First Build - C2D system, looking for advice

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hunapu

Junior Member
Jun 21, 2006
8
0
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I'm looking to build my first system and think I've put together a full list of the components I want. I'm striving to build a comp that will be able to play games, deal with high res imagery in Adobe software, etc. at high resolution (my monitor is 1920x1200 native).

I'm working with budget of about $2000 for what goes inside the case. I'm not sure if some of the components are overkill, if I'm missing something important, etc.

Here's what I'm planning to get;

Case Lian Li PC-7B plus II
(EDITED as per posted recommendation)

MB ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (with new BIOS)

CPU Core 2 Duo E6700, when available

GPU Gigabyte GV-RX19X512VB-RH Radeon X1900XTX - chose this over Nvidia 7950GTX since I could use it later as a physics board

PSU OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W or FSP Group (Fortron Source) FX600-GLN ATX12V/ EPS12V 600W All-In-One Power Supply , depending on price at time of purchase
(EDITED as per recommendations in thread - THX!)

RAM OCZ Gold 2 GB (2x1GB) PC28000 (5-6-6-15)

HDD Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA

DVD Pioneer 16X DVD±R DVD Burner With 5X DVD-RAM Read Black ATAPI Model DVR-111D

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Do you already have other components, like good speakers, sound card, keyboard & mouse?
 
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Operandi

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,508
0
0
Change the case to at least the the Lian Li PC-7 for its use of 120mm fans vs. the PC-6x's use of 80mm. I would also look up the scale a bit to one of the nicer Lian Li's, something like the V1100.

Change the PSU to a Seasonic, Enhance, or Forton-Source; more then 500 watts is not necessary.

Change the RAM to Crucial, Kingston, Corsair, or Mushkin.
 
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1N0V471V

Senior member
Mar 13, 2006
410
0
0
I'd probably get a 600w OCZ GameXStream with quad 15a 12v rails... this thing is rock solid and is very very quiet.

As for the RAM, that's great stuff I'd keep it.
 
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hunapu

Junior Member
Jun 21, 2006
8
0
0
I was planning to use my current mouse, keyboard, and old gateway speakers (I normally use my headphones anyway). I'll probably upgrade those once I've saved up some more money.

I was going with that PSU because I liked the modular design and plan to add a DX10 ATI card once they're available. Would a 500W still be ok?

This current configuration is basically maxing out my budget...the RAM I selected is basically the cheapest PS28000 I've found. Would it be wiorth stepping down to 6400 and better timings, or going for one of the better Lian Li's?

BTW, thanks for all of these comments!
 
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Operandi

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,508
0
0
Originally posted by: hunapu
I was planning to use my current mouse, keyboard, and old gateway speakers (I normally use my headphones anyway). I'll probably upgrade those once I've saved up some more money.

I was going with that PSU because I liked the modular design and plan to add a DX10 ATI card once they're available. Would a 500W still be ok?

This current configuration is basically maxing out my budget...the RAM I selected is basically the cheapest PS28000 I've found. Would it be wiorth stepping down to 6400 and better timings, or going for one of the better Lian Li's?

BTW, thanks for all of these comments!
Click to expand...

That PSU isn't worth anywhere near that price. If you really must have a modular unit Enhance makes one that puts that Mushkin (overpriced Topower) to shame. If you can live without the modular aspect however I still suggest Seasonic, Forton-Source, and Enhance. And yes, 500 watts is plenty.
 
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hunapu

Junior Member
Jun 21, 2006
8
0
0
Operandi - Say I decide to follow your advice and ditch the modular mushkin PSU.

How about this as a replacement;

FSP FX600-GLN (600W)

I know it's still 600w...but it still opens up another $100 and change in my budget

Still don't understand much about PSUs, but finding plenty of good info online and learning fast.

edit - typo
 
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hunapu

Junior Member
Jun 21, 2006
8
0
0
Those pics sure are purty - anyone know of any online guides to cabling to keep things nice and clean like that?

You all (as well as several other articles) have convinced me to go with a non-modular PSU.
 
O

Operandi

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,508
0
0
Originally posted by: hunapu
Operandi - Say I decide to follow your advice and ditch the modular mushkin PSU.

How about this as a replacement;

FSP FX600-GLN (600W)

I know it's still 600w...but it still opens up another $100 and change in my budget

Still don't understand much about PSUs, but finding plenty of good info online and learning fast.

edit - typo
Click to expand...

I would go with the 430 or if you really want more (you don't need it) the 500 watt Seasonic S12.

Also, going with the Lian LI PC-61 makes no sense at all. The PC-7B is the exact same case but with 120mm fans and a free flowing exhaust, no restrictive stamped crap like you have on the PC-6x.
 
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hunapu

Junior Member
Jun 21, 2006
8
0
0
On a quick price search, it seems the Seasonic S12 is only $5 cheaper than the PSU I added to the specs in the first post. Is there some reason to NOT have that PSU, other than it being more than currently necessary?

I also swapped out the Lian Li for the one you mentioned. It just took me a bit of time to read some reviews, etc.

Now, the big question that lingers to me...the RAM I have in there is quite expensive (~$400) - would steping down to DDR2-800 be a wise change? If so, would the money be better spent on an audio card, heatsinks, etc?

I want to build this and run it normally a bit before messing with overclocking, although I'm planning to give that a whilr at some point.

EDIT: typo
 
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