piecing together a rig...

[Katriel]

Hello all!

I have recently been interested in purchasing a gaming computer; however, I have a limited amount of technical experience (so I turned here). I have put together a computer online here (more or less) and I would appreciate any thoughts/ideas. I would hate to find a fatal flaw *after* I bought it.

I found this website and would customize the computer from this page:
http://www.pc-infinity.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=PW08Q6600512160&Category_Code=



The specs would be:

CPU: Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.6GHZ
(enough said)



Mobo: Upgrade to the Gigabite (+$55)

http://www.pc-infinity.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=MB-G31MXS2&Store_Code=P
(This would allow 800mhz memory. I am wondering if this supports dual graphics though...)



case: iMicro J230P MAX Midsize case Black

http://www.pc-infinity.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CA-IMJ230P&Store_Code=P
(this is the case that comes standard)



case fan: ARCTIC COOLING Arctic Fan 12L 120x120x38.5mm (+$20)

http://www.pc-infinity.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?ScreenCA-ACF12&Store_Code=P
(I am not sure which fan will fit in the case actually...that might be a problem)

PSU: 680-Watt 20/24-Pin ATX Power Supply (+$20)

http://www.pc-infinity.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PSPWR-APPD680&Store_Code=P
(I don't know much about power supplies so I don't know what is good or not. My microwave reads 1100 watts...hooking that up to my rig might prove problamatic...)



Memory: ?
(I have seen 800MHZ dual channel memory for under $50 at tigerdirect and newegg)



Hard Drive: 500GB Serial ATA (SATA-2) 7200 RPM 16MB cache (+69)

http://www.pc-infinity.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=ATTHD500SATA16MB&Store_Code=P



Optical Drive: Lite-On LH-18A1P-185 18X DVD+/-RW Drive (BLACK) (+$25)
http://www.pc-infinity.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=LH-18A1PBK&Store_Code=P


Graphics: probably the 8800GT 512mb

Monitor: 22" Acer widescreen
(I already have purchased this from Tiger)

So in the end I am looking for a decent computer, but I don't want to spend a bucketload of cash. However I realize that I also don't want to bottleneck the potential of my future rig. I wouldn't mind spending a slight more and getting a machine that runs to its optimal performance. I also don't mind buying from another site if I can find something with similar specs, price, and warranty.

Right now the total price is $627.96 before memory and a video card I'm hoping that In another year I might even get another card to run in SLI.

My dad works at a college near here so I can get vista for under $20 and we already own XP.

Thanks all!


~Katriel~

 

[paraffin]

Build it yourself you will get so much more than buying from one of these places.

How much cash you got?

 

[Katriel]

I am looking at building something for around $900, but I can spend a little more than that if need be.

do you have any suggestions?

EDIT: cheaper is better for me though

 

[emp]

That power supply is a POS and will not even power properly the 8800GT. Reason? What you're looking for is amperage on the 12V rails and not total wattage, you should be looking forward to spend somewhere around $80-120 on a PSU for this build.

Let me help you scout a rig on newegg ok? Here goes:

Intel Q6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

GA-P35-DS3R

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

A-DATA 2GB DDR2 800

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 (Now this is a true PSU!)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7703005&Tpk=PC+Power+%26+Cooling+Silencer+610

Western Digital Caviar 320GB 7.2k Rpm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098

Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

Lite-On DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106073

Cooler Master Centurion 534

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

Graphics card you have two choices, HD 3870 from newegg (GTs are sold out there) or a 8800GT from another website (I'll list Tigerdirect for you)

A.) Sapphire HD 3870 512MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102713

B.) BFG 8800GT 512MB

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3525730&CatId=1826

Subtotal without graphics card: $737
Subtotal with HD 3870: $987
Subtotal with 8800GT: $1017

This system I just listed has a decent motherboard (The one you listed is crap to put it bluntly) and has a top quality power supply, something yours didn't. The reason you need a good one (And I can't stress it enough) is that expensive systems like these need to be fed enough power to work properly, the source has also to be very stable (meaning no fluctuation in voltages or ripple), these are two main differences between the unit I listed and the one you showed me, the one you showed me is good for a $300 system whose owner is a cheapskate and doesn't care what happens to it. Finally, this unit should have enough juice for SLI 8800GT very easily (Your unit can't even support a single GT).

I used the Q6600 because you listed it, but if I had to cut corners somewhere to save some money, I'd use the HD 3870 and lose the Q6600 in favor of the E6750, which leaves you at around $910 before shipping.

 

[Katriel]

Thanks. You addressed a few points and concerns I had. I didn't want to order some decently high-end units only to have the computer run slowly or stutter. Or wose, not even run.

 

[Katriel]

How does the gigabite mobo compare with the 680i SLI motherboard because there is a combo deal on tiger featuring an XFX GeForce 680i mobo:

regular: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2959594&CatId=2541

the combo: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3403908&CatId=2406

 

[emp]

Doesn't seem bad. The LT versions I think are slightly stripped versions of the regular 680i (Maybe lesser OC potential?, x8/x8 on SLI instead of true x16/x16), but still should work fine. I would personally go down the P35 + Single Graphics card route and when needed just change graphics card to a newer one as an upgrade, rather than SLI/Crossfire.

 

[monste4321]

really and truely not a bad price, it basically makes the motherbaord 80 bucks and the cpu 270 which is cheap on both ends, and at 80 bucks that mb is same price as any p35 board, and its 1 16x lane and 1 8x, i do believe almost all 680i boards are this way, so even if you just used one vid card its just as good

 

[Katriel]

Doesn't seem bad. The LT versions I think are slightly stripped versions of the regular 680i (Maybe lesser OC potential?, x8/x8 on SLI instead of true x16/x16)

So what is the difference between x8/x8 and x16/x16? You are saying that with the 680i I could only play with one card then?

 

[wolfseeker2828]

no. the 680i allows for two nvidia cards. the LT version of the 680i just has a slightly lower electrical capacity. not sure what the real world difference is, though. It can't be very much.

 

[monste4321]

it is oh so slight especially because most cards arent advanced enough to even make full use of the x16 lane it only matters for benchmarks but who cares bout those

 

[realibrad]

lol, did you see the part where they will install the memory in dual channel mode for 9.99.

 

[Katriel]

lol, did you see the part where they will install the memory in dual channel mode for 9.99.

yeah *smirks*

 

[Katriel]

I really am a cheapskate

will these items do as well as the ones I was shown?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2882686&sku=O261-8070&CMP=ILC-RNV-DOD

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2132071&Sku=ULT31848%20ON

EDIT: I didn't realize this was a refurb at first. Not sure what to think of that...

 

[Katriel]

alright I just subtotaled it all up (minus video card) and it is almost $800 with the changes being the quad-core combo, the ram from tiger, and a 400GB drive from tiger also.

I'm thinking I'm getting a good bang for my buck.