Looking to build my second PC

[gtsing]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming, Music, Movies, Internet.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Under $1100 CAD including shipping and taxes.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

Canada (DirectCanada.com)

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

I'm going Intel for processor and I do prefer ATI's cards but I'll go NVIDIA without a fuss.


5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Nope.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yep.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I'll probably leave it at stock speeds.


So, anyways, my first gaming build was in an Antec 900 and it was overclocked pretty high and the fans are pretty loud to keep my components cool and the noise is really starting to bother me, as well as the LED lighting because it's in my bedroom and I usually leave it on overnight to download or whatever. So for this build I still want it for gaming but I want it to be a lot quieter and have no LED's. Oh, and if it really matters, the genre I play most is RTS and FPS games. This is what I have so far...

Case: I don't know.

Power Supply: Corsair 520HX

Motherboard: Asus P5K-E/WIFI-AP (I do need the wireless)

CPU: Intel E8400

RAM: G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-800

GPU: Not really sure.

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB SATA2 8.5MS 7200RPM 16MB (Maybe WD is better?)

Optical Drive: Pioneer DVR-212D

So that comes to $777.07 with taxes and shipping so I roughly have $300 left to spend on a case and a video card which I need help choosing. Thanks a lot for any help.

 

[MarcVenice]

Could buy this: http://www.directcanada.com/pr...nufacture=COOLERMASTER leaving 250$ for a GPU. A 8800gt costs like 210-230$ I think. You could get a antec p182, and spend what's left on a 8800gt or perhaps a 9600gt OC. Could get a Coolermaster CM 690 as well, leaving 230$ for a 8800gt.

You COULD drop the 520hx, and get a antec sonata III instead, for just 100$. Bet it cuts down the total price 100$ or more. The antec 900 isn't bad if you leave the fans on low. I'd sell it for sure, depending on the condition it should be worth something.

 

[Davegod]

what's wrong with the rig in your sig? Stick a Noctua NH-U12P on the cpu will keep it quiet. Swap the front case fans for quiet ones without LEDs (probably only need 1 in the front and 1 of the case's stock fans at low speed on the back).

If you're really keen on quiet I'd suggest buying that HSF and going with quiet 120mm case fans anyway, so if you later decide to press ahead you wont have wasted anything. It will hurt your budget though, at CA$55 , however I see the OEM (no intel HSF) version of the E8400 is nearly CA$30 less anyway.

but anyway, if you press ahead perhaps this Sonata is probably the case you want, CA$100 including a 500w Antec PSU which I imagine should be ample (and quieter). That leaves about CA$200 which should just about allow a 8800GT.



edit: there's no way I spent half an hour looking that up!