First Time Gaming Build About to Order!!!

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Ok guys this is going to be my first computer I've ever built. I've been around computers my whole life and have upgraded every computer I've ever owned, new RAM, Vid Cards, Hard Drives, Power Supplies. I figure its about time to just build one.

This computer is going to be used primarily for gaming. I intend to play WAR when it comes out and I know its not a demanding game but would like to run best graphics w/out lag in big rvr fights. I would like to dual log DAoC accounts, which can be somewhat demanding. I would like to pick up the occasional new PC game and would like to run it well. I also intend to watch some movies on my PC as well as general internet surfing/downloading.

I have studied this forums for the last 5 or so months researching this build. I intend to OC!!!! Figure just make this one big learning experience. So, here is my build!

Taken from Newegg. To be ordered by the end of September, so let me know if something better will be out by then or of any price drops that are scheduled!!!



Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $139.99


GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
Model #: GA-P35C-DS3R
$159.99


EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 640-P2-N821-AR
Mail-in Rebate $30
$379.99


SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-650HT ATX12V/EPS12V, 80Plus, Active PFC, RoHS, 2PCI-E(6Pin), 650W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: SS-650HT
$159.99


Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Model #: BX80562Q6600
$289.99


2 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail
Model #: TWIN2X2048-6400C4
Mail-in Rebate $30x2
$105.00x2 $210.00


Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3320620AS
$79.99


SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Model #: 226BW
Mail-in Rebate $20
$349.99 -$30.00 Instant $319.99


LITE-ON LightScribe Black 20X DVD±R Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write Black IDE Model LH-20A1H-186 - Retail
Model #: LH-20A1H-186
$37.99


Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Model #: ARCTIC SILVER 5
$5.99


ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
Model #: ACFZ7-PRO
$34.99


Subtotal: $1,818.90

With shipping it comes to $1837.96. After rebates it is 1727.96.

I'm also going to hold off til October or November to buy that monitor, have a 17" Samsung LCD for the mean time.

Let me know if this is good, will work, or what you think I should do!!!
 
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One quick edit. I just noticed that the DVD Burner is IDE. So I just changed it to another burner that is SATA but pretty much the same.

Few other questions. Will that Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro 92mm Cooler be enough cooling? How about all of my cooling in general, should I but additional fans or a PCI fan for the Graphics Card? I've read the Antec 900 was great with air circulation.
 

Solariscs

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Jul 23, 2007
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Looks great, if you aren't going to OC though, you don't really need the cooler and if you aren't OCing the Freezer should be fine. I would suggest the cheaper Corsair 620W PSU, it'll give you more than enough power and be a little cheaper than the seasonic, but just as great. Although the seasonic is a great unit, just more power than you need.

If you have any questions let me know at Maximus9102, Aim or yahoo.
 
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I do intend on OCing. I'm going to try to get the quad to 3.0Ghz. I know I can save some money on a cheaper but still good PS, but I have seen PS's fry and do not want to take that chance with this build. And I do intend to upgrade this system in another 18-24 months, so it'd be nice to have the extra power.


Thank you for your help, I am probably going to have a lot of quesitons.
 
If you want 4GB of RAM, you may encounter more glitches with 4x1GB than 2x2GB. Other than that, it looks very nice.

I have found that cooler for as little as $22 elsewhere, but right now the lowest I see for it is $30 at coolerguys.com and ewiz.com.
 
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What I like about the Mobo that I have is that it also supports 45nm technology as well as DDR3 ram, which leaves me the option to upgrade in another 2 years or so when the technology is readily available.

Or am I that much better off with the board you suggested?
 


Yes, and you also save $30 that can be used toward a better cooler like the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.

Don't worry about DDR3 support. Get 2x2GB of DDR2-800 and a GA-P35-DS3R now, and add another 2x2GB in two years instead of messing with DDR3. Honestly it doesn't make any sense for you in 2009 to throw out 4 GB of DDR2-800 and replace it with DDR3, you're better off adding more DDR2. I'm assuming you'll use a 64-bit OS by 2009, of course, so you can actually use 8 GB. You do realize you can't have both DDR2 and DDR3 on the board at the same time, right? The GA-P35-DS3R supports 45 nm technology too, most (all?) P35 boards do.

Very nice PSU. Maybe also look at PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W. (That's the one I picked after reading a couple hundred PSU reviews :pt1cable: )
 

paq7512

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Jul 9, 2006
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Quite a few things on your system are like mine. I have an Antec 900, Samsung 226bw screen, same ram, but I have a ds3 v.3.3 and my video card is not the same, x1900xt 512. So you have a better video card. Gonna get a new one when the new ones roll out. I can still play games at 1650x1050 with my gpu and newer games at that.
 
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I've read that some coolers, like the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme are too heavy and you risk damaging your board.

Also the size of them inhibits proper air flow through the case is another thing I've read about them.

Are these true or is the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme worth the extra $$$?
 
If you carry your computer to LAN parties then any heavy cooler is a problem. If it just stays put you'll be fine.

Antec 900 has excellent airflow, I wouldn't worry.

It is worth the extra money if you also get a good mobo/CPU/RAM that support overclocking properly. That is, with the Ultra you can overclock higher than with anything else, but the rest of the parts must be good quality too.
 
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Ok, I have decided since I'm going to OC the Q6600 I may as well spend a few extra bucks on the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme.

I've also decided that since I'm going to be running the 32 bit Windows XP OS, I see no need for 4GB at this time. So I've bumped down to (1) 2GB Stick of memory. Then when I upgrade to Windows Vista SP1, I can decide whether or not to upgrade to 4 GB or DDR2 or go DDR3.


I have a 64 bit Windows XP disc here. I'm not sure if all of my components would work properly with it. I'm also not sure if all of my software would work with a 64 bit OS. Anyone know?


Here is the ram I'm going to use, it seems good and cheap for my needs.

G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory - Retail
$110 + $5 Shipping.
5-5-5-15 1.8V-1.9V
 
Now you're not getting dual channel, with a single RAM stick. You would get better performance with two 1 GB sticks than with a single 2 GB stick. You could get two 1 GB sticks now and then (say, in 2009) add two more sticks of either 1 GB or 2 GB each. If you're only using the PC for games that should do all right.

64-bit OS: software released recently has probably been tested on Vista 64 (not guaranteed, but likely, especially from big companies). Older things obviously haven't been tested on it. They may work, or not. It's a gamble. For now, if you use older programs and don't have newer releases or other alternatives, I'd try dual boot XP+Vista.
 
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Ok, budget constraint came up. So I'm just going to go with (2) 1GB sticks for now.