Mid Range System (ready to purchase)

[madaxe]

edit 1-> Changed thread title from "Low Range System" to "Mid Range System (ready to purchase)"

edit 2-> copied my last reply to the first post rather than start a new thread.

Please comment. Thanks.
************************************
I have created an account at newegg and will likely be purchasing from them

This is what I have come up with. Based on Proximon's article, I am going with the P43 chipset and ddr2 800. I have no intention of doing SLI or OC.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=13378427
$1072.90

This is a complete system along with the game I want to be able to play with it; Crysis
I set the wish list to shared: "madaxe new build 103008"

At this point I want to know 2 things:
1. Am I missing anything?
2. Is there anything I can trim down a bit?

Hopefully I'll be comfortable enough to order this today

**********************************************
ORIGINAL FIRST POST
**********************************************
It's been years since I've built a system. All I can say is WOW to what all is out there now.

I started off with pricewatch.com and found the best price/rating vendor for lower end systems was AllPcZone Inc. Company (www.computerlx.com)

I've been playing around with different configurations and this is what I'm leaning towards now. I would appreciate any feedback you may have on these specs:

6000+ Voyager Series Complete
Base Model $471.00
http://www.computerlx.com/config.aspx?t=&product_ID=650

Customized Options
AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual Core Processor 6000+ AM2
Coolermaster High Performance Advanced AMD CPU Cooler (add $29.00)
ZEROtherm ZT100 Thermal Grease (add $18.00)
Asus M3A78-EM Socket AM2+/AMD 780G/Hybrid CrossFireX/DHMI/DisplayPort/A&V&GbE/MATX Motherboard
Corsair Dominator Series 2GB DDR2-1066 PC2 8500 (add $62.00)
Western Digital/HITACHI 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 16MB (add $17.00)
SPIRE Dual Fan COoler for Hard Disk (add $15.00)
No DVD Drive (subtract -$29.00) <-I have one already
nVidia GeForce 9600GT 512MB DVI/TV-OUT PCI-Express Video Card (add $69.00)
6-Channel Digital Sound Onboard
10/100/1000 Fast Ethernet Network Card Onboard
BBC Turbo II MID-ATX Case
ThermalTake 500w PurePower ATX (add $53.00)
No Keyboard/Mouse/Speakers (subtract -$16.00)
Windows XP Pro 32bit CD&License (add $67.00)

Total Price $756.00

 

[Proximon]

No we can do better than that

Start with the link in my sig.

For $750 we can do better.


Here is a list I threw together quick. Will come in under 700 with combo deals and shipping:

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=13365327

 

[Proximon]

Stock cooler is fine for this build. If you want a better cooler, that can be done too. See the link in my sig.

 

[madaxe]

I followed the link to the newegg site and it took me to an account creation/log in page. I didn't want to put in any billing information. Newegg does have a feature for public shared wish lists. That would probably work. This is the link:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishLists.aspx

I did look at your signature and am trying to duplicate that on the computerlx site. Thanks for the reply.

E8400@3.6
ASUS P5Q-E
4gigs OCZ 1066@ 800
EVGA 8800GT
Silverstone TJ09
Xigmatek S1283
Corsair 750TX

 

[madaxe]

Ok I finished researching this list. 2 things to note; 1-no hard drive, 2-no OS. I need both.

The list:
1. E8400@3.6 <--could not find 3.6 for the E8400 at computerlx or newegg
2. ASUS P5Q-E
3. 4gigs OCZ 1066@ 800 <--could not find 1066 OCZ at the computerlx site
4. EVGA 8800GT <--could not find at computerlx, out of stock at newegg
5. Silverstone TJ09 <--could not find at computerlx
6. Xigmatek S1283 <--could not find at computerlx
7. Corsair 750TX <--could not find at computerlx


1. Asus P5Q-E ($162.00 computerlx, $169.99 newegg)

2. Intel BX80570E8400 3Ghz ($165.00 computerlx, $146.99 newegg)

3. Corsair 4GB TWIN2X2048-8500C5D X ($150.00 computerlx) vs OCZ 4GB OCZ2P1066GK ($87.99 newegg)

4. nVidia GeForce 8800GT Super ($175.00 computerlx) vs EVGA 8800GT ($164.99 newegg "out of stock")

I kinda stopped at the case, fan and power supply at this point. I didn't find where I could customize a system at the newegg site so I'd have something with XP Pro on it like I can do at the computerlx site.


The biggest difference I see is between the Corsair and the OCZ. I read on this site that when it comes to memory you should not sacrifice quality. How does the quality of the OCZ compare to Corsair?

Thanks!

 

[madaxe]

No we can do better than that

Start with the link in my sig.

For $750 we can do better.


Here is a list I threw together quick. Will come in under 700 with combo deals and shipping:

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=13365327

A friend has an account at Newegg and was able to access your wish list using that link.

Also, I read throught your "which parts to choose" thread. I'm going to redo my build based on what I've learned.

