New Build Finally Purchased -- Dream Machine!

[theYipster]

Hi all,

After weeks of research and gathering opinions (and an oversees business trip,) I've finally purchased my new dream machine rig. Thanks to all who helped out with comments and advice along the way.

Here it is, for $2800:

Case: Silverstone TJ-09 w/o window (it'll be placed in a cabinet.)
MoBo: EVGA 680i Retail A1 (quad core support revision.)
Proc: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
Video: (2x) EVGA 8800 GTX for SLi
RAM: (2x) 2 GIG G.Skill PC-6400 5-5-5-15
HD: (2x) Western Digital SE16 500Gig
PSU: Silverstone 85ZF 850-Watt
CPU-Cooler: Tuniq Tower
DVD: Lite-On DVD+-Burner / Dual Layer / Lightscribe

Plus from my old system:

Soundcard: Creative Labs X-Fi Platinum
Speakers: Logitech 5500 5.1 THX
Mouse/Keyboard: Microsoft Laser Desktop 6000 v2
Internal HDs: (2x) 250 Gig SATA, 1 60 Gig PATA (for as long as it lasts, it's old..)
External HDs: 1 250Gig USB2, 1 300Gig USB2

Plus a Dell 2407 24' Widescreen purchased separately.

I've done a lot of research and thinking, and I'm pleased with what I've come up with. For 24 inches, I think the SLI is worth it, especially for Crysis, Alan Wake, Bioshock etc... plus FS-X when DX10 support comes around.

Thanks again,

Mark.

 

[Vogel515]

woah.

 

[Wags1974]

pics please!

 

[theYipster]

Haha. For sure, once the parts are here.

Mark.

 

[SilverBack]

Your spending that much on a system
why RAM: (2x) 2 GIG G.Skill PC-6400 5-5-5-15 ????

 

[theYipster]

It's rated well, very popular, and is cheaper than 4-4-4-15 or 4-4-4-12.

From reviews, it can be quite easily overclocked to 4-4-4 timings. After research, I'm pretty certain than anything above 800Mhz is overkill for RAM (for my needs and in regards to the other components.) So, the G.Skill is selected to save some money.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: SilverBack
Your spending that much on a system
why RAM: (2x) 2 GIG G.Skill PC-6400 5-5-5-15 ????

Just saw a review yesterday that showed a whopping 1-2% difference in FPS when going from DDR2-800 to DDR2-1050. Not worth it at all, but 4GB vs. 2GB is. Also, Gskill is one of the few kit-makers that offers higher-than-spec 2GB sticks in 4GB kits.

Nice rig though. I would've gone with a Raptor 150GB or two and maybe a 30" 2560x1600, but the 24" are a nice choice as well because of 1:1 1080p and multiple inputs.

 

[theYipster]

I should clarify that the G.Skill RAM I bought is (2x) 2x1 Gig, not two separate 2 gig sticks.

I looked at the G.Skill 4Gig sets and couldn't find PC-6400 at a similar price, and anything overspec is very expensive. While getting a 4-Gig set would allow me to easily upgrade to 8 down the road, I probably wouldn't do so until 8 Gigs of RAM is relatively cheap (i.e. for a very long time, if ever w/ this current spec.) By that time, I won't mind replacing the sticks.

As for raptors, I thought long and hard, but decided against it for now. I think they're still very expensive and I personally value space over speed. When the 2 250Gigs die out from my old system (they're nearly out of warranty as it is,) I'll look to find raptors to replace them with. Hopefully by that time 10,000 RPM drives will be had in bigger sizes.

Mark.