Please advise me: C2D rig for friend

[MegaVovaN]

Hello fellow AT computer geeks!

My friend's father said that he has some discount on a dell computer that will come out to $1000 - and I am to custom build a PC that will be better than this Dell for gaming. Budget is $1000, possibly $1100, need everything but mouse/kb/monitor/speakers.

Number 1 thing I don't understand is DD2 memory and C2D.

What is the difference between cheap and expensive RAM? Can I pick up $125 set 2x1gb DDR2-800 or should I get something like this: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) for $180 (130 AR)?
Do I actually need to get DDR2-800, or I can get Super Talent DDR2-667 for $100?

Second thing is motherboard. I don't know much about them, and whether or not should I leave processor stock speed with stock cooling, or pick aftermarket cooler and OC?
I am asking these questions because myself I am on socket A AMD 3200+ (32bit) system.

Finally, I am lost about power supplies. He won't need much, just to power 8800gts, one HDD and one DVD drive, along with C2D processor.

As for other parts, here's what I picked [prices without shipping):
CASE: not picked yet, friend will choose $70-100 case without PSU

HDD: $85 320gb SATA Seagate 7200.10

DVD: $32 Sony/NEC SATA DVD burner

Video: $270 ($290-$20rebate) PNY 8800GTS 320mb

parts I am unsure about - below:

CPU: $218 C2D E6400

Motherboard: $114 MSI P6N SLI-FI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX

RAM: $165 G.SKILL 2GB DDR2-800

PSU: $100 ($110-$10 rebate) Enermax Liberty 500w

Total with these parts:
$984 ($1014-$30 rebates)

Please help me shave some stuff off this so I can fit a case in the $1000, or suggest modifications for other reasons 🙂

Thank you very much!!

 

[stogez]

Both, actually all three of your questions depend on whether you will be overclocking. If yes, then memory and mobo really matter and to an extent the psu. Otherwise you can get away with a decent mobo and ddr2 667 without any problems. You always need a good PSU though.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Argh, I am tearing apart, whether to OC or not.

pros:
-faster computer (is it really noticeable?)

cons:
-more expensive
-I have no OC experience
-will not be able to support friend with his OC problems (instability for example) - he moves in few months


I guess I should leave everything stock...

 

[tapir]

teach him how to overclock if he wants to learn? otherwise if the BIOS ever has to be reset he's wasted all that money on higher quality stuff. if he doesn't want to screw with it, just use the extra money to buy higher clocked stuff at default. but ddr2-800 doesn't have a real performance advantage until you have 1600fsb, you know?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: tapir
teach him how to overclock if he wants to learn? otherwise if the BIOS ever has to be reset he's wasted all that money on higher quality stuff. if he doesn't want to screw with it, just use the extra money to buy higher clocked stuff at default. but ddr2-800 doesn't have a real performance advantage until you have 1600fsb, you know?

He definitely does not want to screw with O/C, so I'll just buy factory higher clocked :thumbsup:

So what RAM should I get then? 2GB Super Talent 667 RAM off newegg for $100?

edit: gah...egg is down!

 

[stogez]

yeah that RAM should be fine. Get an E6300 and the Gigabyte DS3 or S3 unless you really want SLI (its useless IMHO)
That PSU should be fine and you can easily overclock this setup to about 3ghz without even worrying about stability. I would get a better cooler though because of the noise and better cooling.
You could wait another couple of weeks and pickup the E6300/6400 for cheaper or get the newer 6320 and 6420 for the current prices.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Thanks!
However, I am building right away, ordering on weekend most likely.

I will take Gigabyte DS3, E6300, and aftermarket cooler (already have arctic silver 5)

Let me add this all up and see what it costs...

edit: I think I'll take Sythe Ninja with 120mm fan as an aftermarket cooler 🙂

 

[stogez]

Thats a good hsf but just make sure your friend packs the pc nicely when he moves. That thing weighs a lot and will come off and bang around in the case if it moves too much.
You can always go with the S3 to save a little $$. Is your friend planning on getting Vista to take full advantage of that 8800?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Thanks!
However, I am building right away, ordering on weekend most likely.

I will take Gigabyte DS3, E6300, and aftermarket cooler (already have arctic silver 5)

Let me add this all up and see what it costs...

edit: I think I'll take Sythe Ninja with 120mm fan as an aftermarket cooler 🙂

If not overclocking, ditch the aftermarket cooler and spend the extra money on a E6400.
or just do a mild overclock on the E6300🙂 A stock E6300 is a waste of good silicon🙁

 

[MegaVovaN]

I'm gonna ask him which option he wants:
a) 6300 and mild OC
b) 6400 stock cooling

He will get Vista when Service Pack 1 for it comes out - at the moment, he will use XP Pro.

Thanks for DS3/S3 tip, but I like the solid capacitors thing 🙂 In his family, PCs are in service very long...in couple years he will give this PC to his lil brother, just like he gives him eMachines prebuilt comp now (that's already 3 or 4 yrs old and also was bought for around $1000).

EDIT: thanks for shipping tip too 🙂


EDIT2: He will go with 6300 and aftermarket cooler + O/C

Total (without case) comes to $984.51 before $10 and $20 MIRs
=$954.51
That leaves 46.49 for case, but he can go a bit over thousand for a nice one 🙂

edit3:
compiled the list, and spreadsheet:
Text

 

[mercanucaribe]

Buy PSU with a 120mm fan.

 

[Roguestar]

Good choices you've narrowed it down to. Stick with the super talent RAM. I think you're better off getting an E6400 and stock cooler than an E6300 and aftermarket cooler if you're only going to overclock a tiny bit (if at all), as the E6400 on stock cooling can be given a little overclock too.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Buy PSU with a 120mm fan.

PSU I chose, Enermax Liberty, has 120mm fan and modular cables 🙂

Text (click refresh on page if you been there before)

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Good choices you've narrowed it down to. Stick with the super talent RAM. I think you're better off getting an E6400 and stock cooler than an E6300 and aftermarket cooler if you're only going to overclock a tiny bit (if at all), as the E6400 on stock cooling can be given a little overclock too.

Eh, it's a tough choice (about CPU)... thanks for the input though!

edit: 6400 and stock cooler is cheaper 🙂

edit2: wow, after $5 coupon on HDD, stock cooler with 6400, after MIR, and with shipping it's $926!
He can easily pick up a good ~$100 case, not some cheap $20 thing!