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First time builder ...comments and suggestions welcome!

J

JMSpeed

Junior Member
Hi guys 🙂 I have been browsing anonymously for a while trying to get ideas for a build, but figured expressing my exact goals would help generate a system better tailored to my needs.

Budget is $1500 after taxes and shipping.

I have a Westinghouse 37w3 monitor that is 1920x1080 capable. It has VGA, DVI and HDMI inputs. Audio is setup through a 5.1 speaker receiver with digital, coaxial, and multichannel analog inputs. Therefore, part of the build hopefully caters towards the HTPC approach.

I share a wireless internet connection, and store lots of video and audio media. I prefer 'go' over 'show' with ALL components. It will have to network with other PC's in the apartment, each with wireless connections.

I mainly want to build this around racing simulations though, with potential for some fps and strategy games. Hopefully it can upconvert SD DVD's to 1080p and have future playback for BD and HD DVD's.

I have been reading up on the soon to be released dx10 and vista abilities and would like to take advantage of both in the future as long as racing simulations become more graphic intensive. I don't know if a physics card in the future will be necessary to process advanced simulations, but if they can noticably improve performance I would like to keep that option open.

The monitor, and possibly dvd-burner is already provided. I have never overclocked before, but wouldn't mind midly doing so as long as it is safe for the components. I have no intention of using the computer for benchmark testing.

Hopefully I covered everything. As of now, I have no base of components to start my build on. Maybe you guys can help 🙂

Cheers!
 
I'd go with this:
C2D e6400
Lian Li pc7b+2
enhance 5140gh
Asus p5b-e
g.skill ddr2-667 2x1gb
seagate 500gb 7200.10
EVGA 7950gx2 which you can "step up to a 8800gts for dx10 capability. They perform the same, and you'll pay nothing to upgrade.
logitech mx518
some keyboard
IDK if you need an addon sound card for digital output... ask yoyohowsdajello.
Do you already have speakers?

EDIT:All those components will come to ~$1425 shipped. Welcome to the forums!😀
 
A seperate sound card is high on my priority list. Wireless keyboard and mouse are also required ...though nothing 'top-end' is needed. Speakers are Klipsche Synergy series and already accounted for 🙂

Video card is important ...but to the extent where it doesn't interfere with the sound card slot and that it can play all the racing simulations (GTR2, rFactor, and Live for Speed S2) at full resolution and eye-candy. Most support triple buffering, so maybe that rules out SLI?

Thanks for the quick reply Ace!
 
SLi uses double buffering standard, but I believe you can set it to triple buffering. However, I'm not sure the westinghouse is fast enough to take advantage of triple buffering. In any case the 7950gx2 will be plenty fast, you won't even need the extra boost.
I'd get the xfi xtremusic. You can get it for like $90 shipped and there will be plenty of room even with the video card.
For the mouse: since first person shooters aren't a big priority for you, just get a logitech mx laser combo. It comes with an mx1000 mouse. It's like $60 or $70. That will put you just over $1500, so you could downgrade the case to a coolermaster centurion 531. That will knock off $50 and bring you back to $1500.
 
I think the X-fi Platinum has the front-end control box right? I think it could suit my needs some.

You don't think the gx2 is a bit too powerful for now? Maybe something lesser such as the 7800 series ...till new cards come out?
 
Originally posted by: acegazda
EVGA 7950gx2 which you can "step up to a 8800gts for dx10 capability. They perform the same, and you'll pay nothing to upgrade.
Click to expand...

seems that they mean there's some upgrade program with nVidia, but I haven't heard of it, is it just for the GX2s?
 
Originally posted by: pushVTEC
built the rig below for $1300 shipped. It is SICK fast without overclocking anything.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Care to get more specific with it?

I still have to include sound card and wireless kb/m.

Is there a reason to get anything other than the e6300 if I can overclock it to beyond stock e6600 speeds?
 
Originally posted by: JMSpeed
Originally posted by: pushVTEC
built the rig below for $1300 shipped. It is SICK fast without overclocking anything.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Care to get more specific with it?

I still have to include sound card and wireless kb/m.

Is there a reason to get anything other than the e6300 if I can overclock it to beyond stock e6600 speeds?
Click to expand...

Here's a thread on what you can expect to get out of a C2D without going crazy on watercooling etc. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=28&threadid=1947961
 
Originally posted by: JMSpeed
Originally posted by: pushVTEC
built the rig below for $1300 shipped. It is SICK fast without overclocking anything.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Care to get more specific with it?

I still have to include sound card and wireless kb/m.

Is there a reason to get anything other than the e6300 if I can overclock it to beyond stock e6600 speeds?
Click to expand...

Because with the e6600 you can O\C to over 3 ghz relatively easily. I was relatively stingy when it came to spending, and I found (with the help of anandtech board members) that the e6600 is the best bang for the buck. I didn't get a sound card because I figured the onboard sound is good enough for my purposes (music, gaming, youtube, etc) If I were to get serious into gaming I would have picked something up. Let me know what you want to know about it and I'd be happy to share.
 
Originally posted by: JMSpeed
First time builder ...comments and suggestions welcome!

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Before you order a single component, read other members threads asking for help fixing their "new builds".
Learning from others mistakes can save you hundreds of dollars. :laugh:

 
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