• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Build Critique - Gaming PC, ordering tomorrow!

W

WilliamDrake

Junior Member
Hi all,

Just joining the forums and would love your input before I place this order. I am Canadian and will be placing this order exclusively at http://www.pccanada.com.

1. Use for PC. Gaming
2. Budget. US$2000 (CAD$2250)
3. Country parts from.Canada - exclusively http://www.pccanada.com
4. Brand preference.Only brands available at http://www.pccanada.com
5. Intention to use current parts.Keyboard, mouse only
6. Read similar threads.Yes
7. Overclock/SLI.No
8. Build date.This week


Note: Currently US$1 = CAD$1.15

If you had US$2000 to spend, and were limited to use http://www.pccanada.com,
A) Would you build this machine?
B) If not, how would you change the parts?
C) Have you had any bad experience with any of these parts (i.e. power supply, motherboard, monitor, video card, etc)?

Intel® Core i7 920 Quad Core 2.67-GHz, w/ 8Mb (Socket 1366) CAD $334.99
Thermaltake® V1 AX Heatsink & Fan (Retail) CAD$69.99
Thermaltake® V9 Black Edition Steel Mid Tower Case CAD$109.99
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R, Socket 1366, Intel® X58 Chipset CAD$224.99
Sapphire® Radeon? HD 4890 Vapor-X - Radeon? HD 4890 $264.99
OCZ 6Gb PC3-10666 DDR3 Triple Channel Core i7 Low-Voltage CAD$124.99
OCZ StealthXStream 700W ATX 12V Ver 2.2 Power Supply CAD$104.99
1TB Western Digital® Caviar® Black? SATAII-300 7200RPM CAD$109.99
LG GH22NS50 SecurDisc? Dual Layer DVD±R/RW Drive CAD$34.99
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Premium 64-bit CAD$134.99
SoundBlaster® X-Fi Titanium CAD$99.99
Asus® VK266H, 25.5in Widescreen Digital Active Matrix TFT CAD$374.99
Logitech® G51 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System (Retail Box) CAD$179.99

Other:
SuperTalent ® 16GB SM Series USB 2.0 Flash Memory Drive CAD$34.99
Belkin Isolator - 8 outlet Surge Protector (Retail Box) CAD$24.99

Subtotal CAD$2,229.85

Thanks in advance - really appreciate any and all input you have!

- Bill Drake
 
Why are you limiting yourself to PC Canada? NCIX/Direct Canada offers free shipping on orders over $300 and doesn't charge PST outside of British Colombia. Even Newegg.ca. They have the i7 920 for $319.99 CAD.
 
Originally posted by: WilliamDrake
Gaming PC, ordering tomorrow!

Budget. US$2000 (CAD$2250)
Click to expand...

Sounds like someone is treating themselves to a little Bastille Day present? :thumbsup:😉
 
dont buy the windows vista, try out the windows 7 RC its very stable and you are can save the money to buy 7 later.
do you need the extra 1.5" of the monitor?, if not a 24" should suffice since they offer the same resolution
be careful of the thermaltake case, i personally feel that it feels cheap and quality wise average, get an antec case instead like http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=6055 or if you like side windows http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=9090
mobo is fine, ram is fine (i'm currently using it), power supply is fine but look to corsair 750hx(http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=9090) for modular, since mid tower cases such as the one you are looking at are very cramped if you use high end hardware.
also if you do not plan on sli in the future the hx620 will do the job well.
soundcard..is subjective since most onboard audio is very good now, but i personally use it(x-fi xtrememusic) so if you want to go ahead.
if you care about warranty and customer service the xfx brand is a bit better on customer service than sapphire, not sure about the price
heatsink is fine but don't expect major overclocks on it the website doesn't list them but there are better heatsinks, the thermalright and noctua are such examples, look for reviews
 
Hey all,

Thanks for your comments so far.

MMNtech: I might check those sites out actually. The reason I was initially limiting to PCCanada is because I have bought from them before and despite the fact that I could get it cheaper elsewhere probably, I like the service, I can actually go to the physical store, etc. I will check those out though. Any other comments?

Blain: You got it! Vive la France! What do you think of it?

Dixon: Best comments so far. Is Windows 7 RC a free download? I have not looked into that yet. I will definitely look into the other cases and power supply options as I was not to convinced about those.


Anyone have any further comments? All input appreciated. Bump for more!
 
Originally posted by: WilliamDrake
Hey all,

Thanks for your comments so far.

