New Gaming System build - Recommendations?

Here's one build that comes in under budget, but doesn't include monitor, mouse, keyboard, or speakers.

COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: RC-330-KKN1-GP
Item #: N82E16811119115
Inexpensive but has good airflow and tool-free drive mounting.

$39.99 -$5.00 Instant $34.99

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-P35-DS3L
Item #: N82E16813128059
Highly recommended motherboard. Doesn't have RAID, but you don't need that.

$99.99 $99.99

EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 512-P3-N801-AR
Item #: N82E16814130318

$269.99 $269.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: CMPSU-550VX
Item #: N82E16817139004
Good tier-2 PSU.

$104.99 -$5.00 Instant $99.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Allendale 2.2GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E4500 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E4500
Item #: N82E16819115031

$129.99 -$5.00 Instant $124.99

mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996527 - Retail
Model #: 996527
Item #: N82E16820146118
Mushkin has an excellent reputation for quality RAM.

$49.99 $49.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD3200AAKS
Item #: N82E16822136074
Pretty standard.

$79.99 $79.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail
Model #: LH-20A1S
Item #: N82E16827106057
The Retail version will include all the software you need, including a decoder which is required to watch movies.

$32.99 $32.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM
Model #: N09-01991
Item #: N82E16832116056
Vista offers nothing you need right now, especially since the service pack isn't out yet.

$89.99 $89.99

Subtotal: $882.91

I second jtt's build, but would offer a few suggestions.

If you already have the monitor/mouse/speakers/keyboard etc, you may as well spring for the Q6600:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

And definitely a good air cooler for overclocking:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I personally like 750Gb drives at your budget range for their sweet price/capacity/performance point:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

But if you don't think you'll ever use that much, don't bother.

This should optimize your full budget. If you do need a new monitor/mouse etc, stick with the E4500 and smaller Hdd, but still get that air cooler. E4500 isn't all too impressive until it's clocked up   which it does superbly.

I would go with 8800GTS 512 & Q6600 since Crysis is probably the most demanding game.

The OP is my sister-in-law and I have a few questions about this build. If she is happy with it, my wife and I will probably build the same system. I have built four or five computers myself in the past, but it's been over three years since. I'm competent when it comes to putting them together, but I am not confident when it comes to selecting parts. I haven't tried to do any overclocking, but would like to.

1. Would the case have room for a second card GTS, or GTX, if in the future, we decided to purchase a second card for SLI?

2. It's mentioned that the E4500 doesn't really shine until it is overclocked, what about the Q6600? Is there much of a benefit to overclocking the Q6600?

3. The two hard drives mentioned, Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB and Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB, they seem to be exactly the same speed, just different sizes? Is that correct?

4. If We were to go with the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, would it work fine with the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard? The mobo says it will run a Quad-core, which I think it's the same, but I want to double check. They are both the same socket and the FSB is the same.

Thanks

1. I think so. That case is roomy.
2. Not sure how high you can take a Q6600 on air.
3. Not sure there; I'm watching Jacksonville hold off New England, but I'm sure WD's site can give you the platter counts.
4. Yes. Q6600 is a quad core.

These guys (see links) took the q6600 high on air - but not for a budget though:
However these links offer a few overclocking hints for noobs and pros alike.
http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/reviews/124-asus-maximus...

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/overclocking/1-c2d-overc...

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/guides/264-intel-overclo...

I've got a Q6600 (with Tuniq 120) with a very modest OC of 3.0 Ghz for everyday work/gaming with a BFG 8800GTS OC2 640 Mb. Works nice. It runs very cool at this minor OC. I did a bit of reading in the forums before I OC'd it, but getting it from 2.4 to 3.0 Ghz was extremely easy (1 hour + 24 hrs of torture testing). I hadn't built a new system in almost 5 years. I have read some sites where they have OC'd a 6600 to over 3.7 Ghz, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyday (temps were kinda high).

The Patriots have remained PERFECT by the way.

I'm getting excited. Thanks for all the answers, suggestions. Feel free to make more. =)

1. The case would have room, however the motherboard does not support SLI, you'd have to get a 650i, 680i, 750i or 780i mobo for that. But honestly, by the time you'd want to add another card, there'll probably a better single card to purchase.

2. There's a huge benefit to overclocking the Q6600, with the Tuniq Tower you should be able to comfortably hit 3.4Ghz or so. 3.6 is possible, and you'll have just about the most powerful processor available to anyone, short of a $1000 QX9650.

3. I'm not sure if the larger drive has denser platters or just more platters, I would guess just more meaning they would be the same speed.

