Unoriginal - New AMD Gameing PC. Thoughts, concerns, flames?

[Gsusnme]

Working out specs for a brand new PC, here's the list of what I ordered, hopefully everything will work together, I did enough researching so they should, only thing I am a little concerned about is maybe my PSU not being strong enough. But I'm sure you guys will let me know if I didn't! =)

Monitor - Acer AL1917WAbd Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor

Case - Rosewill R5604-TBK 0.8mm SECC Screw-less Dual 120mm Fans ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

PSU - OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply

Mobo - ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADX6000CZBOX

CPU Cooler - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

CPU Coolant Compound - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

Memory/RAM - G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Video Card - XFX PVT80GGHD4 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported HDCP Video Card

Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

Speakers - Logitech X-530 70 watts RMS 5.1 Black Speaker System

Hard Drive - SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Hard Drive Cooler - VIGOR HCC-S1BK Aluminum 5.25" interior hard disk radiator

UPS - CyberPower Intelligent LCD Series CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W UPS

Mouse/Keyboard - Logitech MX 5000 967558-0403 Black USB Bluetooth Wireless Standard Desktop Mouse Included

Optical Drives - 2x LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model LH-20A1H-185

Geeky Extra - BELKIN F8E093 Anti-Static Wrist Strap

Extra Case Fan - APEVIA CF12SL-UBL 120mm Blue LED Case Fan

IDE Drive Rounded Cable (I have a harddrive from an old PC I will be putting into this one) -
VANTEC Clear 18" ATA 66/100/133 IDE Round Cable, 3-Connector Model CBL-100IDE18-CS

SATA Rounded Cable - OKGEAR Cable Model OK18ARUB12

Spare Thumb Screws - Link Depot SCW-10-BK 10 Pack of Black Anodized Thumbscrews

Geeky Extra - Thermaltake A2315 iBox 5.25" Drive Bay Accessory Box

All items on Newegg, read every review and googled every item, even though (of course) someone always had something bad to sya about something, 80% of the populace agreed on the Individual component being great. Hopefully I made some good choice here, let me know guys!

 

[aadamszc]

Everything looks great to be honest. People will tell you that Intel is better for over clocking right now, but it seems like you like AMD.

Other than that, you have an SLI GPU and MOBO. that is all fine and dandy, but if you aren't planning on ever getting a second video card, you spent a little more than you had to.

PSU is good, it's tier 2. If you are afraid that it won't have enough wattage -- get a rough estimate here: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

The only other thing that I would like to add is that the new(this is all speculation) 8800gt 512MB will most likely outperform the 8800gts 320Mb that you have their. Supposedly the 8800gt will also cost a little less than your card.

Other than that, it looks like it will be cool enough and everything. That is a very nice system you have their. Have fun!

 

[MagicPants]

That monitor seems a little cheapo. Why not leave something else off (like the sound card or wireless desktop) and move upto a 22 incher?

 

[Rabidpeanut]

I would stick with the sound card, it makes you feel more in the game than a big monitor will. $(1/50)

 

[justjc]

Only thing I will comment is how soon you need the new system, as Novembr seems to be the month of new product launches, which could mean you would get a little more for your money if you wait a little.

Significant releases in November(that I know of(might have missed some))
- The first Phenom processors
- The first AM2+ socket motherboards, among others some with the new AMD 790FX chipset
- The nVidia 8800 GT
- The ATi HD3850 and HD3870(formerly known as 2950 pro and xt)
- The Intel Penryn processor is set to debut on the server market(not really relevant, but I thought I would mentione it anyway)

 

[Falken699]

Some quick suggestions:

Firstly, I have that monitor and it is suprisingly good, no ghosting, and very clear. BUT I wouldn't get one at this point. You can get a 21.6" monitor now REALLY cheap. Grab some LG piece of junk that is larger, or get a nice Samsung. 19" is just WAY too small for gaming anymore, you gotta pull yourself out of the '90s man.

I would also TOTALLY wait till you can get a Phenom, it is out really soon. You waited this long. At least you can tell us all about it in the forums for our reading pleasure.

Invest in a nicer case, I don't even know you but I can only say, "you're worth it Bro". Rosewill? MEH.