 

[madaxe]

I have created an account at newegg and will likely be purchasing from them

This is what I have come up with. Based on Proximon's article, I am going with the P43 chipset and ddr2 800. I have no intention of doing SLI or OC.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=13378427
$1072.90

This is a complete system along with the game I want to be able to play with it; Crysis
I set the wish list to shared: "madaxe new build 103008"

At this point I want to know 2 things:
1. Am I missing anything?
2. Is there anything I can trim down a bit?

Hopefully I'll be comfortable enough to order this today

 

[Proximon]

OK first up:

Get an ATI 4850. Less cash, better card, and all you need for a 19" monitor

Next, ditch the XP unless there is some driving reason, for instance professional software, that requires it. Vista 64bit OEM is LESS MONEY and will work as good or actually, better in my experience.

The Sonata is not a good buy right now... too expensive for what you are getting. For $180.00 you could get an Antec 300, and a Corsair 750TX, and have money left over.

Better yet:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
The Antec 900 has some DEEP discounts in combo with PSUs.... Take the deal with the EA650 for $150.00... that's incredible.

The WD 500 is not as fast as it's 320 or 640 siblings... platter size I think. If you want to stay at 500 look at Seagate.

Glad I've been able to help, maybe I've saved you enough to jump up to a P45 board.

 

[madaxe]

OK first up:

Get an ATI 4850. Less cash, better card, and all you need for a 19" monitor

Next, ditch the XP unless there is some driving reason, for instance professional software, that requires it. Vista 64bit OEM is LESS MONEY and will work as good or actually, better in my experience.

The Sonata is not a good buy right now... too expensive for what you are getting. For $180.00 you could get an Antec 300, and a Corsair 750TX, and have money left over.

Better yet:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
The Antec 900 has some DEEP discounts in combo with PSUs.... Take the deal with the EA650 for $150.00... that's incredible.

The WD 500 is not as fast as it's 320 or 640 siblings... platter size I think. If you want to stay at 500 look at Seagate.

Glad I've been able to help, maybe I've saved you enough to jump up to a P45 board.

ATI it is

Pro because it's less of a resource hog than Vista, and I dont' like the feel of Vista.

The Antec 900 sounds good

I can probably get away with 320 WD and save around 10 bucks.

The P43 will suit my needs. If I go P45 I'll be driving up my price which is what I'm trying to keep under control.

Any thoughts on the G.SKILL memory? I've never heard of it but have seen it spec'd a few times.

Thanks again!!!

 

[Proximon]

We recommend this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

But for the price I think that's a great deal on the G. Skill. It will work almost as well.

 

[madaxe]

I can get this OCZ memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227284

as part of a combo with this sapphire ATI card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770

That would be $5 less than doing the muskin. Isn't OCZ better?

 

[RetroDude]

if your going to be using 4gb of memory then i would go with vista 64 to use it all effectively, and what you call memory hog may actually be a good thing, memory not being used is wasted memory!

 

[fruees]

Seriously, if you're worried about Vista being a resource hog you're very much mistaken. If you're getting XP pro, sure it won't take up as much RAM, but it won't even be able to recognise all of your 4gb - that is the limit of a 32 bit OS - so although vista64 would be taking up a gig of your RAM, it's recognising all 4 gigs which leaves you with 3. If you had XP pro , lets say it takes up 0.5 gigs, you'd still only have 3 gigs because it only recognises 3.5gigs.

With vista 64bit there are no compatability issues now, it looks way better, performs way better and is better. You would be foolish to go backwards to a legacy OS like xp because it's time is up - designers will focus on vista now so you may as well get what's best.

Try and remember when you had win98 and you were in EXACTLY the same position.......

 

[fruees]

BTW +1 for the GPU Proximon - The 4850 will dominate those nvidia cards and is way better value, and smaller.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You've got to get off the XP Pro kick and pick up 64-bit Vista. Whatever negativity you've heard about Vista is not true. It is a very fast and stable OS. You would be crazy to put a 7 year old OS that can't use all your memory on a new build.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99

Edit: Use some of the money saved from the OS on a quality P43 motherboard from Asus or Gigabyte.

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128347 $86.99

or

ASUS P5QL PRO LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131329 $84.99

 

[madaxe]

I can get this OCZ memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227284

as part of a combo with this sapphire ATI card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770

That would be $5 less than doing the muskin. Isn't OCZ better?

Anyone have an answer for this one?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

No, OCZ isn't "better" than Mushkin. Mushkin makes very high quality RAM. The Mushkin RAM has tighter timings at the same voltage. If the $5 is more important to you than fast timings, go with the OCZ. I personally think the 5-4-4-12 timings vs 5-5-5-18 is well worth $5.

 

[Proximon]

I'm not willing to claim that any one brand is better than any other these days.

I do know that G. Skill seems to be doing a good job at producing very compatible RAM at good prices right now over all.

However, from the major manufacturers I would just look for voltage, latency, and timings and of course price, and not worry too much which name was on it.

 

[madaxe]

Thanks a bunch guys. I really appreciate the advice.