Another new build

[Hobble]

I'd like you to take a look at this gaming build and tell me what you think, as well as giving advice on what PSU wattage to get. I plan on overclocking the GPU and the CPU (and RAM if needed). Here's the build:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3,0GHz

GPU: Asus GeForce EN9800GTX

RAM: Crucial Ballistix DDR2 PC6400/800MHz CL4 2x2GB

PSU: Corsair CMPSU-520HXEU 520W
Corsair CMPSU-550VXEU 550W
Corsair CMPSU-650TXEU 650W

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 16MB 500GB

MoBo: Asus P5E

DVD: Samsung SH-S203P

Case: Chieftec Giga GX-01B

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit


I can get the 9800GTX really cheap right now, so that is one thing I'm not changing. How many watts will I need? I've understood that more than 650 is overkill for anything not SLI or Crossfire. I might be getting another 2 RAM sticks of the same kind later though, so I'll need it to work with that as well.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Andrius]

You did your homework well.

If this is going to be a single graphics card build go for around 550W.
The VX 550W or TX 650W are good choices (around $100) but
if you like the modular HX 520W more get that (it's good enough).

I only recommend you consider taking a $110 WD6400AAKS over the $90 WD5000AAKS (it's a new 2 platter higher density model and it has better performance). PS: I see you're from Europe so I'll add my local pricelist
WD5000AAKS : 85 EUR (17cents/GB)
WD6400AAKS : 102.5 EUR (16cents/GB) + better performance

 

[Hobble]

Thanks, I'll take that into account!

 

[mofish]

Personally I'm not a fan of WD's warranty service. Thats why we switched to seagate at my workplace.

Hard drives WILL go bad, its just a matter of time, and seagate's RMA process is incredibly simple.

 

[mihirkula]

Hard drives WILL go bad, its just a matter of time, and seagate's RMA process is incredibly simple.

Not necessarily...I've owned 5 different HDs both WD and Seagate over a span of 10 years...every one of them is alive and kicking very well

OP...Andrius' advice is very good indeed....also look for the Seagate 500GB 7200.11 32mb

What resolution do you game at...cos 9800GTX isn't quite worth the price....8800GTS 512mb serves you just as well...moreover the Radeon 4870 is a couple of weeks away

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed.

PSU (all of them, 520HX would be good for your rig, esp. with modular cables), RAM (D9 chips W00t!), Motherboard, HDD (make sure it's a 7200.11 one) and CPU are all very good choices. Imo, the 9800GTX is kind of an overkill and costs too much, but you said you are getting it cheap so that might not be an issue.

 

[Hobble]

You might be right about the HDD. Didn't think about the cache before. Thanks for the tip! I'll have to meditate some on the PSU though, if the modular is worth the extra cost and stuff. The case is pretty big so place shouldn't really be a problem, but cables can be a mess anyway I suppose. It's good to know the wattage won't be an issue.

I'll play at 1280*1024, but considering I can get a 9800GTX cheaper than an 8800GT (it's hard to translate prices directly from Swedish Kronor to USD though, as everything's more expensive here, so I won't try) I'll go with that one anyway.

 

[mofish]

Not necessarily...I've owned 5 different HDs both WD and Seagate over a span of 10 years...every one of them is alive and kicking very well

OP...Andrius' advice is very good indeed....also look for the Seagate 500GB 7200.11 32mb

What resolution do you game at...cos 9800GTX isn't quite worth the price....8800GTS 512mb serves you just as well...moreover the Radeon 4870 is a couple of weeks away

I suppose I'm just a tad embittered towards WD when it comes to RMA replacement, you send them a higher-end model and they send you back a refurb low-end model...its just frustrating.

Also I just have this thing about hard drives due to my work environment, I see a lot of machines come in with dead HDDs, and while the majority are junk brands like hitachi or toshiba, a LOT are WD.