More Cash=Better Parts 4 Future Conroe System (Help Me Decide)

[mawsoccer]

Here is what I am looking at right now:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 - Zipzoomfly - $339.00
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 - Zipzoomfly - $153.99
eVGA e-Geforce 7600 GT KO 256MB - Zipzoomfly - $139.99 (After Rebates)
LITE-ON SHM-165H6S - Zipzoomfly - $40.99
Enermax CS-5271BFS-B Case - Newegg - $51.99 (Includes Shipping)
OCZ OCZ520ADJSLI PowerStream 520W - Zipzoomfly - $104.99 (After Rebate)
OCZ DDR2 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400 Platinum XTC Edition - Frys - $139.99 (After Rebate)
Tuniq Tower 120 - Frozencpu - $49.99
Artic Silver 5 - Newegg - $5.99
Total $961.92

I could also go with the Conroe E6400 for $901.92.

Also, I hope to OC either Conroe maybe 1 to 1.2 ghz.

Please tell me if you think there are any problems with my setup.

My budget has grown to $1,150 max. I would like to spend the least possible without sacrificing any performance or potential OCing if at all possible.

What should I spend the extra $$$ on? I have a list of things I think would increase performance without raising the cost too much. Here they are:

eVGA 256-P2-N584-AR Geforce 7900GT KO 256MB - Newegg - $224.99 (After Rebates)
OCZ OCZ700GXSSLI GamerXStream 700W - Zipzoomfly - $139.00 (After Rebates)
Corsair 2GB DDR2-800 XMS2-6400 Xtreme (2x1GB) - Zipzoomfly - $177.00 (After Rebates)

With these items the new total comes to $1,085.93 with the E6600 or 1,025.93 with the E6400.

I have also picked out a bunch of cases that I like and could get now that I have some extra $$$. Please tell me which one would offer the best cooling solution for the best price or which one you think is the best. Here they are:

Antec Performance I P180 Silver - Newegg - $135 (After Rebate & Shipping)
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW - Newegg - $51.99 (After Rebate & Shipping)
Antec SOLO - Zipzoomfly - $93
COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN1-GP - Newegg - $60 (After Rebate & Shipping)
COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN1 - Newegg - $60 (After Rebate & Shipping)
Thermaltake SOPRANO VB1000BWS - Newegg - $80 (After Rebate & Shipping)
ENERMAX ECA3052BL - Newegg - $85 (After Shipping)
Lian Li PC-61 USB Black - Newegg - $115 (After Shipping)
AeroCool ExtremEngine 3T Black or Silver - Newegg - $120 (After Shipping)
COOLER MASTER CM Stacker STC-T01-UW - Zipzoomfly - $120 (After Rebate & Shipping)
SunbeamTech IC-TR-B Transformer - Zipzoomfly - $81 (After Shipping)

Right now I am kinda leaning toward the ENERMAX ECA3052BL because of the big side fan, price, and the fact that it has no rebates.

Please let me know if there is anything you would swap out or anything I am missing.


I am in no immediate hurry, so hopefully some prices will go down between now and the time I will buy. (Maybe around the holdiays at the latest.)

As far as the graphics card goes, I really only play a few EA games and GTA San Andreas so I really shouldn't need the best card out there.

Please PM me if you have AIM, it is much easier to have discussions on a messenger than a forum.

 

[acegazda]

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 - Zipzoomfly - $285
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 - Zipzoomfly - $153.99
XFX 7900gt -newegg- $230 AR
nec 3550 - Zipzoomfly - $40.99
Lian Li pc7b plus II - Newegg - $110 (Includes Shipping)
Enhance 5150gh -ewiz- $80
OCZ DDR2 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400 Platinum XTC Edition - Frys - $139.99 (After Rebate) post this in hot deals!
AC freezer 7 pro - provantage - $21
WD 250gb hdd -newegg- $70 AR

Fixed... lemme add it up...

total~$1130

Definetly stick with the e6400 if you're ocing... the multi is stuck @ 8 though...
don't get an overclocked version of the 7900gt b/c it is more likely to have a problem. OC it yourself
the nec performs better than the liteon
the enhance I suggested has superior value to any 500w psu out there. The ocz is good, just overpriced.
The AC freezer 7 pro is a comparable hs for about $25 less!
You can't beat Lian Li for qaulity and cooling... 2x 120mm fans

 

[mawsoccer]

The ram doesnt have that rebate on it anymore but I imagine it probably will sometime in the near future.

 

[acegazda]

what monitor are you planning on?

 

[Cali]

The ENERMAX ECA3052BL looks like a great choice. The fan looks like it will keep everything nice and cool. The only thing that i dont like about it is, there is no side panel. Not everyone likes to see the inside though =)

 

[diser]

Hard Drives?

 

[sweetrugger]

Have you thought about tax/shipping in your estimates? I see many of those have free shipping, but just a suggestion.

 

[mawsoccer]

Is there tax on items purchased online? (I don't order online very often and dont remember.)

I already have a moniter and a hard drive.

 

[mawsoccer]

Would a large fan like that on the side bring in too much dust?

 

[MonkeyFaces]

Originally posted by: mawsoccer
Is there tax on items purchased online? (I don't order online very often and dont remember.)

I already have a moniter and a hard drive.

If you don't live in California, then you won't likely be charged tax because many of the popular e-tailers are located in California, eg. zipzoomfly, newegg, buy,m-wave,microcenter, and ewiz.
If you have a decent cpu right now (a64 2.4ghz+, p4 3.2ghz+), then you really don't need a conroe to power a 7600gt. I think the afforementioned cpus would even be capable of running an x1900xtx at its full capabilities.