Wait for the 8800GT 512MB man. A few weeks. Much better than the 320 MB which is EOL now.

Would only go with a UPS made by APC. Pick any one, if you use an LCD they have quite a bit of juice.

Don't bother with the cooler if you get a Phenom. AMD is making some decent HSFs for PIBs now. Also, AMD runs pretty cool anyway. Save the bucks, if you were worried about performance you'd just be getting a C2Q.

Get an Asus MB, but pick one that isn't SLI and doesn't have Wireless. Just more stuff to pay for and screw up on your MB. You want wireless? Buy a separate card, much better that way.

I have never used G.Skill, get it only if it is fabbed by Micron (Intel). If it isn't, grab some Crucial. As cheap as you can get it.

Wow, don't bother with a HDD any less than 10,000 RPM anymore. Get a Raptor. Ditch the Vigor cooler, case fans are enough.

Get a G5 Logitech WITH a cord.

You'll love that soundcard as Rabidpeanut says. You'll crap yourself with the bass under your desk and you'll be squeaking like a little girl when monsters jump at you. Very immersive. Those speakers are pretty decent for the low $$, you'll like those too.

Follow ALL our suggestions and repost so we can peek over it again. See you back here in a bit.

 

[elbert]

Drop the monitor and the 8800GTS. Get the samsung 21.6" and the 8800GT at the end of this month. If it doesn't release at the end of this month wait till it does as its cheaper and faster than the 8800GTS.

 

[aadamszc]

I don't mean to sound rude/blunt, but how do we even know that this guy will be able to afford some of the stuff that is being suggested? Yeah, he has some extra goodies, but maybe he needs those things?

 

[tlmck]

AMD Hiss, Boo, Flame Flame Flame.

Nice build though.

 

[homerdog]

I'm glad I looked at this. Usually these "review my build" threads consist of some combination of a 512MB x1600pro and a 600W POWMAX PSU. This is definitely one of the most well researched and planned out builds I've seen around here in a while.

I would state the obvious (g92 and RV670 coming out next month, Intel is better than AMD, etc.) but it seems like you are aware of these facts. Best of luck

 

[croc]

Drop the belkin wrist strap and get a 3m....

 

[Mr Cipher]

I got my 22" widescreen acer brand new-in-the-box from ebay for $150, if you're comfortable with that sort of thing.

From the things I've learned here in the past 2 days, it seems like it might be worth waiting for price drops once everything is released after Crysis!

 

[Gsusnme]

Wow, great feedback so far guys thanks keep it coming! My main incentive on buying right now though is that I work off my PC, and I need a good quality one that allows 3d Application/CAD and whatnot to run smoothly or else I simply can't work, not to mention the fact that I'm a hardcore gamer in my spare time , and my PC right now I have pushed onto it's last leg, it barely runs some days so I can't really push off buying a new for for a few months as crappy as that is. I am aware of the new Phenom right around the corners and the New 8800gt but I also am an advocate on waiting on new technology before I buy one, had a few bad experiences on that degree and it just seems smarter to buy a more refined product after they've worked out the kinks on the first few thousands sold.

Oh, and on a final note, my spending limit here is somewhere in the vicinity of 2k, so far I'm just under by like 2 bucks after shipping.

 

[englandr753]

Take off the stock rubber boots from the bottom of that case and put on some custom Goodyear Eagle F1's if you do air cooling. If you do water cooling go with some aqua treads... Hehe.

I have to have some fun. I think you will definitely like your new system. I have a similar lineup of hardware and it games well...

 

[WR2]

PSU - if you're not planning SLI on your system you can easily drop down a PSU size to the 600W model.
CPU Coolant Compound - Both stock cooler and AC 64 Pro both have thermal compound pre-applied. The MX-1 paste on the AC 64 Pro is actually very good.
Hard Drive Cooler - unless you are adding in a few (more than 1) older HDs you can drop this off your list.
UPS - Sized well above what your system spec actually requires. The 850VA 510W should easily give you enough hold up time (7~8+ min) to save work files. A really heavy gaming session might start the auto shutdown sequence in 3~4 minutes.
Optical Drive - It's really easy to get by with just one. You can always use the HD as a "virtual drive" if you ever need DVD/CD duplication. Also your motherboard only supports 2 PATA/IDE devices - as in 1 HD and 1 Optical.
SATA Rounded Cable - not needed. All the SATA cables that come with the motherboard are rounded.

