New gaming rig - please comment

[grimgrinch]

Hi all,

Looking at building a new rig, this is only my 2nd build. I used Sharky Exteme and Tom's Hardware as my main two references and some Newegg reviews.

I have most the parts picked out but could use some feedback.

If you make a recommendation for a part or review please include a link, I will be ordering all parts via Newegg (except Monitor). I do have a budget, and I'm already maxed out. Would like to keep it around $3K total.

Also bear in mind that I'd like this system to last a minimum of 3 years for gaming, I know that's a stretch these days so if feel like there is a better way to go for the bang for the buck please let me know. I've always wanted to try liquid cooling but was too scared. My current rig is air cooled and loud as h***. If anyone has any good suggestion for that and think I can fit in to my budget that'd be awesome (newbie guide?)

I went with the E6850 even though its as expensive as the cheapest quad cores cause I read that most games don't utilize more than one core right now anyways. I hope to overclock it when the time comes.

There are a couple items I'm unsure of, on those I included two options **Please help me choose** (motherboard (Asus Striker Extreme vs ASUS P5N32-E SLI , memory (Corsair XMS2 800 vs Crucial Ballistix 1066) and vid card (320 mb vs 640) Also taking suggestions for a better widescreen monitor 20-22" if there's one out there in my range for $399.

I would like to have gone with a 7.1 speaker system, but haven't seen a good review for one.

Here we go;

20 in Dell 2007FPW Ultrasharp™ Flat Panel Monitor Wide $399.00

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
(2) VANTEC Blue 18" ATA 66/100/133 IDE Round Cable, 3-Connector Model
CBL-100IDE18-BL - Retail $10.98($5.29 each)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16812104201
Item #: N82E16812104201

(3) Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm Case Fan - Retail $29.97 ($9.99 each)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835185005
Item #: N82E16835185005

(1) COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 Evolution RC-830-SSN2-GP Silver Aluminum ATX
Full Tower Computer Case - Retail $259.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119103
Item #: N82E16811119103

(1) ZALMAN CNPS 9700 NT 110mm 2 Ball Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler - Retail $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835118020
Item #: N82E16835118020

(1) Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 Processor Model
BX80557E6850 - Retail $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115028
Item #: N82E16819115028

(1) CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual
Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX - Retail $141.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145177
Item #: N82E16820145177

OR

(1) Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA1065 - Retail $154.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820148069
Item #: N82E16820148069

(1) ASUS Striker Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX The Ultimate
Gaming Motherboard - Retail $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131074
Item #: N82E16813131074

OR

(1) ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard -
Retail $204.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131073
Item #: N82E16813131073

(2) Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard
Drive - OEM $379.98 ($189.99 each)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136011
Item #: N82E16822136011

(1) Microsoft Natural 4000 B2M-00012 Black USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard -
Retail $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823109148
Item #: N82E16823109148

(1) Logitech G5 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Mouse - Retail $43.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826104191
Item #: N82E16826104191

(1) OCZ GameXStream OCZ850GXSSLI ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 850Watts Power
Supply - Retail $209.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817341003
Item #: N82E16817341003

(1) Creative 70SB046A00003 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi
Platinum Fatal1ty Champion Series Sound Card - Retail $174.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102014

(1) Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail $292.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16836121120
Item #: N82E16836121120

(1) Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM $15.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835100008
Item #: N82E16835100008

(1) EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $369.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130071
Item #: N82E16814130071

On the vid card, would the 320 MB be fine or should I go with the GTX (would love that!!!)

Thanks all!

Did I forget anything? lol

 

[yamagiru]

First note that Nvidia will be releasing their new video cards before the end of this year, and Intel will be releasing their new mobo/cpu chips before the end of this year. If you can wait I would suggest it!


Here are my recommendations:


SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1(DC 3000:1) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001096


Save yourself some money on those Raptors and get WD's new HD's that are comparable to them (see the review on Tom's site)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074


AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail (this uses Creative's EAX 5 chip with better hardware)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829156005

 

[grimgrinch]

Thanks yamagiru,

One thing to add, I'll be running XP Pro as OS.

I like what I see on the monitor you suggested, I might give that SAMSUNG 226BW a try. I did catch that review you mentioned about the Raptors vs the new Caviars. I don't know what the heck I'd do with all that room! lol

 

[yamagiru]

I have 3 of the 226's, no problems with any of them, I highly recommend them.

Take the money you save on the HD's and spend it on an 8800GTX or one of the new video cards coming out.

 

[starcraftfanatic]

do you really like sound? if you dont like onboard audio just get a cheap SB for $60-75, get a GTX like yamagiru said. P5N-E32, striker extreme is for the people that have no budget, get a Q6600 and a good cooler, the new ones overclock well and some new games use all four cores, and future games probably will use at least 2.
EDIT: different case as well, $250 is just too much, also you might want to wait to see if phenom is any good.

 

[grimgrinch]

Hehe, you guys are great and trust me I really do appreciate your feedback. Here's revised list, but now I'm over budget.

P.S. the round IDE cable is for an older system trying to tidy it up

2407WFP-HC
Dell 2407WFP-HC Ultrasharp™ 24 Inch Widescreen Flat Panel LCD Monitor $568.65

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price 1
COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 Evolution RC-830-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811119122
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

$40.00 Mail-in Rebate

$259.99 2
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136074
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

-$5.00 Instant

$159.98
$149.98
($74.99 each) 2
EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130072
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net 1 Peripheral Extended Plan -- $49.99 2 Year Service Net 1 Peripheral Extended Plan -- $69.99 3 Year Service Net 1 Peripheral Extended Plan -- $99.99

$20.00 Mail-in Rebate

$1,059.98
($529.99 each) 1
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16829102006
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99


$79.99 1
SILVERSTONE ST1000 ATX12V / EPS12V 1000W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817256020
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $59.99

-$20.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate

$279.99
$259.99 1
Microsoft Natural 4000 B2M-00012 Black USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16823109148
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

-$5.00 Instant

$54.99
$49.99 1
Logitech G5 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Mouse - Retail
Item #: N82E16826104191
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

-$2.00 Instant

$45.99
$43.99 1
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100008
Return Policy: Consumable Items Return Policy


$15.99 2
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA1065 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820148069
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $29.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99

$25.00 Mail-in Rebate

$308.98
($154.49 each) 1
ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131073
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $59.99

-$15.00 Instant

$219.99
$204.99 1
VANTEC Blue 18" ATA 66/100/133 IDE Round Cable, 3-Connector Model CBL-100IDE18-BL - Retail
Item #: N82E16812104201
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$5.49 1
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115017
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $59.99


$279.99 3
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm Case Fan - Retail
Item #: N82E16835185005
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$10.00 Instant

$59.97
$29.97
($9.99 each) 1
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835109140
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$64.99 1
Scythe SCY-12FC 12cm Fan Clip - Retail
Item #: N82E16835185043
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$2.49

$3384 Total plus about $100 (tax/shipping)

 

[hashbrown]

I would recommend going with just one GTX now, and saving the $400-500 for a future upgrade on a single video card that might be more powerful than both GTX's combined. Also, I would second the recommendation of the Samsung 226's.