2007 Summer Build Critique

[Stokes]

Please critique and/or offer advice for different parts if you feel there is something better. Links are appreciated too.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $129.99

ABIT Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - $136.99

Leadtek WinFast PX8800 GTS TDH GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16
HDCP Video Card - $369.99

Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W SLI Ready-ATX 12V V2.01 Power Supply - $60.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6420 - $186.00

2 x G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK - $179.98 (4GB TOTAL)

2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $159.98 (raid)

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - $65.99

Total $1,260.05

I'm also thinking of buying the Zalman 5.1 headphones as a friend recommends them. I'll be playing BF2, MMORPG's, etc.

 

[PClark99]

Just a couple suggestions, first off I would forgo SLI, it really is a waste, a single 8800GTS will do fine. IMHO RAID is a waste for desktop too.

Keep the video card, processor, and sound card.


Case:

http://www.svc.com/rc-631-kkn1.html

Power Supply:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=373100

Motherboard:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=246716

RAM:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...sp?ProductCode=85025-6

Hard Drive:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...jsp?ProductCode=101447


You will need an optical drive too:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...p?ProductCode=10005074

 

[Juno]

jonnyguru's website on psu

rosewill is terrible. please reconsider as you read the articles in the link above.

 

[bamacre]

Also, it is worth it to get this sound card...
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/5017775
... for a few extra bucks.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

1. i'd go with the p180 ($80AR)
2. don't get that PSU, its a piece of crap, (u get what u pay for)
3. evga is a known nvidia cardmaker that has good warranty from what i hear
4. yes, it is worth to get that sound card over the one u listed
5. don't get those headphones, they're not as good as they look, there are better gaming headphones on the market, search around

 

[Roguestar]

Don't RAID-0 it.

 

[Stokes]

Thanks for the replies, a few thoughts:

I like the Nine Hundred for all the cooling is offers, and I can get it at a lesser known retailer for around $100 shipped.

I'll take out the rosewill, but I was hoping to see a sub $100 PSU, brand name like OCZ, but what do you guys think of this? Reviews say cables are a little longer, which is good in a bottom PSU case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817341001

I'll also take the other sound card per the advice (ps not on newegg?)

I've owned Leadtek for quite a few years now and their cards seem to be top notch in my book, but I think the EVGA is only $10 more, and if thats the case I might switch to that card.

Also anyone throw out some recommendations on the headphones?

Also, do you think it's even worth it for me to raid - 1? (thats mirroring correct?). I haven't ever used a raid configuration in my past builds.

 

[AlucardX]

i dont really think raid is worth the config, hassle, and cost if you keep regular backups. assuming raid-1.

just do regular backups with dvdr's, external harddrives or online storage.

 

[Ruger22C]

Drop the 6420 and get a 4300, OC it.
The sound card, I'd get XtremeGamer.

 

[Stokes]

Originally posted by: Ruger22C
Drop the 6420 and get a 4300, OC it.
The sound card, I'd get XtremeGamer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115013

are you talking about this chip?

Sounds like overclocking it can surpass the 6420 that I have picked out, think its a wise choice? What about the 4MB cache of the 6420?

I'm not new to overclocking (amd only though), so wondering if this would be a better choice.

 

[Stokes]

I think I'll drop the CPU down to the 4300 as suggested after doing my own research and spend more money on a better cooler.

For OS, im set on vista: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium

Besides that Im trying to decide still if I want to just get one of those god ol Zalman's with the wind tunnel design or go with a basic water cooling unit. I know a lot of people say a $50 cpu heatsink and fan will perform or outperform entry level water, but idk yet.

 

[jkresh]

Stokes, a high end hsf will beat any inexpensive water (60-80 for hsf would take close to $200 for water to have a clear advantage), unless noise is a big issue (in which case 2 quite 120mm fans or 3 quite 120mms on a radiator would be better then 1 loud one on the hsf), and even a top end water cooling setup wont do that much better the the best air setup in terms of maxium oc (maybe a couple of hundred mhz ...) though it can do it with much less noise.

 

[trOver]

That 600w OCZ psu u picked out is a keeper. Mine works fantastic