Critique my new system choices!

[JamesCo]

Upgrading my few year old machine, was hoping for some critique on the chosen parts:
Also this will be an all purpose system, multimedia, games, programming etc want it fast but not bleeding edge. Will also probably play around with overclocking a bit.

Trying to keep it under 1000$ (Already have some games and cables included in that budget that are not linked here)

Case;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811156191
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...129021&Tpk=antec%20900
(Will be using air ventilation only, thought this would work well)

HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152096

Monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824009127
(Seems like a good deal..)

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227178

MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131347

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115036
(Was a tossup between this and a Q6600)

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817152028
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103940
(Depends on case choice for the combo deal)

Sound:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829111002
(Going to mainly be using it for Dolby Digital Live)

I have an EVGA 8800GT already, will probably upgrade that at some point to a GTX260.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[NoodleTech]

You could do with a better PSU. Raidmax is mediocre. You don't want to buy a crappy PSU and have it die and fry the system along with it later on. Go for an Antec Earthwatts which is in that price range or maybe a Seasonic S12 or Corsair HX/VX series. They are much more reliable than Raidmax.

 

[MarcVenice]

First of all, welcome to Anandtech Forums !

$5 extra buy's you 180gb HD extra: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136149

This one is also free shipping, and 3" bigger, which translates into a whole lot more real estate compared to a 19" screen for just $15 extra: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824009145

I'd drop the case, and get a antec 300 instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...129042&Tpk=antec%20300

That psu, I'd get this one instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103940 and if you use the COMBO, you save another $20 on the case !!!

Are you sure the MOBO doesn't allready come with Dolby Digital Live? I'm no audio guru, so I'm just asking.

How about some old skool ddr2 800mhz ( plenty fast enough ) and 2x2gb instead of just 2x1gb ? : http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231207

I hope you use my suggestions, which imo will vastly improve the qaulity of your build!

 

[JamesCo]

Hey was thinking about the this Antec case;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129043

Think it is worth the money over the 300?

And thanks to both of you guys, will definitely be going with an Antec PSU. Will also be choosing that larger monitor and HD.

Yeah I am fairly certain that the MOBO doesn't have DDL support built in.

 

[MarcVenice]

No, not by a long shot if you ask me. If you want a little more bling, look for a antec 900, or maybe a CM 690. Cases do last a long time though, so it's an investment. Still, $190 is overkill for a case imo.

 

[zerocool84]

Get this RAM

You'll want to get 4GB since it's so cheap and it's good RAM. Even if you have 32bit OS you can keep the RAM when you upgrade to Vista or Windows 7 and still have a decent machine so you won't have to buy RAM again in the near future.

Also I have the 900 which is a great case and cools awesome and I guess it's safe to assume that the 1200 is the same quality just larger and more features. I just wish my 900 was screwless but it's a quality case.

 

[JamesCo]

Yeah I was oogling that 4gig set, I guess this solidifies the decision. Thanks!

 

[DSF]

I agree about the case. I think you'll find that with a Twelve Hundred (or even probably a 900) you have a much larger case than you need, and it's just taking up space. A case for a setup like this should cost you less than $100 in my opinion, unless you have some very special requirements.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Get this RAM

No, get this RAM

 

[JamesCo]

Well my current mid sized ATX case constantly seems to be a mess of cables with my full sized motherboard and non-modular cabling power supply. I vowed to get a larger case this time around and a modular PSU.

I am thinking about this ram now --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231209
Timings seem to be better than both of the ones you guys pointed out. Think it is worth 5 more bucks to go from 5-5-5-18 at around 1.9 volts to 4-4-4-12 at 1.8 to 1.9 volts?

 

[Blain]

You need to learn basic cable management.
If you were sloppy with a standard PS, you'll be sloppy with "modular" also.

Look at some VoodooPC rigs and learn a thing or two. :laugh:

 

[DSF]

There is (or at least very recently was, but I would check if I were you) a Mushkin DDR2-800 kit that's rated for 5-4-4-12 @ 1.8V for only $37 after rebate.

However, timings don't mean much in the real world anyway, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

 

[JamesCo]

Aight, thanks again guys!