Help with my build

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

sschnee

Distinguished
May 16, 2009
18
0
18,520
I am planning to build my first PC. I would like it to be useful for about 4 years, be quiet, and be able to play games such as WoW, Starcraft2, and Diablo 3, when the last two come out. Most of the time it will be used for simple web surfing and office software. I would like to dual boot Windows and Ubuntu Linux, so if anyone knows that I picked something not compatible, please chime in.

I was planning on the following, and would like the opinion of those who know more than me, which I expect is most people on this forum. Please let me know if my components are reasonable for my goals.

Case:
Antec p193 or p183. I'm curious if the side fan is worth it on the 193, or if I should stick with the smaller 183
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129062

Power supply:
Antec CP-850 (850W). If I have the Antec case, may as well get the power supply that is cheaper for it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

Motherboard:
Asus P5N-D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232

CPU:
Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115131

RAM:
Kingston HyperX 4GB DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104020

Hard Drive:
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB (Is the Green edition too slow to be a primary drive?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Monitor:
ASUS VH226H Black 21.5"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

Optical Drive:
LG DVD/CD SATA drive (should I get the IDE version to save my SATA slots for other stuff?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153

Video Card:
ASUS GeForce GTS 250 1GB Dark Kinght
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121309

CPU Cooler:
Noctua NH-C12P (Do I need a CPU cooler that isn't the stock one? Is this significantly more quiet?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608001

Thanks in advance for you help, I could really use it.

Steve
 
A

Abydosone

Distinguished
Jun 12, 2008
61
0
18,630
So far things look pretty good, heres a few things I found.

You should pick up a different mobo other than the 750i. If you plan to run SLI, you can get it, but I would recommend a 780i at least. If no SLI, pick up a P45 or x48 board.

Depending on if you plan to OC or not, a 3rd party cooler is recommended. The stock one works, but it really is terrible when you see the temps that it allows the CPU to run at. For long term gaming, you should probably get one.
 
S

sschnee

Distinguished
May 16, 2009
18
0
18,520
I appreciate your advice, but I don't think I fully understand it. What are the differences between those northbridge chipsets that would make me pick one over another?

Also, I don't plan on doing SLI for now, but I might in the future, so I should get a mobo that supports it, right?
 
S

sschnee

Distinguished
May 16, 2009
18
0
18,520



In case I do want to SLI in the future, how about this MoBo?
Asuss P5N-T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131231

Also, I want to go for quiet computing, so I think I'll pick the WD Caviar Blue 640 GB HD since it is suppodely quieter than the 1 TB Caviar Black I had chosen previously.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

Finally, I think the Antec P193 case is too much case for me, and the P183 is better suited:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129061


I would still like more advice from everyone.

Thanks,
Steve
 
S

sschnee

Distinguished
May 16, 2009
18
0
18,520


As it stands, my build is around $1350 from newegg. I could go as high as I need to to meet my goals of:
1) Quiet - my current PC sounds like a jet engine, and it's driving me crazy.
2) Powerful enough for Starcraft2 when it comes out
3) Still be useful in 4 years for medium gaming, not FPS shooters.

So I could spend a few hundred more if I needed to, but I don't want to waste money either.
 
tecmo34

tecmo34

Administrator
Moderator
Jan 20, 2009
9,317
113
37,590
Have you looked at an AM3 Build?

ASUS M4A79T Deluxe AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard & OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3RPR16004GK - Combo Deal ($259.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.193392

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail ($245.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

Antec P183 Black Aluminum / Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case & Antec Signature SG850 850W Continuous Power ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular ... - Combo Deal ($342.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.194005

Noctua NH-C12P 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail ($64.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608001

HIS Hightech H485QS1GP Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported IceQ4 Video Card - Retail ($150.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161245

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM ($74.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM ($23.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153

ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail ($179.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

Total Cost: $1,361.91 (Not including Shipping & MIR)

I would suggest going with either an AM3 build or Core i7 920 build if you are wanting to keep the system for 4 years. Either one of those processors will have more staying power than the Core2 Quad. Also, the only upgrade you would need to make if you run into gaming problems is upgrade your GPU or add a 2nd GPU in Crossfire/SLI depending on what route you take.


 
S

sschnee

Distinguished
May 16, 2009
18
0
18,520
Tecmo,

Not to be difficult, but if I could stick with Nvidia, I would like to. My understanding is that they are better supported in Linux, which would be my primary OS when not gaming. Is that no longer the case?

Also, I have never had a PC with a AMD processor. Are those just as well supported as Intel when it comes to Linux (Ubuntu)?
 
tecmo34

tecmo34

Administrator
Moderator
Jan 20, 2009
9,317
113
37,590
Nvidia is the better choice I would agree. Since you are set on Nvidia, the Core i7 is your best bet. Nvidia 7xx boards have to many reported problems. I've experienced it myself when my old MSI P7N SLI Platinum fried and took my Q6600 with it.

New Build:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail ($279.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail ($199.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375

OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail ($99.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

Antec P183 Black Aluminum / Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case & Antec Signature SG850 850W Continuous Power ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular ... - Combo Deal ($342.98)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.194005

Noctua NH-C12P 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail ($64.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608001

ASUS GeForce GTS 250 1GB Dark Kinght ($149.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121309

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM ($74.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM ($23.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153

ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail ($179.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Cost: $1,416.90 (Not including Shipping & MIR)
Difference between your original build + $66.90. This price difference is well worth the extra money, IMO.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom