Components for my first build... please review!

eschabichi

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Dec 21, 2008
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This is my first build so I could really use some help determining if I made good/compatible/logical choices below! And I intend on running Vista 64-bit (although I've never used 64-bit yet).

*** After reading some other posts just before posting this, I get the impression that I might need a better power supply, and am missing the sound card and ethernet card. And what about heat sink / thermal paste and all that jazz?

Any advice whatsoever is welcome!

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Retail
$189.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

ASUS P5Q SE PLUS LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$96.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131347
($81.99 afer mail-in rebate)

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
$54.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-20-145-184-_-Product
($24.99 after mail-in rebate)

$54.99 - above x2

EVGA 01G-P3-N870-AR GeForce 9600 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
$154.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130363

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000333AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$119.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148373&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-22-148-373-_-Product

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
$28.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173

Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2500:1 - Retail
$159.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-24-009-145-_-Product

$159.99 - above x2

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$79.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

COOLER MASTER eXtreme RP-500-PCAR 500W ATX12V V2.01 Power Supply - Retail
$44.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171018
($24.99 after mail-in rebate)
 

eschabichi

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Dec 21, 2008
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one side thought, since most or all of my listed prices are sale prices -- would this stuff generally go back up to msrp after christmas? or be on sale even cheaper than it is now?
 

emptymindedboi

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Dec 19, 2008
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That is a nice case but this one is just as good -$10 cheaper too http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

I don't think you need 8 gb of ram. You don't need 8gb. Get only 4gb of the one you chose. Or these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731 $25 after MIR I favor the one I chose

I'm assuming you are going to game on this pc, what games are you going to be playing, what is your budget, cause that graphics card might do the job or not and do you want to play Crysis on max setting, etc. I think this one is good http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121272 It's cheaper and it does just as well as the one you chose

I don't know if you need the 1 TB of space but if you do your choice looks good, if you really don't need the 1 tb of space I think this one is good 640gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218 = $75

Get a better PSU, the PSU is important ... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005 $70 after MIRS (expires today) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 $80 after MIR

64 Bit vista is good for this build.
Good cpu but there is also a combo deal - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.147899 + 3 dollars added with this combo

You don't need a sound card/ethernet card your mobo comes with onboard audio/lan. Also why did you choose 2 monitors ... are you planning on running the pc on both or something? I'm confused. Give more information!!! What do you plan to do with this pc?? Also are you going to use SLI/Crossfire in the future?
 

eschabichi

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Dec 21, 2008
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thanks for the insight. here are my thoughts:

1) yeah I looked at that case. I could go for either one, it's not too important to me
2) "You don't need 8gb." well... can't 64-bit Vista utilize it? if so, then even though i don't technically need it, it would make things a lot faster for only $25 after MIB, right? i'm used to using 3.5gb with dual core cpu on 32-bit, and not really satisfied with the speed.
3) I actually don't do any gaming, at least not right now.... but I used to and I'd like to be able to get back into it if my PC allows it. for the last 6 years my laptops have never been up to snuff for gaming. I'm sure a 512mb video card like you linked would do me perfectly fine, I just picked out the 1gb one because it sounded like a good price for the spec. It wasn't too much more than the one you linked. But if yours performs just as well, then I might get that one.
4) I definitely don't need 1 TB right now but with how cheap it is, why not go for the best! I intend for this PC to last a while before needing upgrades.
5) Yeah, I was thinking I needed a better PSU from reading other posts. will do
6) oh ok, is that MOBO a little bit better than the one i chose?
7) I'm surprised at your comment about the two monitors... I use two 19" monitors with my machine at work everyday (and it even used to have three, which I miss). Those aren't widescreen but hey. Anytime I work on a PC with only one monitor I feel like something is missing and constantly have to switch back and forth between windows.
8) I don't know what SLI/Crossfire is. Mostly the biggest strain on my PC is for my job, writing code in Visual Studio 2008 etc. But like I said, I'd love to get back into gaming now that I will soon have a PC that can handle it!

thanks for the response!
 

godfatherscar

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May 7, 2008
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if you wanna go back into gaming, i'd get a nvidia 9 series, at least a 9600gt....... fact is that vista 64, unless you are working the **** out of your comp, will never utilize that full 8gb of ram, just buy 4 gigs, there are some g skill 4 gig packs with a heat spreader for 30 bucks, gonna buy them myself soon
 
+1 for the mushkin RAM and ASUS 4850 GPU posted above. The 9600GT can't really be called a gaming card. The 4850 is much faster.

I'm with the OP on the 8GB of RAM. At the current price of DDR2, why NOT go with 8GB - even if you don't really NEED it right now.
 

eschabichi

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Dec 21, 2008
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updated... biggest change is the video card, and most everything else changed slightly except for the case, CPU, and monitors..


- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

- GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

- (x2) mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

- ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

- Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

- LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe

- (x2) Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2500:1

- COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

- CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply


any other thoughts? could change slightly when I actually purchase since prices will probably change... but I like the way this is looking.
 
I like the way it's looking too! The only thing I'd consider is upgrading to the GA-EP45-UD3P instead of the UD3R. That way you'll have the option of adding another GPU later if you need to. You never know, you might get the gaming bug again having a comptuter capable of gaming. :)