Second build, please critique!

[pietimer]

Hello, I am building my second gaming system and I would appreciate any advice. I want it to play games like Gears of War, Unreal Tournament 3, blah, blah, blah. I do some occasional video compression, speeding that up would be icing. Here are the details:

Mother Board: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128059
Cost: $97.00
I chose this mb because I heard that it is good for OCing and it has support for the P35 chipset.
Problem: I know this isn't that expensive, but I am trying to cut down on my total cost. Is there a similar mb, that may be slightly worse but cost less? I really think P35 support is important considering I don't plan on upgrading for a few years, but is it really that important? I know that drives the price up.

CPU: E2160 OC'D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
Cost: $83.00
The reviews about this cpu have been amazing! Most can get it to 3.2-3.4ghz stable, where it performs on par with an E6700.
Problem: Too good to be true?

Vid. Card: SAPPHIRE 100216L Radeon HD 3850 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102714
Cost: $180.00
I chose this video card mainly because of it's dx10/sm4 support. Also, it's performance in most reviews was similar to then 8800gts for a lot less.
Questions: Newegg offers this card by several manufactures, I chose sapphire b/c my current card ( x800 gto2) is also a sapphire and it's been pretty good to me. I'm wondering though, does the manufacturer really matter? Also, they offer a 3850 with 512mb of memory for $200, is the performance boost worth spending the extra $20?

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
Cost: $36.00
I decided to def. go for 800mhz ram, thinking 1000mhz isn't worth the extra $$.

HD: ??
Big question here: I was thinking about setting up my system in raid0.
At newegg they've got Western Digital Caviar 160GB for $50 ($100 for 2 then), but I'd be happy with just 2 80gig HDs. However, I can't seem to find any 80gigs for less than $40. I'd rather spend the $20 extra and quadruple my storage. Does anyone know of some place I can get some cheaper 80gig HDs?

PSU: Antec 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371004
Cost: $60.00
This is just a cheaper PSU that got good reviews. Does anyone have a better recommendation? --I am a sponge.

Case: I'm going to have to pick up a cheap case from somewhere. I'm thinking that I'll have to hound teh internets until I find a free one, that's how I got my last case.

FAN: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134&Tpk=Arctic+Cooling+Freezer+7+Pro
Cost: $22.00
If figure that since I'm planning to oc the hell out of my cpu, I'll need something other than stock cooling. I just grabbed this one because it's cheaper and quiet. I'm open to suggestions.

RAID controller:
Okay, I have absolutely no experience with RAID at all. I know I'll need a controller because the mb doesn't have a built in one. Other than that, I'm not really sure what exactly to get. Any help here would be muy apreciada.
Another question: Should I spend the extra money to find a mb with built in raid, or just go with the controller? Does
it really make a difference?

Thanks very much for your advice, I worship the ground you walk on.

 

[nuklep]

I am fairly new to this game, but just my 2 cents

Mother Board: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128059
Cost: $97.00
I chose this mb because I heard that it is good for OCing and it has support for the P35 chipset.
Problem: I know this isn't that expensive, but I am trying to cut down on my total cost. Is there a similar mb, that may be slightly worse but cost less? I really think P35 support is important considering I don't plan on upgrading for a few years, but is it really that important? I know that drives the price up.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

since you want raid. go for this one.

I have ga-p35-ds3p. Very solid mobo. I went for ds3p for 2xPCIEs (I did not know second one was 4x). But this series of mobos from gigabyte is a good choice imo.

CPU: E2160 OC'D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
Cost: $83.00
The reviews about this cpu have been amazing! Most can get it to 3.2-3.4ghz stable, where it performs on par with an E6700.
Problem: Too good to be true?

No experience there. But I would like to hear what others say and also I am wondering if oc'ing the hell out of this chip burns you later (in energy costs)???

Vid. Card: SAPPHIRE 100216L Radeon HD 3850 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102714
Cost: $180.00
I chose this video card mainly because of it's dx10/sm4 support. Also, it's performance in most reviews was similar to then 8800gts for a lot less.
Questions: Newegg offers this card by several manufactures, I chose sapphire b/c my current card ( x800 gto2) is also a sapphire and it's been pretty good to me. I'm wondering though, does the manufacturer really matter? Also, they offer a 3850 with 512mb of memory for $200, is the performance boost worth spending the extra $20?

.
I would really recommend 512mb version. I am assuming you might in year and a half or so get a larger display(those things only get cheaper).

