Building a new system. Would like some input.

[PepperBreath]

Alright. I've been running the following system:

Athlon 64 3000+ (stock)
1GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce 6800 GT
Creative Audigy 2
nForce 3 motherboard (don't remember brand)

I built that around the time Doom 3 came out and for the most part, it's served me well. However, I need a new system since newer games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R and Lost Planet are absolutely destroying my system unless I turn a lot of the eye candy off.

Now, for the new build, I'd like to build something quiet. My current system isn't too bad but if I can, I'd like to push it a little further. I've nicked a lot of the components from this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2087761&enterthread=y
with just a few changes. This is the build I'm thinking of going with:

Case: Antec Solo case (89.99 - 40rb = 49.99)
Video: MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256EZ HD GeForce 8600GTS 256MB (passively cooled) (158.99 - 20rb = $138.99)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R ($129.99)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (I'll eventually overclock this to 3ghz) ($289.99)
CPU cooler: Scythe SCMNJ-1000 "Ninja Mini" ($29.99)
Mem: OCZ Platinum OCZ2P800R22GK 4GB (4x1gb) 800mz DDR2 (199.98 - 40rb = $159.98)
Optical: Samsung 20x DVD±R Burner SATA ($34.99)


Carry overs from current system:
HDD: Western Digital SATA WD3200JD 300gb
PSU: Antec NeoHE 500W
Sound: Creative Audigy 2


Before rebates, that system shipped from Newegg.com would be $933.92. After rebates, (assuming I get them all) would be $833.92. If I ship the 2GB of ram to two different houses under two different names/CC#s I could knock off another $40 in rebates bringing that total to $793.92.

What do you guys think? Am I missing anything? Any changes necessary? I also may buy a wireless keyboard and mouse set as well as an X-FI although those I'm still debating on. I'll also likely be installing Vista Home Premium Academic upgrade x64 for about $69.95 and do the upgrade/full install trick.

I play games primarily on my PC and I know that video card isn't the greatest but I think I may upgrade the video in a year or so when native DX10 start coming out and sell the 8600 on eBay or something.

Any thoughts?

Edit:

I should add that my price ceiling is roughly $1,200 although that's flexible. If I can go lower, that's good. If I should get something that'll cost more because it'll last longer (not because it's an e-penis thing) then I'll do that too.

Also, if there is some new part that would be worth waiting for a short time (a month or two), I can do that too. After reading that Penryn preview at Anandtech though, I'm not sure that's worth waiting for since I never encode video and outside of that, the performance boost isn't as great for instance. That's just my impression though, any differing opinion is welcome.

Edit2:

Some minor changes: Unless folks think that Ninja Mini would be fine without the fan and some overclocking, I may switch to the Scythe Infinity which is only $10 more and seems much much better. Also, I'm thinking of dropping the GeForce 8600 and going with something a bit better. Still looking though. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[Blain]

The Solo is a great looking, well built case.
But it feels pretty snug once you start working in it. :roll:

 

[MarcVenice]

Jup, go 8800gts 320mb instead. It serves me well on 1680*1050 in STALKER, BioShock and MoH: Airborne for example. Besides that your system is looking okay. Not sure how good the PSU is though, how much amps on the 12v rail(s) ? The solo for 50$ is a pretty good deal, bit small, but good qaulity for little money.

 

[PepperBreath]

The Neopower has three +12V rails with 17A each for a total of 51A. Should be fine IMO but I'm no expert.

NeoPowerHE Specs: http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoHE500_spe.html

So the build looks good?

Blain: Have you ever used the Antec Super Lanboy? Is the Solo larger or smaller than that?

Edit:

Any thoughts on the Cooler Master Centurion 5 case? Not designed to be a silent case per se, but if I replace the fans it might work. What do you guys think?

 

[engiNURD]

You actually can't just add up the amperage ratings of multiple +12V rail PSUs. The NeoHE has a max load of 456W on the combined +12V rails, therefore it has 38A available on the combined +12V rails.

The Super LANBoy is smaller than the SOLO.

The Centurion 5 uses an 80mm fan for intake. If you want silence, the P180 is one of the best, imo. If you want a quiet Centurion, get either the 534 or 532. If they don't come with both 120mm fans, get some medium/low speed Yate Loon fans from jab-tech.com. The Centurion cases are usually cheaper at svc.com... if you live near cali.

Hm... for the price of that ninja mini, you could have gotten a full ninja, hehe. Oh wellz, I guess they've tacked on the "small yet performs" tax.

 

[PepperBreath]

Alright. This is what I'm going to order, possibly tonight.

Case: Antec Solo Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (89.99 - 40rb = 49.99)
Video: EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB (299.99 - 15rb = $284.99)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard ($129.99)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (I'll eventually overclock this to 3ghz) ($287.99)
CPU cooler: Scythe INFINITY CPU Cooler SCINF-1000 ($40.99)
Mem: OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) (199.98 - 40rb = $159.98)
Optical: Samsung 20x DVD±R Burner SATA ($34.99)

Grand total: $1082.93
Minus Rebates: $987.93

What do you guys think? I'll be ordering the Core 2 Quad from ClubIT so I get the G0 stepping. Any opinions? I may just order this tonight so I can get it around mid-week and have the weekend to play around with it.

One small change. Getting the Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme CPU Cooler instead of the Scythe Infinity.

 

[MarcVenice]

The p180b is on sale at newegg and goes for 80$ if I'm not mistaken. Might be worth looking into, besides that, looking HOT.

 

[PurdueRy]

Get some much cheaper crucial ballistix DDR2-800. I believe its $70 something right now AR. Also I would get the Samsung SH-183L instead of he 203. It's a bit slower(18x vs 20x) but has lightscribe, which I use quite often.

 

[MarcVenice]

He has that ram, its 160$ AR for 2 2x1gb

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
He has that ram, its 160$ AR for 2 2x1gb

Thanks for pointing that out.

However, the ballistix is cheaper AR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146565

$140 for 4 GB

 

[MarcVenice]

cheap cheap cheap !!! I wish newegg shipped to Europe My euro's would make everything so cheap cheap cheap !

 

[PepperBreath]

Actually I think the OCZ RAM is cheaper (I only typed in one $40 rebate. My mistake):

OCZ RAM $99.99 - $40 = $59.99 x2 = $119.98 AR

Crucial $109.99 - $40 = $69.99 x2 = $139.98 AR

$40 difference after rebates. The only problem is that I'll have to ship 2GB to one place and the other 2GB to another in order to be eligible for two rebates.

Edit:

Newegg doesn't seem to have the Samsung you mentioned. The only SATA Lightscribe DVD burner is from Lite-on.

 

[PepperBreath]

Alright. Going to swap the Samsung for an SATA Lite-On with Lightscribe and I'll get the Performance One case instead of Solo. I think I'll order all this shortly.

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the input.

 

[drakore]

hmmm try and get crucial stuff instead...

change the burner to a pioneer dvr-212D

Hmmm the PSU should be fine...

Change the videocard to the 8800GTS 320mb or 640mb if you are going to higher res.