MMNtech: I might check those sites out actually. The reason I was initially limiting to PCCanada is because I have bought from them before and despite the fact that I could get it cheaper elsewhere probably, I like the service, I can actually go to the physical store, etc. I will check those out though. Any other comments?
Click to expand...

You have a point there, unless of course you shop at Canada Computers. Oof.

NCIX/Direct Canada are pretty reliable. They cost a bit more initially but the savings in PST and shipping usually offsets that. I got a nice deal on my CPU/Mobo/RAM from them. 100% Canadian owned, their warehouse is in Richmond BC.

About Windows 7 RC. Just be aware that when the retail/OEM version comes out in October, you'll have to do a clean install of the OS. You can't just patch over it. So that means having to go through the PITA of reinstalling all your software too, plus backups.
 
i can't see spending that much on an FSP power supply. seasonic-built EA650 is the same price, and the 500w is considerably less.
 
The GA-EX58-UD3R only has 4 DIMM slots.

I know that the Gigabyte website states that it supports triple channel RAM. It just seems a bit odd to me that you would have a spare DIMM slot - what's the point (or benefit) of this extra DIMM slot?

This for my idle curiousity.
 
Drop the sound card unless you absolutely needed. Integrated sound is extremely good nowadays. A 24" monitor is cheaper and will do you just as good. Windows 7 RC is also a good choice for a free OS at this time, and if you're in school/big company, you can probably get Windows for cheap/free.

Also, with that kind of budget, what are you doing storing those nice components in a V9 case? Spend a little more, get a silverstone (TJ07, TJ07, TJ07!!) or lian-li case, or at least something aluminum like the Gigabyte 3D Mars!
 
Originally posted by: daw123
The GA-EX58-UD3R only has 4 DIMM slots.

I know that the Gigabyte website states that it supports triple channel RAM. It just seems a bit odd to me that you would have a spare DIMM slot - what's the point (or benefit) of this extra DIMM slot?

This for my idle curiousity.
Click to expand...

Apparently running 3 dim slots keeps it in 64bit info, .... read that somewhere on the Anandtech Mac article...
 
Originally posted by: Eureka
Integrated sound is extremely good nowadays.
Click to expand...

people keep saying this, and it's really just not the truth. if you listen to music on your computer on anything better than lame pc speakers with 2" drivers or a $20 set of ipod headphones, there's a difference. onboard sound through a device with any kind of clarity still sounds like listening to a damaged record.
 
Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
Originally posted by: daw123
The GA-EX58-UD3R only has 4 DIMM slots.

I know that the Gigabyte website states that it supports triple channel RAM. It just seems a bit odd to me that you would have a spare DIMM slot - what's the point (or benefit) of this extra DIMM slot?

This for my idle curiousity.
Click to expand...

Apparently running 3 dim slots keeps it in 64bit info, .... read that somewhere on the Anandtech Mac article...
Click to expand...

Thanks, BTRY.
 
Originally posted by: brblx
Originally posted by: Eureka
Integrated sound is extremely good nowadays.
Click to expand...

people keep saying this, and it's really just not the truth. if you listen to music on your computer on anything better than lame pc speakers with 2" drivers or a $20 set of ipod headphones, there's a difference. onboard sound through a device with any kind of clarity still sounds like listening to a damaged record.
Click to expand...

I like the 3" drivers on my Altec Lansing... and I went from a dedicated sound card to integrated without noticing anything. Maybe I need to try again.

But if you're that careful about your sound... might as well get an amp and bookshelves.
 
Originally posted by: Eureka
I like the 3" drivers on my Altec Lansing... and I went from a dedicated sound card to integrated without noticing anything. Maybe I need to try again.

But if you're that careful about your sound... might as well get an amp and bookshelves.
Click to expand...

if you're not already saying 'what are those pops and clicks and such in my music,' you're unlikely to notice a physical difference by putting a sound card in.

i don't generally use speakers for my pc, i've got some cheapies that sit there in case i need them. i've yet to hear any tiny desktop satelites that could produce music properly (it's just fundamentally not possible without a crapton of the small drivers), and i don't think the detriments of onboard audio would be noticeable. it's like putting flac on your ipod to listen to on the bus- just not worth bothering.

but on a decent home stereo or headphones north of about thirty bucks, it's quite noticeable for me. and i'm not some kind of audio snob that thinks anything but the recording and the drivers make the quality of the sound. copper is copper and expensive amps don't 'sound' any better, i just can't listen to music with interference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top