building my first desktop...

[trapper700]

Hey all, just found this site while looking for reviews of the Samsung 930B and there was so much information about EVERYTHING. I decided to try and build my own computer (with the help of some friends), because my laptop's monitor stopped functioning and they wanted 699+shipping to repair it, which I'm not willing to spend. I like to play a lot of games, but my laptop was not very good so I gave up. I'm hoping this computer will be able to run them with maxed out settings (or close to). Anyway, sorry for the rant.

Here are the specs of the pc.
GIGABYTE GA-K8NXP-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
eVGA 256-P2-N376-AX Geforce 6800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - Retail
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3500DAA4BP - OEM
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2000JD 200GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
LITE-ON SOHW-1673S Black IDE DVD Burner - Retail
Microsoft N09-01152 Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 - OEM

After looking around on the forums for a few days, I decided that I won't do Raid-0 because of all the cons of that setup, and I was initially going to do SLI with two 6600GTs but I decided to get the 6800GT pci-e and get a second one down the line. I'll be using the computer mainly at home during the summer and at the dorms during school. I'm just not sure what parts I would need other than the case and psu. Do I need to buy a heatsink/fan for the processor? What kind would be good for it? What case can provide good cooling as well as look good. Also, I need suggestions on what psu to get because i'm not sure how much power I'll need for this. I have about $200-250 left in my budget for the remaining parts I need (decent cases cost a lot more than I was expecting). Sorry for the long post, but thanks in advance for any help!

-Trapper

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you buy the retail CPU, it will come with a Heatsink/Fan combo. It will also come with a 3 year warranty vs. the 30 days (or is it 90?) for an OEM CPU with just the processor itself.

The retail one should be just fine for you.

For an SLI setup with two 6800gt cards down the road, I would recommend going with something in the 500watt range by a brand name company (like Seasonic, Fortron, OCZ, Antec, Enermax, Sparkle etc.)

If I were getting an SLI setup, I'd go with the 600watt Seasonic that's about $130 I think.

For cases, I really like Antec's line. The SLK-3000b is a nice one with 120mm fans for cool and quiet operation (like the Seasonic is). Antec cases are well constructed and have nice features like drive rails and grommets to mount your harddrives.

For a first time builder, I'd recommend checking out mechbgon's system builder guide.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Look adequate.
The seasonic S-12 600W is a great PSU.

 

[Silversierra]

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-103-464&depa=0
This is a cheap but pretty powerful psu. It might not be quite as much power as you'd like though, but I'd think it'd be enough.
Here's a pretty cool case for not too much money.
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144103

Ok, link hopefully fixed now.

 

[dhoytw]

Hey maybe put some thought into a diferent HDD. I am guessing you wanted something with some speed to it since you were going to go with a raid0. I would consider one of the new SATA drives with NCQ....just an example check out the MAXLine III Maxtor drives.

 

[trapper700]

how about this instead of the wd caviar then?

 

[trapper700]

Originally posted by: Silversierra
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-103-464&depa=0
This is a cheap but pretty powerful psu. It might not be quite as much power as you'd like though, but I'd think it'd be enough.
Here's a pretty cool case for not too much money.
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-103-464&depa=0

Those links are both to the same psu, but I do like your suggestion, I don't plan on upgrading to an SLI setup for at least half a year anyway.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: trapper700
how about this instead of the wd caviar then?

They are both nice drives.

You can check out the benefits of NCQ in the AT article.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: trapper700

Originally posted by: Silversierra
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-103-464&depa=0
This is a cheap but pretty powerful psu. It might not be quite as much power as you'd like though, but I'd think it'd be enough.
Here's a pretty cool case for not too much money.
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-103-464&depa=0

Those links are both to the same psu, but I do like your suggestion, I don't plan on upgrading to an SLI setup for at least half a year anyway.

If you're getting SLI in 6 month or so, why would you get a cheaper powersupply now and then get a new more powerful PSU then when you can just get a great one now?

 

[trapper700]

haha, yeah, i suppose my logic was flawed there. I also think that I will wait for the retail version of the AMD64 3500+ Venice. Monarch Computer starts shipping them on the 20th so maybe newegg will get them around then as well.

http://www2.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817151025
160 dollars though, ouch. I guess i'll have to look for a cheap case.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: trapper700
haha, yeah, i suppose my logic was flawed there. I also think that I will wait for the retail version of the AMD64 3500+ Venice. Monarch Computer starts shipping them on the 20th so maybe newegg will get them around then as well.

http://www2.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817151025
160 dollars though, ouch. I guess i'll have to look for a cheap case.

There are cheaper SLI options. With Seasonic you're paying for silence and efficiency too.

The SLK-3000b and the Seasonic would certainly fit into your budget though.