Plan For My New Computer

[cragfin]

Case - Cooler Master 690 No P/S

Graphics Card - EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Memory - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail (I heard that the DS3L Mobo is not compatible with the Q9450 out of the box & needs to be flashed with the latest bios, is there any way to do this with out buying an additional cheap cpu to flash it with?).

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS Hard Drive - 500GB - 7200rpm - Serial ATA/300 - Serial ATA - Internal (Note I Plan to add a 74 GB Raptor that I already have).

Power supply - StealthXStream Power Supply 600W

CPU - Intel Quad Core Q9450 (plan to overclock to 3.0 GHz).

DVD Drive - LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06

Card Reader - Rosewill RCR-103 USB 2.0 Card Reader

Any suggestions or observations or notes or warnings are welcomed

I got a couple of days before I buy anything so I might change my mind, but so far this is what I am set on.

 

[MarcVenice]

Buy a q6600 for 200$ instead, OC it to 3.2ghz and you'll have the same performance as a q9450 at 3.0ghz. I'd get a different PSU, like corsair 550vx, 520hx. Check out the CM 590, I think it's an improved 690. I think the 9800gtx is a waste of money, get a 200$ 8800gts 512mb instead. Unless you plan on stepping it up in 3 months to the new high-end from nvidia ? Build looks solid overall though. Perhaps buy a samsung f1 750gb for 120$ ?

 

[Roguestar]

129 views and only 1 reply? Here's my thoughts as consolation:

You didn't fill in the sticky so we don't know what to say. If this is for basic email and office stuff, you're spending way more than you should. If it is for gaming, then it's nearly spot-on. The sticky is there to help us help you. Marc is right with the GPU and CPU recommendations. I'd also get a different PSU too.

 

[cragfin]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
129 views and only 1 reply? Here's my thoughts as consolation:

You didn't fill in the sticky so we don't know what to say. If this is for basic email and office stuff, you're spending way more than you should. If it is for gaming, then it's nearly spot-on. The sticky is there to help us help you. Marc is right with the GPU and CPU recommendations. I'd also get a different PSU too.

Both

 

[chinaman1472]

Marc pretty much said everything that needed to be said.

 

[cragfin]

Revised plan for my new computer:

Case - BlackCOOLER MASTERNo Power Supply ATX Mid TowerCenturion 590SECC / ABSRC-590-KKN1-GP

Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

DVD-RW - LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 - OEM

Card Reader - Rosewill RCR-103 USB 2.0 Card Reader - Retail

RAM - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail

GPU - MSI NX8800GTS 512M OC GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail (I plan in the future to upgrade to the 9900 if it is as good as it is rumored to be).

CPU - Intel Quad Core Q9450 (it seems to run cooler & will last longer)

Hard Drive - Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 7200RPM SATA 32MB Cache 3.5 inch (Is there a speed difference with F1?)

Power Supply - 550W VX Series ATX PS/2 Power Supply

Any suggestions or observations or notes or warnings are welcomed

I got a couple of days before I buy anything so I might change my mind, but so far this is what I am set on.

Also if anyone can answer this question:

I heard that the DS3L Mobo is not compatible with the Q9450 out of the box & needs to be flashed with the latest bios, is there any way to do this with out buying an additional cheap cpu to flash it with?

 

[chinaman1472]

The Q9450 will run cooler, but I doubt it's longevity will be significantly longer than a Q6600, at least, not ~$150 worth; unless you plan on doing a lot of intensive CPU tasks. If you're going to be gaming, an E8400 would have the slight edge in terms of price to performance. Once the Q6600 becomes "obsolete," the Q9450 will probably be right next to it. On top of that, you won't run into initial compatibility problems for sure and you can save a few bucks and get DDR2-667 or DDR2-800 memory instead of DDR2-1000.

TechReport's latest round up of hard drives testing, but they use the 1TB version of the Barracuda 7200.11 rather than the 500GB (and I can't imagine the difference being that large between the two). The Spinpoint T and Barracuda 7200.11 go back and forth, but you might as well pay the extra $20-30 and pick up the Spinpoint F1 or the Western Digital 640GB. http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/14583/3

 

[Roguestar]

FYI I wasn't joking about the sticky.

 

[cragfin]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
FYI I wasn't joking about the sticky.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Gaming & Office Work

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

While I want a pc at a reasonable price if I get stuck on something I can add more money to it, as long as the total does not go over $1550.00, although any money left over will be added to my upgrade fund for future upgrades.

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.

Not A Fanboy

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Only a 74 GB SATA Raptor.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Some

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Intel Quad Core Q9450 to 3.0 GHz

8. WHEN do you plan to build it

Some time in May.

 

[chinaman1472]

If you're going to build it in May, you should ask around that time. Pricing may change, new products may be released, etc.