New system what do you think ?

[log1kq2]

Recently my old system finally gave up on me so here I am building a new one and asking your advice....here is what I have come up with:

All the prices are from zipzoomfly(no taxes and free shipping) except for the CPU which is from clubit.com because they guarantee the G0 stepping:

Price range is anywhere from 1800 to 2000

Case: 1 x Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003SWA Full Tower Case w/25cm Fan Side $196.99

PSU: 1 x PC POWER and COOLING Silencer 750 Quad (Black) S75QB Power Supply $179.90

HDs: 1 x WESTERN DIGITAL WD5000ABYS 500GB SATA 7200 RPM 16MB Hard Drive Bulk $124.50

2 x Western Digital WD2500YS 250GB 3.0 Gb/s 16 MB Cache 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive @ $73.50 (was thinking of a raid setup, not sure which one to choose though)


Mobo: 1 x EVGA nForce 680i SLI Socket 775 1333MHz DDR2-800 ATX Motherboard $217.99

Video: 2 x EVGA 640P2N825AR e-GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card @ $369.99

Heatsink: 1 x Zalman CNPS9500 AT CPU Cooler $52.99

Memory: TWIN2X2048-8500C5 2GB Kit DDR2-1066 XMS2-8500 Memory $165.00

CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping Kentsfield 2.40GHz 8MB L2 LGA 775 Processor OEM HH80562PH0568M SLACR $265.00


= $2089.35


I will be reusing my monitor for now (viewsonic A90f CRT), SB audigy2 zs (unless onboard sound is better) and Plextor DVD-R.

Now if there is anything I can change without reducing performance and can save me some money I am open to suggestions.

The PC will be using mostly for gaming and movie watching. I don't plan on overclocking.

Eventually I am going to get an LCD. I am thinking about the Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP. Is that a good monitor for gaming ?


Thanks in advance...

 

[stogez]

HDDs can be bought for cheaper. Check the Hot Deals section here or other deal sites.
You don't really need a 750w PSU but I guess it doesn't hurt.
Your processor will be 1066MHz bus while the mobo you picked is 1333 which you will not benefit from unless you plan to upgrade the processor soon.
Maybe go for cheaper RAM?
Also, when are you planning on getting the LCD? I'd go with a good high end card now and then get another for SLI once you have a monitor that can use them.

 

[oynaz]

Video: 2 x EVGA 640P2N825AR e-GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card @ $369.99

- A single 8800GTX would be cheaper, use less power, and be faster. As a bonus, you could get by with a much smaller PSU

No reason to get an expensive heatsink and expensive RAM if you do not plan on overclocking.

 

[MarcVenice]

Agreed, single 8800gtx, 2gb ddr2 800mhz crucial ballistix for 60$ AR, corsair 620hx. Swap the mobo, no need for SLI, so buy a p35 mobo, asus p5k or gigabyte ds3r for 135$. Just saved you 500$.

 

[log1kq2]

Case: 1 x Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003SWA Full Tower Case w/25cm Fan Side $196.99

PSU: 1 x PC POWER and COOLING Silencer 750 Quad (Black) S75QB Power Supply $179.90

HDs: 1 x WESTERN DIGITAL WD5000ABYS 500GB SATA 7200 RPM 16MB Hard Drive Bulk $124.50

2 x Western Digital WD2500YS 250GB 3.0 Gb/s 16 MB Cache 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive @ $73.50 (was thinking of a raid setup, not sure which one to choose though)


Mobo: ASUS P5K Intel Core 2 Duo (Desktop) Socket 775 1066 MHz PC2-6400 (DDR2-800) ATX Motherboard Retail $139.98

Video: 1 x EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card w/Dual-DVI, HDTV-Out Retail $529.99

Heatsink: 1 x Zalman CNPS9500 AT CPU Cooler $52.99

Memory: Crucial Technology Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804 2GB kit DDR2-800 PC2-6400 Memory $104.99($60 AR)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping Kentsfield 2.40GHz 8MB L2 LGA 775 Processor OEM HH80562PH0568M SLACR $265.00


= $1696.35


IF, and thats a BIG if I decide to overclock is the memory and mobo capable of doing a decent job? Lastly, its safe to assume that I will not have any performance problems once I get my Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP, right?

I just want to be able to play the new games coming out with comfortable settings, and make the system last more than 2 years


Thanks for the all the replies...you've all been very helpful

 

[MarcVenice]

Yes, the ram is rated for 800mhz, you would have to ramp up the FSB from the q6600 to 400 * it's at 266 stock * for the memory to run completely in sync with the CPU. And if you ramp it up past 400 = 3.6ghz + then the ram will also OC a little to 900-950mhz. But you can't cool a q6600 at 3.6ghz or higher without the very best air cooling or water so no need to worry about that. And really, you can swap the PSU for something less overkill, if you like big numbers, then at least go with this: http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA6200027 for 110$ AR. Or get this one: http://clubit.com/search.cfm?keyword=520hx&cat=all which is plenty of power for your rig.

Could swap the case for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811133021 same performance, lot less money. And you could swap the Heatsink for http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835154001 costs less and cools better ...

