Another cheap gaming build

[draeth]

So I have decided to build a new PC, mainly for gaming. I don't have a very high budget, and I have a monitor, keyboard ETC. This is also my first build.

Just for reference, I am from Australia so you will get to see the price differences first hand!

CPU - Dual Core E2180 http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/24314/ $89
CPU Cooler - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/22672 $49
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/27221/ $129
RAM - 2x Patriot 2GB Sticks http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/26706/ $110
Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 250gb http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/25058/ $75
DVD - LiteOn DVD Burner http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/27443/ $35
Video Card - Gainward 8800GT 512mb http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/24848/ $249
Case/PSU - Antec NSK4480B /w 380w EarthWatts PSU http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/23832/ $109

Total - $849

While there are parts cheaper at other sites you may find, I live near Scorptecs base so I will not have to pay shipping on my order.

There are a few questions I have.
Firstly, is the combined cost of the PSU and Heatsink worth it, or should I just get a better CPU and not overclock it?

The motherboard. Seems a little expensive to me. I'll admit I'm new to the system building game and I don't quite understand the difference in some of the features on different motherboards. The thing that drew me to this one was the 4 RAM slots so in the future, if it is needed I can upgrade to 8GB of RAM.

The memory. It doesn't say that it is dual channel, however I just assume that placing it correctly in the RAM slots will make it so.

Finally the case and psu. This is the same case that Tom used in his $500 gaming build, and after some research I found that PSU has a very high amperage for only 380 watts. So my 2 questions relating to this are, will that PSU be enough for the system and also, will the 8800GT fit in the case as I have been led to believe the 8800GT is larger then the 8800GS used in Toms build.

I am open to any suggestions of changing parts and anything of the like!

 

[assasin32]

Deleted as it be pointless what I posted.

 

[draeth]

Sites like Newegg, Tigerdirect and the like do not ship internationally. In addition to the huge shipping fees (which would probably run over $300) there are also things like customs fees and the differences in taxes to consider.

 

[assasin32]

Ahh my bad, I didn't think about that, I keep that in mind.

 

[wardancerx4]

well doesnt seem as much of gamer pc. i wouldnt go with some pos e2xxx series. if your budget is so low build an amd system at tha price point u have a pos anywayz witha 8800gt so might as well save on mobo and get an amd system . cus either way its not much of a aming rig. if that was the case just buy one at a retail store and stick a graphic card in it and get a new keyboard and mouse at the same time. a budget pc is a budget pc what ever ghc card u stick in it

 

[WR2]

(1) CPU/HSF $138 combo vs CPU ~$138. I saw the C2D E4600 2.4Ghz for $149 on your shopping site. IMO the only way to recommend the E4600 would be if you also got a HSF to allow some overclocking. Otherwise the E2180/AC Freezer 7 Pro OC'd to 3.0Ghz is the best bang for $Aud.
(2) It does seem a little on the expensive side. You might want to try comparison shopping the prices in different stores & e-stores. The biggest prices difference %-wise seems to be the $49 AC Freezer 7 Pro vs the $27USD price we can find. With the $AUD worth more than $USD at the moment you think you'd see a better price?
(3) You'd want to look for 2GB Kits vs buying 2 sticks seperately. The $75 2GB Patriot kit is out of stock ATM but you could get Corsair XMS 2GB Cas4 $75 and that $35 savings can be put to good use! [:wr2:5]
(4) Case/PSU/8800GT I visited the Evga website and looked up the size of the 8800GS - its identical in size to the 8800GT @ 9 inches. And there was plenty of extra room in the case at the video card as well - see photo below.
EVGA recommends 400watts and 22Amps for the GS and 400Watts and 26Amps for the GT. The EA380 PSU can provide 27Amps. I think you're good to go with the case, PSU and 8800GT. You'll want to be careful overclocking both the CPU and GPU, but I think you'l be OK there too.

After saving $35 on RAM should you get the E4600 CPU upgrade? IMO the only real difference between the 2 after OC'ing would the E2180/1GB L2 cache and the E4600/2GB L2 cache. I think you might as well stick with the E2180. The only thing I'd suggest adding is an extra case fan.
AC Arctic Fan $13

Apart from shopping around, doing prices check, etc I think you're good to go.

 

[draeth]

Thank you for the informative post.

Just one thing though, your a little off on my ram. What I have is 2x 2gb sticks, totally 4GB. Your link is for only 2GB. I think you just got your wires crossed! The cheapest 4gb kit is this Corsair Kit,
http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/23225 for an extra $15. If that will undoubtedly be better I would definitely pay the small difference.

The exchange rate and cost of the parts is also something I noticed, I don't understand it myself but thats the way it is.

The extra fan is a great idea that I didn't think of, gets quite hot down under in the summer.

As for the OS I have a copy of 64bit Vista I can use, unless you would recommend 64bit XP over it. I'm sure one of my friends has one of those I could use.

 

[draeth]

Just bumping this for some more input, already on the 2nd page!

 

[gators1223]

get vista 64 almost all the issues have been worked out driver wise etc.
wow prices are really different, can't get a US$550 for AU$800