Long time reader, first time builder

[ltj311]

Well I've decided after over 10 years of owning computers that I am going to build my own for the first time. I'm pretty anxious about it but very excited at the same time. Plus I know I will get the best possible bang for my buck.

My budget is around 1200-1300 USD.

After alot of browsing the forums I've come up with a list of components. Some categories have more than one component. This is where I hope I can get some feedback as to which I should choose. Or none of them if that be the case.

As for the motherboard, I'm leaning towards the P35 as I've read over and over that the P45 has better features but pretty much none that can be fully utilized over the P35. But I do want to be able to overclock my CPU and for that I might need to look at the P45's.

I'm not too worried about the RAM. But after narrowing the choices down I'm kinda stuck.

As for the PSU's, I'm sure some of you will think its overkill. But I want to have a beefy Power Supply that can last me through possible future builds.

Here is the list(all parts being from Newegg except for the Q9450 which is from Micro Center):

Case - Antec 900 $119.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP $84.99

PSU - PPC 610w $89.99 after MIR
Corsair 650w $99.99 after MIR

Motherboard - ASUS P5Q Pro P45 $149.99
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L P35 $89.99

Processor - Core 2 Quad Q9450 $299.99

Memory - Corsair 4gb XMS2 DDR2 800 $79.00 after MIR
Corsair 4gb DDR2 800 $66.50 after MIR
G.Skill 4gb DDR2 800 $84.99

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 500gb 7200 32mb Cache $89.99

Graphics Card - 4850 most likely for $199.99

CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 $36.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro $26.99

Thermal Compound - OCZ OCZTFRZTC Freeze Extreme $6.99
Arctic Cooling MX-2 $6.99

OS - Vista Home Premium SP1 64bit OEM $99.99

Total (Low) = $1,055.41
Total (High) = $1,188.90

So what do you guys think? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[shadowthor]

I would get the antec 900, any of the psu you listed are fine, P5Q Pro, cpu is fine, if you intend to overclock past 3.2ghz, you need higher than DDR2-800. I would get the WD 640gb, its faster than the seagate. Video cards okay, I would get the Xigmatek or TRUE. Either thermal paste is fine. The OS is fine as well. What do you plan to do with the system?

 

[ltj311]

Hey Shadowthor. I think my highest overclock will be 3.2ghz so hopefully the ddr2 800 will be fine. If I do want to go higher what kind of RAM would you recommend?

I forget to mention that the computer will be mostly for gaming. But I'm not going to get a dual core processor because I expect this computer to last me at least 2-3 years.

And the WD 640gb? Even though its only got a 16mb cache?

I was leaning towards the xigmatek. That thing looks like a beast.

 

[guanyu210379]

Case - Antec 900 $119.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP $84.99
Hmmm...This choice is a matter of budget. If you can afford it, Antec 900 is better but RC-690 is the best case under $100.

PSU - PPC 610w $89.99 after MIR
Corsair 650w $99.99 after MIR
Get Corsair dude!

Motherboard - ASUS P5Q Pro P45 $149.99
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L P35 $89.99
If you want some saving then buy DS3L. It is good and cheap. But if you are looking a better sound quality, ASUS P5EX38 is worth to consider because it comes together with a bundled HD-Audio card (not onboard). Both of 'em can good OC.

Processor - Core 2 Quad Q9450 $299.99
I think just go for cheaper Q9300 or Q6600 than OC it.

Memory - Corsair 4gb XMS2 DDR2 800 $79.00 after MIR
Corsair 4gb DDR2 800 $66.50 after MIR
G.Skill 4gb DDR2 800 $84.99
Hmmm...XMS2 is better. But can you afford something faster than DDR2 800?

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 500gb 7200 32mb Cache $89.99
Good choice there matey. this one is almost as fast as WD 10000rpm series. WD 640GB is faster but more expensive, so it is your choice

Graphics Card - 4850 most likely for $199.99
Good enough.

CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 $36.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro $26.99
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 is much better.

Thermal Compound - OCZ OCZTFRZTC Freeze Extreme $6.99
Arctic Cooling MX-2 $6.99
This is not a problem. Your CPU-Fan play the bigger role.

OS - Vista Home Premium SP1 64bit OEM $99.99

It seems to me that you are good to go.

 

[ltj311]

Yea I could go with something faster than ddr2 800 but I've heard that certain mobo's have problems with anything faster. That might just be the P35 I'm not sure.

What would you recommend though if I were to get faster RAM?

As for the CPU, I think I'm going to stick with the Q9450. I won't be overclocking for a while as that's not my primary concern. I've considered those CPU's, especially the Q6600, but I don't mind paying a little extra.

Thanks for the input btw.

 

[guanyu210379]

Problems? no problems! not at all!
the written (example : ddr2 1066) is the maximum speed of your memory, you can set it lower if you like.
Just match the speed of your memory with the fsb.
Any memory from GEIL, Corsair, Kingston, Patriot, Crucial, and Mushkin is good. Just search for the best deal.

 

[ltj311]

So getting DDR2 1066 ram will work fine with a P35? Because for some reason I've read that it's a safer bet to go with 800 instead. But that might have been for x38 boards or sli boards, I'm not sure.

But if getting 1066 ram will help me have a more stable cpu overclock then I'm down. I've found a couple of options, have any opinions?

G.Skill 4gb ddr2 1066 $119.99
-OR-
Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 $109.99 after MIR

 

[guanyu210379]

Both of 'em are OK. P35 and X38? not a problem.
But read first the compatiblity list, there are problem between certain mobos with certain memory types and brands. This means that not every ddr 2 is compatible to your boards. So, read it well, or is there someone here on tomshardware, who wanna share their experience?

 

[pcgamer12]

DDR2-1066 is a problem for P35. Compatibility and stability problems. Best get DDR2-800 if you're going P35. AFAIK P45 may not have that problem.

 

[ltj311]

If I can get more stability out of P45/1066 then that's what I will go for. But how much overclocking headroom do I lose if I go with P35/800? I mean if I can get to say 3.2ghz with P35/800 I just might do that. I'm not looking to get maximum OC.

 

[ltj311]

I've narrowed down my build some and was hoping to get some feedback on the RAM issue. Whether or not it's better to go with P45/1066 or P35/800.

Case - Antec 900 $119.99

PSU - Corsair 650w $99.99 after MIR

Motherboard - ASUS P5Q Pro P45 $149.99
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L P35 $89.99

Processor - Core 2 Quad Q9450 $299.99

Memory - Corsair 4gb XMS2 DDR2 800 $79.00 after MIR
Corsair 4gb DDR2 800 $66.50 after MIR
G.Skill 4gb DDR2 800 $84.99
G.Skill 4gb DDR2 1066 $119.99
Corsair Dominator 4gb DDR2 1066 $109.99 after MIR

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 500gb 7200 32mb Cache $89.99

Graphics Card - 4850 most likely for $199.99

CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 $36.99

Thermal Compound -Arctic Cooling MX-2 $6.99

OS - Vista Home Premium SP1 64bit OEM $99.99

Any more suggestions would be really helpful thanks.