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Need some last minute suggestions

P

pacoweaz

Member
I'm putting this machine together for a friend. Most of it is set, but could use a few suggestions. Here are the main parts...

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe
PNY Geforce 8800GTS
XClio GreatPower 600w
2x OCZ S.O.E. (2x1Gb) DDR2 667
2x 320Gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
Sceptre x22wg-Gamer Black 22"

The suggestions I'm looking for are, mobo, PSU, and monitor. What is a good cheap motherboard that can handle 4Gb of ram and at least 4 Sata devices? This rig will NOT be overclocked at all. So need for anything fancy here.

I've been happy with the Xclio 450w I put in my dad's machine. But is there anything else that would be better for $100?

Any final suggestions for a different 22inch monitor? I need to stay in the $350 range on this and right now the Sceptre seems to have the best specs.
Thanks!
 
First of all, DO NOT get an xclio psu when you have $100. Your money would be well spent if you got an enhance 5150gh instead. The 5150gh has 35amps on 2 12v rails with 80% efficiancy and great build quality. I have the 400w version and love it. It's pretty quiet as well. I also have the foxconn 965p-AA557 MoBo and love it. No SLi, no frills really, but for $100 it's probably the best budget MoBo. If you have $150, get the gigabyte 965p-ds3. If you have $175, get the Asus p5b deluxe.
On the vid card: unless you are getting vista, don't get the 8800gts, there aren't even any drivers out yet. An x1950xt or something would be more than sufficiant.
For the monitor, that price range is tough. A few months ago I would have recommended the Dell 2007fpw, but alas, they are being shady now and shipping the monitor as a P-MVA and not the advertised S-IPS (the latter is vastly superior in all aspects) I do have a good recommendation though: Check out the LG 204WT. It's a 6 bit TN panel but uses some technology to achieve 16.7 colors (equal to 8 bit) and is great with gaming. High contrast and low response too. It's goes on sale now and then for $300.
 
Originally posted by: airs
E6400
GTX
(read JonnyGuru) Corsair HX520?
Dont skimp on the monitor.
Click to expand...

Oh right, you can get that cpu, the e6600 may be a little overkill, however on the psu: it is a very very good unit, but why pay more for what he doesn't need? That has 40amps on the 12v rails combined. Not even a 8800GTS will need that, maybe a 8800GTX. Again, there are currently no drivers for G80, so the cards will not perform to their full potential.
 
I thought nvidia just released RTM drivers. They still dont work with the 8800 series?

As for the powersupply, consider the warranty length. Corsair offers 5 years. The enhance is a great unit but doesn't it only carry a 30 or 90 day warranty?
 
It carries a 1 yr warrenty on the ENP series but a GREAT psu doesn't need a warrenty.😀 The only non-quality problems are handled by the distributer since enhance is an OEM.
 
CPU is big for this user, so I think the 6600 will be good for her. But is it really a ton better? The extra money might be able to bump her up to a 24 inch monitor that she'd like but can't afford right now. Also, I want to stick with the Nvidia line of cards because they are better with OpenGL and she needs that for her Maya work.

But I'll check out some of those other PSU's and that foxconn board.
 
Originally posted by: airs
I thought nvidia just released RTM drivers. They still dont work with the 8800 series?
Click to expand...

I went on Nvidia's site and they did release XP drivers today for the 8800 series.

 
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