Build per Forum's Advice - Please Help Tweak, THX!

[13bravo]

Hey All,

OK, I've come full circle in the past week with everyone's help here. I am going to try and attempt my first SOLO build and only second ever (the last one being with an experienced friend back in 2001). Here is what I have pieced together so far:

CASE: RAIDMAX Smilodon - $89.99 before $25 Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062

MOBO: ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP - $149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131196

CPU: INTEL Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66Ghz Retal Box - $194.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

GPU: nVIDIA 512MB 8800GT (Looking EVGA Version that comes w/Crysis) - $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130306

MEMORY: CORSAIR 6400C4 2X1GB (TWIN2X2048-6400C4 Kit) - $89.50 before $40 Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034

PSU: Either the CORSAIR 520W HX or the PC POWER & COOLING 610W Silencer - $124.99 or $129.99
Corsair - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001
PCP&C - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

HDD: SEAGATE 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 w/Perpendicular Recording Tech - $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

ODD: SONY Optiarc DVD/CD ROM 16X/48X Combo - $17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827101131

OS: MICROSOFT Windows XP Pro w/SP2 - $??? I see the following OEM version for $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116400

OK, the above comes to between $1100 and $1200. Now, some questions on the above:

1) Will the 8800GT fit in the Raidmax Case? Does anyone think I might have a problem?
2) I went with the 6750 instead of the 6550 because it is supposed to be better and there's only a $20 or difference I think. Now, if I can reduce the cost of this build without sacrificing performance too much, I want to...should I consider saving the $20 and going with the 6550? Especially considering I will probably want to upgrade in a year or two?
3) The 8800GT selection (which are mostly out of stock currently) on newegg is a little confusing. Some say overclocked or something and some don't, but I see like 4 to 6 different core clock speeds...even on one's that don't say OC. Why? Is there a difference? Should I shoot for one of the higher ones or can I push that myself? Does it really matter?
4) Is this good memory to use? It has 4-4-4-12 timings (although I am not 100% certain of the meaning of that other than I read that was good) but there were so many versions. I was also considering the following:

Twin2X2048-6400C4DHX or TWIN2X2048-6400C4PRO

4)-Continued -- I am not exactly sure what the difference is, performance or cost wise but I do believe the PRO has 5-5-5-15 timings. Are either of these two better than the one I am thinking of going with? Or should I stick with my original choice. Please keep possible OC'ing in mind...I am going to try and dabble in that this go around. Is there better memory than any of these three that I might want to consider in their place?
5) Do you think that the above PSU's are overkill? Keep in mind I will be upgrading CPU, GPU, and adding drives as time goes on. If not, which do you think I should go with? I know the PCP&C is a Tier 1 PSU which is a major plus, right? And it is only $5 more! I believe it also only uses 1 rail and no more worries about whether or not you have too much load on any given rail...is that an accurate comment? But the corsair is Tier 2, still good, and I believe is a modular PSU so I can possibly improve airflow and clutter. Is that an accurate statement? Can I not go wrong here?
6) I hear perpendicular recording was the way to go, hence my HDD choice. Any comments on this drive? Is there a better one? I am not interested in the raptors or doing any RAID so with that in mind, is there a better choice?
7) The OS - I see XP Pro w/SP2 from $139 to $300...not sure about this...I don't want to buy the wrong thing...can anyone point me in the right direction on where I can get a legitimate copy of this OS at the lowest cost?
8) Do these components all seem to go together? Any compatibility issues I need to worry about with any of the above? RAM OK with the processor? Mobo OK with everything?
9) This question and the next one are general in nature: Do you see any room for improvement in the above build? Ways to improve performance with increasing cost (or at least not by much in comparison to what I will be getting)? Do you see any chance to reduce cost without sacrificing performance in any way?
10) Are these components all OC friendly? Will I be able to overclock the above a decent amount? Any changes to make it more Overclock-able?

Hey, thank you to everyone that took the time to read this! You are all great and have helped me piece this all together in the first place AND given me that "PUSH" I needed to forget the whole buy thing and try and build this myself. I am sure I will be back for advice again once I am in the process of building but this is obviously the first step...hopefully I will have some happy kids within the next month or so. Any and all advice, comments, suggestions, etc that you can give me on the above will be and are greatly appreciated! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!


13BRAVO -- USHA!

PS - I haven't checked around on the pricing...just rounded it all up at new egg for convenience to get an idea about the cost. When I have the build finalized, I will be shopping! Thanks!

 

[itotallybelieveyou]

1. yes it will
2. keep with the 6750
3. no it doesn't really matter buy which ever one is restocked first.
4. the memory is good
5. nope not really
6. HDs are basically all the same.
7. Get it from newegg they are all legits
8. Yes solid build.
9. Depends on your budget
10. yes components are very ocable

 

[paq7512]

You picked out a great computer, either one of those psu's it great. Make sure you only get the OEM version of XP PRO SP2 on Newegg. Good luck

 

[13bravo]

Thanks for the quick replies. So I am going to go ahead with these specs unless I hear something from someone new that might stop me in my tracks. I do have three things real quick:

1) So that link I placed above to new egg for the OS, that OS is good?

2) This sounds like a no brainer but I want to be sure. The case I listed above, it has two versions...one WITH an included 500W PS and one without it. With the PS it is $90 with a $25 rebate bringing it down to $65. The version WITHOUT the PS is $80. Now, I don't want there PS, I am going to be buying one of the two I mention above (probably the PCP&C one)...is there a reason I shouldn't buy the case already equipped with the PS and just remove it and keep for spare or sell it? The one with the PS will ultimately be cheaper (If I actually mail in the rebate) so it would seem silly to buy the one without it when I can just swap it out...right? Or is there a reason I wouldn't want to do that?

3) With the understanding that I will be looking to OC this system, is the stock HSF in the retail CPU box enough? Or should I get something beefier like the Arctic Cooler 7? I am not sure if the stock unit can handle the extra heat!

Finally, in a last ditch effort to see if I can get this build below $1K, the only feasible opportunities I see would be at the CPU or GPU level. With the GPU being the most expensive component on the list, do you think I could get away with a lower end GPU for now? Something around $75 to $100? I still want my kids to be able to play currrent games without issues as well as games coming out in the near future (and no, we won't be maxing every single setting but we do like to crank up a bunch of the detail). Is this 8800GT so good that in a year from now, I can obviously buy something better but I will lose the price/performance value overall? Is this $275 to $300 card now a better option than a $100 card now and a $275 to $350 card in a year? I would love to hear your thoughts, thanks again!


13Bravo -- USHA!