Help with my first time build, please (Major Noob!!)

[TKD33]

Hi - This is my first build. I will be using this for lots of multi-tasking, and some game play. I will not be OCing. Need to know if my ideas make sense and if there are any compatibility issues.

Deciding on a Mobo was really hard, not sure about what I picked. After a ton of research (my head is ready to explode,) this is what I've come up with. Any criticism is welcome!

I really don't want to spend more than this, but can if needed. (If something's overkill, I'm also open to saving money!)


CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core - Already bought
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042

MOBO: ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard - $209.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131297

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) - $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

GPU: EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready - $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130325

HDD: Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - $174.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011 (This will be used for my OS)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

CASE: Thermaltake ArmorPlus(Armor+) VH6000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - $204.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133056

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL - $164.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002

DVD BURNER: SAMSUNG Black 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM - 28.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151154

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit

 

[kad]

Hi - This is my first build. I will be using this for lots of multi-tasking, and some game play. I will not be OCing. Need to know if my ideas make sense and if there are any compatibility issues.

Just 2 words
Fantastic
Congradulations

 

[BigBurn]

For the mobo, i think it is overkill, you should take one without the ability to do crossfire like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130180

Unless you really want a feature that is on the asus board?

Ram is a bit overkill, you could save another 10$ by getting pc2-6400 with better timmings instead of 8500. Just for you to know, if you change nothing, your RAM will run at pc2-6400 speed even if it is 8500.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231192

Video card is a nice choice, you could look into the hd4850, but either one is fine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127359
(nearly all the 4850 are 199$,
but each comes with a different gift, so check them out)

As for the 2nd hdd, you choose one with only 16mb cache and i think it's one of the old version, take this one instead, 10$ more but faster:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

I don't know why you took that case (not that i have anythign about it, I just find it expensive), but you should check the antec 900 or Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP on newegg, they are cheaper and should fit your needs.

And thats all i have to say ^^. Don't get me wrong though, your build was good, I just think you can get the same quality for less.

 

[dirtmountain]

I'd go with a 4850 for the same price as the 8800GTS, if just to keep a Xfire set up available in the future. I'd also go with the Corsair 650w PSU and save $40. If you really want a modular PSU then OCZ has a sale going on right now http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341005 would save $80
Get a lower latency DDR2 800 RAM
Personally i'd lose the Raptor (might just be me though) and get a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288 and save about $150

 

[dirtmountain]

Good point Bigburn, at that pricepoint a X48 might be a better choice http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336

 

[pcgamer12]

Save some cash by buying the Antec Three Hundred instead. If you don't want to use CF, get a GA-P35-DS3L. Skip the Raptor, get WD6400AAKS.

 

[ghstbstr65]

You may want to look at the 4850. It outperforms the 8800gts which is similar to the 9800gtx. If you want an Nvidia card in that range then I would look at the 9800gtx which is cheaper and runs better.

 

[TKD33]

For the mobo, i think it is overkill, you should take one without the ability to do crossfire like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130180

Unless you really want a feature that is on the asus board?

As for the 2nd hdd, you choose one with only 16mb cache and i think it's one of the old version, take this one instead, 10$ more but faster:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Unless I'm really wrong here, it seems to me that the Asus and Gygabyte are the two best boards out there. Also this MSI board has no firewire.

I didn't see any WD's with 32mb on new egg..........? Also that's a big HDD, I wanted the Raptor just for my OS (and fast??)

I'd go with a 4850 for the same price as the 8800GTS, if just to keep a Xfire set up available in the future. Get a lower latency DDR2 800 RAM

Thanks, I'll check out the 4850. I picked my RAM because it was the only 2GB 800 that I saw recommended by Asus. Seems to me from what I've read, people have the most problems with RAM when they pick a product not on the "quality vendor list" ????

Good point Bigburn, at that pricepoint a X48 might be a better choice http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336

OK. But why is this a better choice over the P5Q Deluxe?

