New Build For Review

[diplomat696]

OK, so its been about 4/5 years since I built my last pc and I am definitely feeling the itch to do a new one but do not have too much money to spend.

Components I already have:

HD: WD Raptor 74gb -
Case: Lian LI Full Tower PC70 - http://www.dansdata.com/pc70.htm
OS: Vista
Optical Drives: not worried about right now
Speakers: Logitech Z2300's

I just need main components: mobo, ram, cpu, psu, gfx card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130318
$149.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817703005
$109.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289
OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR10664GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227289
$97.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128082
GIGABYTE GA-EP35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Dynamic Energy Saver Ultra Durable II Intel Motherboard -Retail
Item #: N82E16813128082
$139.99

Onboard sound good enough?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115036
$194.99


Not sure if I need that gfx card as I do not really do much gaming on the pc, leave that for my ps3 and definitely will never use sli/crossfire, main use for it will be some video and audio encoding and then general purpose computing, i like to be able to multi task without slowing down what I am doing but want things such as video encoding done pretty quick.

Is the ram compatible with the motherboard I was looking at?

Any suggestions on better items for similar prices welcome.

Thanks all!!

Edit: can someone suggest a dcent but reasonably priced cpu cooler please? (air)

 

[effel]

I'd switch the RAM to this;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146726
You don't need 1066, as it's practically overclocked 800. This ram will get you some tighter timings, and a sweet bonus!

I'd get the q6600 instead of the dual core if you're concerned with video encoding--the extra cores; though slower clocked, will finish the task quicker.

Onboard sound should be fine for you unless you have some quality headphones and very high bitrate music; otherwise I doubt you'd notice the difference.

Otherwise, that's a great powersupply, motherboard, and graphics card you picked out. You could get the ATI 4850, though if you aren't concerned with graphics, then the relatively small performance differences shouldn't matter to you.

For the CPU cooler, The Thermalright SI-128 SE is pretty good. You should be able to find it at anywhere but newegg; for some reason they don't stock thermalright anything. I've heard good things about Sunbeamtech Core Contact Freezer, OCZ Vendetta 2, umm the TRUE is a solid choice. There's really a lot to choose from that offer really good performance/dollar.

 

[Proximon]

What effel said.

You will be happier with a quad-core.

 

[aevm]

GA-EP43-DS3L may be a better choice than the P35C. Cheaper, no DDR2/DDR3 dual junk to complicate life, PCI-E 2 slot. On the bad side, it doesn't support RAID. Is that OK? If not, get the GA-EP45-DS3R or P5Q Pro.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128344&Tpk=GA-Ep45-DS3R

Definitely get a quad. Q6600 OEM/Q6700/Q9450.

Cooler: Xigmatek HDT-S1283 or Sunbeam Core Contact.

Video: Sapphire HD 4850, $155 after rebate and shipping, if you do game. HD 3450 if you don't.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102747

RAM:
OCZ Reaper 4Gb DDR2-800, $63
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

 

[thepowerofdonuts]

Actually I'd reccomend this Corsair XMS2 DHX Memory: 4GB DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 and 2.1V. $75

 

[aevm]

Link please. I only found one at newegg that matches all that but it's $93, not $75.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194

 

[diplomat696]

OK, been doing some research and also based on feedback you guys have given me here is an updated list:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817703005

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146726
Mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996580 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820146726

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M - OEM
Item #: N82E16819115018

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835233003

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail
Item #: N82E16835233019

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131299

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253
ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814121253

is there any difference between the sapphire 4850 and the asus 4850 only reason I ask is because Newegg has the combo for the mobo listed here and the asus 4850 together with a $30 combo savings. If the sapphire is better for some reason I will go with that instead.

also I am still not convinced on my motherboard choice, I read a lot of reviews on newegg and it seems like the gigabyte boards have had some issues with bios stuff at initial setup. Right now I am using a Asus 94C800E Deluxe with my P4 Prescott 2.8ghz (yeah it pwns I know) its been good but for some reason when you quickboot on it now the asus ai logo is all messed up colors of the rainbow, I don't know if anyone has ever seen that before and I do not know if it is a messed up bios or if its just my gfx card (sapphire radeon x1600 btw also pwning!!) anyway is this asus board solid, decent enough for some minimal over clocking? I really want reliability with decent performance rather than just break neck performance.

last question is about ram timings: 4-4-4-12 is better than 5-5-5-15 or its the other way around? I never really understood latency and timings on ram very much so a note from anyone regarding that would be very much appreciated.

 

[spunks]

Dont worry about the timings unless your one of those types that like to squeeze evey last bit of performance out of your rig (probably around 2-3% better)

Consider purchasing that 640GB westren digital hard drive everybodys raving about. The transfer speeds are probably higher than your old raptor there (though the 74gb raptor definalty wins in access time). and games today are HUGH!!! i mean some are like 5 - 10 gigs each. (I think its like 90 dollars)






Spunks

 

[aevm]

^^

What he said. Just to answer your question about timings, 4-4-4-12 is better than 5-5-5-15, if they are at the same voltage. Sometimes you get something listed as 4-4-4-12 at 2.2V and something else as 5-5-5-15 at 1.8 V, and in fact they're about the same quality. Anyway, don't worry about it.

+1 for the WD 640GB, excellent bang for the buck there.

I like the P5Q Pro. It's able to support two HD 4850 cards, for example. So is the Silencer 610W. Now all you need is a case with good cooling and you're all set. Check out the RC-690, Antec 900 or NZXT Tempest.
Don't skimp on the cooling, because the HD 4850 is hot and doesn't have a vent to kick the heated air directly out of the case.

No big difference between Sapphire and Asus HD 4850, pick the Asus if it saves you money, sure.

 

[diplomat696]

already have the case which is with my original build, was planning to use it again Lian Li PC70 Full Tower ( http://www.dansdata.com/pc70.htm ). I probably will upgrade the HD/s at some point, right now I want to just get this thing off the ground, hard drives are an easy pick up.

Figured I would just remove the guts from my case, pop new stuff in keep the case and hard drive for now. Your both right about the space though, using windows vista ultimate and really just a few programs installed on C: I am already using 38.2Gb of my 79Gb or so on the raptor which does seem kind of high, I really do not have that many programs installed on here (why does vista have to be so damn bloated!!!)

Might be time for a little VLite Action I think also.

Thanks for the heads up on the ram timings, good to know.

Q6600 Vs Q6700 better to go with the 6600 and do a 25% overclock or just go with the 2.66ghz 6700 and do a more mild over clock up to 3Ghz which is where i plan on running my pc at roughly.

 

[aevm]

If you're happy with 3 GHz get the Q6600, it's cheaper and can do that easily.

 

[diplomat696]

yeah the 3ghz on a quad will do me fine, right now im running a P4 Prescott at stock speed 2.8ghz on stock cooling so going to 3 on a quaad core would be a big step up from where I am at.

What would be a good guess for life expectancy if u run a quad core at 3ghz overclock, I do not really turn my pc off very often other than to reboot from time to time. Is it going to have a significant effect on the life of the cpu?

 

[aevm]

I don't think a mild overclock will hurt your CPU's lifetime. If it reduces it from, say, 10 years to 7 years, do you really care? You'd look weird with your Q6600 in 2015 anyway, like somebody with a Pentium 2 today.

The fact that it's on 24/7 will probably hurt it more, IMO.