Rate my build

[tigersty1e]

UPDATE: I'm sratching the new build and just building on the computer in my sig. These are the things I'm getting and just need some ram.

SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$167.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16814102067


CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139002
$169.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16817139002






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Pioneer 18X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model DVR-212DBK - OEM
$33.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16827129009


Maxtor DiamondMax 21 STM3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16822144450

SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$167.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16814102067

CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail
$124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16817139001


G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
$88.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16813128057


GIGABYTE GA-P35-S3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16813128057


Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4400 - Retail
$125.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16819115014


Subtotal: $741.93


I plan on OCing the FSB to 400FSB on air with a CNPS heatsink fan. We're heading towards winter and if it's not enough, I'll buy a more expensive cooler.

Is 400 fsb even doable with this processor and motherboard?

Can I cut costs on the motherboard with a cheaper one? Any other ways to cut costs?

I game on 1680 x 1050.

Thoughts?

 

[LightningRider]

Why are you buying IDE hard drives and optical drives? Go with SATA drives. Much easier to manage the cables and faster transfer rates. I wouldn't skimp too much on the motherboard.

You could cut costs by getting a X1950XT at around $150 and upgrading later this year when prices drop on the 8 series when/if the 9 series comes out. Or you could also get the 320MB GTS and save a bit, depending on which resolution you play at.

 

[tigersty1e]

Originally posted by: LightningRider
Why are you buying IDE hard drives and optical drives? Go with SATA drives. Much easier to manage the cables and faster transfer rates. I wouldn't skimp too much on the motherboard.

You could cut costs by getting a X1950XT at around $150 and upgrading later this year when prices drop on the 8 series when/if the 9 series comes out. Or you could also get the 320MB GTS and save a bit, depending on which resolution you play at.

Fixed. I got Sata drives.

Will the PSU be able to handle the new generation of cards when they come out?

 

[LightningRider]

Probably, I read an article a while back that said how for the next generation ATI and NVIDIA were going to focus more on reducing power requirements while still improving the performance as it was something they neglected in the more recent cards. I don't know if that's still true or not but if you're concerned, you might wanna go a little higher like 600-700W. If you get the X1950XT you could use the saved money to get a better PSU, or more RAM. You won't get the same performance as you will out of an 8800 if you go this route, but you will save money and it will allow you to put that into other parts of your system. If you think you will have more money later this year to put into your computer for a video card then I would do that, and that is actually what I'm doing - if my card can't handle the next gen games how I want it to then I'll sell this and get the 9800GTX.

 

[tigersty1e]

What would be a good PSU that is the best future proofed?


The thing about PSU is that I have a 500W PSU that is really old. The power configuration is off. I bought it and thought that it would be a good future proofed PSU because 500w is a lot of juice.

So what I'm saying is, I could get an 800w PSU but in 1-2 years the configuration required to power the computer might be way different than today even thought 800W will be plenty to power the next gen computers.




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My other option (if you saw my other thread here http://forums.anandtech.com/me...2083827&enterthread=y)



is to get a PSU and the x1950XT PCIE and put this into my current rig. Then when the next gen of cards come out get the next gen or the 8800 (if the price is right) and transfer my PSU and possibly the CPU into the new build.

 

[LightningRider]

Hmm I just noticed your current rig. I don't think you need to upgrade your processor and motherboard. I don't think it would be enough of an upgrade. You can still OC that E6300 further. Another Gig of Ram along with the better PSU and video card would be fine I think. Save you money till you decide to do a more complete system overhaul with more money. Cause I think upgrading from what you got there won't be too worth it. I mean a new processor and memory won't see you much benefit if any I think.

 

[tigersty1e]

If you look at my sig, the only thing worth moving over is the CPU, RAM, and sound card.

I'm thinking of just building a whole new computer and having 2 computers to use because RAM is cheap and I can get the CPU for 125 and OC this badboy.

 

[CrimsonChaos]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
Maxtor DiamondMax 21 STM3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$99.99

Have you considered the Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 series or WD Caviar SE16 series? I have the 7200.10 and it's great, and both of these hard-drives seem to get better reviews than the Maxtors.

 

[tigersty1e]

Thanks for all your help guys.

But I'm re-evaluating my options and my processor is already good and my board is decent enough.

I'm just going to get the 1950XT, PSU, and get 2 gigs of ram.

This should hold me over for another year or 2.