compatibility check/evaluation

[mdw12345]

Hey guys,

I specced out a new system and wanted to get your thoughts on any area of weakness and/or parts that aren't compatible. Thanks for your time.

CASE: CoolerMaster Stacker Tower 420W Case W/ Mod Side-Panel (CoolerMaster 830 Black Color)

CPU: (Sckt775)Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E8400 CPU @ 3.0GHz 1333FSB 6MB L2 Cache 64-bit

MOTHERBOARD: Asus P5N-E nForce 650i SLI Chipset LGA775 FSB1333 DDR2 Mainboard

MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard) 4GB (2x2GB) PC8500 DDR2/1066 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair Dominator)

VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB 16X PCI Express (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA)

LCD Monitor: 24& quot; TFT Active Matrix LCD Display (ViewSonic Optiquest Q241WB WUXGA 1920x1200)

HARD DRIVE: Single Hard Drive (500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)

Optical Drive: LG 20X Double Layer DVD+-RW Super Allwrite + Lightscribe Technology (Black Color)

SOUND: Creative Labs X-FI XtremeGamer 24-BIT PCI Sound Card

 

[aevm]

Don't buy a case with a PSU. CoolerMaster PSUs are no good. Also, 420W is too small for an 8800GTX, let alone for SLI with two of them. Get an RC-690 or Thermaltake Armor or whatever you like. Careful, the 8800GTX is huge and may not fit in some smaller cases.

If that LG is SATA it's fine. If not, get a SH-S203B.

If you intend to overclock add a Xigmatek HDT-S1283. If not, DDR2-800 is cheaper and good enough.

I suggest you get a Toughpower 850W PSu or a Silencer 750W. Your 24" monitor makes SLI useful. That is, add a second 8800GTX now or whenever you can afford it.

I would stay away from the 650i chipset, too old. Get an XFX 780i or eVGA 780i or Asus P5N-D.

If you decide to try SLI don't buy the sound card yet. You might find that all the PCI slots are blocked by video cards.

If you're not interested in SLI then the PSU could be a 550VX or 650TX, for example, and the motherboard a GA-EP35-DS3L or DS3R or aBit Ip35 Pro.

 

[Andrius]

I agree with aevm on the above.

And if you decide to buy a XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 buy this backplate kit for it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

I would also skip the 8800GTX. I only advise SLI chipsets when they are used for SLI from the start. The next generation of NVIDIA cards is due to be released in late June. Either buy two cheap 8800GTS (~$170 a piece) for the same price or wait for GTX 280/260 and decide then.

 

[mdw12345]

hey guys, thanks for the replys.

I'm looking at ordering from cyberpower, so some of my possibly odd choices are based on the options they give. http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Intel_Core_2_Duo_Custom_Build_Configurator

As far as the PSU goes, it didn't list it in the copy/paste I did, but i was going with the Thermaltake W0131RU ToughPower 850 Watt upgrade option

For the drive, theres no link provided for me to tell if its a Sata, so I'm not sure there.

I don't know enough about overclocking to try that myself, so I'm leaving out the Xigmatek.

Changed my RAM to 4 sticks of the DDR-2/800 based on your suggestions as well as a newer motherboard.

and finally, I went with the 2 8800GTS over the single GTX, although now I'm a little worried about the sound card fitting. would you happen to know if that will still fit with this setup?

Thanks for the advice

CASE: CoolerMaster Stacker Tower 420W Case W/ Mod Side-Panel (CoolerMaster 830 Black Color)

CPU: (Sckt775)Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E8400 CPU @ 3.0GHz 1333FSB 6MB L2 Cache 64-bit

MOTHERBOARD: (3-Way SLI & QX9650/9770 Support) EVGA nForce 780i SLI Mainboard FSB1333 DDR2 3 x PCIe x16 SATA RAID w/ USB2.0, IEEE1394, & 7.1Audio

MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)4GB (4x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair or Major Brand)

VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB 16X PCI Express (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA)

VIDEO CARD 2: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB 16X PCI Express (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA)

HARD DRIVE: Single Hard Drive (500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)

Optical Drive: LG 20X Double Layer DVD+-RW Super Allwrite + Lightscribe Technology (Black Color)

SOUND: Creative Labs X-FI XtremeGamer 24-BIT PCI Sound Card

 

[Andrius]

The soundcard will fit however I would skip it. Try onboard sound first and if it is not good enough you can add a card later.

I would stay with 2x2GB DDR2 800 RAM modules for a 4GB configuration (leaves the potential upgrade option).

LG doesn't have any SATA DVDRW drives from what I can see on their website. I would get a Samsung or NEC instead.

 

[kad]

hey guys, thanks for the replys.

I'm looking at ordering from cyberpower, so some of my possibly odd choices are based on the options they give. http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Intel_Core_2_Duo_Custom_Build_Configurator

As far as the PSU goes, it didn't list it in the copy/paste I did, but i was going with the Thermaltake W0131RU ToughPower 850 Watt upgrade option

For the drive, theres no link provided for me to tell if its a Sata, so I'm not sure there.

Optical Drive: LG 20X Double Layer DVD+-RW Super Allwrite + Lightscribe Technology (Black Color)

1- Thermaltake W0131RU ToughPower 850 Watt is perfect
2- LG Drive Lightscribe Technology : I have this one and it is SATA
3- I advise you to get XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 You just need to push FSB to 400
4- Agree totally with Andrius: Stay with 2x2GB DDR2 800 RAM modules for a 4GB configuration
Good luck with your rig

 

[Andrius]

@kad
Some thoughts to your comments:

2. There's no way to know what model they are using. I've checked LGs website and they are all PATA (ATA/ATAPI 3). Can you tell me which model of drive you have (the model number)?

3. With NVIDIA chipsets it's not as easy to overclock as it is with Intel chipsets. There's people all over the forum who can't even get to 333MHz stable on 7x0i. The XIGMATEK cooler is a good idea anyway but if he won't overclock the stock cooler is good enough. I'd still get one for $44(with backplate).