 

[Cali]

Originally posted by: MonkeyFaces

Originally posted by: mawsoccer
Is there tax on items purchased online? (I don't order online very often and dont remember.)

I already have a moniter and a hard drive.

If you don't live in California, then you won't likely be charged tax because many of the popular e-tailers are located in California, eg. zipzoomfly, newegg, buy,m-wave,microcenter, and ewiz.
If you have a decent cpu right now (a64 2.4ghz+, p4 3.2ghz+), then you really don't need a conroe to power a 7600gt. I think the afforementioned cpus would even be capable of running an x1900xtx at its full capabilities.

If you live in Cali then you will get TAXED

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

My suggestion to add to the mix is to get the P180 case...I think there is a deal somewhere for $99 or something like that. It's the best and quietest case I've ever owned by a long shot. Cabling is a bit complex because of the size, but once it's all in there's nothing better. I would add to that a fan sunbeam rheobus fan controller for $12 from Xoxide.com. It's the best controller I've found by far. In my system I can tweak the cooling down to a perfect temp and make the system almost silent...with 7 fans.

that's my input.

 

[MonkeyFaces]

Originally posted by: Cali

Originally posted by: MonkeyFaces

Originally posted by: mawsoccer
Is there tax on items purchased online? (I don't order online very often and dont remember.)

I already have a moniter and a hard drive.

If you don't live in California, then you won't likely be charged tax because many of the popular e-tailers are located in California, eg. zipzoomfly, newegg, buy,m-wave,microcenter, and ewiz.
If you have a decent cpu right now (a64 2.4ghz+, p4 3.2ghz+), then you really don't need a conroe to power a 7600gt. I think the afforementioned cpus would even be capable of running an x1900xtx at its full capabilities.

If you live in Cali then you will get TAXED

I :heart: monarchcomputer.com and directron.com .

 

[mawsoccer]

Anyone have any recommendations on the case?

Are those upgrades on the graphics card, ram, and psu really needed for my setup?

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Originally posted by: MonkeyFaces

Originally posted by: mawsoccer
Is there tax on items purchased online? (I don't order online very often and dont remember.)

I already have a moniter and a hard drive.

If you don't live in California, then you won't likely be charged tax because many of the popular e-tailers are located in California, eg. zipzoomfly, newegg, buy,m-wave,microcenter, and ewiz.
If you have a decent cpu right now (a64 2.4ghz+, p4 3.2ghz+), then you really don't need a conroe to power a 7600gt. I think the afforementioned cpus would even be capable of running an x1900xtx at its full capabilities.

True. The 7600GT is going to hit the wall way before Conroe and a lot of gaming potential will be wasted. Try to shave money off something else and get a top-end video card - you'll see much more of an impact from that. Or just get a cheap PCI/old video card to warm the bench until G80 is released.

 

[Kwint Sommer]

Let me say that I love my OCZ PowerStream PSU and that you will be very happy with yours. I also had a long thread about which RAM was best and it was decided that the RAM you choose was the definitive winner as it can handle a FSB of 500mhz. Just about everything else looks good except I have to ask if you would consider the P5W DH Deluxe as it is the best overclocking mother board but it does cost close to $250 so I can understand not picking it when you're already past $1000.
I would go with the E6600 as 9x is the only way you will see 4GHz even with subzero temps. and 4MB Cache made a difference in some tests and it will become a huge advantage in the next few years.

 

[acegazda]

Since you don't game a lot, you won't be thinking about dx10 cards, so a 7900gt would last you at least 4 years. It's a worthwhile investment IMO, I don't think anyone changed your RAM option... and the PSU change I suggested will save you $20 in unessesary cash.

 

[mawsoccer]

Which ram is the best the corsair or the OCZ platinum?

Getting a DX10 card wont be required for vista?

Ace, you definatly think getting the 7900GT is much better than the 7600GT?

 

[tedsfrozenhead]

the 7900gt is much better than the 7600gt. it's only $100 more, but most 7900gts, especially evga ones, are good overclockers and regularly reach 7900gtx speeds with aftermarket cooling (eg. the zalman vf900 for $30). make sure you get one of the cards that don't have the 7900gt overheating ram problems. evga has fixed the problem and the N584 and N583 have both been fixed. if you go with a non-stock fan, get the N583 because the N584 just has a slightly better fan and the two are otherwise identical. the N583 also has a $30 rebate on newegg right now.

 

[mawsoccer]

Will I need a NB cooler if I oc conroe to like 3.5 or 3.6?

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: mawsoccer
Will I need a NB cooler if I oc conroe to like 3.5 or 3.6?

An aftermarket cooler is only necessary if you up the voltages. That's where the heats starts becoming a problem

 

[mawsoccer]

Would the Thermaltake Armor Jr. Work for me? I only need 2 HD and 2 Optical Drives Max, thats 4.

Is everything else on the jr. the same as the regular? besides drive bays and size?

I wouldn't be able to use that 25cm fan door on the jr. would I?

Well, actually I dont know if I like the Armor Jr.

What can anyone else recommend that is a quality, heat dissipating, cool looking case for $115 (Shipping Included) or less.

How about these:

AeroCool ExtremEngine 3T Black or Silver - http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=141900"]ZZF[/URL] - $105
SunbeamTech IC-TR-B Transformer - http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=145204"]ZZF[/URL] - $81
NZXT Apollo BLUE NP Blue - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146026"]NE[/URL] - $85
Aerocool AeroEngine II Mid Tower - http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=372095"]ZZF[/URL] - $75
Thermaltake SViking VA4000BWS - http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=371213"]ZZF[/URL] - $80