Helping Building A Gaming PC for a Friend

[Maric]

Introduction:
Hey my friend is building his first ever gaming PC as a birthday present to himself. So he wanted to ask me for some help however I have not been in the loop in terms of hardware. I told to him once he was done shopping for his parts to give me his hardware list so I could post on here so I could get some input to help him out. Thank you in advance; I appreciate your time looking over his build.

The Usage Of The PC:
1. This PC will primary be use for gaming and as HTPC outlet to watch HD movies.

The Budget At Hand:
2. He plans on spending around $1,600 on this PC.

Residence:
3. He lives in the States.

Brand Loyalty:
4. I do not having any brand loyalty other than the best value for his money.

Recycling Old Parts
5. He has never had desktop so his has nothing to recycle.

Research:
6. He has done most of the research and I have a read a few threads on here with similar budgets. So I am been trying to steer him to best performing parts for his money

Over-clocking:
7. He is really excited about gaming on PC and I am sure he plans and trying to overclocl.

Ordering Date:
8. He wants to order everything on this Birthday which is August 1st.


The Shopping Cart:
Processor: $189.99
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor HH80562PH0568M - 2.40GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB OEM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...3933&Sku=CP2-DUO-Q6600

CPU Cooler: $49.99 ($10.00 Rebate)
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 CPU Cooler - Socket 775, 939, 940, AM2
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...=3273116&Sku=M333-3009

Motherboard: $189.99
Intel DX38BT Motherboard - FREE Copy of Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 PC Game, Intel X38, Socket 775, ATX, Audio, PCI Express 2.0, Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, USB 2.0, Firewire, eSATA, RAID - Retail
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=3444881&Sku=I69-2162

Memory: $100.99 ($50.00 Rebate)

2 x Patriot Dual Channel Viper 4096MB PC8500 DDR2 1066MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB) - Retail
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=3655524&Sku=P33-5074

Video Card: $199.99
2 x Visiontek Radeon HD 4850 Video Card - 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, CrossFireX Ready, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, HDMI Support, VGA - Retail
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...=3923757&Sku=V261-4850

Hard Drive: $69.99
Maxtor DiamondMax 21 500GB Hard Drive - 7200, 16MB, SATA-300, OEM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...=3323621&Sku=TSD-500M4

Optical Drive: $29.99
Lite-ON IHAS220-08 SuperAllwrite SATA 20x DVD Burner with Lightscribe (Retail)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=3970769&Sku=L12-1166

Case: $129.99
Ultra m998 ULT40069 Mid-Tower ATX Case - Aluminum. Clear Side, Front USB 2.0, FireWire, eSATA and Audio Ports - Retail
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...o=2765147&Sku=ULT40069

Power Supply: $99.99
Ultra LSP750 750-Watt Power Supply - ATX, SATA-Ready, SLI-Ready, 135mm Fan - Retail
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...3276567&Sku=ULT-LSP750

Operating System: $189.99
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit DSP OEM DVD with SP1
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...817&Sku=M17-7418%20SP1

Display: 0$
22 inch 1680x1050
Not included in budget

Total Price: $$1,651.64

After Rebate: $1,591.64

This is what he came up with so just let me know what you guys think.

 

[MarcVenice]

Why does he need 8gb ? Or are you only ordering 1 kit of 2x2gb ? It's cheaper on newegg btw. And if you are ordering 2 kits of 4gb, for 8gb total, I'd drop 1 kit, and spend that money somewhere else. The INTEL motherboard is nice, and will do just fine for crossfire, but afaik intel mobo's overclock worth shit. I'd get this mobo for example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813136045 It's one of the cheaper x38 mobo's but it's still pretty good.

I'd spend a little extra on the harddrive, like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136218

CASE and PSU, I'm not to sure about those. Since I'm going to suggest some more moneysavers, and spend the money on HD4870's in crossfire, I'd say get this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371009 I'm 100% sure it will run dual HD4870's and it's very high qaulity. As for the case, I suggest the antec 300 or perhaps the antec 900. Those provide some serious cooling power, which is needed for crossfired videocards. The antec 1200 is very nice too, but it's really expensive, especially compared to the antec 900 going for $80 after rebates.

Operating system, drop Ultimate, it has NOTHING, absolutely nothing he needs, that Vista Home Premium doesn't have, for $80 less.

Now, all this money saved, can be put towards 2 HD4870's in crossfire, or you can just pocket the money.

 

[DSF]

I agree with most of what Marc said, as usual.

There's no need for DDR2-1066 RAM with a Q6600. DDR2-800 will be all you need to push the chip pretty much to its limit in terms of overclocking.

I disagree a little bit about 4870s in Crossfire. On a 22" display I just don't think it's necessary. You'd be fine with a single 4870, or your dual 4850s in my opinion. Depends on whether your friend has to have the absolute best he can get in terms of graphics or not.

Marc linked you a great deal on a very nice power supply, but here's another choice that would have plenty of power for Crossfire and is even less expensive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...E16817139006&Tpk=750TX

I have to ask why your friend isn't the one making the post if it's his computer. Are you putting it together for him too?

 

[MarcVenice]

Like I said, he can pocket the money as well, instead of spending more on the videocards 😉

The 750tx is great to, another moneysaver, it ain't modular like the antec tpq though.

Oh, and for the love of god, buy your HD4850 somewhere else, even newegg.com has better deals, like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161235 with a pretty nice free game as well, that will look absolutely stunning with a HD4850, or even two in crossfire. As far as I know HIS is also one of the better board partners from ATI, Asus, and MSI are pretty good to.

 

[Maric]

Hey thanks for all the input. I forwarded him all the information and he is now going to order from new which I advised him to do so from the beginning. As for the RAM yeah he is only buying 4gb. He is also now going with PSU and Vista hoe that was recommended.

As for posting I guess he is somewhat reluctant since his writing is not that great.

 

[smoothvirus]

I'm skeptical of the motherboard choice if he will be overclocking. Intel motherboards are durable, very stable boards, but overclocking is not their thing. It is possible to overclock an Intel board but you'll have to jump through hoops to do it.