Need help with a new build! PLEASE!!!

[Ray Charles]

Need help with a new build! PLEASE!!!
I am from Trinidad and Tobago and want to build a system via a 'sky box' shipping arrangemen. I am choosing one website because of this shipping System. my budget is $8,000 TTD (1,260 USD). I would like some technical assistane, opinions or any information that might be helpful.
PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! HELP!!!

My current configeration (Wishlist on Newegg) is as follows:


NZXT HUSH Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case = $90

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard = $140

MSI NX8800GTS 512M OC GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB Video Card = $225

PC Power & Cooling S610EPS EPS12V 610W Continuous @ 40°C Power Supply = $110

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 Processor - Retail = $210

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Memory = $80

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive = $120

Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor =$230

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA - OEM = $33

MASSCOOL SYTRIN Kuformula SHF1 Ultra HDD Cooler = $30

TOTAL = $1,268


I am choosing one store, newegg because I want to; 1 save on bulk shipping to Trinidad, 2 Recieve all my parts at the same time, 3 I trust Newegg more than any other store

I wanted an Antec 900 but it no longer availible at Newegg I think I might have to look elsewhere despit my shipping constrainsts


PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! HELP!!!

1 WHAT TO CHANGE
2 WHAT TO LEAVE OUT
3WHAT TO ADD IN
4 ANY DEALS
5GENERAL HELP
6GENERAL OPINIONS

REMEMBER MY $1,260 USD BUDGET PLEASE IT SHOULD BE JUST MIDRANGE!

 

[oushi]

One of the big rivals to the Antec 900 is the Cooler Master 690. It's strange that the 900 isn't available on Newegg right now, so you might consider it. There's also the Antec 300 which looks like a budget 900. Design isn't quite as nice (in my opinion) and you'll have to furnish your own front fans for it.

Are you planning to go SLI in the future? If not, I would go with a P35 board like the Gigabyte GA-P35DS3L.

Otherwise, the rest of the setup looks okay to me.

 

[aevm]

Sounds like a good setup.

On your budget, and with that monitor, SLi is pointless. Get the GA-P35-DS3L and save some money.

Is the hard drive cooler there because Trinidad is hot and you don't have air conditioning? I think you can leave it out - other parts will fail before the hard drive.

I'd get a WD6400AAKS or WD7500AAKS or Seagate 7200.11 instead of the Samsung HDD. Not happy with their reliability reports.

Can you buy the case (or some other case) and the monitor (or some other monitor) locally? I think these items will cost a lot to ship so far. I may be wrong, of course.

 

[Ray Charles]

Thanks!

oushi: The Antec 300 is not the 900 and it is not even close! Yes you are right the design isn't quite as nice!
The GA-P35-DS3L seems fantastic but what about pci express 2.0 (double the performance)

aevm: I will leave it out the hard drive cooler (we do have aircon in T&T but not in my dom room)
local cases and monitors are too expensive this exact monitor (Acer) is around $350 USD
I saw an HP 22" monitor with swivel and alot better specs than the Acer on Tigerdirect for $250. Is this a better option?

The GA-P35-DS3L seems fantastic but what about pci express 2.0 (double the performance I will also consider another HD

THANKS VEY MUCH WHAT ELSE!

 

[oushi]

PCI-e 2.0 will NOT give you double the performance right now. Yes, it doubles the bandwidth, but current video cards aren't even maxing out 1.1 lanes yet. You won't see any cards that will really need the 2.0 slot until the end of this year if not much later. In my opinion, you'd be better off saving some money and getting that DS3L.

 

[aevm]

Is that the HP w2207 22" LCD? Yeah, I'd pay $250 for that one, it's a good deal.

 

[Ray Charles]

Yes it is the HP w2207 22" LCD it looks BADD! I love it!
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3720449&Sku=H25-2200


I also found the Antec 900 at a local online dealer (Trinidad) at a good price I was shocked (thanks for the advice aevm) I was shocked! Not cheap but considering shipping (a walk-in store close to me) its great!
the price is $143.50 USD
http://www.wizzbizz.biz/estore/item.wws?pk=1231897.179437

But the other parts like the video card and the monitor are way to expensive to consider!

NX8800GTS 512M OC GEFORCE 8800GTS 512MB Video card is $364.75 USD
http://www.wizzbizz.biz/estore/item.wws?pk=1309549.243293

Acer AL2216wbd 22" LCD Monitor is $316.55 USD
http://www.wizzbizz.biz/estore/item.wws?pk=1231297.179081


But they also lack variety, I can't find mmost of the other parts on this site
PC gaming with high end and even midend PCs is not as popular in Trinidad as the US only a selected few are hardcore game my guess is less than 2000 people but our population is 1.2 million the rest think a 8400gs is a good gaming video card. This might explain the high prices but newegg and a friend with a skybox for shipping will help me (most Trini gamers order their parts online also)

oushi: I might go sli for christmas as a gift to myself is the ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard a good motherboard! HELP NEEDED

Finally reading consumer reviews on the SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB HD at newegg seem to mirror aevm's comments but the options are only slightly better!

