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Advice on new gaming rig (~850 budget)

A

Amerzel

Junior Member
I've built a handful of machines in the past but I haven't kept up with all of the latest hardware. I think I've got a pretty solid build on paper here but wanted to make a quick post and get some feedback. You never know what you're not considering if you don't ask.

Background Information

1. What your PC will be used for.
Mostly gaming, Programming, Web Development, and playing poker.

2. What your budget is.
Looking to spend as little as possible. Somewhere in the range of $700-$900.

3. What country you will be buying your parts from.
I'll be ordering off of Newegg unless I find a better deal on parts at Frys.

4. If you have a brand preference.
No brand preference. From the research that I have done Intel seems to be the way to go right now.

5. If you intend on using any of your current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I already have a monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, and operating system.

6. If you have searched and/or read similar threads.
I have done quite a bit of research already. I've read recent articles on Anandtech and Toms Hardware. I also read all the customer reviews on any items I am considering on Newegg.

7. If you plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I'm not planning on overclocking anything on the system but I like to leave the option open.

Computer Parts

1. CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
Price = $209.99

2. Heatsink/Fan
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
Price = $31.99

3. Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail
Price = $89.99

4. RAM
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Price = $74.99.

5. Video Card
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Price = 194.99 (164.99 after $30 Mail-In-Rebate)

6. Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Price = $89.99

7. Case
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Price = $129.95 ($99.95 after $30 Mail-In-Rebate)

8. Power Supply
500 watt power supply included with the case.

9. CD/DVD Drive
SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM
Price = $26.99

10. Operating System
I have all versions of Windows XP and Vista available to me. I prefer Windows XP Professional but I'll probably end up trying Vista 64bit out to take advantage of all 4 gigs of ram.

Total Cost = $848.88

The total cost doesn't include Shipping or the Mail-In-Rebates but I figure they'll offset each other.

Thanks for the feedback.

James

EDIT: Edited to reflect the 2x2GB RAM instead of 4x1GB. Thanks DSF.


 
That's a really well researched OP. Personally I'd only change the WD 500GB for the Samsung Spinpoint 750GB, for the extra space and much better speeds.
 
Pretty nice list. One big thing: don't let system cooling be an afterthought. Check out airflow on the cases you like, make sure you buy some good fans for the size the case accepts, don't use the crap they toss in the cases for free...

I got an ultra wizard with my last major upgrade, and bought a scythe S-FLEX SFDB 1500RPM 120MM fan with it... extremely long MTBF, near silent, and good airflow when paired with the case I chose.
 
Originally posted by: Roguestar
That's a really well researched OP. Personally I'd only change the WD 500GB for the Samsung Spinpoint 750GB, for the extra space and much better speeds.
Click to expand...

I had considered the Spinpoint, but after reading a couple consumer reviews on Newegg there seems to be frequent problems with it and the P35 nVidia chipset. People report Lockups, BSODs, and all sorts of other problems. So I'll probably stay away from it or look at a better alternative.
 
Originally posted by: jaqie
Pretty nice list. One big thing: don't let system cooling be an afterthought. Check out airflow on the cases you like, make sure you buy some good fans for the size the case accepts, don't use the crap they toss in the cases for free...

I got an ultra wizard with my last major upgrade, and bought a scythe S-FLEX SFDB 1500RPM 120MM fan with it... extremely long MTBF, near silent, and good airflow when paired with the case I chose.
Click to expand...

I didn't even think about that. It looks like the case allows a 120MM fan to be added to the front so I'll go ahead and do that.
 
Originally posted by: Amerzel
Originally posted by: Roguestar
That's a really well researched OP. Personally I'd only change the WD 500GB for the Samsung Spinpoint 750GB, for the extra space and much better speeds.
Click to expand...

I had considered the Spinpoint, but after reading a couple consumer reviews on Newegg there seems to be frequent problems with it and the P35 nVidia chipset. People report Lockups, BSODs, and all sorts of other problems. So I'll probably stay away from it or look at a better alternative.
Click to expand...
P35 isn't an Nvidia chipset. It's an Intel chipset.

If you mean problems using the P35 chipset, the Spinpoint, and an Nvidia graphics card, I've never heard of that. For what it's worth, I have a P35 board, an Nvidia graphics card, and a Spinpoint hard drive, and I'm pleased with all three.

I say this not to promote the Spinpoint specifically, because the WD 640 GB is also a very good drive. It's just that Newegg reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt. There are a lot of people who don't know what they're doing that write those reviews. People who have problems are also more motivated to write a review than people who don't.
 
Originally posted by: Liquidity
Thanks for the list, I just ordered the first four things on it. 🙂
Click to expand...

Your welcome. Glad I could help. Please let me know how your build turns out.

Does it make sense to even consider the 640GB WD drive for $130 when i'd be paying an extra $30-$40 for only 140 GB? I'll probably hold out and just get the 500GB for $90 and pick up another drive in the future. Storage space isn't a huge concern as I already have about 600GB in my current setup.

Thanks again,

James
 
The antec tricools in the antec sonata III aren't CRAP. They are actually pretty decent fans, check SPCR if you don't believe me. On low have pretty acceptable sound levels. On medium they are decent-ish, but are outperformed by sflex fans, or yate loons in terms of air moved per DB.
 
Originally posted by: MarcVenice
The antec tricools in the antec sonata III aren't CRAP. They are actually pretty decent fans, check SPCR if you don't believe me. On low have pretty acceptable sound levels. On medium they are decent-ish, but are outperformed by sflex fans, or yate loons in terms of air moved per DB.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone said they were crap. I'm planning on using the 1 120MM case fan that is included in the back of the case and adding an additional 120MM fan for the front, as was suggested. I haven't decided which one I'll buy yet but they don't look too expensive. Probably around $15-$20.

Thanks,
James
 
Originally posted by: jaqie
Pretty nice list. One big thing: don't let system cooling be an afterthought. Check out airflow on the cases you like, make sure you buy some good fans for the size the case accepts, don't use the crap they toss in the cases for free...

I got an ultra wizard with my last major upgrade, and bought a scythe S-FLEX SFDB 1500RPM 120MM fan with it... extremely long MTBF, near silent, and good airflow when paired with the case I chose.
Click to expand...

 
The WD 640GB and Samsung 750GB have better performance than the 500GBs if IIRC.
AF7P is a good cooler, but I'm not sure if it's a good choice at that price. When it's on sale for $20-25 it's definitely a great deal, but it's just $6 shy of a Xigmatek...
 
I didnt have any issues with the 750GB F1, a p35 mobo and nvidia vid card.

A lot of that stuff in the reviews are BIOS related and were fixed long ago.
The beauty of p35 is it is tried and true.

The issue with the drives are the 750GB had great performance. The 640 is probably even a bit better. Both outperform not just add storage.

My f1 also runs quiet.
My old 250 Gb Barracuda is audible for sure.

 
Since you're not overclocking, I think you should save the $32 by not getting the Arctic Cooling heatsink-fan.
 
Originally posted by: MarcVenice
The antec tricools in the antec sonata III aren't CRAP.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I was speaking in general terms there. I haven't had experience with that particular case, but every case I have ever gotten shy of an intel SSI case had crap fans in it compared to the kind I will purchase and use.

 
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