Look for a critique of a possable system.

[KJ_A]

I am new to posting on any computer forum, but I decided I wanted to ask here, for a critique of the new system I am looking at and any advice you can offer. To get an idea of where I am coming from I'll go back to my present system and go from there. First off I have been out of the computer buying arena for quit awhile. My present system was built in 2004 and its specs are below.

System Specs:
Case, Chenbro ATX P4 Mid Tower
CDROM, LiteOn DVD/CDRW Combo 52x32x52xxl6
CDROM, Plextor DVD+RW CR
Floppy, 1.44 MB Drive
HardDrives, 2 Seagate 80GB 8MB CACHE SATA/150 7200RPM
Keyboard, Chicony Basic PS2
Memory, Kingston 256MB 400MHz DDK PC3200
Memory, Kingston 256MB 400MHz DDK PC3200
Modem, Creative Labs Modern Blaster 56K V.92 PCI Int-OEM
Monitor, Samsung 19" CRT 950B Syncmaster
Motherboard, Intel 865G P4 PGA478 DDK 800MHZ 6PCI AGP8X SND LAN
Mouse, Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse-OEM
Processor, Intel P4 2.8GHz 800MHz PGA478
Software, Microsoft Windows XP Pro (OEM)
Speakers, Labtec Spin 45 2P White Box Speakers

About a year later I doubled the RAM to 1GB and added an NVIDIA GeForce 6800. Up until the last year and a half or so it was still playing most of what was out there as far a games go, at least at minimum levels but it just can't keep up anymore. So late last year I decided I needed a new system and have been looking at the options for the past few months. As I have not been paying much attention to computer hardware for oh about, FIVE YEARS, it has been a bit overwhelming. I am hopeing for a decent outside opinion of what I have been looking at. Now lets get down to brass tacks.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Some time in the next three months. It depends on when I get the spare money squared away. I still need about $650.

BUDGET RANGE: US$2500. That includes TAX and labor cost. I trust the person who assembled my previous system more than I do myself with this kind of work.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, text reading and web browsing, watching movies.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: N/A, 100% new build.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I will be using a local dealer to order parts but have looked at Newegg.com for price comparison and reviews. I am in the USA.

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel Core i7 920 processor. All components potently subject to change.

OVERCLOCKING: Upgrade possibility. Not at present.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Upgrade possibility. Not at present.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050 at present. Subject to change.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

I have spoken to the people who built my last system and they came up with the list below. It was compiled back in January so prices and available products have changed but I have been using it as a baseline. The thing that I have been having the most trouble with is finding a monitor to do justice to the GPU and Processor as I think there is better out there than the SAMSUNG 2243BWX. What I would like is a good critique of the proposed system below.

Case, Inwin LW-Z583FBK MATX Case Black - 24pin
http://www.in-win.us/products_pccase_series.php?cat_id=1&series_id=14&model_id=45

CDROM, LG Black Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVDRW SAT
Should be close to this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136133

HardDrive, Seagate 500GB 7200.10 SATA II 7200 32MBRPM
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=b9df99f4fa74c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD

Keyboard, Logitech Deluxe Black Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126013&Tpk=Logitech%20Deluxe%20Keyboard

Memory, Crucial 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148246&Tpk=Crucial%206GB%20(3%20x%202GB)%20240-Pin%20DDR3%20SDRAM%20DDR3%201066

Monitor, SAMSUNG 2243BWX Black 22" 5ms Widescreen
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001254&Tpk=SAMSUNG%202243BWX

Motherboard, DFI LANPARTY JR X58-T3H6 LGA 1366 Intel X58 Micro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136066&Tpk=DFI%20LANPARTY%20JR%20X58-T3H6%20LGA%201366%20Intel%20X58%20Micro

Mouse, Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse – Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105164

PowerSupply, CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=CORSAIR%20CMPSU-650TX%20650W%20ATX12V

Processor, Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHZ LGA Quad Process
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Software, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 1/PK (OEM)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Speakers, Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker System
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122&Tpk=Logitech%20Z-2300%20200%20watts%20RMS%202.1%20Speaker%20System


Video, SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit Vi
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768&Tpk=SAPPHIRE%20Radeon%20HD%204870%20X2%202GB%20512-bit

 

[Why_Me]

That build could use some changes. #1 skip that case...your building a gaming rig, not a lan party box. Also that memory sucks. Prices change almost day to day, so your best bet is to post this question a week to a few days before your about to make your order. But ya, I can see where that build could use some changes.

One more important thing...if your "local dealers" or whoever you go through can't match the prices and hardware we post on here...well than it's obvious to not use them to buy all parts. Otherwise your just screwing yourself.

Here is an example build........and notice how I used 3 differen't vendors for this build. It's all about $$$ and performance.

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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103052 $12.99
COOLER MASTER R4-S2S-124K-GP 120mm Case Fans - Retail (4 pk.)

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-750w-tx-series-80-plus-certified-power-supply-corsair-tx-cmpsu/q/loc/101/206178325.html $104.99 Price After Rebate: $79.99 Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128386 $209.99
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I7-920 $265.99
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-920 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381 $109.99 ($89.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370 $189.99 ($169.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail / Free Call of Duty: World at War w/ purchase, limited offer

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370 $189.99 ($169.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail / Free Call of Duty: World at War w/ purchase, limited offer

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $79.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $24.99 Free Shipping*
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 - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009125 $259.99
Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 400 cd/m2 3000:1 ACM - Retail

Total: $1,665.87 *(not including shipping and rebates)
$1,580.87 with w/rebates

 

[waynec121]

Okay here is what I would do for an i7 build!

i7 920 -cpu $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
Asus P6T Deluxe V2 -mobo $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365&Tpk=asus%20p6t%20v2
Corsair 850tx -psu $140 (120 after mir)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009&Tpk=850tx
OCZ Platinum 6gb (3x2gb) - ram $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381
Evga gtx 285 - gpu $355
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130442
WD caviar black 640gb - hdd $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
LG Black 22x - drive $24
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152
Vista OS 64-bit home premium - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488
mx-2 thermal compound - $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020
Xigmatek Dark Knight cpu cooler - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

So thats about $1425. The case should be around $75-150 depending on what you choose. That should be everything except for the case, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and speakers! Those are all personal preference for you but here is what I would suggest for those as well.

Saitek Black usb wired keyboard - $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823175103
Logitech G5 mouse - $44
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076
For the monitor, that is definitely something you have to do on your own. Your taste might be different then mine, but I would definitely suggest going 1900x1200 in terms of resolution. So I would suggest looking into a 24".
For the case, the CM 690, CM HAF 932, Antec 900, CM Storm Sniper are all good cases. You cannot go wrong with any of those.
For speakers, I would go with the logitech z5500s. They fit in your budget and are probably the best 5.1 setup you can get for that price range.

My recommendation on the GPU is the gtx 285 because it is more then enough for a 24" and you can always SLI them later on if you feel you need another one. The psu and mobo will both be more then enough for SLI.

Hope all my advice helps! Good luck!

Edit: Dang Why_Me! You beat me to it! haha Still hope my advice helps tho!

 

[KJ_A]

Why_Me and waynec121,

Thanks for the advice. I have in fact already been looking around for an alternative case like the Antec 900 and was thinking of a logitech mouse. The rest of what you have recommended I am going to have to take some time to examining. I will probibly pop back in when I get things nailed down a little more.

KJ_A