Critique this Mid-Range Intel System

[swolfe]

Alright, I'm building a new gaming PC on a budget. Not a really tight one, but I'd like to keep it under $1200 (I'm talking just the tower - I'm set on the monitor/peripherals). I'd like your advice. Specifically, on the following items: CPU, Mobo, RAM, PSU, Case.

Here's what I've got so far:

CPU:

Intel E2160 1.8 GHz Dual-Core. Why only 1.8 GHz? Because it's $80 and overclocks to 3.2GHz.
The downside is that it still only has a 1 MB L2 cache.

I'm also considering the Intel Core-2 Duo E6750. It's 2.6GHz (stock) and has a 2MB L2 cache. It's close to $200, though.

It's important to note that both of these processors are socket 775, as are the current quad-core processors. So if it turns out the E2160 doesn't cut it down the line, it should be simple & cheap enough to replace. That brings me to the motherboard...

Mobo:

Asus P5K-E Wifi. It's $150. Seems to have most of the features I want. SLI isn't true 16x/16x though. I think it goes 8x/8x in SLI but I'm not sure. Shouldn't be a huge deal with the graphics card I'm choosing.

Also considering: DFI Blood Iron, which is supposed to be great for overclocking, but only supports DDR2-800 RAM so I couldn't overclock my RAM.

GFX:

PNY 8800GT. Kind of hard to find in-stock, but a straight-out steal at $250.

RAM:

G-Skill 2x2G. It's DDR2-1000, timings are so-so (5-5-5-15). Seems to have good reviews on Newegg (running @ 1066 w/ 2.0-2.1V). Will the mobo I have selected be good enough to fine-tune my RAM?

HDD:

W-D SATA 7200RPM 500GB 16MB cache. Only $110! Might pick up a second down the road for RAID.

Power Supply:

Thermaltake Purepower 500W. $60 on Newegg. 500W might not be enough if I ever go SLI, but that's way down the road. Wish it was modular.

Optical Drive:

Lite-On 20x LightScribe DVD burner. I doubt I'll ever use LightScribe, but the drive's only $38, not really a bank-breaker.

Case:

I'm thinking of going with an Ultra Aluminus case (black). Pretty reasonable at $70 on Tiger Direct. I really wanted an acrylic case, but all the ones I saw/read about seemed to be of poor quality. I saw Logisys, Xoxide, Sunbeamtech. I also considered a cheaper Lian-Li (I like quality, even if it's not flashy) or an Antec P180B (very...utilitarian, I think). Prices of these cases range from $60 (acrylic) to $240 (one of the three Lian-Lis I liked).

Total price (not including shipping): $970

 

[Maziar]

looks fine, ASUS P5K-E WIFIF is an awesome board, i love mine but it supports CrossFire not SLI and @ 16x4x speed

also instead of that RAM, get DDR2 800 RAM with 4-4-4-x timings or lower, DDR2 800 doesnt have a noticeable difference with DDR2 1000 or
DDR2 1066, and it will OC very good

 

[swolfe]

Wow, that sucks, I thought it supported SLI.

What RAM do you recommend? I'm looking for 4GB in a 2x2GB package for a ballpark price of $150.

 

[fatcat]

Instead of the 2160 I would go for the 2180, that way you might have better chance a getting a good OC'er.

 

[aevm]

You're not going to be happy about this, but here's the truth: with your budget, thinking about SLI is pointless. SLI makes sense if you can afford a 30" monitor (which incidentally costs more than your entire PC budget). OK, never mind that, here's a combo that will support SLI:

Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus - it does support SLI, just in case $187
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131153
OCZ GameXStream 700W - overkill for now, but you won' tneed to replace it when you add the second card, $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002
Antec 900 - great case for a setup with two hot video cards - cooler than the P180b, $91
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec+900
E6750, $195
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029
2 GB DDR2-800, $50, Crucial Ballistix
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
WD5000AAKS, $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073&Tpk=WD5000AAKS
XFX 8800GT - I'd recommend eVGA or BFG or XFX rather than PNY. You pay more but get better warranty and quality; $276
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150252

 

[Onus]

If you want a modular PSU, I've been happy with mine. It is on Tier-T of the PSU listing at http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon

mushkin 550200 ATX12V 550W Power Supply 115/230 V cUL,CE,CB,FCC - $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817812002

I've reviewed it there under the name "Onus." There are two; the first one should be ignored, as an apparent rail voltage problem was actually the mobo, not the PSU. Tested properly, the rails are solid and within spec.

 

[swolfe]

Ok, I like the suggestions so far.

What does everyone think of the Asus P5N32-E?

I am REALLY liking the dual 16x.

By the way, I have a 32" LCD as my monitor. SLI could be helpful.

Will this mobo support DDR2-1000 ram?

Would I be better off buying CAS 4 DDR2-800 ram?

Does anyone have some specific ram in mind that a) is 2x2G so I can go to 8G later and b) has 4-4-4-x timings?

Thanks for the tip on the mushkin PSU, I think I'll probably go with that.

 

[Maziar]

P5N32-E SLI PLUS is a very solid board for SLI
but u say u have a 32" LCD (its a LCD TV right ?) well what is the resolution of it ? if its 1366x768 then SLI is pointless in that resolution

also as i said forget DDR2 1000 ram get a DDR2 800 RAM, yes we have 2x2GB DDR2 800 RAM wit good timings

OCZ TITANIUM XTC 2x2GB with 4-4-4-15 timings:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227270

PATRIOT EXTREME PERFORMANCE 2x2GB with 4-4-4-12 timings:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220269

 

[swolfe]

Yeah, I'm running 1360x768 right now. However, I'm looking to trade it for a 22"+ LCD probably in about six months, so SLI was more of a safety factor for the future.

 

[aevm]

22" widescreen monitors run natively at 1680x1050. A single 8800GT can handle that, in general.

With two 8800GT cards, you might as well get a 24" monitor (1920x1200). That would be a really nice setup

 

[p3matty]

I have the initial board you mentioned (P5K-E WIFI), and I love it. I got it over the GIG. boards due to the onboard wifi, onboard e-sata, and onboard firewire, as well as being a great overclocking board. I highly recommend the board as I've had no problems with it at all!

I did though, I think make two mistakes when it comes to gaming....

1) I bought 5-5-5-12 800 DDR2 ram as it was like $5 cheaper than 4-4-4-12 800 DDR2 ram. Spend the extra $5!

2) I bought the E2140 as it was the cheapest dual core with Core architecture. The problem lies with the very small amount of cache (1 MB). I'd recommend going to the E4500 (~$45+) as it's initially clocked .4 GHz higher, and has x2 the cache. For another ~$45 more, I'd say the E6550 as it's clocked just a bit higher, has a much higher initial FSB (could hurt with OC'ing, though), and it's cache is x4 that of the E2160 (as well as virtulization, and trusted execution whatever that means). Cache does make a difference with gaming, just not double digit increases.

Also, good luck finding a 8800GT!!

 

[swolfe]

Also, good luck finding a 8800GT!!

Dude no kidding! I have a few sites set up to autonotify me, and I'm also just hoping to buy some time in the next few weeks, so I should be alright on that. However, it's still kind of a challenge.