Please take a gander at my proposed new budget gaming build, and let me know what you think!
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
This build will primarily be used for gaming (e.g. RPGs like Mass Effect/Fallout 3, FPS like CoD4 and Fry Cry 2, etc.), as well as every day web browsing and document editing. No graphics/video editing.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Approximately $1,200.
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.
No particular preference. Looking for the best bang for my buck as long as it's with reputable/reliable manufacturers.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Just the peripherals (mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc.). This thread is for my computer box.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, I've read through a bunch of similar threads over the last few weeks.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Yes, I intend to overclock the CPU and down the road possibly the GPU. I haven't overclocked before and am a novice, but no time like the present, right?
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
I plan to order the parts within the next week or two.
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $100
http://www.buy.com/retail/prod...egory=Comp&dcaid=15890
This case seems to be a decent compromise between cooling ability and silence, from what I've read on the reviews (e.g. with the case fans at only low/moderate). There really didn't seem to be many other cases in this price range that seemed to have the same appeal (e.g. the Antec P182 had looked interesting to me, but was too expensive at about $140).
Power Supply: Corsair Memory 750W TX750W ATX12V Power Supply - $78
http://www.provantage.com/cors...psu-750tx~7CSMC05E.htm
I'm thinking that I could probably make due with the 620W Corsair with my planned build, but this 750W PSU is about $50 cheaper than I can find the modular 620W supply for, so it seems to be a better deal. Additionally, I eventually may upgrade to a x2 GPU single card GPU like the 4870x2 or something comparable a year or so from now, so I figure having additional capacity in the PSU can't hurt. I'd be nice to go modular and have a cleaner case, but doesn't seem worth the cost at this point. What do you guys think?
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz - $195
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115037
Seems to be a good overclocker from all the threads I've read, and as I'm not performing any graphics/video editing, a quad core probably wouldn't provide me much in the way of benefit. I'm figuring I'll be significantly upgrading again 2-3 years from now, when Nehalem style chips will be the cheaper norm. I don't seem much point in waiting from those chips in Q4, as I'm sure those will cost an arm and a leg until Intel starts pumping less enthusiast-level chips to the masses later in 2009. I've been running an AMD 64 3200+ the last few years, so I'm figuring I'll be happy with this chip for at least the next 2 years, and it'll probably be that long before programs are commonly using more CPUs.
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail - $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186134
I would really like to push my CPU up to between 3.6 and 4.0 GHz. From reading the reviews, it seems like this cooler will reasonably get me there (assuming, of course, that my motherboard and CPU are cooperating). I looked at the more expensive S1823, but that generally seems to be recommended when a quad core is being used. Will this cooler let me OC that much with reasonable sound levels? Or is it really worth it to send another $20 for the S1283 and retention bracket or another such cooler with only a dual core CPU?
CPU Thermal Grease: ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186020
Motherboard: Okay, here's where I'm getting a bit confused. I found two DFI motherboards that look like they'll work, but their specs look the same and they're almost priced the same, and both have good ratings at newegg... not sure what the difference between these two are.
DFI LANPARTY DK P35-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813136043
--or--
DFI BloodIron P35-T2RL LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $115
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813136038
Memory: I am looking for 4GB (2x2GB) of DDR2 1000 or 1066 speed RAM. I was going to propose the G.Skill 4GB DDR2 1000 which has routinely been recommended in the threads here I've read, but I just noticed it has gone up in price from $85 to $150 in the last few days (one hell of a jump!!!). I have found 2 others that looking promising and close to the original intended cost... let me know what you think:
OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 - $90 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227289
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 - $96AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145197
Harddrive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM - $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136218
Videocard: Radeon HD 4870 512MB - $310
Are there any particular brands of these recommended yet? I know they're still flowing into stock slowly at vendors. I'll be buying one 24" 1900x1200 monitor soon, and may also get a second to dual monitor at that resolution. From what I've read, this card should let me play basically any game at that resolution with very high quality (excepting, of course, the dreaded Crysis). However, the benchmarks I've seen for FPS like CoD4 look good with this card at this resolution. I figure this card should last me a while, and I could always upgrade to a better single slot x2 GPU card (e.g. 4870x2) a year or so from now if needed. That seems to me to be a cheaper route than trying to go crossfire now... what do you guys think?
Operating System: Vista Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116488
From what I've seen looking at the various versions of Vista, there doesn't seem to be much incentive for Joe Blow moderate gamer to get Vista Ultimate. Please correct me if I'm wrong on that.
Optical Drive - SAMSUNG Black SH-S203B DVD Burner - OEM - $29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151153
Total Estimated System Cost: Approximately $1,155 before shipping/taxes
Thank you in advance for your advice!