And whose to say, you're buying a monitor with quite a high resolution. With a 8800gtx I think it will be fine though, but new games like Crysis aren't out yet.

 

[log1kq2]

Well I only chose the Dell because I have read good things about. If there are other LCDs out there better for gaming and a better value I don't have a problem switching.

 

[MarcVenice]

It's not the monitor itself, playing at a resolution of 1920*1200 is simply a lot more demanding them when you game at 1024*768 or 1680*1050 for example. But a gtx should be able to handle it

 

[log1kq2]

I ordered the case....and I am going to order the CORSAIR HX CMPSU-620HX if I decide to go nuts down the road can it handle two EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Cards? Do you guys buy OEM CPUs? or pay a little more for Retail even if you don't use the HSF.

Are there any 1066MHz bus mobos that do SLI as well ? I only ask this because my original motherboard choice says it does both 1066/1333. (may be a dumb question but bare with me)

 

[MarcVenice]

Hmz, SLI isn't worth it. If you don't buy 2 8800's gtx's right now, then it's better to buy a whole new videocard by the time you need to upgrade, then to buy a second 8800gtx. That's because SLI doesn't scale to well, performance increase will be between 25-75%. Where as a whole new videocard will be as fast or faster then your dual 8800gtx's, consume less power, and give less hassle with drivers... And a 620hx 'should' be able to run 2 8800gtx's, but when you ask jonnygury * look up his site at jonnyguru.net * then he'll say he'd be more comfortable with a 700-750w unit powering sli-ed gtx's. Like PC&P, Silverstone, or perhaps the new corsair tx750. Up to you, want to spend 100$ extra on PSU capability you might never use?

Besides, the only SLI mobo's are mobo's with older chipsets, p35 does NOT support SLI, x38 might, since it does have 2x 16 pci-e slots, but nothing is gauranteed, and they cost 240$ to boot.

 

[log1kq2]

Ordered the following so far:

Case: Thermaltake 8003BWS

CPU: q6600 OEM

HSF: Tuniq Tower 120


thanks for all the help so far

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Agreed, single 8800gtx, 2gb ddr2 800mhz crucial ballistix for 60$ AR, corsair 620hx. Swap the mobo, no need for SLI, so buy a p35 mobo, asus p5k or gigabyte ds3r for 135$. Just saved you 500$.

Agreed!


Ausm

 

[log1kq2]

which raid setups would you guys recommend for the two 250gigs ?

 

[nineball9]

Are you going to buy an OS?

 

[log1kq2]

I have windows XP Pro...so for now I will use that

 

[log1kq2]

mini-bump

 

[MarcVenice]

If you don't even know what Raid setup to use, don't use raid at all. Using onboard raid controllers is a frigging nightmare anyways ...

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: log1kq2
Recently my old system finally gave up on me so here I am building a new one and asking your advice....here is what I have come up with:

All the prices are from zipzoomfly(no taxes and free shipping) except for the CPU which is from clubit.com because they guarantee the G0 stepping:

Price range is anywhere from 1800 to 2000

Case: 1 x Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003SWA Full Tower Case w/25cm Fan Side $196.99

PSU: 1 x PC POWER and COOLING Silencer 750 Quad (Black) S75QB Power Supply $179.90

HDs: 1 x WESTERN DIGITAL WD5000ABYS 500GB SATA 7200 RPM 16MB Hard Drive Bulk $124.50

2 x Western Digital WD2500YS 250GB 3.0 Gb/s 16 MB Cache 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive @ $73.50 (was thinking of a raid setup, not sure which one to choose though)


Mobo: 1 x EVGA nForce 680i SLI Socket 775 1333MHz DDR2-800 ATX Motherboard $217.99

Video: 2 x EVGA 640P2N825AR e-GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express Video Card @ $369.99

Heatsink: 1 x Zalman CNPS9500 AT CPU Cooler $52.99

Memory: TWIN2X2048-8500C5 2GB Kit DDR2-1066 XMS2-8500 Memory $165.00

CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping Kentsfield 2.40GHz 8MB L2 LGA 775 Processor OEM HH80562PH0568M SLACR $265.00


= $2089.35


I will be reusing my monitor for now (viewsonic A90f CRT), SB audigy2 zs (unless onboard sound is better) and Plextor DVD-R.

Now if there is anything I can change without reducing performance and can save me some money I am open to suggestions.

The PC will be using mostly for gaming and movie watching. I don't plan on overclocking.

Eventually I am going to get an LCD. I am thinking about the Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP. Is that a good monitor for gaming ?


Thanks in advance...

Looks good to me!

To all those who tell you to get a different PSU let me point out that PSU should be future proof for a good while and it`s a sure thing you won`t have issues with that PSU!!

What all these so called PSi GURU`s forget is that everytime you purchase a new computer you shouldn`t have to purchase a new PSU!

You get that nice PSU now you won`t be paying the same price in say 2 years if you have a purchase another PSU you have just wasted any gain in purchasing a PSU with less watts and amps now!!
Good Luck!!