Custom Build Help

[Dsev]

Hey guys, I've been on this site back and forth for the past two weeks or so getting some tips from you folks about a good budget gaming comp, heres what I came up with and tell me if I need something else, or if something needs changing:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
-Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
-Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130380
-EVGA 512-P3-N975-AR GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135176
-ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E818A3T - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007
-Antec earthwatts EA500 500W ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267
-OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232
-ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
-Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488
-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=N82E16835101022
-ASUS Lion Square 92mm Vapo Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

All in all, it costs $1020 and thats with tax and shipping already added. Any suggestions as to changes would be very helpful, I'd like to keep the budget not going over $1200. Thanks!

 

[Proximon]

I'll start

You would be better served with a P45 crossfire board (Intel chipset) and a 4830 or 4850.

The Antec 900 comes with combo deals on power supplies, but not that one. I recommend the Neo 650W. If you are going to run SLI or crossfire, you will need more power than that EA500.

P5Q Pro:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

4830:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803

4850:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770

Neo 650:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371010

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/257075-31-what-parts-choose

 

[Silverion77]

Proxi!!! what are u thinking Go back to the EA650!!!!
Srysly its better than that Neo excpet the Neo has some lights

Otherwise i support ur other things +1

Edit: Just realized they removed the EA from combo deals....how disappointing

 

[Dsev]

I changed the Mobo and the Vidcard, I was a little hesitative, considering I looked at benchmarks where the 9800GTX was better than the HD4850 and for the price would be an easy win, But i still changed it. As for the Dual support PSU, I don't think I'll be stepping up to dual cards for awhile, so I went with the EA650 Thanks for the help, any other input would be appreciated

Edit: I took the 4830 for the Performace and Quality, hopefully Newegg doesnt give me a DOA

 

[Proximon]

Proxi!!! what are u thinking Go back to the EA650!!!!
Srysly its better than that Neo excpet the Neo has some lights

Otherwise i support ur other things +1

Edit: Just realized they removed the EA from combo deals....how disappointing

Pretty sure the Neo is a Seasonic build. I'll check that though in a sec. Yeah I was looking for a combo that would get him into a second card, if that's his intent.

I changed the Mobo and the Vidcard, I was a little hesitative, considering I looked at benchmarks where the 9800GTX was better than the HD4850 and for the price would be an easy win, But i still changed it. As for the Dual support PSU, I don't think I'll be stepping up to dual cards for awhile, so I went with the EA650 Thanks for the help, any other input would be appreciated

Edit: I took the 4830 for the Performace and Quality, hopefully Newegg doesnt give me a DOA

Most benchmarks show the 9800 GTX behind the 4850 in performance. Now, if you are talking about the 9800GTX+, yes there are some small gains. You will pay more however.

You however linked the 9800 GT. That's a different video card, clearly slower than the 4850 and closer in speed to the 4830.

 

[Dsev]

Bah. My mind has been totally shot now for awhile, my bad, I read up on your article on Nov'08 cards, very detailed, helped me choose the right one for the right price, thanks Proxi! With the new setup, the price lower by 20, so now Im sitting at 1000USD even and with the rebates down to 935. Anything else in my setup that looks sketchy? I'd like to get the best bang for my buck.

 

[ragsters]

Whats up with that cooler. Go for the
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
That should save you another 30 bucks.

 

[Proximon]

Hmmm well OW gave the Neo 650W a score of 8... not real inspiring.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=117

We kind of need to start over here... it seems like you are not making clear distinctions in your video card choices.

Let me give you a kind of graphical representation of how the various cards stack up, based on performance alone:

9800GTX+ $170 and up, 4850 $140 and up

9800GTX $170 and up... ridiculous


9800GT $110, 4830 $110


Have a look at various good coolers:
http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

 

[Dsev]

A friend of mine had directed me to that one, he has it and he said it works out fine for him, thanks that did save me another 30 bucks!

 

[Proximon]

Good deal. Sounds as if you have things settled now.

 

[Dsev]

It took awhile but I got your drift. And as for the cooler I took the Xigmatek HDT-s1283

 

[Proximon]

Can't go wrong there, just be sure to get the retention bracket and some thermal paste.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

 

[Dsev]

with everything included, im sittin at $988 with shipping and taxes. Pretty Sweet.

Antec 900 Mid Tower case
Western Digital Caviar SE16 640GB
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 512 256-bit GDDR3
Antec EA650 650W
OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 X @GB) DDR2
ASUS P5Q Pro
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.0GHz
Vista Home Premium SP1 64bit
Xigmatek HDT-S1283