New Build! Advice & Motherboard Assistance please!

[ShawnW]

*Edit! Tossed together what should be a close-to-final build. Updated with suggestions from below as well as research. Still debating the 4g vs 8g memory and the 8800GT Versus the 8800GTS Versus the 8800GTX, although right now the GTX is in the lead!

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143080

Operating System:
Vista Home Premium 64

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

Processor Cooling:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

Memory: (2 of these, 8gb total)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Optical Drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135151
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103203

Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001

 

[ShawnW]

After some browsing, one of these 2 is what I think I'll be going with! Assuming they're compatible with everything:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026

*Edit - Quick question! What exactly is the 'Enthusiast design for overclocking'? Also, the cheaper of the two has 2x PCI Express 2.0 where the expensive one has 2x PCI Express, that a deal breaker at all?

 

[snow naval]

Firstly, Scrap that case & Vista. They are just definate No's lol.
As for the motherboard. As youre using Intel , id go for a Foxconn 45CM-S I945GC

 

[ShawnW]

Could you elaborate more on scraping the case and vista? I was under the impression that if I was going to use more than 3.25gigs of ram I'd need a Vista 64bit OS.

 

[ShawnW]

Also, I cannot seem to find that Motherboard anywhere! Except for a few mentions here and there of a micro-atx board but nothing from an online supplier.

 

[evongugg]

Yes you need a 64-bit OS with more than 4GB of memory.
For the optical drive, I would go with Samsung SH-203B or N.
Other than that it looks pretty good.

 

[ShawnW]

Thanks for the advice! I was just kinda shootin' in the dark and looking at random reviews for the burner.

I've been perusing the reviews on those 2 Motherboards and it terifies me! Are all SLI Motherboards that bad off?

 

[jsc]

The second motherboard got substantially better user reviews.

Conservative power estimates (based on online data, spec sheets, and personal measurement):

8800GT X 2: about 15 a (180 watts)
CPU: less than 8 amps (100 watts)
8 GB RAM: less than 12 amps @ 3.3 volts (40 watts)
HD: 20 watts (about 1 amp each at 5v and 12 volts)
DVD: about 30 watts (1.5 amp @ 5 volts and 2 amp @ 12 volts)
Motherboard: probably no more than 3 amps @ 12 volts and 4 amps @ 5 volts (55 watts)

No more than 425 watts. Add on less than 2 amps for fans - less than 450 watts and a minimum of 32 amps at 12 volts.

The biggest cost savings would come from ditching the SLI video. Then you could also drop the 750i motherboard and replace it with something like a less expensive Gigabyte board. That would enable you to use a smaller, less expensive PSU.

Remember, Nehalem comes this fall/winter.

 

[ShawnW]

I tell you, with all the bad noise I'm hearing about SLI, I'm about to drop it! I have heard almost nothing but bad things, heh. Going to have to go browse a bit, find a nice single card that's comparable or better than 2x 8800gt's and compare pricing!

 

[snow naval]

Just saw this on ebuyer which is probarbly your best bet, id grab it whilst you can:

ASUS P5KC AiLifestyle Series iP35 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132275

 

[ShawnW]

Thinking of swapping up cases and getting the:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

And dropping all this SLI nonsense and just rockin' one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143080

 

[snow naval]

Why do you want a case which is so "1337"?

Heres my case and its simple, but good looking.
Fan LEDs & Neon Cathodes around the sides. Problem is with clear cases you have to make sure the wires are tidy, and invisible, and i think that i did a pretty good job :]

 

[ShawnW]

Why do some people like the color red?
Why do some people like brick houses?

Asking someone why they like the look of something is a very open ended question.

Do you have any reasons functionally why any of these cases are bad? A link to a case you prefer and an explanation why?

 

[effel]

You did a decent job on picking out your parts to begin with; however I think you need a little help in a few areas...
First off I noticed you need help on the motherboard. From the looks of it, you want to SLI. Well if that's the case, you're going to need something with an nvidia chipset. The 750i motherboard is a good choice for you, like the Evga 750i FTW.