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
This build will primarily be used for gaming (e.g. RPGs like Mass Effect/Fallout 3, FPS like CoD4 and Fry Cry 2, etc.), as well as every day web browsing and document editing. No graphics/video editing.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Approximately $1,200.
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.
No particular preference. Looking for the best bang for my buck as long as it's with reputable/reliable manufacturers.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Just the peripherals (mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc.). This thread is for my computer box.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, I've read through a bunch of similar threads over the last few weeks.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Yes, I intend to overclock the CPU and down the road possibly the GPU. I haven't overclocked before and am a novice, but no time like the present, right?
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
I plan to order the parts within the next week or two.
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $100
http://www.buy.com/retail/prod...egory=Comp&dcaid=15890
This case seems to be a decent compromise between cooling ability and silence, from what I've read on the reviews (e.g. with the case fans at only low/moderate). There really didn't seem to be many other cases in this price range that seemed to have the same appeal (e.g. the Antec P182 had looked interesting to me, but was too expensive at about $140).
Power Supply: Corsair Memory 750W TX750W ATX12V Power Supply - $78
http://www.provantage.com/cors...psu-750tx~7CSMC05E.htm
I'm thinking that I could probably make due with the 620W Corsair with my planned build, but this 750W PSU is about $50 cheaper than I can find the modular 620W supply for, so it seems to be a better deal. Additionally, I eventually may upgrade to a x2 GPU single card GPU like the 4870x2 or something comparable a year or so from now, so I figure having additional capacity in the PSU can't hurt. I'd be nice to go modular and have a cleaner case, but doesn't seem worth the cost at this point. What do you guys think?
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz - $195
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115037
Seems to be a good overclocker from all the threads I've read, and as I'm not performing any graphics/video editing, a quad core probably wouldn't provide me much in the way of benefit. I'm figuring I'll be significantly upgrading again 2-3 years from now, when Nehalem style chips will be the cheaper norm. I don't seem much point in waiting from those chips in Q4, as I'm sure those will cost an arm and a leg until Intel starts pumping less enthusiast-level chips to the masses later in 2009. I've been running an AMD 64 3200+ the last few years, so I'm figuring I'll be happy with this chip for at least the next 2 years, and it'll probably be that long before programs are commonly using more CPUs.
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail - $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186134
I would really like to push my CPU up to between 3.6 and 4.0 GHz. From reading the reviews, it seems like this cooler will reasonably get me there (assuming, of course, that my motherboard and CPU are cooperating). I looked at the more expensive S1823, but that generally seems to be recommended when a quad core is being used. Will this cooler let me OC that much with reasonable sound levels? Or is it really worth it to send another $20 for the S1283 and retention bracket or another such cooler with only a dual core CPU?
CPU Thermal Grease: ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186020
Motherboard: Okay, here's where I'm getting a bit confused. I found two DFI motherboards that look like they'll work, but their specs look the same and they're almost priced the same, and both have good ratings at newegg... not sure what the difference between these two are.
DFI LANPARTY DK P35-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813136043
--or--
DFI BloodIron P35-T2RL LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $115
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813136038
Memory: I am looking for 4GB (2x2GB) of DDR2 1000 or 1066 speed RAM. I was going to propose the G.Skill 4GB DDR2 1000 which has routinely been recommended in the threads here I've read, but I just noticed it has gone up in price from $85 to $150 in the last few days (one hell of a jump!!!). I have found 2 others that looking promising and close to the original intended cost... let me know what you think:
OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 - $90 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227289
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 - $96AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145197
Harddrive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM - $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136218
Videocard: Radeon HD 4870 512MB - $310
Are there any particular brands of these recommended yet? I know they're still flowing into stock slowly at vendors. I'll be buying one 24" 1900x1200 monitor soon, and may also get a second to dual monitor at that resolution. From what I've read, this card should let me play basically any game at that resolution with very high quality (excepting, of course, the dreaded Crysis). However, the benchmarks I've seen for FPS like CoD4 look good with this card at this resolution. I figure this card should last me a while, and I could always upgrade to a better single slot x2 GPU card (e.g. 4870x2) a year or so from now if needed. That seems to me to be a cheaper route than trying to go crossfire now... what do you guys think?
Operating System: Vista Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116488
From what I've seen looking at the various versions of Vista, there doesn't seem to be much incentive for Joe Blow moderate gamer to get Vista Ultimate. Please correct me if I'm wrong on that.
Optical Drive - SAMSUNG Black SH-S203B DVD Burner - OEM - $29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151153
Total Estimated System Cost: Approximately $1,155 before shipping/taxes
Thank you in advance for your advice!
