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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
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I haven't built a computer for myself in a very long time. I'm still using an old XP1800+ machine with a 9800 pro. Looking to build a decent mid-range system for moderate gaming and all-around use. Not looking to overclock at this time.

How does this look for starters?

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - 77.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144701

Crucial Technology 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 - 229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820148017

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - 115.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail - 220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115004

SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Video Card - Retail - 199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814102061

LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache ATAPI/E-IDE 16X DVD Burner - Retail - 30.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106013

Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply - Retail - 59.99 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129155

Dell 2007FPW - 339

Total ~ $1300

Still trying to decide on video card. I mostly just play WoW, but would like something decent enough to make modern games at least playable at the monitor's native resolution. I'm coming from a Samsung 955DF 19'', and the reason I haven't switched to LCD is because I don't want to sacrifice color reproduction/black level/contrast that I'm used to getting from a CRT. I want a monitor with good image quality that's still serviceable for gaming. (but nothing more expensive than the 2007FPW). The x1950pro looks to be a good card for my needs, think it will be sufficient? Benches seem to put it at the level of a x1900xt.

Open to suggestions on all components.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
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You didn't mention a power supply, do you already have one? If so, could you post the model #?
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
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I think that if you could find a good price on a 7900GT, it would be smart to get that over a 7600.
 
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ice91785

Senior member
Oct 22, 2006
651
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and if not you can always buy my Sapphire x1800xt ;) (see my for sale thread).

Make sure you do not skimp on the PSU....cheap brands = more prone to failure AND it takes out your motherboard (should it fail) about 50% of the time too. Also I would say another more than a 500W psu is really not needed unless you plan on going x-fire or SLI..
 
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ice91785

Senior member
Oct 22, 2006
651
0
0
Antec makes good PSUs :) The one in that case will suffice for what you are doing ;)

The only problem I see is that there is really very little airflow (aside from your ONE 120MM exhaust). I would probably look for a little better case with more airflow so you do not run too hot.
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
Hmm... yeah there is no front opening for airflow on that case, is there?

The case I'm using now is an Antec with a 420W PSU. It has a couple smaller rear exhaust fans and the front has a grille for airflow. I seem to remember it running me a little over $100. (many years ago)
 
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acegazda

Platinum Member
May 14, 2006
2,689
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Antec psus are just OK, I wouldn't classify them as GOOD. Antec's OEMs, channel well, and seasonic (for the neohe) all are of varying degree of Quality, actually listed from worst to best. The channel wells use a lot of Fujyyu capacitors and those are very prone to degredation when exposed to heat. The CWT tp II's use more panasonics and Fujyyu's on the secondary side, but still not of utmost quality. The neohe are seasonic built and use panasonic and teapo caps? If i'm not mistaken. This is probably the best quality, but there are some MoBo compatability issues here. Overall, for that system, I can make a few suggestions:
1. Enhance 5140gh- Especially if you decide to go with a high end video card, this $67 psu will power almost any single gfx rig you throw at it with excellent efficiancy and rock solid stability. It has 28 amps on the 12v rails and is probably the best price/performance psu out there.
2. Seasonic 330w- Could probably handle a 7900gt, but I would be weary of anything from ATi's x1900 series though it's 80%+ efficiancy certainly helps it out. Very good quality, but kind of expensive for a 330w psu. You do get what you pay for though, one of the quietest psus on the market using the smart fan controll only seasonic uses.
3. Fortron fsp400-gln- A great buy for $55 shipped, it has enough power (18amps on each 12v rail= 28 combined I think?) and though it has ~70% efficiancy, is one of the better built fortrons second only to the epsilon series. Good budget buy.

EDIT: I kind of forgot about the rest of your build, how much can you spend total? If your budget is something like $1500, you can get a 7900gto and the dell 2007fpw for a killer combo.
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
I've been using an Antec 420W with my current system for about five years now and haven't had any problems whatsoever with it. I'm not really planning on getting a massive vid card, just something middle of the line. Thanks for the PSU suggestions though.
 
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easytimes

Junior Member
Aug 14, 2006
17
0
0
Have you tried saving a shopping cart at Mwave? I just built my wife a computer a little less than that one for $953, with shipping from Mwave. I have a saved cart for myself with almost exactly that level of machine, except I went for the 6600 version of the Core 2 Duo CPU, simply for the 4 meg L2 cache. My cart is just south of $1150, INCLUDING a video card. I also used an Enermax Liberty 500 watt PSU... on both of these builds.

I have run three shopping carts at the various "good price" vendors and I thought ZZF was going to take it this time, but it wound up within $8 of Mwave, after all the shipping and sundries were tossed into the mix.

I have to tell you, that basic level of machine and hardware sure does work great. That one I built for my wife has been the sweetest running box I've ever owned. It's an E6400 with only a gig of Corsair RAM, same as your Crucial choice. I almost hate going in to work on my old P4 1.6 and Mac Powerbook G4, after fooling around with her machine. It's like stepping back in time.

