Building for less than $1300.00 a few questions

[Foreverunstopable]

Hello everyone. I've been lurking around for a while reading up and learning alot for the forum. I wanted to run a few questions by everyone to see what they think. I'm trying to build a computer for good gaming, school and that will last me a few years. I have never OC'd before but after reading up on it it seems like something I will be capable of doing. My budget is 1300 My first question is,

1. What is the performance difference between EVGA's 8800GT 512 and EVGA's 8800GTS 320? I eventually plan to go SLI but not for another few months. Newegg has the gts 320 for 190.

2. As for OS's and Ram. Would it be better for me to buy 2x2gb sticks and run Vista-64bit in anticipation of future programs and games or run XP with 3X1gb sticks?

3. Are there any components that I have chosen that dont OC well or become to hot, unstable with the cooling fan and case I have chosen? I have tried to choose a good board and cooler and case but want to be sure I'm not missing something.

4. Can you please look over my build and suggest any better hardware, less expensive hardware but maintain quality ect.. or compatibility issues I will run into? I have 1300.00 I can spend. Thanks and I look forward to seeing what you have to say.


1. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819115017 $279.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor
Item #:N82E16819115017

2. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813130081 $20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$139.99

MSI P6N SLI Platinum ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813130081

3. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811119137 $79.99

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811119137

4. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827118002 $27.99

Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7190S
Item #:N82E16827118002

5. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822148140 $84.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822148140

6. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820161172 $35.99

WINTEC 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Item #:N82E16820161172

7. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817171024 -$30.00 Instant
$50.00 Mail-in Rebate $169.99$139.99

COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-750-ACAA-A1 750W Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817171024

8. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130319 $249.99

EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512-P3-N801-AR Video Card
Item #:N82E16814130318

9. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16835118019 -$25.00 Instant
$79.99 $54.99

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
Item #:N82E16835118019

Total Price $1079.00

 

[Shadow703793]

1. The performance between the 8800GT and the 8800GTS will be minimal unless running SLI at extreme resolutions.
2. Get 2*2GB and Vista x64. The Vista SP1 fixes a lot of problems.
3. I would change the Motherboard to a P35-DS3L/R.

As for the RAM get some of this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034&CMP=OTC-RSS&cm_mmc=OTC-RSS-_-Desktop+Memory-_-Corsair+(XMS+Series)-_-N82E16820145034
^OC quite well.
Instead of the COOL MASTER get a Corsair 520HX or 550VX.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001
^Both are very stable PSUs.

Everything else looks good.

 

[Foreverunstopable]

Response to answer

1. So the difference between EVGA 8800gt 512 and EVGA 8800gts 320 isnt that great unless I go high on the resolution. Do I need to or should I buy the factory overclocked version or the base model and oc my self?

2. Thanks I was leaning towards the vista 64bit. On that I clicked the link and its to 2X1gb not 2x2gb. Should I buy

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184 at 2x2 gigs or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...mory-_-Corsair+(XMS+Series)-_-N82E16820145034

2 sets of 2x1gb?

3. What is the benefit of the p35 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059&Tpk=P35-DS3L
over the p6n http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813130081?

After reading it says the P35 will not support SLI. Is that correct?

As for the psu's I called EVGA and they said I should have an approved SLI PSU but that it needs to be over 650 minimum to be safe. Is that hype or can you use SLI'd 8800gt's safely on 550?

 

[Hozer]

2x2gb is better than 4x1gb for a couple reasons.

First, less change of having a bad stick. Second, gives you more room to go to 6 or 8 in the future, because you will still have 2 slots open.

 

[Shadow703793]

Response to answer


3. What is the benefit of the p35 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059&Tpk=P35-DS3L
over the p6n http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813130081?

After reading it says the P35 will not support SLI. Is that correct? <==[This is correct]

As for the psu's I called EVGA and they said I should have an approved SLI PSU but that it needs to be over 650 minimum to be safe. Is that hype or can you use SLI'd 8800gt's safely on 550?

I recommend the P35-Ds3x is because I have personally used them in 7+ builds and they all have been OCed very well and stable. Imo, SLI is not worth it UNLESS playing at VERY high resolutions.

 

[nhobo]

NO software requires Vista. DX10 is overblown, poorly implemeted and hardware intensive (see Crysis). Do you need to run a specific 64-bit application?

XP Pro is the OS of choice. That may change in the future (a couple of generations of technology away), but Vista is the dog that nobody wants. XP can use +3GB, I'm running 4 and have 3.5 available.

Forget SLI and get a P35 mobo. Single card graphics are the way to go unless you are an extreme wirehead and don't care at all about price/performance. Otherwise looks like a nice build.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed on SLI. But, Vista x64 SP1 dose provide improvements, and you will be forced to upgrade to Vista later anyway. You need a x64 to support 4GB doesn't matter if it is Vista or XP.

 

[nhobo]

Nobody is going to force me to upgrade anything. I'll move to LINUX before I give MicroShaft any more money. Vista is a thinly veiled excuse for nothing.

XP supports 4GB, this is an old argument that you are on the wrong side of. See Memory Support and Windows Operating Systems