oh no! Not another rate my rig thread....please.

[franklloyd]

ok I'm building a predominantly gaming computer, for around $1500. Plan on keeping it for at least hopefully 4 years. Maybe longer if I can keep it going with upgrades such as going to sli video cards in a couple years and overclocking cpu.


A quick run through: E8500, 4g ram, gtx 280, evga 780i, 700w psu.

Main question before I start listing parts:

I chose this memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197

(just went out of stock today and not listed to be back in stock before I need to buy parts)

OR : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146785

Now, I need to get this motherboard since they are ddr2 1066.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188027 $280

However I can get this mother board for $220, same thing just doesn't say it's ok for 1066, it's ok for 800.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024

My friend told me to get the 1066 since they are priced the same as 800's, however, the motherboards have at least a 40-50 dollar price difference. Should I try to save this, or not skimp and go for the best mobo/memory combo?


Also: BFG GTX 280 GREAT PRICE!! Already bought this, en route. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3930709&CatId=3669

Also: PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002 Already bought this en route.


I didn't really list all the other parts cuz their minor. I'll be getting a 250 g hard drive, I don't think I need more than that. Vista .64 takes about 15 gigs I think. I uninstall games once I'm done w/ them.

By the way should I get this heatsink or use the stock?: I don't plan on overclocking cpu right away, maybe in a year or two, when I feel the need.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
one of the cheapest on there, and I heard it's also one of the best.

In about two years I plan on overclocking cpu and adding a second GTX 280 (hopefully w/ a nice price drop).

Let me know what you all think, I appreciate the time spent going over this stuff. Thanks again.

It's all going in here if anyone was curious, I also already bought this and it's sitting in my room.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103010

Beautiful case.

 

[atrain]

Hmmmmmmm.

Well, I don't know much about Nvidia boards, but I doubt you need the 1066 RAM capability unless you're going to push your E8500 past 3.8GHz. For this I would get the cheaper one, and get some DDR2-800 RAM. Also, you don't need the heat spreaders especially if you aren't going to OC your RAM.

If you are going past 3.8 on your E8500, then disregard the above. As for the heatsink, you can get along with the stock one just fine as long as you don't overclock. Just make sure you apply your paste and stick the heatsink down in the push pins nice and tight.

 

[eklipz330]

overclocking cpu? what you mean by that?

 

[San Pedro]

In two years it won't be worthwhile to SLI your 280, it will much likely just be easier to get a new card that will be faster then your 280s. So you could save some monies and get a non sli motherboard.

 

[DXRick]

Don't bother getting the RAM that has the cooling fans. Reading the reviews, you will see that many report no being able to use the fan thing. Also, you are getting a good case with a side fan that will blow air onto the mobo.

Also, this is a better PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

 

[knotknut]

I Googled "UGLY" and a picture of that case you picked out came up.
Wow, Man. Can you send it back?
Motherboard over kill
DDR2-1066 overkill
Everything else looks good.

 

[franklloyd]

dude I have that case in my room, it's one of the sweetest thing's I've ever seen.

Unfortunately I already bought my video card and power supply. I figured the 280 is powerful enough, and a second one will do me good. People are still singing high praises on the 8800 gt's. So I'm sure the 280 will be competitive for a long time.

I'm thinking of settling with the ddr2 800 version, easier, cheaper, and more common. I might even stick w/ the stock heatsink, since I won't overclock past anything dangerous.

 

[bruce555]

I think a 9800 GX2 For 289.99 is a better price and would have been better.

 

[knotknut]

My wife is in the room and she is the sweetest thing I've ever seen!

My computers...just things. What they look like don't matter.

 

[franklloyd]

does your wife come w/ blue led lights?

"What they look like don't matter." Did you just cancel out your own point up there?