New Gaming rig- Critique

[scyle]

CPU:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

OR, alternativly, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115040

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz
Considering that everyone wants a E8400 and they can be a little hard to find. Also I can always OC a quad, but I cant add extra cores to a dual core.

RAM:

Crucial Ballistix 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148183

4GB...cheap as chips.

MOBO:

ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030
Got a better one? Post it.


Video Card:

EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

HD:

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Bear in mind, I already have a 250GB storage drive, and another 74GB raptor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136131


PS:

PC Power & Cooling S610EPS EPS12V 610W Continuous @ 40°C Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, cUL, CE, CB, TUV - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

Thoughts?

 

[FwoGiZ]

its a bit annoyin to open all the newegg pages.. maybe u shud write em down like most people do ;p would eases things for us

 

[scyle]

Okay I edited so you can see it better.

 

[lunyone]

Looks pretty good. There are things that I'd change, but seeing you have quality parts here, I'm not going to make any major suggestions. What is your budget and what OS are you going to use?

 

[scyle]

Looks pretty good. There are things that I'd change, but seeing you have quality parts here, I'm not going to make any major suggestions. What is your budget and what OS are you going to use?

Probably Xp. I already have it, and I'll ask to see if they ship the 64 bit version. My mother has vista on her computer and it seems really chunky and useless.

Budget is around 1300.

 

[two bit hit]

Looks nice, but I'd push for RAM at 1066, just to make sure that you can utilise an E8400 if you OC it, you wouldn't want to RAM limiting it much for the sake of a few dollars.

 

[shaun37]

I Really wouldn't waste my money on a 9800GTX, it's nothing special, can't even beat the Ultra.

Try looking around for a Cheaper 8800GTS 512MB then OC it to the GTX's clock.

 

[ill_take_two]

isn't it a big downside putting that either of those GPU's on a PCIe1.1 board?

 

[scyle]

isn't it a big downside putting that either of those GPU's on a PCIe1.1 board?

That board is not PCIeX16 2.0?

I didnt see where it said it was either so I just assumed

 

[badgtx1969]

Looks nice, but I'd push for RAM at 1066, just to make sure that you can utilise an E8400 if you OC it, you wouldn't want to RAM limiting it much for the sake of a few dollars.

The Ballistix should be able to do that NO problem, most 1066 RAM is simply overclocked

You can't go wrong w/ the Micron models the Ballistix have, even though the high density chips used on the 2x2gb aren't the crazy overclockers like the lower density D9's.

 

[jonyb222]

isn't it a big downside putting that either of those GPU's on a PCIe1.1 board?

Unless I'm mistaken PCI 2.0 only makes a difference at 2 cards or more as normal PCI 1.1 ports share their bandwith and so if you have 2 cards you can only run them at (16x, 8x) or (8x, 8x) while PCI 2.0 allows to run them both at 16x

Can someone comfirm this?

 

[scyle]

The e8400 is hard to find. Perhaps it would be better getting a Q9450 or a Q9300. Thoughts?

 

[amd_fanboi]

Q6600. The 45nm Quads are also not too widely available, not to mention their OCing abilities are not so laudable...

 

[scyle]

I'm not really into OCing though

Seems like it wrecks the chip faster

 

[frosty97]

tigerdirect.com has e8400's while supplies last both retail and oem just fyi

 

[scyle]

Any other suggestions? I saw someone say something in another thread about getting two 8800GTS's in SLI (with a different Mobo, obviously) to save money on one 9800GTX and get better performance.

 

[two bit hit]

Two 8800GTSs would not be cheaper than a 9800GTX. A single GTS would be almost as good, and a lot cheaper. Bear in mind that the GTX is more futureproof for tri-SLI and all that. Two 8800GTs however are about the same price as one GTX and much better, but again, if you get two of those in SLI (as I have) you are limited in the future (I'm just going to sell mine when it comes to upgrading, so it's not really a problem).

 

[aevm]

I like your current setup very much. I have a Silencer myself (except it's a 750W) and WD7500AAKS disks, and they're very good. The aBit IP35Pro is also an excellent choice AFAIK.

9800GTX is very much like 8800GTS G92 512MB, except for the Triple-SLI support (which you won't use, with that P35 motherboard and PSU). You might as well get the 8800GTS G92. eVGA is a good brand. So are BFG and XFX.

CPU: my personal preferences would be Q9450, Q9300, Q6600, E8500, E8400, in this order. The Q6600 is easiest to find these days, but I'm sure the others will be easy to find too if you wait a bit. If this PC is strictly for games and you don't play Flight Simulator and you intend to upgrade again in 2 years or less then I'd say get the E8400 or E8500. If the PC does other things too or the CPU will last for a long time then you're better off with a quad IMO.

Add a P182 case and a SH-S203N burner, you're all set...

 

[scyle]

Any more ideas/suggestions? I intend on getting this tomorrow.

 

[lunyone]

e8400/q6600
8800gts (g92)
4 gb's DDR2 800mHz, 2x2 gb's configuration seems pretty popular.
Abit IP35 Pro mobo is a solid choice. I'd even go with the IP35 version and save more $, but the PRO is nice!! You could even go with the Gigabyte DS3R for about $30 less.
PSU - the PCP&C 610w is nice. Others to consider are the Corsair 650tx/Corsair vx550w/Antec NeoHE 550w, which are all pretty close to your price range. If you want to save the most $ and still get a good PSU, I'd go with the vx550w PSU at Buy.com for $70 after $15 MIR, but you can decide if you want to do that or not.