First Build

[imported_Maf]

Hi everyone,
I've never built a computer, and had never even considered building one until a few weeks ago. This is what I was thinking:

Case - Aspire X-Navigator
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Motherboard - ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
RAM - Twin sticks of 1GB Crucial PC-3200
Video Cards - 2 ASUS GeForce 6800GTs
Hard Drive - Western Digital 250GB 7200rpm 16MB
Sound Card - Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music

It will be used as a gaming computer... I'm having a hard time deciding what PSU to use (wattage and the like). Have any suggestions on what max wattage and brand I should get? Thanks for your input!

 

[Valrandir]

Get a GeForce 7800GTX instead of two GeForce 6800GT
For the RAM I would go Corsair or OCZ rather then Crucial.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Yep, I'd advice the same... MSI's 7800GTX goes for $ 449 on Newegg... (BTW, for the cost of 2 GT's, you can almost buy the 512MB version... No, just kidding, but it would be a powerful alternative...)

For your RAM, I'd "stick" with A-Data or G.Skill, if you want your memory to be reasonably priced and have decent timings... Corsair offers in the same price range only their Value sets with higher timings...

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: Valrandir
Get a GeForce 7800GTX instead of two GeForce 6800GT
For the RAM I would go Corsair or OCZ rather then Crucial.

Please tell me as to why you would pick Corsair or OCZ over Crucial? Is there any special reason or is this personal bias?

Wentel, the same question goes to you.

 

[deathwalker]

As a long time PC crackhead (12 yrs building/repairing) I am a firm beleiver of the "KISS" principle (keep it simple stupid) for "first time" builders. Meaning 1.) do not use raid implementation 2.) do not overclock 3.) do not use SLI or Crossfire 4.) Due use proven quality components with focus on ease of use and implementation not on performance. Oh ya...all 3 brands of memory in the previous posts are from quality manufactures and should give you no problems. Everybody wants you to buy what "they" like, it doesnt means its always your best and only alternative.

 

[bamacre]

Probably cheaper, and same quality.

2GB of VS if no OC

 

[Mavrick007]

Depends on the purpose of the machine and the "type" of Crucial ram.
If the price of the Crucial is less than the Corsair/OCZ and you're not overclocking, then I might go for Crucial. But if you are overclocking, I would only get Crucial Ballistix if you are going to go with Crucial, and even then, go with it if it's less than the Corsair or OCZ ram.

I used to use regular Crucial ram, but hasn't shown to be a very good overclocker except for the Ballistix line.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Please tell me as to why you would pick Corsair or OCZ over Crucial? Is there any special reason or is this personal bias?

Wentel, the same question goes to you.

I just looked for memory that represents the best value... IMO, Corsair and OCZ are too expensive... Of course, both make excellent sticks, but at the price point of $ 170 - 180, A-Data and G.Skill are the best value, if you want a Cas Latency of maximum 2.5...

About the single GTX versus the two GT's, if you can buy a card with more features, VIVO etc. for $ 449, and it performs almost (and sometimes) as good as 2 GT's that cost together at least $ 560, wouldn't you do it?

I'd do it instantly for 1. the ease of having only 1 graphics card (because two of those GT's can generate quite some heat and noise), and 2. the 110 bucks saved...

*EDIT: Sorry it's not AT, but here and here you can have some proof...
*EDIT²: AT has a review themselves, only compared to dual 6800 Ultra's....

 

[SPARTAN VI]

Originally posted by: Wentelteefje

Please tell me as to why you would pick Corsair or OCZ over Crucial? Is there any special reason or is this personal bias?

Wentel, the same question goes to you.

I just looked for memory that represents the best value... IMO, Corsair and OCZ are too expensive... Of course, both make excellent sticks, but at the price point of $ 170 - 180, A-Data and G.Skill are the best value, if you want a Cas Latency of maximum 2.5...

About the single GTX versus the two GT's, if you can buy a card with more features, VIVO etc. for $ 449, and it performs almost (and sometimes) as good as 2 GT's that cost together at least $ 560, wouldn't you do it?

I'd do it instantly for 1. the ease of having only 1 graphics card (because two of those GT's can generate quite some heat and noise), and 2. the 110 bucks saved...

*EDIT: Sorry it's not AT, but here and here you can have some proof...

QFT.

