Feedback For Final Build - First PC

[ishmoo21]

I'm trying to spend around $500-600 and am not going to be overclocking it and don't really play any games besides the Sims but I just want to make sure I am getting good parts for my money and that everything will fit and work together. If some people could just check these out and let me know and if anyone knows of any upgrades I could make that wouldn't cost too much more I will take a look. Thanks a lot.

Case w/ Power - Antec Sonata III 500 - $100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819115037

RAM - OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 - $20 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227139

Graphics - ASUS GeForce 9600GSO - $85 after MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121251

DVD Drive - Samsung WriteMaster SH-S203N - $28 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827151154

Hard drive - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS - $60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822148262

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L - $84 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131188

 

[dirtmountain]

This will save you some money, it's the EVGA 8800GS same basic card as the 9600 GSO, just a different cooling solution, but if you check the combo deals it takes an additional $20 off your RAM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130332
a very good solid build

*edit* checked and it's only $19.49 off

 

[PCnut]

Why not Get the E7200 for 120 and put the money towards hard drive or GPu??? Because unless you play games (you said you really did not) or work with digital media (pictures, video or sound) the 7200 will do everything you want to do with no problem... or if you do a lot of multitasking get the Q6600 for 10 dollars more.

 

[ishmoo21]

I chose the E8400 because I have that Folding@Home application on my PC and I thought it might get things done a little quicker. Do you think the Q6600 quad would be better for a CPU intensive program like that or would the E8400 (or even the E8500 for $20 more since I'm not over clocking) be the best choice?

Thanks again.

edit: also do I need a better CPU cooler like Cooler Master Hyper TX2 - $30 - the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103031

 

[pulasky]

hd 3850 is much better

 

[effel]

Q6600 will be better for your needs. Since you won't be overclocking at all, the stock cooler will be perfectly fine, unless you want it to be silent. For the graphics, I agree with pulasky. Something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102715

Everything else looks great!

 

[PCnut]

I would get the zigmatech 1283 cooler it works wonders. I use it on my overclocked rig and i think with the retintion plate ( you will like this use screws instead of push pins) should be around 50 dollars. And yes the q6600 should be a better cpu for what you want.

 

[WR2]

If you're running F@H an aftermarket CPU cooler is a good idea but NOT actually necessary. You dont need a big HSF just one that helps keep a stock CPU running cooler under load. The CM Hyper TX2 or Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro would be excellent choices.

For F@H the Q6600 would be a nice jump up in WU points: Q6600 638 / E8500 499 / E8400 473 / E7200 398
Don't forget you can run the Nvidia GPU client too.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/14573/12

 

[ishmoo21]

I wanted to go with a nVidia graphic card so I could also do the F@H program with that. Is there a more bang for the buck card than the $100 9600 GSO?