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
Cost: $36.00
I decided to def. go for 800mhz ram, thinking 1000mhz isn't worth the extra $$.

I think you are right on the 800mhz part. I think these things can be overclocked to 1066 speed without too much fuss. Not sure if this particular model is a good OCer.

HD: ??
Big question here: I was thinking about setting up my system in raid0.
At newegg they've got Western Digital Caviar 160GB for $50 ($100 for 2 then), but I'd be happy with just 2 80gig HDs. However, I can't seem to find any 80gigs for less than $40. I'd rather spend the $20 extra and quadruple my storage. Does anyone know of some place I can get some cheaper 80gig HDs?

try ebay. But its like that with storage market. they are not making smaller drives [not as much demand, so the prices are not that low]. If you are spending $50 a drive, why not look for a sale where you'll surely find a 5GB/dollar drive for 50-60 dollars. that'll be money well spent.

PSU: Antec 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371004
Cost: $60.00
This is just a cheaper PSU that got good reviews. Does anyone have a better recommendation? --I am a sponge.

Contrary to what I thought, Antec is no longer an elite psu manf. I learned the hard way. I have a thermaltake right now. Very happy with it. I would go thermaltake again. so maybe:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052

Case: I'm going to have to pick up a cheap case from somewhere. I'm thinking that I'll have to hound teh internets until I find a free one, that's how I got my last case.

not a bad idea. but don't mind spending $30 dollars for a case which has good cooling. I do not have a suggestion for a cheap case, but the point is since you are OCing that cpu, you want a cool case.

FAN: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134&Tpk=Arctic+Cooling+Freezer+7+Pro
Cost: $22.00
If figure that since I'm planning to oc the hell out of my cpu, I'll need something other than stock cooling. I just grabbed this one because it's cheaper and quiet. I'm open to suggestions.

Don't have any experience here. But personally I found that you don't have to go for the heatsink everyone is recommending. I got an unknown rosewill heatsink[cheaper than others] and its running my Q6600 B3 stepping at Ambient +1 temperature [that reading was from hot month of August] But I do have a Antec 900, which helps.

RAID controller:
Okay, I have absolutely no experience with RAID at all. I know I'll need a controller because the mb doesn't have a built in one. Other than that, I'm not really sure what exactly to get. Any help here would be muy apreciada.
Another question: Should I spend the extra money to find a mb with built in raid, or just go with the controller? Does
it really make a difference?

I would say get onboard raid with the mobo. But I stand to be corrected if raid cards will perform better [that used to be the case, but I dont know]

 

[akhilles]

I'm gonna comment on the most important parts to me:

HD3850 512MB hands down for 20 extra. I strongly urge you to google reviews & look at the benchmarks. I think there's an overclocked card. If you can find it, it'll be much faster.

Regarding psu's, the one you picked out is unfamiliar to me. Antec Earthwatts or NeoHE would be better choices.

http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon

 

[toasty2]

I agree with that.

For ram, you might want to consider Super Talent DDR2 800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609026
I can't say its any better, but its what I have. You can see my configuration in my signature, its somewhat similar to yours.

 

[Noya]

CPU: E2160 OC'D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
Cost: $83.00
The reviews about this cpu have been amazing! Most can get it to 3.2-3.4ghz stable, where it performs on par with an E6700.
Problem: Too good to be true?

HD: ??
Big question here: I was thinking about setting up my system in raid0.
At newegg they've got Western Digital Caviar 160GB for $50 ($100 for 2 then), but I'd be happy with just 2 80gig HDs. However, I can't seem to find any 80gigs for less than $40. I'd rather spend the $20 extra and quadruple my storage. Does anyone know of some place I can get some cheaper 80gig HDs?

PSU: Antec 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371004
Cost: $60.00
This is just a cheaper PSU that got good reviews. Does anyone have a better recommendation? --I am a sponge.

Case: I'm going to have to pick up a cheap case from somewhere. I'm thinking that I'll have to hound teh internets until I find a free one, that's how I got my last case.

FAN: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134&Tpk=Arctic+Cooling+Freezer+7+Pro
Cost: $22.00
If figure that since I'm planning to oc the hell out of my cpu, I'll need something other than stock cooling. I just grabbed this one because it's cheaper and quiet. I'm open to suggestions.

