New System Build--Please rate

[Nailah]

Hello, I was looking some advice on the build below. I mainly use my computer for gaming, so I wanted to make sure that there was good air flow throughout the system for the kinds of hardware it would need. Please rate my system

System Components:

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-EP45C-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard – Retail $119 ($104 after MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128364

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor – Retail $167.99
free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

Heat Sink Fan:
CoolerMaster Vortex 752 Cooler Socket 775 AM2 Universal Fan
Coolermaster:
FRYS.com #: 5404269
Features

* Low Profile Design for HTPC chassis and slim-type chassis
* Comprehensive Cooling Solution: Cools CPU and the surrounding components
* Universal Design for Intel LGA775 and AMD AM2/754/939/940 socket
* High Cooling Performance: 100% pure copper base/ 2 heatpipes/ Aluminum Fins/ Multi-air inlet fan
* Easy installation design
* Super silent CPU cooler at only 18 dBA
$19.99
http://shop3.frys.com/product/5404269?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Hard-drive
HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725050GLA360 (0A35415) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive – OEM
$59.99 w/ free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145215

Case w/ 500W PSU:
RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply – Retail $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062





The motherboard above is compatible with both DDR2 and DDR3, so the RAM and the Video cards are together below for each of them.

DDR2:
Graphics Card:
XFX HD-465X-ZDH4 Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card – Retail $72.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150362

RAM:
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory – Retail $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145215




DDR3:
Graphics Card:
EVGA 512-P3-N973-TR GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card – Retail $114 ($94 after MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130435

RAM:
Crucial Ballistix 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory – Retail $68.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148263


DVD 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 – OEM $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

OS:
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3 for System Builders – OEM $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511


Also, I wanted to know what everyone's thoughts were on DDR2 vs. DDR3 RAM.

Thanks,
Nailah

 

[Why_Me]

Your build is seriously bottlenecked by that vid card. Do you plan on over clocking ?

 

[xthekidx]

First of all, do not the get DDR3 version of that MB. Get the GA-EP45-UD3R or UD3P. DDR3 gives no advantage on LGA 775 and that MB has a lot of problems. Get DDR2-800 with low timings 4-4-4-12 at low voltage 1.9v or lower

Secondly, Do not use that PSU that comes with that case, its garbage. If you like that case, you can use it but chuck the PSU in the dumpster or use it to hold the garage door open. Look at a Corsair, Antec, OCZ, PC Power & Cooling, Enermax, Seasonic, Silverstone PSU.

Thirdly, the Graphics ram is independant of the system ram. You can run a GDDR5 memory HD 4870 1gb on a DDR2 MB no problem.

Fourthly, Get a 320 or 640GB HDD from western digital, they are fast and reliable. WD6401AALS FTW.

Fifthly, Get a better CPU cooler, you are not using a mATX case so there is no need to go LP. Look at the scythe mugen 2 or Xigmatek S1283V Dark Knight. Although a CPU cooler is only necessary if you will overclock. If that is not a priority for you, then you can just use the cooler that comes with the CPU.

Lastly, The GPU is weak if this will be a gaming build. Look at a 4850 or so. This is dependant on your monitor resolution however and the games you play. At 1440x900 res a 4850 will play almost all games at full settings, save for Crysis and maybe a couple other games. A GTX 260 or 4870 1GB will allow you to max out all games at 1440x900 res and play most games at full settings at 1680x1050.

 

[Nailah]

Your build is seriously bottlenecked by that vid card. Do you plan on over clocking ?

I won't be overclocking yet, but leave it open as an option; this was just one of the cards I was considering, but I definitely see your point.

Thanks for your reply.

Nailah

 

[Nailah]

First of all, do not the get DDR3 version of that MB. Get the GA-EP45-UD3R or UD3P. DDR3 gives no advantage on LGA 775 and that MB has a lot of problems. Get DDR2-800 with low timings 4-4-4-12 at low voltage 1.9v or lower

Secondly, Do not use that PSU that comes with that case, its garbage. If you like that case, you can use it but chuck the PSU in the dumpster or use it to hold the garage door open. Look at a Corsair, Antec, OCZ, PC Power & Cooling, Enermax, Seasonic, Silverstone PSU.

Thirdly, the Graphics ram is independant of the system ram. You can run a GDDR5 memory HD 4870 1gb on a DDR2 MB no problem.

Fourthly, Get a 320 or 640GB HDD from western digital, they are fast and reliable. WD6401AALS FTW.

