Critique A Noob's First Build

[Nisten]

So I've been burning my eyes out for the past couple of weeks refining different gaming builds I've come up with. My obsession at the moment is whether or not I will be able to run Crysis smoothly at high settings or better (because in my mind if I can then I will be able to play anything for the next few years)...

I run at 1280x1024 so SLI is not necessary. I'm upgrading from an aging AGP system and I would like to expect MONUMENTAL differences in performance plus a bit of future-proofing in order to avoid doing this again for a while (although it is fun)

Here is what I've come up with so far (I'll include everything to give an accurate total):

■Pioneer DVD/CD burner - $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129018

■Antec 900 case - $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

■- Seagate 250gb hd - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

■- XFX 8800 GTS 512mb - $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150267

■- Corsair 650watt PSU - $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

■- G.skill 4gb (2x2gb) DDR2 1066 ram (dual-channel) - $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

■- Gigabyte GA-EP35C-DS3R Mobo - $144.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128082

■- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - $214.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

■- Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit (OEM) - $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116204

Total so far w/shipping and taxes to Cali is $1,297.34.

I'm looking for best bang for the buck but at the same time would like to be set for the next couple of years as well as be able to upgrade. If I need to spend a little more to get something a bit better, I will, no problem.

Thanks a lot

 

[outlw6669]

It looks like you did good reaserching your new build!

The only thing I can see that you missed would be a better CPU cooler but if you do not plan on overclocking that is not a big issue.

DDR2 1066 is not really necessary. You could save a few $$ on DDR2 800 RAM with no noticable performance hit.

Other than that, everything looks good!
Best luck with your new build and enjoy a massive upgrade.

 

[trackman2010]

There is no need for a 650TX for a build like this.
A 450VX will be more than enough.
Your rig, even if overclocked to the max, will never exceed or even reach 400W (and the 33A the 450VX has will be more than enough) at full load, so there is no need to spend more money on a larger PSU, IMO.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

At the very most, I would go with a 550VX, but even that is a bit of an overkill for this rig, IMO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Also, why a 250GB HDD?
For only $20 more you can get twice that amount of storage.
500GB HDDs are the best in terms of $/GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Is there any reason you're going with a P35C-DS3R?
If not, then save some money by going with a P35-DS3L motherboard instead. Cheap, but stable and overclocks like a champ.
Not to mention P35C motherboards have A LOT of problems. I'd stay away.

Second the RAM thing.
I'd just get the cheapest 2*2GB 800Mhz CL4 RAM I can find, especially since I personally never bother with overclocking the memory (pretty much no visible performance boost).

One last thing, there are cheaper G92 GTSs than that XFX.
Unless you want it for a reason (brand loyalty or whatever), I'd go with the cheapest one available.
MSI and ECS sell the cheapest on Newegg, for $180 and $170 after MIRs, respectively.

Hope that helps.

 

[shadowduck]

Since you are saving money with some of trackman's suggestions, I would switch the CPU to the Q9300. Since it is 45nm it will run cooler, and you will thank yourself for not having a room heater.

 

[eagles453809]

I suggest getting 32-bit os, unless you plan on getting 8gb of ram.

 

[godless]

i would get one of these hard drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148309
250gb seagate 7200.11 with 32mb cache or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288
5000gb seagate 7200.11 with 32mb of cache

i agree with trackman2010 that you should get ddr2 800 ram instead of 1066. it will save you some money and if anything you can always overclock it. but i wouldn't purchase the cheapest one you can find. get one from a reputable company like corsair or something.

stick with 64bit windows.

 

[kad]

I'm looking for best bang for the buck but at the same time would like to be set for the next couple of years as well as be able to upgrade. If I need to spend a little more to get something a bit better, I will, no problem.

1- Stick to your 650W PSU and if you'll SLI or CF youneed minimun 750W for existing cards(for coming cards 1000W)
2- stick to your 1066 RAM you can not always overclock DDR 800 sticks
3- X48 and X38 mobos are better than P35 ones
4- For gaming go for E8400 Or E8500 and forget 9300 and 9450
5- If you can afford get WD RE2 750GB
6- Get decent HS like TRUE and fan
Good luck with your build

 

[matt2012]

That's a really good build but I do have a few suggestions.

1. If you really want the best bang for your buck then get a 500gb HDD. For only around an extra $20 you can get twice as much room.

