Need help narrowing down my choices

[tjgmarantz]

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

Gaming(rF, HL2, CS:S mostly). Encoding/decoding video. Media server capable of handling HD content(mkv etc...)

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

$1000

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

Canada

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.

Not a fanboy but I think I want to stick with the 8800, 9800 etc cards.

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

DVD drive, mouse, keyboard, wheel.

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

Yes, some have confused me more, some have helped... until the next one confused me again. Sweet.

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

I plan on running at default.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Within the next 24 hours to a month depending on feedback.

Big questions are the mobo and vid card. Should I go PCIe2.0? From looking at prices, mobo's that are 2.0 are quite up there. I picked the Q6600 because of the price/performance ratio. I don't need the best of the best, I need the best bang for the buck, well maybe a bit more.

So yeah, where have I hampered myself, what should I consider, gimme what you got guys and girls. I will be checking other online and B&M sources so pricing shown is not too too important, it's more to show what I was looking at. I'll be scouring ncix, tigerdirect, pccanada, oemexpress, microbytes and B&M stores when the time comes.

So far, I've come up with the following:

Memory
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/appl...pNo=3404049&CatId=3412
OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2x2048MB)

Hard Drive
http://oemexpress.com/Itemdesc...=HDDWDC%2DWD5000KS&eq=
500GB WDC

CPU
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/appl...pNo=2905631&CatId=2758
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor BX80562Q6600 - 2.40GHz, 8MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB, Kentsfield, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket 775, Processor with Fan

MOBO
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/appl...pNo=3038920&CatId=3355

VIDEO CARD
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/appl...pNo=3581357&CatId=1826
EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS Video Card - 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, Video Card

CASE/PS
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/appl...pNo=2448862&CatId=1846
Ultra Grid ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, Audio Ports and Ultra XVS-Series 700-Watt Power Supply

I appreciate any help that I could get.

Thanks!

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Blain

Linking parts without identifying them in the actual thread went out a year ago.

 

[tjgmarantz]

Sorry, I'll be fixing that in a sec... sorry

 

[Urtho]

Here are some ideas for you, you'll have to figure out exact links and products and get back to us if there's a conflict or question for your specific shopping site as well as striking from the list any components you'll be reusing (such as your DVD drive).

Standard baseline gaming build (fairly low end but still good on a budget)

Motherboard - Gigabyte DS3L $90
CPU - Intel E2180 $70
RAM - 2 GB DDR2-800 ~$40
Video - Nvidia 9600GT ~$120
Hardrive - WD 640 or F1 Spinpoint 750 ~$110
Sound - onboard $0
DVD drive - any brand $30
Case - personal choice $80
PSU - Corsair, Seasonic, PC P&C, OCZ 300W-500W $80

Total = $630

Changes for a high end build (bigger budget, higher resolution games):

CPU - Intel E8400 $190 or Intel E7200 $130
Video - Nvidia 8800GTS ~$200
RAM - 4GB DDR2-800 $80

Additional high end cost = ~ $170 - $250
Final Total = ~ $800 - $920

Keep in mind that most of these numbers are approximates based off of US pricing and that you'll still need an OS. Figure about $100 more for your flavor of Windows (I recommend Vista Home Premium 64-bit) which brings you in right around $1000, not including any shipping costs or reductions due to instant or mail in rebates.

 

[chinaman1472]

People will tell you to avoid no-name PSUs, though that PSU may be decent according to the specs.

Get a better motherboard. Gigabyte P35-DS3L or Abit IP35-E are popular choices for basic needs.

Western Digital 640GB or Samsung Spinpoint F1 750GB for the HD.

 

[Roguestar]

Any decent DDR2-800 will be good, I'd avoid memory branded "SLI-ready" (especially as this is marketing BS and means nothing) and get something cheaper but just as good.

 

[Blain]

But what if an item is also labeled... "Y2K Ready"?
Would you avoid that also?

