Review my college gaming rig...

[mpickle]

Hello all,

I recieved quite of bit of money from relatives/friends for graduating high school, and plan on building a PC for my college needs this fall. I have a few questions regarding Conroe or AMD X2. Here is my list of componets that I plan to use...

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811112099"]Lian Li PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail[/URL] $89.88

VIDEO CARD: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130279"]eVGA 512-P2-N570-AX Geforce 7900GTX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail[/URL] $474.99

POWER SUPPLY: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817151025"]SeaSonic S12-600 ATX12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240V UL, CE, CB, FCC - Retail[/URL] $159.99

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231071"]G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail[/URL] $173.99


HARD DRIVE:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136012"]Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM[/URL] $274.99

MONITOR:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824116375"]ViewSonic VX922 Black/Silver 19" 2ms LCD Monitor 270 cd/m2 650:1 0.294mm Pixel Pitch - Retail[/URL] $264.99

OPTICAL DRIVE:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106013"]LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache ATAPI/E-IDE 16X DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail[/URL] $37.99

SPEAKERS:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16836121122"]Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker - Retail[/URL] $91.99

Now, I'm not sure about what kind of processor I should get. IF I go with AMD, I'd probably go with AM2, and if I go with Intel, I'd probably wait for conroe. I've researched a lot about the upcoming conroe, and hear it's a better deal overall. I'm hoping to keep this rig under $2,000 including the monitor, which is probably possible. Just looking for a review of my parts, and making sure I pick out the right products for a top of the line gaming rig.

 

[imported_fx]

Just wait for conroe.. I think it's worth it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

If you want to keep it under 2000, I suggest you save with the Video Card. 7900GT is already good for today's games, and I don't get why you would spend on a 7900GTX (almost $200 premium) when you can sacrifice 10% performance and still game like mad.

For your monitor, I highly suggest the Viewsonic VP930b. While this is your gaming rig, and I game too, I know that image quality is important too, and that's why I decided against a SAmsung 930B and I got a Viewsonic VP191b (older brother of the VP930b).

Otherwise, I like your choices...

 

[Operandi]

Looks great. Just change the RAM to Crucial, Corsair, Muskin, Geil ect.

 

[SynthDude2001]

I agree...if you're building a new high-end gaming rig for your first semester of college this fall, you don't really need it for another month or two...definitely wait for Conroe in that case. All of your other parts sound nice, and I'm sure you've put a lot of thought into your needs already.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Looks great. Just change the RAM to Crucial, Corsair, Muskin, Geil ect.

Ram is fine, I suggest maybe the OCZ sticks that are highly rated by Anand. Otherwise, most ram companies use the same chips in the end. I just like OCZ because they have very nice support. 2-day fedex to me for everything and they let me do advance RMA. Plus I just IM the guy when I need anything. Even better is I can just drive down and drop my RAM off if I really wanted to get it the same day since their office is right across from the Fry's I go to =)

I have the same speakers, and PSU and those are both lovely. As for the optical drive, I do believe the NEC 3550/3540 is slightly better in terms of burn quality (I would read up at CDFreaks.com a little more)

 

[ajikan]

instead of those 2.1 speakers.. I'd recommend getting the Logitech X530 5.1 system for almost half that price. I have them myself, and comparing them to the Z5300s that one of my friends have.. the X530 is better for its price.

 

[DJCrunkMix]

Get a 20" Monitor... I made a mistake buying a 19" LCD, but it was 2 years ago so 20" monitors were like 800$. The thing is that 19" has got same resolution as 17" (1024x768). Get 20" (1600x1200) and it will justify your 7900GTX.

I just bought Lian Li PC-7B Plus II Case, believe me, you're gonna love it!!!. Its the best case I have ever owned.

PS - Dont buy the case from newegg, buy it from performance-pcs.com and you will get a clear window for free (DONT select it before you buy. They will charge you extra 10$. It will (or should) come as a stock panel). The case was at my door on 2nd day!!!

 

[Howard]

Unfortunately, the linking with Fusetalk is retarded.

The 7900GTX isn't worth the money. Go for the X1900XT (which is the best card for Oblivion except for the less bang-for-the-buck X1900XTX) which performs about on par with the 7900GTX, or the 7900GT which can be overclocked.

You don't need the S12-600. The S12-500 or even the S12-430 will be sufficient. Case-mod guarantees that the Seasonics they are carry are of the latest revision, so you might want to check them out. Go through Froogle or else you might not get the sale price.

The VX922 is the fastest LCD monitor currently available, but I think with a budget like that you'd be better off going with a larger monitor like the Viewsonic VX2025WM. It shouldn't exhibit any noticeable blur and uses an 8-bit panel - while the VX922 does not - which allows for better color reproduction.

If you listen to a lot of music, I'd go with better speakers.

 

[Mogadon]

I agree, larger monitor like the VX2025WM, I have one and love it.

You can save money on the HDD too if you wanted, the raptors nice but not necessary.

I can recommend the X530 5.1 someone else mentioned, might as well get 5.1 as opposed to 2.1.

Change up the video card like everyone else has said.

Rest of it looks great. I'd probably wait and see what Conroe ultimately does but then I already have a decent system and widespread availability may not be around for Conroe until next year.

 

[Twsmit]

If you plan on gaming like mad this summer go ahead with AM2, otherwise your wasting everyone's time pricing out a computer 2 months before conroe ships. Wait until august and get a conroe or cross your fingers and hope for a discounted Am2 system.