Finally Building my First System

[uncleezno]

So here I sit, typing away on my five year old laptop. It's time to get something new, and I've been waiting since the beginning of last summer to buy some parts. I can't wait any longer, because the lappy is finally dying on me, refusing to start up and whatnot.

I want my new machine to last me for three years, hopefully, without upgrades. I need literally everything since I'm starting from scratch, and I plan on playing all the games my wimpy laptop couldn't handle - Civ4, Supreme Commander, Oblivion. I do not rip movies, encode stuff, run like 100 processes at the same time. I'm open to overclocking and am not afraid to try it, but I'd like to just get the thing built and running before I fiddle with settings - so no giant heat sink this time round.

My budget is $1200 for everything. Please let me know what you think of the list below, and offer suggestions. Thanks!

CPU - Q6600, $275

PSU - Thermaltake 500W, $60 ($40 AR)

MOBO - Gigabyte P35-DS3R, $127

RAM - Patriot Extreme 2x2GB DDR2 800, $123 ($93 AR)

CASE - Coolermaster Centurion 534, $40 ($25 AR)

HDD - Samsung SpinPoint 200GB, $55

DVD - Lite-On 20x DVD Burner, $36

VIDEO - EVGA 8800GT, $260

MONITOR - Acer AL2216 22" Widescreen, $230



TOTAL WITH SHIPPING- $1229.68 ($1164.68 AR)


So let me know what you think! My laptop is chugging away just trying to open all the damn newegg pages : )

 

[Doclife]

1. The PSU (Thermaltake 500W) is a bit weak on the 12V current rating and I don't think the efficiency is certified as 80+. Even the lowly but respectable Antec Earthwatts 380W beat it it that department (17A on the 12V versus 14A on the 500W Thermaltake) and is certified as 80+ efficiency. Fry's has on sale the Sonata III case with 500W Earthwatts PSU for $65 (after $25 rebate). Look in the Hot Deals section of the forum and you can find the details there.

2. The memory (Patriot extreme) is non Jedec standard may have compatibility issues. If you use this memory, you will need to set the voltage to 2.2V in the BIOS of your mobo instead of the default 1.8V (Jedec standard).

3. You may want to hold off CPU purchase until Jan 20th, when Penryn 45nm CPU will be released. They will definitely run cooler, probably OC better and I think cost about the same price as the current CPU.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Overall looks good, but I would get a PSU with little more amps on +12 rails. One you picked has 29 combined amps...29 is enough...
anyway what I'm saying is look into few more PSU options. I am using Corsair VX450 myself and very happy with it (8800GT/e6750/4gb ram).
http://www.hothardware.com/art...50W_450W_Power_Supply/
Got it for $75-10MIR.


You're overspending BIG TIME on RAM!!

Maybe the 8800GT can be found cheaper.

 

[DSF]

You said yourself that you don't do encoding or excessive multitasking, which makes the Q6600 a poor choice.

Either wait a week until the new 45nm CPUs are released and grab one of those, or, since you're willing to try overclocking, buy a lower-end model like an E2180 or E4500 and overclock moderately. Even on the stock cooler they'll approach 3GHz.

 

[MegaVovaN]

DSF, he plans on keeping the PC for 3 years without upgrades, surely in that time a few games that benefit from quad core might come out?


edit: Your parts list does not include keyboard and mouse - are you going to control the PC with mind power? :Q

 

[Doclife]

OP, you will need to add the cost of the Operating System too.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Doclife
OP, you will need to add the cost of the Operating System too.

Unless it's Linux, on which, to game, you need to jump through the hoops!

 

[uncleezno]

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

The keyboard I'm swiping from work, and I've got a good mouse, so we're set there. I've also my legit copy of XP and its product key, so that should work fine, too. Later on I plan on buying Vista 64bit, but until then, I'm content to get the 3.2 gigs of ram that 32bit XP can recognize.

Thank you for pointing out that the memory is non-standard. That voltage is way high! I don't think sub-$100 for two 2 gig sticks is bad, though - if you can find any others, please link to them!

PSU issues - thanks for pointing them out, everyone. I'll go with the Fry's Deal - Case and decent PSU for like 80AR with shipping.

Lastly, I was under the impression that the new processors coming out this month were just dual core, and that the quads had been delayed. I don't see why waiting till the 20th would drop the prices on the Q6600. I've read some threads on quad vs dual, and I feel like if I want this comp to last a long time, it's better to invest in a quad. Is that totally wrong? Could I save money and get good performance down the road with an E6750 or something like that?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

This is a 2x2GB kit of DDR2 1000 for $115.

GSkill!

 

[MegaVovaN]

Think $70 for 2x2gb
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T8UB2GC5
I use this ram and it's good.

There is also HP RAM that's in 1 gb sticks, you can buy four of these. After rebate they cost like $7.50 per GB!!!
Read similar threads here and in hot deals for link to HP RAM.

Show us the Fry's deal - maybe PSU sucks on it?

Quad vs. Dual
If you don't want to upgrade anything, just buy a quad and forget about it.
If you don't mind upgrading, maybe pick a cheap dual core & buy new Dual/Quad as you see fit.

 

[Doclife]

Originally posted by: uncleezno
Thanks for the feedback, guys!

The keyboard I'm swiping from work, and I've got a good mouse, so we're set there. I've also my legit copy of XP and its product key, so that should work fine, too. Later on I plan on buying Vista 64bit, but until then, I'm content to get the 3.2 gigs of ram that 32bit XP can recognize.

Thank you for pointing out that the memory is non-standard. That voltage is way high! I don't think sub-$100 for two 2 gig sticks is bad, though - if you can find any others, please link to them!

PSU issues - thanks for pointing them out, everyone. I'll go with the Fry's Deal - Case and decent PSU for like 80AR with shipping.

Lastly, I was under the impression that the new processors coming out this month were just dual core, and that the quads had been delayed. I don't see why waiting till the 20th would drop the prices on the Q6600. I've read some threads on quad vs dual, and I feel like if I want this comp to last a long time, it's better to invest in a quad. Is that totally wrong? Could I save money and get good performance down the road with an E6750 or something like that?

I would use this memory.

Transcend 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $76

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820208353

The E6750 is a dual core, you might as well wait for Penryn if you're thinking about getting dual core.


This is the PSU that's included in the Sonata III case deal at Fry's

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371007

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Oh, nevermind. That RAM is cheaper then.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Doclife
Transcend 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $76
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820208353

If we're only talking about price, this is $76+$5 shipping, whereas Supertalent is $70 + $6 ship and has heatsinks. Even if shipping for RAM was free on newegg (it can be if you buy multiple items from NE) supertalent is cheaper and has heatsinks.

 

[Doclife]

Does the Super Talent memory run on 1.8V ?

 

[uncleezno]

Doclife - The Transcend ram looks good, Ive added it to my cart. I'm also going to go with a 4500 - I should be able to overclock it a bit with the stock HS and fan, and then spring for a new chip maybe a year or two from now. Sound like a plan?

 

[uncleezno]

I'm all in! I went for the Case + PSU deal from Fry's, and got everything else from Newegg. Held off on the processor - I can wait for a week to see if prices drop. Thanks guys!

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Doclife
Does the Super Talent memory run on 1.8V ?

Yep.

 

[Doclife]

Have fun and good luck with your build. I think your system is the lowest cost for the most performance and reliability.