 

[techgeek]

Not to pooh pooh on your choice of PSU, but I have a friend that's RMA'd 3 of OCZ's PSU's in a year and a bit. Before anyone flames me (OCZ is fairly popular), this is not my experience, it's a friend of mines. He doesn't really have much for a system (A64 3500+, 7800GT, 2 Gig of RAM (OCZ I think), an ASUS SLI board), his last supply was a 600W which he received from OCZ replaced his supply before that, and just last month he had to RMA it. As far as I know, he doesn't have anything OC'd, not that that should matter, his system shouldn't come close to stressing a 600W supply. Also if you want to do some of your own research, head over to:

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56.

They seem to have lots of problems, I used to frequent the support forums when it was still hosted at The Bleedin Edge. All that said, their RMA department is great. I had a bad DDR kit and they had it replaced within the week. Most people would rather not have to go through that to begin with.

 

[jkflipflop98]

If you're using this for professional purposes, you really should go C2Q. You won't regret it.

 

[tlmck]

My main incentive on buying right now though is that I work off my PC, and I need a good quality one that allows 3d Application/CAD and whatnot to run smoothly or else I simply can't work, not to mention the fact that I'm a hardcore gamer in my spare time.

While I am sure the new machine will outperform the old, if you are into 3d/CAD you would be better served by a workstation graphics card like the Quadro, or even a FireGL in the second slot. This would require a dual monitor set up, which may push past your budget quite a bit. Even better would be a quad core processor and a 64 bit OS with at least 4gb RAM.

Just something else to think about and research.

 

[Gsusnme]

I have a Secondary Quadro coming in that my work is paying for, hence why I haven't listed it as apart of my Spec Budget, I have Vista Ultimate 64bit already as well, which is why I'm not purchasing an OS. I've researched a lot of your guys suggestions and (too much of your Intel guys' dismay I'm sure =) =P ) I'm sticking with the AMD x64 Dual Core, and I really like the motherboard I picked out too, it's got a lot of good reviews and anyone who owns one seems to have a lot of good to say about it, the wireless option on it really didn't interest me at all, it just simply had it on there. So after a few revisions, here is my new list.

Case - Antec Performance One P180 Silver cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129154

PSU - OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002

Motherboard - ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131011

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADX6000CZBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103773

CPU Cooler - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185125

Video Card - XFX PVT80GGHD4 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported HDCP Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150173

Memory/RAM - G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL6D-4GBMQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231112

Monitor - SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001096

Optical Drive - LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model LH-20A1H-185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106055

Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006

Speakers - Logitech X-530 70 watts RMS 5.1 Black Speaker System
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121126

UPS - APC BR800BLK 800 VA 540 Watts UPS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16842101140

Keyboard - Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126179

Mouse - Logitech MX Revolution Black 7 Buttons 2 x Wheels USB RF Wireless Laser Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104015

Mouse Pad - XTRAC Ripper Optical Mouse pad (My Current one is a Marvin the Martian Mouse pad I received as a Christmas present in 1999 )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817114174

Geeky Extra - APEVIA CF12SL-UBL 120mm Blue LED Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811998121

Geeky Extra - VANTEC Clear 18" ATA 66/100/133 IDE Round Cable, 3-Connector Model CBL-100IDE18-CS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812104207

Geeky Extra - Link Depot SCW-10-BK 10 Pack of Black Anodized Thumbscrews
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811989004

Geeky Extra - Thermaltake A2315 iBox 5.25" Drive Bay Accessory Box
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811999142

Geeky Extra - BELKIN F8E093 Anti-Static Wrist Strap
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888207

All in all I think I made some good choices here, definitly happier with a bigger LCD monitor, thanks for pushing me in that direction, I'll be ordering this thing hopefully by Tuesday so you guys have a few more days to let me know if I'm an idiot or not ;-) Thanks everyone!

 

[tlmck]

Hopefully the MB will allow for an easy upgrade to a quad Phenom.

Just for grins, here is some more AMD bashing. http://anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3125&p=3