1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I currently play WOW, a little CS and I am interested in playing the soon to be released games. My computer also functions as my media center as I usually just download TV shows and watch DVDS on it. I do minor video and photo editing as well.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
I'm gonna be pretty flexable but I do not wish to spend more than 2,500 USD including monitor.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA
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.
None
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Just my 19" CRT as a secondary monitor and my mouse. I potentially might replace my aging keyboard as well.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, many.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I do plan on overclocking.
Here's what I got so far, I have some questions and am tore between some of the componets.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
Thermalright U120 (which thermal paste should I use?)
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 x 2 (4 gig ram total)
EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA
Pioneer 18X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA
Now, these are the componets I am undecided on.
Motherboard
GA-P35-DS3L
p5k
Gigabyte P35-DQ6
I like the DQ6, but will I see a significant performance increase for almost double the cost of the DS3L? Any other recomended motherboards?
Hard drive(s)
I thought about going for a raptor for my OS and games but I?m under the impression that the performance increase is at best marginal? How big of a percentage would a raptor be over say a Samsung or a Seagate? Advice appreciated.
Case.
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 RC-830-SSN2-GP Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case (almost 2.5x the cost of the other cases) I do want to overclock so case selection seems pretty important to me.
Which type of Fans and sizes and quanitity should I be looking at to keep my new toy runnning cool?
OS
Going Vista or staying XP has been one of my biggest decisions and I could use a further guidance on this. Most of the quarks seem to been worked out and I?m interested in trying out a new OS. I'm currently leaning towards VISTA 64.
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
Monitor
I've been using 2 CRTs as my display and I'm really ready to move on and get a nice LCD while keeping my nice 19" CRT as a secondary monitor. Here's where my research has led me in the direction of LCDs.
Soyo 24DYLMD6 Ya, it's big maybe too big for having a second monitor and I think I'd rather have a higher quality LCD.
NEC 20WMGX2 I hear awesome things about this monitor and it's awesomness seems to come at a high pricetag for only 20"
SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor The samsung seems like my best option but I'd love some input.
I?m not really familiar with LCDs or monitor technology. Would the 8800 GTX enable me to watch cable on my PC or do I have to buy a separate card for that? Remember, I watch movies/tv as well as play games/minor video and picture editing.
Thanks and sorry for the sloppy format. Let me know what ya think!
I currently play WOW, a little CS and I am interested in playing the soon to be released games. My computer also functions as my media center as I usually just download TV shows and watch DVDS on it. I do minor video and photo editing as well.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
I'm gonna be pretty flexable but I do not wish to spend more than 2,500 USD including monitor.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA
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.
None
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Just my 19" CRT as a secondary monitor and my mouse. I potentially might replace my aging keyboard as well.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, many.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I do plan on overclocking.
Here's what I got so far, I have some questions and am tore between some of the componets.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
Thermalright U120 (which thermal paste should I use?)
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 x 2 (4 gig ram total)
EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA
Pioneer 18X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA
Now, these are the componets I am undecided on.
Motherboard
GA-P35-DS3L
p5k
Gigabyte P35-DQ6
I like the DQ6, but will I see a significant performance increase for almost double the cost of the DS3L? Any other recomended motherboards?
Hard drive(s)
I thought about going for a raptor for my OS and games but I?m under the impression that the performance increase is at best marginal? How big of a percentage would a raptor be over say a Samsung or a Seagate? Advice appreciated.
Case.
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 RC-830-SSN2-GP Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case (almost 2.5x the cost of the other cases) I do want to overclock so case selection seems pretty important to me.
Which type of Fans and sizes and quanitity should I be looking at to keep my new toy runnning cool?
OS
Going Vista or staying XP has been one of my biggest decisions and I could use a further guidance on this. Most of the quarks seem to been worked out and I?m interested in trying out a new OS. I'm currently leaning towards VISTA 64.
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
Monitor
I've been using 2 CRTs as my display and I'm really ready to move on and get a nice LCD while keeping my nice 19" CRT as a secondary monitor. Here's where my research has led me in the direction of LCDs.
Soyo 24DYLMD6 Ya, it's big maybe too big for having a second monitor and I think I'd rather have a higher quality LCD.
NEC 20WMGX2 I hear awesome things about this monitor and it's awesomness seems to come at a high pricetag for only 20"
SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor The samsung seems like my best option but I'd love some input.
I?m not really familiar with LCDs or monitor technology. Would the 8800 GTX enable me to watch cable on my PC or do I have to buy a separate card for that? Remember, I watch movies/tv as well as play games/minor video and picture editing.
Thanks and sorry for the sloppy format. Let me know what ya think!
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