2. If you really want to future proof your machine, then I suggest waiting less than a month for Nvidia and ATI's new cards in mid June. They are going to replace all current cards and ATI's 4870 is supposed to be around $250. Nvidia's new cards are going to be a bit more expensive but we don't know yet whether it will be better than the 4870. So if I were you I'd just wait to see the benchmarks and then buy the one that has the best bang for the buck.

 

[Shadow703793]

CPU, Case, PSU, GPU, OS, DVD are all fine.

What is concerning me are the Motherboard and the RAM.

DDR2 1066 RAM is known to have quite a bit of compatibility issues esp. with P35 chipsets.

Second is you have a DDR2/DDR3 combo motherboard, these type of motherboards that use the P35C chipset seems to have problems with RAM also.

My recommendations:
P5K-E
P35-DS3R

For RAM:
Any good DDR2 800 from Corsair,Crucial, Patriot,G.Skill,etc.

 

[Nisten]

Thanks for the help so far guys, here are some changes I've made:

- Samsung DVD/CD burner - $26.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

- WD 500gb hd - $84.99 (I really can't think of taking advantage of 640gb, but thanks for the suggestion)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

- G.skill 4gb (2x2gb) DDR2 800 ram - $84.99 (Will save with Newegg shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

- Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R Mobo - $119.99 (Didn't see this board somehow)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128086

- Corsair 550watt PSU - $94.99 (I'm not gonna SLI, but worries me with next-gen cards)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 - $274.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115043

- MSI 8800GTS 512mb - $209.99 (Wanted CoD 4 that came with XFX card but can always pick that up later)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

So that makes my total (parts listed doesn't include case, OS) after shipping/tax to Cali: $1,243.52.

I have some questions though:

If the 8800GTS is PCI-E 2.0, and my mobo doesn't support 2.0, will there be a problem/will I not be using the card to its full potential?

Should I wait for the next gen of cards to come out, and if so, what would I need to change in this current set up? RAM, mobo, etc.?

Any other suggestions/changes/arguments?

 

[trackman2010]

1- Stick to your 650W PSU and if you'll SLI or CF youneed minimun 750W for existing cards(for coming cards 1000W)

I'm sorry, but that's just not true. You do not need a minimum of 750W for SLI or CF, nor will you need a 1000W min in the future.
Two 3870x2's in CF just barely consume above 300W by themselves under full load, and two 9800GX2's about 250W. Keep in mind I'm talking about the cards alone, which are the components with the highest power draw, so a whole regular system with those cards won't even reach 600W.

Yes, the upcoming cards soon will be needing more power (HD 4870, 4870x2, etc..) according to numerous sources, but I highly doubt a 1000W PSU for SLI or CF will be a requirement.
Still, I'd say it's best to wait for the actual cards to come out and have them tested before jumping to any conclusions.

In any case, here is a list of all current existing video cards and their power consumption in watts:
http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354

- Corsair 550watt PSU - $94.99 (I'm not gonna SLI, but worries me with next-gen cards)

Trust me, this more than enough for almost anything out there.
There is no need to worry about next-gen cards.
It will never get to the point where a 550W PSU with 41A@+12v won't be enough for a single card configuration at least.

If the 8800GTS is PCI-E 2.0, and my mobo doesn't support 2.0, will there be a problem/will I not be using the card to its full potential?

No need to worry.
There won't be any problems (PCI-E 2.0 is backwards compatible with PCI-E 1.x) and the card will definitely work at its full potential.

Should I wait for the next gen of cards to come out, and if so, what would I need to change in this current set up? RAM, mobo, etc.?

Nothing, really. Everything will be compatible, but you'll just have to wait until the cards come out.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Well said.

- Samsung DVD/CD burner - $26.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151153

- WD 500gb hd - $84.99 (I really can't think of taking advantage of 640gb, but thanks for the suggestion)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136073

- G.skill 4gb (2x2gb) DDR2 800 ram - $84.99 (Will save with Newegg shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231122

- Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R Mobo - $119.99 (Didn't see this board somehow)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128086

- Corsair 550watt PSU - $94.99 (I'm not gonna SLI, but worries me with next-gen cards)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139004

- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 - $274.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115043

- MSI 8800GTS 512mb - $209.99 (Wanted CoD 4 that came with XFX card but can always pick that up later)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127325

Looks good. Your all set.

 

[chuckm]

Better deal on the power supply;
http://www.buy.com/prod/Corsair-VX-550W-Power-Supply/q/loc/101/205852646.html