Secondly, That awful case. It seems very cheaply made, and its probably noisy. You're going to want to buy something that is durable, quiet, and provides good cooling to your important hardware. Mainly...something that will last you multiple builds. Look at something from Lian Li. I use the Lancool K10.

In your shoes, I would avoid SLI entirely though, the gains you get, don't seem to denote the extra price you have to pay. Here are some suggestions I make. An intel p35 chipset based motherboard; something like that Abit IP35-Pro, or MSI Neo2FR or something from DFI.

For your graphics card, get an Nvidia 8800GTS 512mb, get an aftermarket cooler on it(like a Thermalright HR-03 or V2), and overclock it.

For the power supply, all you'll need is a 500 or 550W tops. Look at this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151034

Try to get a better case. Check out the Antec 900 or P182. Thermaltake Armor, or Tsunami Dream. Check out my case though: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112155

 

[uguv]

The Antec 900 is a solid case with very good cooling.

For video I'd either wait for the next NVidia or ATI series (both due out soon) or go with an 8800GTS (G92) 512MB card like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130327 Make sure it's the 512MB G92 card and not the 320 or 640MB versions. The 8800GTX is nice but there's not a huge improvement over the 8800GTS (G92) and it costs a lot more.

As for Vista 64, it's a definite yes. I've been using it for over 6 months and the only thing it hasn't been able to run on it is our Juniper vpn software because the drivers for the version we're using aren't digitally signed. If you're using hardware and software that's come out in the past year or two then you should be fine.

Your PSU is probably overkill. Something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004 would fit the bill. *Edit: The PSU eFFeL linked is also a very good choice. *

Finally, since you've decided to ditch the SLI setup I assume you're looking at a P35 or X38 motherboard. I've had good success with Asus, Gigabyte, and DFI boards in the past.

 

[evongugg]

Your choice of power supply is certified ready for SLI:

Certified SLI-Ready Power Supplies
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

 

[ShawnW]

Ok, edited the first post to reflect the changes! Dropped the SLI & got the one card, still on the fense on the GTS versus the GTX. Going right now to look at power supplies and motherboards (P35 types!).

 

[ShawnW]

Oh man, I get so lost lookin' at the motherboards. Will a board with DDR2 1066 support DDR2 800? Or do I need to specifically stay with DDR2 800?

I suppose on a similar note, is it enough of a performance increase to go for something higher than DDR2 800?

 

[uguv]

Oh man, I get so lost lookin' at the motherboards. Will a board with DDR2 1066 support DDR2 800? Or do I need to specifically stay with DDR2 800?

I suppose on a similar note, is it enough of a performance increase to go for something higher than DDR2 800?

DDR2 1066 is basically just overclocked DDR2 800. I haven't yet seen a board that would support DDR2 1066 but not DDR2 800. I think you're just seeing the highest rated ram they're supporting.

Something like a GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L should fit your needs. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

The GA-EP35-DS3L is cheaper and would probably be ok but I've heard that the current BIOS has problems with overclocking because it doesn't seem to allow you to change the voltage on the processor.

 

[ShawnW]

Updated the first post with what will hopefully be the final build. Still wracking my brain on the 8g vs 4g memory issue and the 8800GT vs 8800GTS vs 8800GTX issue. Eliminated SLI.

 

[jsc]

Something like a GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L should fit your needs. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

The GA-EP35-DS3L is cheaper and would probably be ok but I've heard that the current BIOS has problems with overclocking because it doesn't seem to allow you to change the voltage on the processor.

I have a DS3P and it has no problem pushing CPU voltage up past 1.5 volts. OTOH, I do not know what the difference is between the two. Downtown Dhahran didn't have a DS3L when I went motherboard shopping last month.

I have an Antec 900 case. It's basically a low tech case with great cooling. Not being toolless does not bother me, but I DO miss a removeable motherboard tray.

Setting the fans to Low, Medium, or High made no difference in internal temps. That's good because with the fans set to High, it sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

Remeber, the PSU sits in the bottom. The 12 volt CPU power cable on my Antec (!!!) 650 watt TP3 was just long enough.

 

[snow naval]

Dont know where im up to now. Have you decided on a motherboard yet?