Final Gaming Build...But going to wait for the E8xx Please Look

[bugspin23]

FINAL BUILD

IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AS FAR AS INCOMPATIBILITIES PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP!!!!

I am going to buy today unless someone has a serious hard ware issue that needs to be addressed!

Here is what I have come up with after reviewing all of your comments and my own research:

Case : Thermaltake Armor Plus I decided to go with this case as opposed to the Cooler Master Stacker....Any thoughts?
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811133056

Mother board: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128059 I am now considering using the DS3R

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0Ghz (I am not using PC for any multitasking, only gaming and personal business use) I am going to hold off on the purchase for now...or I will just hold off on getting the processor. I am going to wait for the newer E8xx line to come out. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT!!!
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115028

Processor Cooling: Thermaltake Big Typhoon (I am going to over-clock)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835106061

Memory: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail (Gigabyte Website doesn't show any 2X2 Ram for the board I am using...I would rather get 2GB Sticks so I can use 8GB if I ever need to. I have no idea how do find 2GB Sticks if Gigabyte doesn't show it as compatible...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145033

Video Card: EVGA 512-P3-N841-A3 GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail and it comes with Crysis for free!!!
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130312

Power Supply: I went with the Highly recommended CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817139002

Hard Drive: Western Digital 10Krpm 150Gig for the main and a 7200rpm 500gig for the backup HD
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136012
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136073



Optical Drive: 2 X ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827135156

Sound: Not sure if I will need a sperate card for sound...but in the Armor Plus...Ill have more than enough room if I want one later.

Keyboard: Logitech G15 Once again...Out of stock at NewEgg.com So I will be buying it where ever I get my memory... What is the difference between the 1st and 2nd versions of this Keyboard? I have heard that the first one was MUCH better? Does it really Matter?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000063&Description=G15&name=Keyboards

Mouse: Logitech G5 or G9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010290065%2050001080%201083607056&bop=And&CompareItemList=N82E16826104076%2CN82E16826104079


If I am forgetting anything please feel free to flame..LOL I am very new and will take any criticisms with stride. Thanks for your help and genius!!! Cheers

I don't think that Ill have the money to justify getting duel vid cards. Thats why I went with the slightly higher end 8800 GTS. I am sure it will be able to more than run SupComFA. As well as any other mmo I play.

SPECIAL NOTE: I would like to thank everyone who has helped me with this build! Your input, thoughts, and ideas are and were very helpfull! "/me bow" lol

 

[rgeist554]

You could get an E8400 instead of the E6850 if you want to save a few bucks. It's 45nm, so it's cooler, faster, and all around better... especially if you plan on overclocking. (I'm betting you can achieve 4Ghz+)

Gigabyte claims 45nm compatibility here: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2599

Other than that, it looks like a solid build. (It is still a solid build even if you don't go with the E8400 CPU )

E8400 review: http://en.expreview.com/?p=68&;page=1

 

[96Firebird]

I second the E8400. I don't see why the E6xxx series won't be faded out soon...

 

[bugspin23]

E8400 huh, Sounds great! Are they able to be purchased right now? What about cost?

 

[bugspin23]

Okay, I just did a Google search on the Core 2 E8XX series...If these things are coming out on the 20th of this month then I am going to wait and get the E8500. I think its the Highest of the Series...the Cost is just about the same! WOOT!

 

[chuckm]

I doubt you will these CPU's readily available until the week of the 27th, this just my opinion. There are few places you can get them, I'm just not sure where it was. I'll get back here in a bit

 

[aevm]

Nice build. Nothing bad there at all. I'll try to be very picky and give you some tips, but feel free to ignore them all.

Get the GA-P35-DS3R - you seem able to afford the extra $30 and it's worth it.

I'd replace the cooler with a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme and a Scythe SFF21F fan.

Your links are broken. You can fix them if you enter them again and use the "url" icon on each.

Crucial Ballistix RAM works with the GA-P35 series all right, and it overclocks well. What you picked sounds very good too.

Make the second disk a WD7500AAKS, it's faster.

Change one of the DVD burners to a Samsung SH-S203B. Different burners have different strengths (and usually different software too) and it's nicer than identical burners.

 

[chuckm]

Might read thru this, some are already purchasing the 8X00's;

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=28&threadid=2139018&enterthread=y

 

[nukchebi0]

Never buy a dual core that is differentiated only by clock speed (thus multipliers) if you aren't intending on OC'ing to the max. An E6750 would be a better choice than the E6850 if the 45nm CPUs weren't being released, and the same with the E8400 vs the E8500.