Fifthly, Get a better CPU cooler, you are not using a mATX case so there is no need to go LP. Look at the scythe mugen 2 or Xigmatek S1283V Dark Knight. Although a CPU cooler is only necessary if you will overclock. If that is not a priority for you, then you can just use the cooler that comes with the CPU.

Lastly, The GPU is weak if this will be a gaming build. Look at a 4850 or so. This is dependant on your monitor resolution however and the games you play. At 1440x900 res a 4850 will play almost all games at full settings, save for Crysis and maybe a couple other games. A GTX 260 or 4870 1GB will allow you to max out all games at 1440x900 res and play most games at full settings at 1680x1050.

Regarding the first, the MB is DDR2 and DDR3 capable, so you are saying that running DDR3 instead of the DDR2 on it is what causes the MB to have problems, or you think the MB in general is problematic? If so, what reasonably priced MB would you recommend? The last computer we built we used Gibabyte MB in the Antec 900 and it has done as well so far and reason as to this particular brand in choosing.

Regarding the second, thanks for that info. I do have a few PSU's I've been looking into between 550W and 700W, I will take a harder look at those. I do mainly just like this case

Regarding the third, thanks for that info too; I have not dealt directly with DDR3 before and thus the reason I thought the GPU and RAM must match.

Regarding the fourth, I will keep looking at the HD's; I have a western digital in the Antec we built, and it has corrupted a few times, and reasoning as to why I would look into another brand; but I suppose one bad apple doesn't always spoil a bunch. I've read that the Hitachi HD's are actually pretty good though.

Regarding the fifth, I will look into those CPU cooler fans you mentioned; I personally don't like the fans that come with the CPU itself though.

Regarding the last, again, thanks for the info; previous build has the 8800GT so, figured I'd go the next step this round. I must admit, I don't fully understand the difference between GT and GTX GPU's. Can you tell me a little more about them?

Thank you so much for your help; it has been a few years since the build of the last one, and now it's time to build a second one that's not as monstrous as the ANTEC 900 for me to replace my Compaq with.

Nailah

 

[xthekidx]

The MB in general is problematic, get the GA-EP45-UD3R, not the EP45C. Its the DDR2 only version and its solid.

The 8800GT and 9800GT are the exact same video card, you aren't getting an upgrade at all with the 9800GT. The 9800 GTX is basically an overclocked 9800 GT. The GTX 2xx cards are the next round of Nvidia GPU's that use the GT200 processor instead of the G92. They are better. The way Gaming GPU's stack up are kinda like this: HD 4670<9800GT<9800GTX/HD 4830<GTS 250/HD 4850<GTX 260/HD 4870<GTX 275/HD 4890<GTX 280<GTX 285/HD 4850x2<HD 4870x2<GTX 295.

 

[xthekidx]

Read this to get an idea of what you need: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-gtx,2270.html

 

[Why_Me]

Ok I'l sum it up for ya in a nut shell. First off the gts 250 in this build is equivalent to a 9800gtx+ except its on a new shorter die, it uses less power, produces less heat, only uses one PCI-E connector, and it scales better in newer games than the older 9800gtx+. The WD 640 Black is only slightly slower than a far more expensive WD Raptor HD. The cpu in this build comes close to running even with the E8400 yet it's cheaper and it will not even come close to bottlenecking this build. The case in this build is quality, and the psu in this build is more than adequate to push this rig.

One more thing...if your going to build a gaming rig...why do you have an outdated OS in your build that doesn't even utilize DX10 not to mention it's slower than Vista 64 in newer games. Vista 64 reads all 4 gigs of memory also. So anyways this build below is actually cheaper than the one you posted, but it will run circles around it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 $59.95 Free Shipping*
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012 $59.99 ($49.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS 500W ATX12V / EPS12V Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-43-UD3L $65.49 after rebate
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L Core 2 Quad/ Intel P43/ DDR2/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E7400 $106.75
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 2.8GHz 1066MHz 3M LGA775 CPU, OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207006 $29.99 ($19.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
Sunbeam CR-CCTF92-4 92mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468 $129.99 Free Shipping*
EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231219 $42.99
G.SKILL HK 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=N82E16822136319 $74.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" 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=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

Total: $704.12 | $674.12 w/rebates *not including shipping

 

[Nailah]

Thanks everyone for your input, it's greatly appreciated! I will take all into consideration when finalizing my build and will perhaps post again, tata for now.

Nailah