First Computer Build

[whozyodaddy]

Hey,

This is my first post here at Anandtech forums! I have never built a computer before, so this will be my first build. I already ordered watercooling parts (D5, BIXII, 6002, Dual Res, MAZE4) to cool this system. So please critique, rate, comment, advise, and suggest on this system! Just keep one thing in mind... do not try to convince me to go AMD! That's all I ask. Thanks.

COOLER MASTER CM Stacker STC-T01 - $166.50
SONY Black IDE Combo Drive - $29.99
PLEXTOR SATA DVD Burner Model PX-712SA - $82.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - $7.99
NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive - $8.49
ASUS P5WD2 Premium Wifi Edition- $272.00
Western Digital Raptor 74GB - $186.00
Maxtor MaXLine III 7L300S0 300GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache - $200.00
Microsoft Black PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard - $19.99
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) TWIN2X1024A-5400UL- $243.00
Intel Pentium 4 640 - $270
eVGA 6800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 - $345.00
OCZ 520W Powerstream - $139.00
Dell 2005FPW 20.1 LCD Monitor - $350-400 (WAITING FOR ANOTHER DEAL!)

Totals $2,200 including tax+shipping

Hopefully the 6800GT will drop in prices because of the 7800... because I will be buying this week! When do you think I will see a drop?

 

[KoolDrew]

I'm sorry but if you are gaming you should definitely go AMD.

 

[eXx08]

Everything looks great to me but I know you said not to say it, but go AMD if your a gamer!!!!!!.

 

[SlitheryDee]

If you absolutey MUST go intel, then it looks good.

 

[whozyodaddy]

Thanks for the fast replies, YES I am a gamer, but YES I also do heavy applications. I will be doing web design (dreamweaver, frontpage, etc.), programming (.NET), graphics (flash, photoshop, etc.), video editing (premiere, after effects, etc.) internet browsing & gaming (AOEIII, HL2, DOOM3, BF2 etc.).

 

[Mrvile]

AMD AMD!!!!

Otherwise everything else looks good. And I highly doubt the price of the 6800GT will drop for the next few months.

 

[suicidalpigeon]

such an expensive case...get a nec 3520 to replace both those optical drives. ditch the raptor, get a seagate 250gig 7200.8. i heard a few reviews that maxtor has some issues. the memory is too expensive, get some value selects from ocz, corsair, or g.skill. the x800xl performs around the same as a 6800gt but costs $100 less. and do you need an os?

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: whozyodaddy
Thanks for the fast replies, YES I am a gamer, but YES I also do heavy applications. I will be doing web design (dreamweaver, frontpage, etc.), programming (.NET), graphics (flash, photoshop, etc.), video editing (premiere, after effects, etc.) internet browsing & gaming (AOEIII, HL2, DOOM3, BF2 etc.).

AMD would be better for just about all of that. At a cheaper price too.

 

[Mrvile]

Hmm if you'll be using things like Flash and Photoshop, as well as video editing, you might want up to 2GB ram.

 

[nick1985]

yeah, get an AMD...

 

[whozyodaddy]

I already purchased Windows x64, and will be using that. I can't change the case now... I already ordered specific parts for it. The Maxtor 7L300S0 is the newest revision... It shouldn't have any problems. Even if I wanted to go AMD I already ordered intel parts... and I don't want to go AMD.

 

[KoolDrew]

Why would you ask us to critique your build after you bought the parts?

 

[suicidalpigeon]

so its a goodbye to your $$$$. tisk tisk. (yes i have intel but i bought it when it was doing a tiny bit better than amd)

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Why would you ask us to critique your build after you bought the parts?

I was wondering the same thing

 

[whozyodaddy]

All of the computer parts you see listed, I did NOT buy! I only bought the watercooling setup and a side-panel for the case. Sorry for the confusion...

 

[nick1985]

AMD is better than Intel for gaming, and its MUCH less money. i dont understand your reasoning...

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: nick1985
AMD is better than Intel for gaming, and its MUCH less money. i dont understand your reasoning...

Not only that but outperforms in most apps too.

 

[suicidalpigeon]

even if it wasnt YOU who bought these things, its still a waste to WHOEVER you pinned it on.

 

[Mrvile]

We apologize, whozyodaddy.

Welcome to Anandtech! Post safe, post smart, and have fun!

But there are some things we generally keep in mind...

1. We are all AMD fanboys.
2. Refer back to number 1.

You have some ambition there making your first post so stern on Intel. Even if you tell us not to convince you, we will. It's AT nature. We must respect lord AMD.

I hope we're not driving you away from these forums. AT is home to the largest tech forum on the internet, most of us are mature, intelligent, and try to be polite. But some things just cross the line...

But in the end, whatever you decide to use we all wish you good luck with your build, and hope you have fun.

Cheers, whozyodaddy! :beer:

 

[whozyodaddy]

lol Thanks for the welcome Mrvile.

Cheers :beer:

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

That case is overkill... So expensive... The DVD burner is a ripoff too. There are plenty of good DVD burners out there for like $50, like the NEC 3520. Holy crap, you paid $275 for a motherboard?! You sure like to waste money... That's reflected in your RAM and hard drive too...

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: t3h l337 n3wb
That case is overkill... So expensive... The DVD burner is a ripoff too. There are plenty of good DVD burners out there for like $50, like the NEC 3520. Holy crap, you paid $275 for a motherboard?! You sure like to waste money... That's reflected in your RAM and hard drive too...

Are you kidding? The CM Stacker is one of the best cases you can buy...and Intel motherboards and RAM tend to be more expensive, especially since the RAM is run at very high frequencies and is DDR2. And a large hard drive is imperative for video editing work. You should be happy he didn't end up picking out two Raptors...

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: t3h l337 n3wb
That case is overkill... So expensive... The DVD burner is a ripoff too. There are plenty of good DVD burners out there for like $50, like the NEC 3520. Holy crap, you paid $275 for a motherboard?! You sure like to waste money... That's reflected in your RAM and hard drive too...

Are you kidding? The CM Stacker is one of the best cases you can buy...and Intel motherboards and RAM tend to be more expensive, especially since the RAM is run at very high frequencies and is DDR2. And a large hard drive is imperative for video editing work. You should be happy he didn't end up picking out two Raptors...

Still many points in the system where $$$ was wasted A64 has the best price/perf ratio right now, and I'm the fanboy of the best value!

 

[whozyodaddy]

Originally posted by: ariafrost
Still many points in the system where $$$ was wasted A64 has the best price/perf ratio right now, and I'm the fanboy of the best value!

Well... is the only point that I went intel?
I plan to have the CM Stacker last me forever... I literally don't want to buy another case... ever; well, at least for another 5 or 6 years. The DVD burner is SATA, I do alot of DVD burning (almost everyday) and it would be very useful. The motherboard is the best 955 mobo out right now, and it also includes wifi and a tv-tuner card.

 

[DruidAT]

that's a really expensive case. if you're lookin for that server-type look go check into raidmax and thermaltake fulltower cases, or some antecs... the P180 looks amazing but it's sold out just about everywhere. you have a pretty nice setup there but i think you might be spending a little too much money. im an AMD guy. games are everything