Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > Need some advice/confirmation on my new build

Need some advice/confirmation on my new build

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Need some advice/confirmation on my new build

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!

Ask the community Add a reply

Bottom Search this thread

Hi,

I'm looking to build a new system primarily for gaming and movie watching but also so that I can run a VNC program to access my Linux box from within my new system running Windows. I want to be able to do general browsing and file management through a VNC shell as well. I also want to be able to install Linux if I need to. I'm trying to keep the build below $900 (I already have a monitor, keyboard, and mice

I've picked out some components based on my own research and experience, as well as what I've seen from these forums.

I also have a few questions. I want to stick with Nvidia because Linux generally has much better drivers for Nvidia cards at this point, but I hear that ATI is putting out better cards at the moment. Is it really worth it to go with ATI right now? I've done a little research and am wondering if the GTX 260 is worth its price. Also I haven't selected a hard drive yet, so I'm open to suggestions. I need speed more than storage since I'm storing all my movies and music on my separate Linux box which I will access from my new build.

Here's what I have so far:

NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400

EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

EDIT: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel

Creative Sound Blaster SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

PC USA CR-02-LZAI-2 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader + USB 2.0 Hub

I'm not totally committed to any of these components, although I'm very comfortable with most of them right now. The total for all these components is around $800, so all I need is a hard drive. Hopefully I didn't forget anything else.

Thanks in advance!

Message edited by zgerrz on 09-18-2008 at 06:44:43 PM

Add a reply

Don't see your motherboard listed. What operating system are you using? I would go with regular xp if gaming is a priority. I would also select a retail boxed maxtor or seagate hardrive. Retail boxed comes with the hardrive software, which sometimes comes in handy for prepping or making a drive to drive copy of your old software, and better packaging to protect the hardrive during shipping. The seagate brand has a 5 year warranty on some of it's drives. And since you're already near your budget limit, get a cheaper motherboard with 2 memory slots. I use a g31 chipset board; the p43 is also a good deal. The 8400 is already at 3.0, so overclocking really isn't necessary.

Reply to o1die

I installed a Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS and got an average read speed of 90Mb/sec. It's fast, good and cheap.

I also just installed the XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 with the XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket. It works quite well, and better than the Freezer Pro.

Yeah, I don't see a mobo either. Get a Gigabyte or Asus P45.

Skip the Sound Blaster and get it later if you think you need it.

Message edited by Zorg on 09-18-2008 at 06:37:14 PM

Reply to Zorg

Oops forgot the mobo. Here's what I originally was considering. Please let me know if its decent or if there are any compatibility problems.

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

EDIT: I'm hoping to use Windows XP for gaming since last I heard it's still better than Vista for gaming (not sure if Vista caught up yet). Also, is it worth it to use a 64-bit operating system or not?

Message edited by zgerrz on 09-18-2008 at 06:42:09 PM

Reply to zgerrz

I was already on the fence with the sound card so I'll just cut that out for now.

Also, is the memory I chose optimal or is there DDR2 memory that would be better?

Reply to zgerrz

That mobo works fine AFAIK, I haven't used it personally. That DDR2 800 RAM is as good as the next. You might see if it is on the mobo RAM list (QVL). Just because it's not on the QVL is not that big of a deal. The core 2 is not that sensitive to RAM speed or timings so faster speed or tighter timings will yield almost nothing. The RAM runs at 1.9V so you should change the voltage from 1.8V (stock) to 1.9V, although that might not even be necessary.

Reply to Zorg

OK thanks for all the replies..

I just need to know if a 64-bit OS is worth it, and which is better for gaming, Vista or XP?

Also, how is the GTX 260? I see most people are leaning towards ATI right now so I'm wondering if the GTX 260 is worth its price tag.

Reply to zgerrz

Ask the community Add a reply

Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > Need some advice/confirmation on my new build

Go to:

Help |
Forum rules

There are 1211 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.341 seconds

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel

Focus On

Need some advice/confirmation on my new build

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Need some advice/confirmation on my new build

Please mind