 

[Roguestar]

I'm keeping all my 2-digit date systems as part of an elaborate scheme to declare my taxes at early 20th century-rates.

 

[DSF]

I'd look at a different PSU. The power supplies included with cases are generally of low quality (with a few exceptions.) On the other hand, for almost $200 it might be a quality unit. However, I wouldn't spend 1/5th of my budget on items that don't actually improve my gaming experience.

 

[tjgmarantz]

Thanks for the replies so far, very much appreciated. I'm glad to see I am not completely off base so far. Tweaking choice of mobo, HD, case/psu.

http://www.ncix.com/products/i...L&manufacture=GIGABYTE
Gigabyte P35-DS3L

So with this, it's not PCIe 2.0 right? So if I get the 8800GTS which is 2.0, it'll "dumb" itself down to 1.0? Is there a point to getting 2.0 now? Or are the prices too high to really justify it. I'm just getting out of AGP and they throw 2.0 at me, bastages!

 

[tjgmarantz]

Just about final, here are the parts and the last point that I would love some direction on, the motherboard selection.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 3.5IN 500GB SATA2 8.5MS 7200RPM 32MB Cache NCQ Hard Drive $81.98

Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL4-4-4-12 EPP Dual Channel Memory Kit $80.99 including $15 MIR

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor LGA775 Kentsfield 2.40GHZ 1066FSB 8MB Retail Box $228.98

EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800GTS 670MHZ 512MB 1.94GHZ DDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDTV Out Video Card $214.99 including $30 MIR

Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan $89.99 including $20 MIR

Coolermaster CM 690 Mid Tower Black ATX Case 5X5.25 5X3.5INT No PS Front USB Sound Firewire & eSATA $77.95

Total is $840 pre-rebates and $790 post-rebates.

Lastly, the part I am not sure about.

Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L ATX LGA775 P35 1333FSB 1PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 Sound GBLAN Motherboard $92.98

Gigabyte EP35-DS3R ATX LGA775 P35 1600OC FSB DDR2 1200OC 1PCI-E16 SATA RAID Sound GLAN Motherboard $138.69

RAID capability is not important at all. The DS3R has 2 more USB ports(6 is plenty in my case) and apart from that I do not see a difference. Am I missing something or is the DS3L really only "crippled" in this way(RAID and 2 fewer USB ports)?

With the DS3L, I am actually under what I was expecting. Let's say I wanted another 75 or 100 of goodness, what woudl you recommend?

Thanks for the input on all the system

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: tjgmarantz

Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL4-4-4-12 EPP Dual Channel Memory Kit $80.99 including $15 MIR

IMO 2.2v is way too high for memory rated at 6400. The standard is 1.8v, which means Patriot is slamming the voltage to the DIMMs in order to keep them stable at their rated speed.

A much better option would be the Corsair XMS2 DHX TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX. After rebate it's only a few bucks higher than the Patriot Extreme memory, and it's rated for 1.8v. :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[tjgmarantz]

Learn something new every day.

Problem is, I forget two things every day also.

Thanks!

 

[tjgmarantz]

Order placed:

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 3.5IN 500GB SATA2 8.5MS 7200RPM 32MB Cache Ncq Hard Drive
$79.88

Corsair XMS2 DHX TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX 4GB DDR2 2X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 CL 5-5-5-18 240PIN Memory Kit
$131.25 - $20.00 CAD Mail in Rebate

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor LGA775 Kentsfield 2.40GHZ 1066FSB 8MB Retail Box
$218.88

Corsair TX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan
$91.35

Coolermaster CM 690 Mid Tower Black ATX Case 5X5.25 5X3.5INT No PS Front USB Sound Firewire & eSATA
$70.20

Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L ATX LGA775 P35 1333FSB 1PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 Sound GBLAN Motherboard
$90.25

EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800GTS KO 678MHZ 512MB 1.94GHZ DDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDTV Out Video Card
$276.79 - $30.00 CAD Mail in Rebate

Thanks for the help along the way!