If I didn't have ten grand worth of repairs to put into my house, and very quickly, I'd have my Conroe hot rod here and burnin''. Probably be after the first of the year before I can build mine. Hope yours goes as well as my wife's went.
Good luck,
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
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Hah, ace! CWT = Channel Well Technologies. CMW = Non-existant. CWT makes almost all the Antec supplies, except the NeoHE and Trio which are made by Seasonic. A Enhance ENP 400W would do well for your rig. If you wanted a little more power for future upgrades, the Masscool Nextherm 460W (newegg) can handle a single DX10 card (so that's sorta future proofing right :p)
 
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acegazda

Platinum Member
May 14, 2006
2,689
1
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... I feel like a fool...:eek: Stupid abbrevaitions, that's the last time I trust silent pc review! I swear they said something about CMW... w/e. Edited my post above. Good thing you came along dB and noticed that, I don't think easytimes was about to say anything...;)
 
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dBTelos

Golden Member
Apr 17, 2006
1,858
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Me either :D FYI, the older Antecs are made by HEC (before the Smart/True/Neopower lines).
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
I just checked out Mwave, and Newegg has their prices beat by about $30 for the setup I have above (with no vid card). Keep in mind that price I listed includes the Dell monitor as well.

As for the 7900GTO, I wasn't planning on going that high, but I don't really have a budget set in stone, just going for the best bang-for-the-buck I can get. Newegg appears to only be carrying one 7900GTO for $260, and it's out of stock (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130065). Same price at ZZF but also out of stock. Mwave has it, but its $320. I would go for that at $260, no idea where to get one at that price though as they seem to be all bought up.
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
And one more thing, do you think it's worth it to get a E6400 for $40 more? So many decisions.
 
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pushVTEC

Senior member
Aug 30, 2003
265
0
0
Hmm things that jump out at me:

mobo: ga965G-ds3 are you sure you want the G? G has onboard video and since you are getting a graphics card this isn't really necessary. Just get the ga965P-ds3 and save yourself $20 and put that toward the video card or a step up to the e6400. I would also suggest getting corsair xms2 2x1gig. Right now I believe there is a $50 mail in rebate on it and it puts the price at $240 after rebate (it is ddr2 800), I think it's worth the extra $10. I would also look at a seagate 320 gig 7200.10 only a few bucks more, more space and a faster drive.
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
Originally posted by: pushVTEC
get a 256 meg x1900xt you can get em for the $250 range.
Click to expand...

Do you know of anywhere that has them in stock for around that price? All the usual suspects are out of stock (and a bit higher), and I'm looking to buy within the next few days.

Also, I wanted the integrated video in case of an emergency or something, but the more I think about it, I realize it's probably not necessary.

The memory comes out to 270 (its only a 10 MIR), will DDR2 800 would be of any use if I'm not overclocking? I was under the impression that it didn't make a difference.
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
Just took a look here and it looks like the x1950pro is on the same level as the x1900xt for $60 less. The updated system in the OP is what I'm leaning towards now, I might end up pulling the trigger this afternoon or tomorrow unless I hear a compelling argument against one of the components. The only thing I'm mildly worried about is cooling with that case, but it looks like it has something that redirects airflow from the cpu out the back of the case, and I'm not going to be overclocking.
 
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akshayt

Banned
Feb 13, 2004
2,227
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0
Try to get a 1900XT, if too much price diff, then you may just get the 1950Pro or even 7900GTO
 
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pushVTEC

Senior member
Aug 30, 2003
265
0
0
Originally posted by: Vortex22
Originally posted by: pushVTEC
get a 256 meg x1900xt you can get em for the $250 range.
Click to expand...

Do you know of anywhere that has them in stock for around that price? All the usual suspects are out of stock (and a bit higher), and I'm looking to buy within the next few days.

Also, I wanted the integrated video in case of an emergency or something, but the more I think about it, I realize it's probably not necessary.

The memory comes out to 270 (its only a 10 MIR), will DDR2 800 would be of any use if I'm not overclocking? I was under the impression that it didn't make a difference.
Click to expand...

That is for the xms 2x1gig c4 revision (4-4-4-12 timings) you can get the regular version (5-5-5-12) for $240

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

as for the video card...hmm it looks like the sapphire card I was looking at is no longer carried\out of stock\discontinued and they only offer the 512 now. It seems to be the case for a lot of manufacturers :\
 
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Vortex22

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2000
4,976
1
81
I think I'm just gonna go with the x1950pro since I can't really find a 1900xt anywhere near the price.

Thanks a lot for all the help everyone.
 
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acegazda

Platinum Member
May 14, 2006
2,689
1
0
newegg has the asus version of the x1950 pro for $170 shipped and it has a better cooler. It is OOS, but get on their autonitfy if you can wait a little.
 
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