 

[bugspin23]

@ AEVM Thanks for the heads up! Yes, please be picky...I love the constructive criticism! All links should be working now!

 

[bugspin23]

Nice build. Nothing bad there at all. I'll try to be very picky and give you some tips, but feel free to ignore them all.

Get the GA-P35-DS3R - you seem able to afford the extra $30 and it's worth it.

I'd replace the cooler with a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme and a Scythe SFF21F fan.

Your links are broken. You can fix them if you enter them again and use the "url" icon on each.

Crucial Ballistix RAM works with the GA-P35 series all right, and it overclocks well. What you picked sounds very good too.

Make the second disk a WD7500AAKS, it's faster.

Change one of the DVD burners to a Samsung SH-S203B. Different burners have different strengths (and usually different software too) and it's nicer than identical burners.

@AEVM I looked at that the Optical Drive you recommended and ran into another that looked interesting...Would you, in laymens terms tell me the differences between these modles?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50001077%2040000005%201037127054&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS&SpeTabStoreType=0&CompareItemList=N82E16827151153%2CN82E16827151154


I looked into your recomended Mother Board. I have in the link, the one I chose first, the one you recomended, and another one that had good reviews from new egg. I dont really understand the differences between the three. Any pointers?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50001314%2040000280&Manufactory=1314&CompareItemList=N82E16813128059%2CN82E16813128050%2CN82E16813128064&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS&SpeTabStoreType=0

I also am going to upgrade the Second Disk to the one you recommended. Now...I know ZERO about raid. I have never run two Hard Drives before...do I need to do anything special? Also, What is a Solid state Drive?

 

[bugspin23]

Never buy a dual core that is differentiated only by clock speed (thus multipliers) if you aren't intending on OC'ing to the max. An E6750 would be a better choice than the E6850 if the 45nm CPUs weren't being released, and the same with the E8400 vs the E8500.

I am planning on over-clocking, albeit slowly. I am fairly new to this and don't want to fry anything. I do wonder though. If I can afford it what does it hurt to purchase the slightly faster processor if the price is just a slight difference. I wont quibble over anything under $100.00. Its when you get into the processors that are a stinking K each...lol thats when I start to get woozie!!! lol

 

[imrul]

there are harddrives that are faster and have way higher capacities than wd 10krpm, such as "spin point f1 1000gb" or "caviar re2 750gb"

 

[aevm]

Yup, the WD7500AAKS I mentioned earlier is a caviar 750GB and it's great. The Spinpoint F1 is actually the best hard disk out there when it comes to processing huge files (say, encoding videos).

Between those two Samsung burners: the more expensive one (SH-S203N) has Lightscribe, while the SH-S203B doesn't. If you think Lightscribe might interest you, by all means pay the $3 more and get the SH-S203N. If you don't know, Lightscribe is a technology that allows the burner to print labels on the DVD. It needs special DVDs (a but more expensive than usual, but not really a serious difference), it's not in colors, and it is rather slow. Still, some people like it.

Between GA-P35-DS3L, GA-P35-DS3R, GA-P35-DS4: if the budget allows, get the DS4. The DS3L allows only 4 SATA devices and comes with two SATA cables and doesn't support RAID and allows only one video card (i.e. at most two monitors). The DS3R allows 8 SATA devices, comes with 4 cables, supports RAID, again only one video card. The DS4 is like the DS3R but with more USB ports, with FireWire, one PCI slot less, and the ability to add a cheap second video card for a third monitor. The missing PCi slot is not really an issue IMO because everything comes in USB flavors too these days.

RAID: there's a very nice article on wikipedia if you're really curious. Basically, RAID 0 will give you better speed when handling large files, but increases the risk of losing the files because one disks's failure loses what's on the other disk(s) too. Other types of RAID, involving 3 or more disks, don't have this problem.

Solid State Drive: they behave like hard disks but they are made of Flash memory. Extremely fast. Unfortunately, they're like $400 for 32 GB, which makes them much less attractive. I'll definitely get one when it's $200 for 100 GB, for example. It might happen in a year or two, I think

 

[bugspin23]

Yup, the WD7500AAKS I mentioned earlier is a caviar 750GB and it's great. The Spinpoint F1 is actually the best hard disk out there when it comes to processing huge files (say, encoding videos).