A 7800GTX will perform about the same, if not better, than SLI 6800GTs. Then come lower heat output, less power consumption, less noise, and newer technology bells and whistles (SSAA).

I'd also go with OCZ. I've owned 1GB (2x512) OCZ CL2 Platinum (2-3-2-5) , OC'ed to 240MHz (480MHz effective) on those timings. Didn't have a chance to losen up the timings, sold the RAM for the OCZ RAM I have now.

 

[imported_Maf]

I don't intend to OC on it at all, not that into it. I think that I might go with the 7800GTX, it's a little cheaper and performs pretty well. Thanks for all the help so far, but what about the PSU issue? It's giving me headaches...

 

[biostud]

Seasonic S-12 500 or 600w

 

[Lasthitlarry]

I really don't like Aspire, they make crap products.

Sonata 2 is a good case, comes with a 450W psu

Or you could go with a Cooler Master, Lian Li, Thermaltake case, and get an Xclio, Fortron, Seasonic PSU.

Probably want at least 450W for the GTX.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Antec of Fortron... Go with Antec if it may cost a little more, go with Fortron if it should be cheaper and just as reliable... The Seasonic ones are very good as well, but cost a lot more... (500W is $ 129, and 600W is $ 159... :Q)


Antec TruePower 2.0 550W - $ 89.99

Very reliable, 38Amps on dual 12V rails, SLI certified, quiet...

Fortron AX450-PN - $ 49.99

Definitely one of the PSU's with the best overall value, although not SLI certified, it gives 36Amps on the dual 12V rails, just a bargain for such a PSU...

*EDIT: If you would consider a new case, Thermaltake makes some great aluminium cases, for instance the Tsunami, which you can get windowed as well, or the Shark, which is a very good case... (albeit rather expensive...)

 

[imported_Maf]

Alright, so I did some research and revised. Now its:

Case - Antec Sonata II w/ 450-watt PSU
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Motherboard - ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
RAM - Twin sticks of 1GB Crucial PC-3200
Video Card - MSI GeForce 7800 GTX
Hard Drive - Western Digital 250GB 7200rpm 16MB
Sound Card - Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music

Better? Worse? Thanks for the help.

 

[bamacre]

Much better, looks good to me.

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: Maf
Alright, so I did some research and revised. Now its:

Case - Antec Sonata II w/ 450-watt PSU
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Motherboard - ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe
RAM - Twin sticks of 1GB Crucial PC-3200
Video Card - MSI GeForce 7800 GTX
Hard Drive - Western Digital 250GB 7200rpm 16MB
Sound Card - Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music

Better? Worse? Thanks for the help.

Looks great. I have a wester digital SATA II drive, and it's nice and almost as fast as my raid-0 raptors were. I have 2 Sonata II cases, and like them as well. 7800GTX is much better than 6800GT's in SLI. Much better than your original.

 

[darkxshade]

IMO, If you're not gonna go SLI anymore, save a few bucks and get a good non SLI MB.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Looks just fine... The Sonata II has a really solid PSU as well... you won't run into troubles...

*EDIT: that's an option too, take this one... It's very stable and has lots of features...

 

[Mavrick007]

If you're looking for a solid motherboard with alot of options, and save yourself a bit of money by not going SLI, then you might look at the Asus A8N-E. It's around $110 US on Newegg. I just had a friend of mine make a system with one of these, 3700+ cpu, an EVGA 7800GT, 2 gigs of ram, and now he has a solid machine and one of the fastest around in my group of friends. Hehe now I have to do an upgrade soon.. just waitin awhile longer.

 

[imported_Maf]

Thanks alot, you are all a big help. I'm just nervous about the BIOS stuff... I'm not sure how to set any of it up.

 

[cesto]

i'm giong to build a new machine myself and it looks very similar to the one you listed. my current machine has crucial memory and have had no problems at all (i do not overclock however). i also currently have an ASUS which also has no problems. i'm debating getting ASUS or the foxconn. i'm also unsure if i want to get a dual core processore or not...ahh decisions. how much this system going to total up for yah? im at work and can't check newegg for all the prices ;].

good luck with it!

 

[imported_Maf]

The total price is about $2150. This is with the monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, Windows Home Edition with SP2, and a wireless card. I'm getting most of it on Newegg and the rest at my local computer store.