4. Yes, the P35 chipset will not only fully support all existing socket 775 Intel processors, it will also support the future Penryns.

Edit: And oh yeah, I forgot, here's a better deal for case+PSU combo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Solid case with a fully competent and quality PSU for the price of a quality PSU alone. Basically a free case.

I saw that Sonata III case, but didn't like it for a few reasons. First, it has a single rear 120mm fan. It did not look all that great for cooling, particularly an oc'ed system. Second, it has a door over its optical drives. I generally consider that a minor irritant. Finally, although I may be in the minority around here, I don't like Antec PSUs.

jtt283, I like your reasoning on the case.

Assume this system will be built with the Quad core.

Does 64bit XP take more advantage of the Quad core than 32bit XP would?

I'm wondering if it's advantageous to spend 50 dollars more get 64bit XP pro over 32bit XP Home. (from what I can tell, home doesn't come as 64bit.

Thanks

You can probably find some deals on the components you need at www.cjcps.com. They have pretty low prices.

Unless you're getting 4GB of RAM, a 64bit OS isn't going to do anything for you, and although they are a LOT less common, driver problems are still slightly more likely with XP64 than XP32.
I'd get the XP Home (or 32bit Pro). By the time you have a need for a 64bit OS, perhaps Vista will be ready and you can go to that.

I'd agree with Juiced about the Sonata III case and PSU combo. The PSU is very efficient and has plenty of power for any single GPU, since it has 34A on the combined 12V rails. If you wanted to get a different case than I'd suggest the one below. It's $75 - $35 MIR = $40!!! Can't beat this case at that price. Very roomy and cools quite well at this price. You just need to jump on it before 1/22, if you want to qualify for the MIR.
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Mid Tower Case Retail
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?Product...

Then drop it this PSU and your set for this combo:
$75.50 - $10 MIR = $65.50!!
CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W Active Power Supply Retail ***Free Shipping***
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?Product...

or if you still like the Antec Sonata III case/PSU combo, get it here for cheaper:
$110 shipped!!! this usually gets a MIR at times, so shop around, but this is the best priced shipped that I can find without a MIR.
ANTEC Sonata III Mini Case Retail
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?Product...
the one at Newegg has a $40 MIR, so it's final cost is $90, but you'll have to wait for the MIR to get to $90.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I'm with the rest on the build, so get these to maximize your gaming.
Cpu - q6600 (if you OC later) or get the e6750 now and buy a Penryn Quad later when the prices come down.

Mobo - Gigabyte DS3L is good and solid board. If you need RAID than the DS3R would be the one to get. Other mobo's to consider are: Abit IP35-e or Asus P5K-se (both equivalent to DS3L). If you need RAID support the other alternatives are: Abit IP35 and the Asus P5k. All are solid and reliable mobo's. They each have their different options, so please check them out and see which one has all of the options that you require. They will all support Penryn chips when they come out (from what I've read).

GPU - 8800gts 512mb is probably the best GPU to get right now at a decent price ~$320ish. Then the 8800gt or 3870 from AMD would be the next step down. Those 3 selections would be the ones to consider at this point in time. There will be newer ones coming, but if your buying soon, I'd consider any one of them.

DDR2 - I'd get the 800mHz CAS 4 memory at this time, because its cheap and can OC well, when you get to that point. Get 2x1 gig's for XP or 2x2 gig's for Vista. I'd use Crucial/Corsair/Patriot/G.Skill/Kingston as one of the manufacturers of choice. I prefer Crucial Ballistix, but any of the CAS 4 memory would be good (4-4-4-12 timings to be exact for the 2x1 sets).

DVD burner - Get a "retail" version, so you don't have to buy the burning software seperately. The cost is usually only about $3-5 more to have the retail version.

OS - I'd personally go with XP Home/Pro instead of Vista, but I'm not the one buying. Vista will eventually be the way to go, but I'm not quite ready to jump on it, too many issues especially if your going to run older programs on your computer.

I just built two of these systems, as posted by jtt283. The only difference, is we went with Q6600 chips.

The COOLER MASTER Elite 330 case appeared to have a second fan at the front of the case (on the newegg pictures), but it only came with one in the back. There is a spot for a second fan, and I'll get another, when I OC these boxes.

Thank you for all of the help with this build. You made building these boxes enjoyable, and rewarding!

I'm about to build one of those as well. The person for whom I'm building it has an even tighter budget though, so I'll probably drop back to a HD3850 and risk an Antec PSU. We'll see.