Between those two Samsung burners: the more expensive one (SH-S203N) has Lightscribe, while the SH-S203B doesn't. If you think Lightscribe might interest you, by all means pay the $3 more and get the SH-S203N. If you don't know, Lightscribe is a technology that allows the burner to print labels on the DVD. It needs special DVDs (a but more expensive than usual, but not really a serious difference), it's not in colors, and it is rather slow. Still, some people like it.

Between GA-P35-DS3L, GA-P35-DS3R, GA-P35-DS4: if the budget allows, get the DS4. The DS3L allows only 4 SATA devices and comes with two SATA cables and doesn't support RAID and allows only one video card (i.e. at most two monitors). The DS3R allows 8 SATA devices, comes with 4 cables, supports RAID, again only one video card. The DS4 is like the DS3R but with more USB ports, with FireWire, one PCI slot less, and the ability to add a cheap second video card for a third monitor. The missing PCi slot is not really an issue IMO because everything comes in USB flavors too these days.

RAID: there's a very nice article on wikipedia if you're really curious. Basically, RAID 0 will give you better speed when handling large files, but increases the risk of losing the files because one disks's failure loses what's on the other disk(s) too. Other types of RAID, involving 3 or more disks, don't have this problem.

Solid State Drive: they behave like hard disks but they are made of Flash memory. Extremely fast. Unfortunately, they're like $400 for 32 GB, which makes them much less attractive. I'll definitely get one when it's $200 for 100 GB, for example. It might happen in a year or two, I think

Goodness, I have learned so much today!!!

So,
HD In your opinion, should I go with the 10K 150GB and the 750GB or can I go with just the 750GB? Will I even notice the difference between the two? LOL right now I am using some 80GB disk that I bought in 2003...I just want to be able to play Supreme Commander really fast...does HD even affect playing games? I dont do anything with video or music...I have a custom made POLK Audio Home Theater System for that.

Motherboard: Yes budget allows for the DS4, I like the options it has as well. I assume I will have to get a different model # of RAM now, but can I say with the CORSAIR XMS?

Optical Drive: I think I will get the second drive you recommended, but without the light scribe...the ASUS drive I am using for my primary already has light scribe.

 

[aevm]

The 10K disk is great for accessing lots of small files, because access time for that scenario depends a lot on how many rotations/second the disk does. That makes it very good for loading the operating system, for example. The drawbacks are high cost/GB and noise.

The 750GB disk is better than the other for larger files. That is, it takes a bit longer to find the right sector but, once it finds it, it reads/writes it (and the ones after it) faster than the 10K disk because it has more densely packed bits (perpendicular magnetic recording, etc.). You should have a very nice build if you get both disks and install Windows on the smaller one. Still, if you only get the 750GB and make a 150GB partition for Windows it will be cheaper and almost as good. Your choice.

You could also get two of the 750GB disks and make a partition for Windows on one of them. Your O/S will load slower than with the 10K disk, but that's just once a day, and you get 600GB more for the money. Also, when something needs two disks for best results, like encoding videos for example, it will be very fast.

Gigabyte has lists of recommended RAM (Qualified Vendor List) on its webpage. I found those lists rather useless because they list chip types, not the actual product name you see at newegg. I found some Newegg reviewers that used it successfully with Kingston HyperX DDR2-800 or 2x2 G.Skill DDR2 800 or Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 or Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16813128064

Supreme Commander will work very well. I believe a quad-core processor like Q6600 would do a bit better than the E6850, despite the lower clocks, because SupCom is optimized for quads. On the other hand, the E6850 is better than the Q6600 in most games if you're not running other tasks in the background while playing. If you also like Flight Simulator and/or compress DVDs often then it's worth getting a quad like Q9300 or Q9450 when they're out, or a Q6600 if they don't show up fast enough for you.

The hard disk doesn't matter much in games, except when loading new levels. Of course, this depends on how games are implemented and on settings and so on. I did read some posts saying that a Raptor disk improved Oblivion playing i.e. trees that used to appear too late with a normal disk appear at the right time with the Raptor. I haven't noticed any such things with my own WD5000AAKS drives, but I don't play Oblivion much either. It's possible too that the poster had a really crappy disk before he upgraded to the Raptor, I don't know...

 

[imrul]

harddrive speed doesnt hav much effect on playing games, but it makes computer seem faster because it can read and write files faster.