If you don't want to use CF, get a GA-P35-DS3L. Skip the Raptor, get WD6400AAKS.

What is CF? (Sorry I'm a noob!) I looked into the DS3L, but no firewire.

 

[BigBurn]

Found you a gigabyte that got a p45 chipset, got the firewire and probbly everything you need (and is of course cheaper).

The only thing i see it got less than the asus you picked, is crossfire and express gate. Two things that will probably be useless to you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344

As for hdd, the one i suggested to you wasn't for a replacement of your raptor but your other 500gb hdd (he should be faster than the WD one).

And crossfire (CF, xfire) is when you use multiple ATI video cards (SLI when they are nvidia)

And here is a little description of express gate: http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/e/exprgate.htm

Hope it helped.

 

[jamesstarr]

The power supply you choose has 3 12v rails, the fewer rails the better
Consider
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

it only has one rail so no load balancing needs to be consider, if you don't balance you load right you get stability problems and it is really difficult to find them.l

 

[TKD33]

Found you a gigabyte that got a p45 chipset, got the firewire and probbly everything you need (and is of course cheaper).

The only thing i see it got less than the asus you picked, is crossfire and express gate. Two things that will probably be useless to you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344

Thanks, that Mobo looks good.

The power supply you choose has 3 12v rails, the fewer rails the better
Consider
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

l

Accorrding to this http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story2&reid=21 this PSU is in reality a single rail, and highly recommended by this guy. I don't know, I thought it sounded pretty good. Wanted a little more than 500W for future additions.............???

 

[janik29]

Wow TKD33, its seems like I have been doing lot of research (with head explosive readings for my next build (money is not issue and my budget is $2000+) and my list of components almost identical with yours....

My primary goals are:

1. Fastest start and multi tasking system possible. I work online and do lot of multi tasking so I want my system FAST and QUITE!!!

2. I don't play any 3D games (only yahoo pool and chess) so I am don't care Xfire or SLI configurations much.

3. I do not plan to OC'ing but might want to explore in future

4. I have tried and installed working OS X on my 2 other PC's with success so I might will try to install OS X 10.5.2 for hack of it (if it does not work, no big deal)

5. I know I know everyone wants future proof systems but after working in IT for more then 14 years, believe me there is no such thing as "100% future proof"

6. I wanted to try DDR3 even though current prices are high and ordered GIGABYTE GA-EP35C-DS3R with both DDR2 and DDR3 capabilities but got DOA and had to RMA it newegg. So unless I find more decent board with same capabilities I am putting off DDR3 idea


CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core - Already order today
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115042

MOBO: ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131295

I was planning ASUS P5Q Deluxe but I am not interested in SLI/XFire

RAM: OCZ Flex XLC 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1200 - $100.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227230

GPU: XFX PVT84JUDD3 GeForce 8600GT XXX 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 - $94.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150229

HDD: Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb - $300 - Already order today
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136260


CASE: VAV - supercool looking black case (looks identical to Apple Mac G5)

PSU: CoolMax Fanless Power Supply - $149.99
http://www.extremereviews.net/data.php?recordID=142&page=1&type=review

DVD BURNER: LG Super Dirve GGC-H20L - 28.99 - Already ordered today

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136133&Tpk=GGC-H20L

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit

Only thing is left for me is to finalize MB, since I already RMA'd my GIGABYTE GA-EP35C-DS3R and I think I have bitter test now for Gigabyte MB's so looking more at ASUS's....any suggetions guys?

Thanks in advance!
janik29

 

[janik29]

Sorry forgot to mention in my list...

CPU Heatsink: Scythe SCNJ-CU1000 120mm Ninja Copper CPU Cooler - $74.99 - Already orderd with my cpu (planning to use it without Fan option since not much in to OC'ing)

Thanks

 

[TKD33]

MOBO: ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131295

I was planning ASUS P5Q Deluxe but I am not interested in SLI/XFire

LOL..........not sure why I picked the Deluxe!? Is this the only difference (for $100?)