Where would you spend an extra $75 in this rig?

[Gautama2]

Fancy keyboard?

EDIT: Spend it on a soundcard, a good one too.

 

[Slowlearner]

Nice system, and its under budget, and you want to spend a little. Check your HD space if its below 80GB, please buy a 40-80 GB hd for 45$ and clone/xcopy your main hd and keep it as backup. You can even spend another 30 for an ext hd enclosure.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Nice system, and its under budget, and you want to spend a little. Buy a 40-80 GB hd for 45$ set it up as your main drive and clone/xcopy to your 320gb hd and keep it as backup.

fixed

 

[Lateralusxxx]

Video: Gigabyte 7600GT Silent Pipe II ---$152.99

I have that card and it is nice. if you bought it 2 weeks ago you woulda got 20 bucks off... and the free civ4 was very nice too

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon

not saying get it for the psu ..sell the sp400

That's a nice option. Checking both of the cases out now and doing some comparisons with the others recommended

Originally posted by: Gautama2
Fancy keyboard?

EDIT: Spend it on a soundcard, a good one too.

A good idea! I'm not much of an audiophile, so I have always used onboard. I know that a card is far superior sound though. I may consider this. Thanks!

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Nice system, and its under budget, and you want to spend a little. Check your HD space if its below 80GB, please buy a 40-80 GB hd for 45$ and clone/xcopy your main hd and keep it as backup. You can even spend another 30 for an ext hd enclosure.

Another hdd is definitely in the running here!

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: Lateralusxxx
Video: Gigabyte 7600GT Silent Pipe II ---$152.99

I have that card and it is nice. if you bought it 2 weeks ago you woulda got 20 bucks off... and the free civ4 was very nice too

I know! LOL I just wasn't ready to pull the trigger yet on my order. I've still got 2 days...maybe the deal will come back!

 

[LW07]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142085
I would get this X1900XT 256mb instead.

 

[mcurphy]

Added a poll, I was getting so many good suggestions I couldn't choose! LOL Thank you all for the great ideas. I listed several of the choices in the poll that I like the most!

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: LW07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814142085
I would get this X1900XT 256mb instead.

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at and considered that card early in my build research, but I can't justify spending much more than $150 right now. I know it will blow my 7600GT out of the water, but I plan to upgrade to a DX10 card within the next 9-12 months, so this 7600GT will be a nice option for a cheap backup. Plus it's silent! lol

 

[LW07]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102022
This X1900GT for $154.99 plus shipping would be a better performer than the 7600GT.

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: LW07
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102022
This X1900GT for $154.99 plus shipping would be a better performer than the 7600GT.

Very nice card at a very nice price! Thanks for the suggestion. I will have to check some benchmarks, I might have to consider this! I would lose my plan of a "silent" pc, but a DX10 card will make some noise when I put it in anyhow.

Edit Nicest thing about this option is that I still have the $75 to play with, but will see a gain in performance.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: Gautama2
Fancy keyboard?

EDIT: Spend it on a soundcard, a good one too.

A good idea! I'm not much of an audiophile, so I have always used onboard. I know that a card is far superior sound though. I may consider this. Thanks!

Do you have a nice set of speakers / headphones to go with it?

 

[CurseTheSky]

Better Motherboard (ASUS P5B Deluxe for example), or better graphics card (7950GT, X1950Pro, etc.)

My next choice could be the Logitech G7.

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: Gautama2
Fancy keyboard?

EDIT: Spend it on a soundcard, a good one too.

A good idea! I'm not much of an audiophile, so I have always used onboard. I know that a card is far superior sound though. I may consider this. Thanks!

Do you have a nice set of speakers / headphones to go with it?

Unfortunately no Sound and sound quality has always taken a backseat to any upgrades I make on a PC. I have a set of 2.1 Altec Lansings 221 that I bought about 4 years ago. They seem to sound good with the onboard controller I currently have, lol. I must have bad ears, because I really can't tell the difference between good sound and bad sound. Or maybe I've just never heard good sound! I have a set of Sony MDR-V300 headphones I use with my laptop when traveling, but again...I think I picked these up really cheap 3 years ago.

I appologize! I feel bad saying blasphemy like this to the soundman! Especially another Wisconsonite. It must make you cringe to hear people say things like that.

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
Better Motherboard (ASUS P5B Deluxe for example), or better graphics card (7950GT, X1950Pro, etc.)

My next choice could be the Logitech G7.

Better mobo will pose no real advantage to my needs. All the bells and whistles aren't for me. I don't need Raid, Firewire...etc.... Unless there is something about that board that makes it very superior that I missed in my research. AFAIK the Biostar will compete nicely against it.

