Critique this system please

[Platypus]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Basic home stuff, occasional games, music and internet. Music software.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
700-750

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
US / US

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Don't care.. prefer nvidia because it works better in Linux.. would prefer an Intel core 2duo
dual DVI is a must for video.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Old pata HD, 52x burner, firewire card

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
sort of

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
no.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
asap

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I have been out of the home PC hardware market for.. about 7 years now so I'd appreciate some suggestions or improvements to this system. If you see a place where I can save some money or get something better for a bit more please let me know. Any suggestions would be very helpful to me.

Here is the current setup.
$704 total

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130290
video - 109 (89 w rebate)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128059
mb - 109

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820211066
ram - 2x (43)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115037
cpu - 190

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835106061
fan - 45

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129024
case - 125

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148262
hd - 60

I would ideally like to keep this around 700 or 750 max as I am kind of on a budget at the moment. As a reference, I'm not a hardcore gamer and couldn't care less about optimal OC/performance. I just want a nice fast system that works without a lot of bullshit. I am coming from an original p4 1.7 with 512 RDRAM so anything would be an improvement over that piece of shit.

Thanks AT :heart:

 

[DaveSimmons]

The intel HSF is supposed to be decent at stock, you could use that and move up to a better video card (4850 for $170 after rebate). Otherwise check out the recommended heatsinks article at silentPCreview.com.

I'm getting a $100 Gigabyte P43 board for my budget gaming upgrade, since no one has come up with a reason why I need P45 for one video card, E8400 at stock speed, and 2 non-RAID HDs. I won't get it until Thursday though so take the suggestion with a grain of salt:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...347&Tpk=gigabyte%2bp43

video
$123 AR 8800GT includes Neverwinter Nights 2 (fun now that it's been patched enough)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125089
(I didn't look through all 8800 cards in the $100-150 AR range, there might be a better deal)

$170 AR 4850 -- great up to 16x10 and even 19x12 for some games, will last many years
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125224

 

[Platypus]

Thanks Dave.

Is the 8800 *that* much better than the 8600?
I've read the stock fan on that model intel is bad from a few people... that might save 50 bucks though.
Thanks for the article heads up.

How about the rest of the PC? Case, ram, etc.

 

[ther00kie16]

Get the EP35-DS3L (newer and cheaper).
8600gt is weak, get the 8800gs for twice the performance at same cost. if you can afford it, 4850 is much better.
For ram, get something for $20 after rebate or the GSkill ddr2 1000 4gb kit for $85
Thermaltake isn't that great with coolers and you really only need an aftermarket cooler if you are going to overclock, in which case you should get the e7200 to save $60 and the Xigmatek S1283.
For a little more, you can double that 250gb to 500gb. There's also the Samsung 750gb for $100.
Sonata 3 is $120 shipped at buy.com or $114 with the 5% off coupon (google it).

 

[Platypus]

I'm not too worried about the HD space but I'll check it out. I have a large data drive that I am moving over when I build this system.

I'll check out the 8800gs.. like I said I am a casual gamer, I was satisfied with my old 9800 pro for gaming until it just blew up (pending me to finally just upgrade this damn thing).

Stock HSF is really ok? I've read a lot of things saying its too weak to cool it.

Thanks for the heads up on the case.

Is that mobo better or worse spec wise? They dont have the same detailed picture

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'll be trying the stock HSF in a few days, if I don't like it I have my eye on a Zerotherm Zen (newegg carries it). It's on the SilentPCReview recommended list and has a bolt-mounting system to attach more reliably than the big HSFs that use push-pins.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I'll be trying the stock HSF in a few days, if I don't like it I have my eye on a Zerotherm Zen (newegg carries it). It's on the SilentPCReview recommended list and has a bolt-mounting system to attach more reliably than the big HSFs that use push-pins.

Thanks Dave, that'd be a big help. I'm not too worried about 50 bucks here and there but I just want to make sure I'm buying intelligently. Realistically I probably won't notice much diff between 2.5 2.7 or 3.0 ghz in processor speed but the larger FSB I would imagine I should see noticeable difference in.

 

[ther00kie16]

Stock is fine. People even manage moderate overclocks with the stock heatsink. Unless you have a target temperature (say 50C) to keep the CPU under or live in the tropics without AC, there's no need to get aftermarket heatsink if you are not overclocking.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
Stock is fine. People even manage moderate overclocks with the stock heatsink. Unless you have a target temperature (say 50C) to keep the CPU under or live in the tropics without AC, there's no need to get aftermarket heatsink if you are not overclocking.

Thanks.. good to know.

As far as the rest of the PC, does everything look good?