Go for the OEM e2180 (2.0ghz) at ewhiz along with the Cooler Pro for $95 (newegg isn't the only place to buy from, and DON'T buy a PSU from them...always overpriced)
e2180
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E2180
Freezer Pro
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-AC7PRO

Corsair 450vx for $70 shipped (450watts/33amps on +12v rail/80+ effeciency (though it has been as low as $50 shipped...like when I bought it :lol: )
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-vx-450w-power-supply/q/loc/101/205466485.html

Good case for $50 shipped ($35 if the rebate works) as it has an 80mm intake and 120mm exhaust fan:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
Though this slightly uglier Rosewill has 120mm fans front and rear, along with a better rail system for hard drives/DVD drives (I'm biased as I own a near identical one :lol: )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147038

Go for 2 x 250gb at $60-70 each:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152025
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144701
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261

*EDIT*

For ram, you might want to consider Super Talent DDR2 800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820609026
I can't say its any better, but its what I have. You can see my configuration in my signature, its somewhat similar to yours.

I've also heard the Super Talent sticks are great, using Micron D9 memory chips (the best, especially for overclocking).

OH, and looky here, at ewhiz for $51! with NO REBATE hassel to get screwed out of.
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T800UX2GC4

 

[pietimer]

Thanks for all the advice, here's what I make of it:

MB: ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131180R
$83.00
(Getting the OB raid controller like you reccomended nuklep)

CPU: E2180 OC'D
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E2180
$78.00

Fan: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-AC7PRO
$19.00

Vid. Card: Radeon 3850 512mb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102715
$200.00

RAM: 2 x 1 GB PC2-6400 DDR2 $35.00
(I have to cheap out somewhere)

HD: 2 Western Digital Caviar 160GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075
$100.00

PSU: Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU ATX 12V 2.0 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052
$60.00
(I know you said PSU's were overpriced at newegg, but since I'm buying the mb and video card on newegg, it's actually cheaper because I save on shipping

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
$35.00

CD/DVD drive: ~$20

TOTAL: $630.00

 

[medamorg]

Why would you buy a 512MB 3850 for $200 when a 8800GT 256MB can be had for $10 more?

 

[toasty2]

Why would you buy a 512MB 3850 for $200 when a 8800GT 256MB can be had for $10 more?

Oh, can it? Show me this $210 8800GT. The lowest I found one was for about $230 from Dell. Mine cost $250. Most are selling for $270+.

 

[pietimer]

On newegg you can get the 8800gt 256mb for $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150264

However, I am considering the 512 3850 because of this thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/page-246894_33_0.html

 

[akhilles]

Holy crap. I thought the GPU manufacturers were milking the 8800gt 512mb version since it guarantees a sale. Seems the only good thing from AMD is the HD38X0 series.

Do look at the reviews in that thread. Decide for yourself. More video ram is good for big monitors.

 

[geofelt]

My 2 cents:
Ditch the raid and associated costs. It won't help games hardly at all.
Get a single HDD with the capacity you need. Spend the savings on the best vga card you feel comfortable buying. It is THE critical component for games.

 

[pietimer]

Curses! You're 100% right geofelt. I looked at some benchmarks and the performance gain is barely noticeable.
I'll admit I'm a little depressed because I was looking forward to doing something novel.
But you're right, that would be a waste of money. Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[pietimer]

Alright, I'm getting a lot of help. I really appreciate it, thanks!!

So, this is what I'm thinking now:
MB: ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131180R
$83.00

CPU: E2180 OC'D
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E2180
$78.00

Fan: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-AC7PRO
$19.00

Vid. Card: 8800gt
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150252
$250

RAM: 2 x 1 GB PC2-6400 DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
$36.00

HD: 1 Western Digital Caviar 160GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075
$50.00

PSU: Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU ATX 12V 2.0 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052
$60.00

Case: XION Solaris XON-403 Black with Green LED Light
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208009
$30.00

CD/DVD drive: ~$20

TOTAL: $626.00

 

[ramo]

Change your cooler if you want to OC your E2180

take the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme and extra fan

 

[akhilles]

If you can't afford U120E, look at Scythe Ninja or Infinity.

The PSU isn't good. The only good TT is ToughPower.

http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon

 

[geofelt]

There are better $60 psu's out there. If you read the specs carefully, you will see that of the 500w, 220w are for the 3.3 and 5v rails; a common way to get higher wattage ratings for lesser psu's. This leaves only 280w, or 23a left for the 12v raisl where you need it. This is marginal for your system, and a no-go if they don't quite make it. I am no expert on psu's, so I hope I have described the problem accurately.

As an alternative for $60, I suggest fsp(fortron) ax500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104037 or seasonic ss400-es. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151039 Both are reputable manufacturers.