 

[oushi]

I'm not a big fan of SLI. In my opinion, you would be better off saving some money with a P35 motherboard and a single video card and just replacing the 8800GTS in the future when you need more power. However, it's your machine and it's up to you whether or not you'd like to keep the option open. I don't have any experience with the 750i personally, but the reviews seem mostly decent at least.

 

[aevm]

^^ I agree.

On the other hand, you're already getting a case (Antec 900) and PSU (Silencer 610W) that can handle 2 of those 8800GTS cards. Keeping the SLI option open would cost you only $50 more (i.e. getting the $140 750i instead of the $90 DS3L). I have no idea if that is worth it to you or not. Try to decide, now, how likely you are to want a second video card later. If it's not very likely then get the DS3L and save the $50.

Right now, on a 22" monitor, a single 8800GTS G92 will be just fine in most games. Crysis and Frontlines will not work so well with the eye candy on max, but those are exceptions.

 

[Ray Charles]

If at Christmas time Ican get a 8800GTS (can i sli different branded cards properly MSI, EVGA BFG) for around $140-$180 SLI might just be on!

What about this RAID HD configuration that I am hear so much performance benefits about because I don't think the Gigabyte GA-P35DS3L has this feature!

Also what do you think about this deal!
ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
ASUS Black E-IDE/PATA HD DVD-ROM Drive Model HR-0205T - Retail
Original price: $239.98
Discount: -$90.00
Combo Price: $149.98

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ubCategory=280&SortField=0&PageSize=10&page=1

A HD DVD drive for $10!
A mean HD DVD is out or gone but I guess you could still get a few good movies (Hi-Definition is Hi-Definition)

Comments and opinions from anyone would be appreciated!

 

[litlrabi]

RAID is over rated for most people.

I would not get that deal. The IDE cable will make it that much more difficult to keep your system cool because of airflow issues.

 

[Ray Charles]

what about the HD DVD drive for $10!

 

[litlrabi]

It's cheap, but could hurt your system's overall ability to overclock and stay cool.

I suppose you could get it for the cool factor, like people with BETA have now. I wouldn't, but you're not me.

 

[aevm]

Right, the DS3L does not support RAID. I wouldn't bother with RAID in a gaming machine. It's really something for servers, or for boasting purposes, or for workstations.

OK, if you do want the SLI option and you're getting the P5N-D anyway, then I think you should pay the $10 more and get that HD-DVD drive. Even if you never use it with HD movies, it's still good for regular DVDs, and $10 is a fantastic deal. Yes the IDE cable is a pain, but you can avoid using it because the drive comes with an IDE/SATA adapter.

 

[Ray Charles]

Please explain how could hurt your system's overall ability to overclock and stay cool? I am lost!

 

[aevm]

He means the IDE cable is very wide and blocks the air from moving around and cooling parts. He's right, but you don't have to use the IDE cable. Read the newegg reviews for that drive. The last one explains it.

 

[litlrabi]

Didn't realize it came with a converter. If so, get it.

 

[Ray Charles]

Is the 9800GTX for $295 (newegg) more a deal than the 8800GTS $225
Is the $70 worth it

Considering the 9800GTX + GA-P35DS3L
VS
The 8800GTS +A SUS P5N-D LGA 775 nForce 750i

 

[johhnyboy19]

Definitely the faster GPU, if you have the money up front. I'm going to have to second aevm's comments SLI has always been quite a bit overrated, it's for bragging purposes. and not to mention it's often terribly supported. it's for people with money to burn and very often not a very good upgrade option.
I have had SLI set ups and while there are some benifits getting the best possible GPU(card) you can at time of purchase is usualy the best bet.

 

[Ray Charles]

What about aftermarket coolers?
Is it a necessary investment?

 

[amd_fanboi]

Not on the GTS,. it does well enough with stock cooling... I've seen some people hit 800mhz core mem on stock, so i wouldn't replace it... but, that's just me.

 

[Ray Charles]

Sorry I was not specific I mean't CPU cooler!

 

[Ray Charles]

PEOPLE I NEED HELP CHOOSING A MONITOR!
I NARROWED IT DOWN TO THREE CHOICES:
1 Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor=$230
2 Samsung SyncMaster 216BW 21.6" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor=$250
3 HP W2207 22" Widescreen Flat Panel LCD Monitor=$250

WHICH ONE SHOULD I CHOOSE! (also does an come with a 'eye saving' protection screen built-in)

 

[aevm]

Between the 8800GTS 512MB and the 9800GTX - I'd pick the 8800GTS and save the price difference. The 9800GTX adds the ability to do Triple-SLI, but that's pointless if you don't intend to actually have 3 video cards. Speed is very close.

The Samsung 216BW is very nice, I have one. I like that it includes the DVI cable. I don't like that the on/off button is in front and has a LED.

 

[Ray Charles]

Cool!
I was doing the maths today with the 8800GTS VS the 9800GTX
You are actually paying 31% more money for 13% more performance!
This is the norm in the computer world but the 8800GTS is no slouch!
This just highlights the bargin that a 8800GTS for $225. is

Also would the Samsung 216BW match the Antec 900