New/First Build.. Checking if it is Yay! or Nay..

HMF

September 29, 2008 1:13:50 PM

Hey there everyone.

I am currently planning a new build for the coming weeks. I am super excited, as I havent ever built a rig from scratch before, and my current one is aging badly.

So, since I have never done this before, I just wanted to check and ensure that the components I am choosing are good choices, and wondering also if there is anything that I may be able to save money on.

I will be running one vid card for now, but plan on adding another for crossfire around christmas.

Anyway, these are the components:

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case -$159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
I like the case. Good reviews. Not too expensive.

PSU - ZALMAN ZM850-HP 850W - $179.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Excellent PSU. Great reviews also. Need a solid PSU to run crossfire.

MoBo - ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - $288.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Wanted to go with an X48 board due to wanting to crossfire. Want dual x16 PCI slots.

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 - $319.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Quad core for multitasking, future games that will utilize it. Great little overclocker.

Heatsink - ZALMAN CNPS9500 - $41.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
I plan on overclocking. Nuff said.

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100243-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB - $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Excellent video card. Plan on adding another in the near future.

RAM - OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 - $127.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
RAM is super awesome.

HDD - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM - $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Unsure about HDD's at the moment. Is this a good choice? Please let me know if there is something else that I should perhaps look at.

DVD Drives - 2x LG Drives - 28 bucks each
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
I can get these where I work for cheaper.

??Sound Card?? - ASUS Xonar D2 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz - $179.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Not sure if I even need a sound card. I'm leaning towards no at this point. But if I do purchase one, this is the one.

OS - Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium - $329.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Is there anything that I am forgetting?

Does this all look compatible and whatnot?

Are there any changes that I really should make?

I am open to pretty much anything. I like the components that I have picked out, but if they are truly bad decisions, please inform me as to why, and what would be a more suitable choice for my needs.

Thank you so much for your time, in advance. I appreciate all of the input that you guys give to other new builders.

More about : build checking yay nay

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huron

September 29, 2008 1:32:05 PM

You won't need DDR2 1066 unless you are really pushing that CPU. You can get DDR2 800 and be just fine.

The build looks nice. Good choices.

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HMF

September 29, 2008 2:21:11 PM

DDR2 800? K. Thanks.

I'll make the change.

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auscanzukus

September 29, 2008 2:28:21 PM

What's the use of the pc? How much overclocking if any?

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mexpedip

September 29, 2008 2:32:51 PM

make sure the DDR2 800 is @ 1.8v and look for the lowest timings.

skip the osund card unless you are planning on using this as a high end entertainement system. otherwise the onboard is more then good enough for 95%/most (I just made up that number);) applications.

The OS you chose is a 3-pack. Here is the link to the single license for $229 less.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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HMF

September 29, 2008 2:34:41 PM

It will primarily be a gaming rig, however I plan on using it shortly after christmas for some sound mixing as well as video editing and whatnot.

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HMF

September 29, 2008 2:35:53 PM

mexpedip said:

make sure the DDR2 800 is @ 1.8v and look for the lowest timings.

skip the osund card unless you are planning on using this as a high end entertainement system. otherwise the onboard is more then good enough for 95%/most (I just made up that number);) applications.

Do you have any specific suggestions as far as RAM goes?

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mexpedip

September 29, 2008 2:41:29 PM

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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HMF

September 29, 2008 2:43:38 PM

Awesome. Thank you very much.

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stoner133

September 29, 2008 3:41:24 PM

If you going to be doing video editing and sond mixing I would double your memory to 8GB, buy two of the Mushkin kits.

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bigmjh

September 29, 2008 5:51:02 PM

The Intel Q9550 is essentially the same price and a little faster - 2.83GHz vs 2.66GHz ... might want to switch. Compare them here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010340343%2050001157%201050727216&bop=And&CompareItemList=N82E16819115041%2CN82E16819115042

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Shadow703793

September 29, 2008 6:02:51 PM

Swap PSU to a Corsair 750TX or a PC Power & Cooling 750. Much better quality than the Zalman. If in doubt on these 2 PSUs; PM Zorg.

Swap fan to a XIGMATEK S1283 (+ bolt in kit) or a Sunbeam Core.

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dirtmountain

September 29, 2008 6:15:53 PM

Just a note, some people have said it's a good idea to have 2 different manufacturers if you're going to have 2 DVD burners. Sometimes one burner can't read a specific DVD, but another manufacturers will. It should have no effect on price, but may give you an option if a CD or DVD isn't being read.

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Shadow703793

September 29, 2008 6:22:03 PM

^True. For example, you won't usually run in to DVD RAM but it's a good idea to have a drive that will read them.

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shortstuff_mt

September 29, 2008 6:28:43 PM

+1 for the Xigmatek S1283 and retention bracket.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

This comes from the owner of a ZALMAN 9500A. The Zalman is a nice cooler, but the Xigmatek should cool a little better and be quiter.

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Shadow703793

September 29, 2008 6:34:29 PM

^Yup. For more details see:
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

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HMF

September 30, 2008 1:44:02 AM

Done and done.

I like that heatsink. Very nice.

Im kind of iffy about the PSU's however.

The Zalman has received very very good reviews. I know that PCP&C is a solid choice also, but is 750 W enough to power what I plan on putting in this rig?

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HMF

September 30, 2008 12:44:08 PM

Could anyone comfirm for me whether or not a 750 W PSU will be adequate for my needs?

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Shadow703793

September 30, 2008 1:11:25 PM

^Yes, it will be enough, even for 4870X2 CrossFire.

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HMF

September 30, 2008 1:30:28 PM

Awesome. Thanks.

Ill grab one of those then also.

Thank you very much for your suggestions and advice. I really appreciate it.

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ke7diz

September 30, 2008 1:55:27 PM

That hd is a solid choice.
The only faster hds are the velociraptors (or SSD) you may be able to make use of the speed with video editing http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... 180 fore 150gb
but the one you got is a good buy