Final Build need tips/suggestions

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ragingazn628

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Jun 18, 2007
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Here's my build - mainly for gaming
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=6124694

1 COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:CAC-T05-WW
Item #:N82E16811119077
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$59.99 -$5.00 Instant $54.99
1 OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
Model #:OCZ600SXS
Item #:N82E16817341010
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail-in Rebate

$99.99 -$15.00 Instant $84.99
1 Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KHX6400D2K2/4G

Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KHX6400D2K2/4G - Retail
Model #:KHX6400D2K2/4G
Item #:N82E16820104001
Return Policy:Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
In Stock

$199.99 -$100.00 Instant $99.99
1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Model #:BX80562Q6600
Item #:N82E16819115017
Return Policy:processors (CPUs) Return Policy
In Stock

$209.99 $209.99
1 ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T

ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail
Model #:DRW-2014L1T
Item #:N82E16827135156
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$39.99 -$5.00 Instant $34.99
1 Western Digital Raptor WD360ADFD 36GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive

Western Digital Raptor WD360ADFD 36GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:WD360ADFD
Item #:N82E16822136054
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock

$89.99 $89.99
1 GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-EP35-DS3L
Item #:N82E16813128337
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock

$89.99 $89.99
Subtotal: $664.93


ZOTAC GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB ZT-88SE640-FSP GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI ZOTAC Video Card
http://fxvideocards.com/ZOTAC-GeForce-8800-GTS-640MB-ZT-88SE640-FSP-GDDR3-PCI-Express-x16-SLI-ZOTAC-Video-Card-p-16284.html
Click to expand...

Total Price before rebates 755 - after 690

Any recommendations and suggestions is needed. I already bought the video card but everything else I am waiting for suggestions.
Some questions:

Is the power mentioned enough for everything?
 
aevm

aevm

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May 18, 2007
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If you really want a Raptor get this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136260&Tpk=velociraptor
It costs 3 times more, but it's 9 times bigger and much faster.

I would recommend the 650TX PSU from newegg, it's $90.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx
Or the StealthXStream 600W for $55 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010

You really need only one case for a PC, AFAIK :) The Soprano is a bit small, you may need to remove a drive cage to fit the 8800 GTS.

Edit: oops, you're not going to spend $300 on a Velociraptor, not with the rest of the build looking like that. Get a WD3200AAKS or WD6400AAKS, they are actually faster than the old Raptor when dealing with large files (perpendicular recording gives them better average read/write rates). You pay about the same and get a lot more room. With 36GB you'll install Windows and a game or two and then you're in trouble.

 
mihirkula

mihirkula

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Nov 27, 2007
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^..agreed regarding StealthXstream PSU.... don't spend more than $70 on a PSU for a non SLI rig.

Also you get the Corsair 550VX for $70 on buy.com.
 
R

ragingazn628

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Jun 18, 2007
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I plan to use my 160 gig spare drive for storage and the raptor for gaming and windows. Is that PSU not enough? I like the fact that it has no fans and heatsinks only
 
aevm

aevm

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It's got two rails of 15A each. Combined I'm guessing 22A, maybe 25A. A bit wimpy IMO. If you want to upgrade later to another video card it's guaranteed to fail. For example the minimum recommended for the 8800GT is 22A.

The 550VX is about twice as powerful (41A) and it's a very good model. I would definitely prefer it, at those prices.

Another thing: passive PSUs don't make noise, but the heat stays in the case and causes problems, or makes other fans work harder (increasing their noise). If you get a case where the PSU is at the bottom, the heated air will go up and hurt other components.
 
aevm

aevm

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Yes. better choice than the Soprano. The Centurion 5 can even fit an 8800GTX or two, so you'll have enough room for your card. And if you do get that weird Magnum PSU at least it's at the top :)

Edit: MGE is a tier 4 brand for PSUs. Get that 550VX, really, that's a tier 2 i.e. much better reviews.
http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon
 
M

mindfields

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Apr 26, 2008
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why are you buying the 8800GTS 640mb?? is it actually better than the new cards in the 100-120$ category; you couldve also chosen an HD3870 for a little extra price.
 
aevm

aevm

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Yeah, buy that Antec Three Hundred. The 8800GTS 640MB will fit inside it. The price you found is great. It only comes with 2 fans. Add 3 more in the available mounts when you have $30 bucks or whatever for it. Here's a quote from newegg:

Pros: Great Airflow. Decent cable management compartment to tuck excess cable into. With a 120mm rear and 140mm top fan, plus places for two front and one side 120mm fans, ventilation definitely isn't a problem. I'm using all Antec Tri-Cool fans with selectable speed settings so I can dial in the cooling to noise ratio pretty much wherever I want it. Everything is securely mounted and easy to get to. Nice looking case without alot of bling not everyone wants.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: This case works very well for me. Lots of ventilation. I didn't have any issues with space inside, and I'm running a full size ATX motherboard and an EVGA Nvidia 8800GTS 640MB PCI-E video card, which is physically one of the larger video cards out, I believe; and everything fit fine. I really like that Antec released this case. It's a sharp looking, very functional case. The fact that it doesn't have a clear side panel on top of all it's other features really sold me on this case. I know I'm probably in the minority, but I don't care much for clear side panels. I also like the bottom power supply location. From a stability standpoint, it makes sense to have the heaviest part of the computer at the bottom. Kudos Antec! Overall a great case!
Click to expand...


 
aevm

aevm

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Man, you're really good at shopping around. I've never seen that StealthXStream 600W for only $40 after shipping. Nice! :) And the Antec 300 you found is half Newegg's price. Yeah, you're all set with your gaming computer. Good luck with the build!

Things to do next, whenever you've got more cash saved:
1. add fans to the case
2. add an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro and overclock a bit. If you want a higher-end cooler keep in mind it might not fit in that case. The AC Freezer 7 does fit. The Xigmatek HDT-D1284 for example won't fit unless you remove the top case fan.

 
J

jpdykes

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I agree with aevm, scrap the raptor and go for a much more roomy WD3200, WD6400 drives. You will see far more perfomance from these than an old 160Gb disk and a raptor.

36Gb will fit almost nothing anyway. Windows and 1 new game if you are lucky.
 
aevm

aevm

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That thing you linked is a 5400rpm laptop disk. Small cache, expensive, low rotation speed, optimized for saving power rather than speed, 2.5" form factor (you can't even fit it in a normal desktop machine). Stay away from it.

The one we recommend is WD3200AAKS.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074&Tpk=WD3200AAKS
That one moves at 7200rpm, costs much less, has a larger cache, and it's way faster.

Yes, the 10000rpm drive will find the sector faster thanks to its higher rotation speed, but it will take about the same time to find the right track first. Once the track and sector are found, the WD3200AAKS will read the sector and the adjacent sectors much faster because data is much more densely packed on it. This results in weird behavior: for small files or very fragmented files, the Raptor's advantage in finding the first sector makes a big difference. For large contiguous files, the WD3200AAKS's higher average read/write rate makes the big difference instead.

 
mihirkula

mihirkula

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I don't like 10,000 RPM drives.... they're a huge waste of $$ ... if they were cheaper it would be a different story...anyways... you get the Seagate 500GB 7200.11 for $10 more ...its faster than the WD3200AAKS too. That would be sensible shopping.
 
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