreciate your input.

I will seriously consider the wish list you (JTT283) worked up for me. I appreciate you looking into it!

 

[hendersondayton]

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817153052

Please let me know if this will work for my build.

 

[Onus]

Yes, that Thermaltake PSU will work.

 

[hendersondayton]

thank you very much