Need advice / checkover on first PC build

[digdugdiggy]

I recently decided to try to build my own PC, for the first time. My budget is around 1000$USD and I would like to be able to play some games decently.

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=8229527&WishListTitle=PC+PLEASE

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600
MOBO: ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel
VIDCARD: XFX PVT73GUGD3 GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card
PSU: Antec Basiq BP500U ATX12V Version 2.01 500W Power Supply
Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower
HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (2 of them)
OPTDRVE: LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model LH-20A1P-185
Floppy: SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
OS: Windows XP

My total is coming to 1111.00$ USD, including shipping and 2 year warranties on the important stuff.
Anything look out of the ordinary, that I should fix before I spend all this cash? :lol: Thanks

 

[emp]

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750

The E6750 is faster and newer for the same price.

Mobo: GA-P35-DS3R

The ASUS mobo is extremely overpriced and in my opinion is nowhere near as good as the GA-P35-DS3R, which is pretty much the king of P35 mobos. Oh and before anyone says anything, DDR3 support is worthless at this point, it will not become mainstream for quite some time to come and by the time DDR3 is needed there'll be better chipsets out there that will take better advantage of it than this hybrid.

RAM: Check, great choice.

Video Card: eVGA 8800GTS 320MB

PSU: Antec NeoHE 500 (or 550W) or Corsair 520HX

The antec basiq (just like the earthwatts) is not a PSU for high end gaming computers and should not be used to build one, after all, that's why antec produces the powerful NeoHE series.

Case: Check on that too, great choice.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 320GB 7.2k RPM

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64Bit SP2C - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116378

Don't get the floppy and if you're getting Windows XP then get XP 64, after all crysis will see an improvement of 10-15% per core on 64-bit OS (According to Crytek).

About $1185-1200 with an amazing performance increase in games of about 200% (fps wise according to Tom's charts).

 

[nickc07]

First off I am going to guess this is a gaming PC? If that is the case change everything

With gaming GPU > CPU. Also that ram is too much you dont need 1066 just get 800. I noticed you have 2 Hard drives, do you plan on a RAID 0? I would stay away from it.

Here goes my $0.02:
CPU - E4300 = $130 (save $100)
MOBO - Gigabyte P35 DS3L = $95 (save $60)
RAM - Ballisitx(sp) DDR2 800 = $70 after MIR (save $80)
GPU - 8800GTS 320MB

Put all the extra money you saved into a better GPU.

 

[nickc07]

I just looked too and noticed you said you got an extra 2 year warranty. I wouldnt!

Most PC parts will live forever or never live at all. You can usually RMA anything that goes bad. I have never had anything that broke after the RMA but before I upgraded. I upgrade every 3-4 years BTW

 

[systemlord]

Don't skimp on the GPU, put your money into the CPU and GPU. Gigabyte makes great mobo's (P35) at low prices just over a $100 dollars. I wouldn't go any lower than a 8800GTS 320MB if you want to play games at med to high-end graphics options. If you not going to overclock then I say go with Crucial value RAM, its better than you think just can't OC it.

I had to use Crucial value RAM durring my RMA (Crucial Ballistix Tracers 1066) and didn't notice any difference in gaming or applications.

 

[aevm]

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750

The E6750 is faster and newer for the same price.

Mobo: GA-P35-DS3R

The ASUS mobo is extremely overpriced and in my opinion is nowhere near as good as the GA-P35-DS3R, which is pretty much the king of P35 mobos. Oh and before anyone says anything, DDR3 support is worthless at this point, it will not become mainstream for quite some time to come and by the time DDR3 is needed there'll be better chipsets out there that will take better advantage of it than this hybrid.

RAM: Check, great choice.

Video Card: eVGA 8800GTS 320MB

PSU: Antec NeoHE 500 (or 550W) or Corsair 520HX

The antec basiq (just like the earthwatts) is not a PSU for high end gaming computers and should not be used to build one, after all, that's why antec produces the powerful NeoHE series.

Case: Check on that too, great choice.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 320GB 7.2k RPM

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64Bit SP2C - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116378

Don't get the floppy and if you're getting Windows XP then get XP 64, after all crysis will see an improvement of 10-15% per core on 64-bit OS (According to Crytek).

About $1185-1200 with an amazing performance increase in games of about 200% (fps wise according to Tom's charts).

This should be a sticky

 

[digdugdiggy]

Thanks for all the replies, I will check out the different Mobo's and things, but I have a problem with the Video Card.
I intend to play FFXI alot, as Its one of my favorite games, but I hear that it has alot of problems with the 8000 series cards, and was kinda shooting for a lower one,thinking that maybe I could SLI when I got the money. And what exactly is DDR3 support?

Dont need a floppy? Thats great to hear, I hate the things.

What is the difference between 64 bit and 32 bit windows XP as well?


For the ram originally I had 600 ram, then saw the mobo was 1066, and changed it. Was this a bad choice? Im not sure what those numbers mean, but Im pretty sure that its speed or something to do with front side bus?

Also, I dont want to get a very large HD. I find I never use the space. My old HD was 40GB, and I barely got to the halfway mark, after owning it for like 4 years. Thats with 2-3 very large MMO's installed too.

 

[systemlord]

DDR2 800 is 800MHz and DDR2 1066 is 1066MHz. The only reason you would need DDR2 1066 is if you are going to be overclocking heavy, if not then just get DDR2 800. Windows 32bit is just fine because 90% of software is 32bit, and gaming is 32bit. A floppy drive might become useful for updating your bios, unless you mobo has some sort of flash drive update like Asus's EZ Flash 2.

Forget DDR3 anything it cost to much for what it is, you'll get no real world performance difference out of it.

 

[emp]

Not acquainted with FFXI much, but this I can tell you, unless you're planning to crossfire/SLI the BEST cards that money can buy it's not worth it, and even then it's usually not justifiable unless you're shooting for a 1080p or higher resolutions. Stick with a single card.

If you cannot/don't want to get the 8800GTS 320, I would rather pay $100 more for a HD 2900XT 512MB and get that instead of getting midrange old/new cards which might run today's games but will severely lack power for tomorrow's games. Because even if you only play now FFXI you may be wanting to play later some of the best titles like Crysis and you'll regret getting a lesser card.