• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Need suggestions on new build please.

R

ruhig

Junior Member
Need suggestions/opinions of my possible new system.
Trying to be as close to $1k as possible.
Hoping to get it to at least 3.2-3.4 GHz/400-425 FSB. (1st time OCer)
I plan to mostly play CS:S and Warhammer Online (once it?s released) with some movie watching going on as well.
Anything I should change?
Having hard time deciding to get either 320 or 640mb VC and which case fans to replace the ones that are crapping out in my case.
Thanks for any help.

MOTHERBOARD: ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus (400 FSB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131153

CPU: E6420 (3.2 GHz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115016

CPU COOLER: Thermalright Ultima-90I (Equal or better than TT120)
http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_product_Ultima_90I.htm
Review: http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=137838

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 TWIN2X2048-6400C4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034

VIDEO CARD: EVGA 8800GTS 320MB or 640MB (Not sure if 320 extra is worth $100 more) I will be playing mainly CS and WAR, do I need the extra MB?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130071

SOUND CARD: SupremeFX Audio Card (Comes with MB) Read a lot of complaints about this "card". Currently I only have 2.1 speakers. Might buy a 5.1 later on. Should I look into a Creative Soundblaster?

HARDDRIVE: WD Caviar SE16 320GB 7200 16MB x 2 (Should I run these in a RAID0 or not)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

DVD BURNER: LITE-ON 20X 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106057

POWER SUPPLY: CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001

CASE FAN: Noctua NF-R8 80mm Fan (31 CFM) x 4 (2 Front Intake/1 Top/Rear Exhaust) Anything better I should look at that has good airflow and doesn't sound like a jet?
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5380/fan-267/Noctua_NF-R8_80mm_Fan_31_CFM.html

CASE: LIAN LI PC-65B (Already Own)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112040

MONITOR: SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" (Already Own)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001096
 
Get the 640MB. I regret getting the 320MB now because although I do run at 1280 x 1024, newer games need more memory for the larger textures. Hi-Resolution textures in LoTR Online cripples my system. Better to be safe than regret it later.
 
nope, raid doesn't really help online gaming. it might help program loads tho
i'd say get a DS3 mb and spend some more money on a sound card or raptor HDD
 
I disagree. RAID-0 may not offer that much of performance benefit (it's debatable,) but I find being able to treat two drives as a single volume to be a valuable and convenient feature. As long as you have your important data backed up on a separate non-raid or external hard disk, there is really no harm in enabling it. I've been running RAID-0 for years, and I've never had a problem. Hard drives do fail--it's unavoidable. Even if you don't RAID your disks, there is a good chance that one of your disks may fail within three to five years, so it's of great importance to have your data backed up.

Good luck with the build, and I suggest getting the 640MB card if you can fit it into your budget. It should last a good bit longer than the 320 model, but both will play current games very well.

Mark.
 
Make sure you look at this review before you make any decisions as to 320mb vs. 640mb.

Unless you are absolutely set on a modular PSU, the Etasis-built SILVERSTONE SST-ST56F is a better performing PSU than the Corsair. Both are top-notch PSU's, but with the Corsair you're paying $20 more for slightly decreased efficiency/power and ease of moduability.

Also, if you aren't going to take advantage of the rebate on the RAM, there are much better things to be had in the $160 price range.

 
Originally posted by: theYipster
I disagree. RAID-0 may not offer that much of performance benefit (it's debatable,) but I find being able to treat two drives as a single volume to be a valuable and convenient feature. As long as you have your important data backed up on a separate non-raid or external hard disk, there is really no harm in enabling it. I've been running RAID-0 for years, and I've never had a problem. Hard drives do fail--it's unavoidable. Even if you don't RAID your disks, there is a good chance that one of your disks may fail within three to five years, so it's of great importance to have your data backed up.

Good luck with the build, and I suggest getting the 640MB card if you can fit it into your budget. It should last a good bit longer than the 320 model, but both will play current games very well.

Mark.
Click to expand...

Indeed, but a RAID-0 will fail twice as often as a big single drive. And not many people actually act on their backup plans, despite the best of intentions 😉. For all the performance increase I don't think it is worth it, not for internet gaming (perhaps if he were editing multiple images at a time).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top