And I can't justify spending more than $150 on a card right now since I am upgrading to DX10 in less than a year. Any GeForce 7 series cards will handle what I need it to until then. I may, however, end up purchasing the X1900GT posted above since it is the same price and has much better performance.

The Logitech G7 is in the runnings

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[twitchee2]

I still voted for a P180, i think you need a good place to put everything and keep safe, other wise whats the point? like you said you will be upgrading later, gotta need the place for it. Just my opinion though.

 

[RussianSensation]

I'd get E6400 since it's easier to overclock with the 8 multiplier as it puts less pressure for overclocking the ram at 1:1.

In fact, I'd probably get cheaper ram and save $20 right there. Then I'd take $95 and get E6600 for $297. Consider that 4mb cache helps out in gaming - in the latest Anandtech Review E4300 at 3.38ghz still wasn't or barely outpeformed much slower clocked 2.93ghz core 2 duo due to lacking 4mb cache.

This ram in my thread here for $209 is more than enough of a performer:

675mhz @ 1000

I am sure there are even better values out there in Ram if you look around. But having E6600 will give you a multiplier of 9, even higher than E6400.

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: twitchee2
I still voted for a P180, i think you need a good place to put everything and keep safe, other wise whats the point? like you said you will be upgrading later, gotta need the place for it. Just my opinion though.

I did in fact decide to go with a new case! I chose the Solo over the P180 though. I was able to budget this in without using the additional $75. See my OP for details. I decided to spend the extra dough on a G7. Thanks for the help twicthee!

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
I'd get E6400 since it's easier to overclock with the 8 multiplier as it puts less pressure for overclocking the ram at 1:1.

In fact, I'd probably get cheaper ram and save $20 right there. Then I'd take $95 and get E6600 for $297. Consider that 4mb cache helps out in gaming - in the latest Anandtech Review E4300 at 3.38ghz still wasn't or barely outpeformed much slower clocked 2.93ghz core 2 duo due to lacking 4mb cache.

This ram in my thread here for $209 is more than enough of a performer:

675mhz @ 1000

I am sure there are even better values out there in Ram if you look around. But having E6600 will give you a multiplier of 9, even higher than E6400.

Edit
YES, that was it. That was the great suggestion I was looking for! TYVM. I am going to go for it despite pushing my budget over by $30.

I know there is a set of G Skill for $209 so that would fit my RAM needs. And you are right about the 4MB cache, I really wanted to budget this CPU in but couldn't find a way in my earlier attempts.

Thanks for the GREAT suggestion!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: Gautama2
Fancy keyboard?

EDIT: Spend it on a soundcard, a good one too.

A good idea! I'm not much of an audiophile, so I have always used onboard. I know that a card is far superior sound though. I may consider this. Thanks!

Do you have a nice set of speakers / headphones to go with it?

Unfortunately no Sound and sound quality has always taken a backseat to any upgrades I make on a PC. I have a set of 2.1 Altec Lansings 221 that I bought about 4 years ago. They seem to sound good with the onboard controller I currently have, lol. I must have bad ears, because I really can't tell the difference between good sound and bad sound. Or maybe I've just never heard good sound! I have a set of Sony MDR-V300 headphones I use with my laptop when traveling, but again...I think I picked these up really cheap 3 years ago.

I appologize! I feel bad saying blasphemy like this to the soundman! Especially another Wisconsonite. It must make you cringe to hear people say things like that.

I understand. I just don't want to see you blow $75 on a soundcard if you don't have good speakers or headphones. They're going to really limit the kind of benefit you'd get from a soundcard vs. onboard.

 

[twitchee2]

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: twitchee2
I still voted for a P180, i think you need a good place to put everything and keep safe, other wise whats the point? like you said you will be upgrading later, gotta need the place for it. Just my opinion though.

I did in fact decide to go with a new case! I chose the Solo over the P180 though. I was able to budget this in without using the additional $75. See my OP for details. I decided to spend the extra dough on a G7. Thanks for the help twicthee!

glad i could help. better get some pics when its done.

 

[RussianSensation]

Just wanted to let you know that Newegg has open box version of E6600 as well going for $277 + $6 shipping. That's approximately another $15 savings. I am just not sure if someone ran those E6600 and returned them after they turned out to be poor overclockers?

 

[mcurphy]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Just wanted to let you know that Newegg has open box version of E6600 as well going for $277 + $6 shipping. That's approximately another $15 savings. I am just not sure if someone ran those E6600 and returned them after they turned out to be poor overclockers?

I was looking at those as well. Do you know if they are at least guaranteed to function? I'd hate to risk it and get a DOA that someone else has already tried and returned DOA.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: mcurphy

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Just wanted to let you know that Newegg has open box version of E6600 as well going for $277 + $6 shipping. That's approximately another $15 savings. I am just not sure if someone ran those E6600 and returned them after they turned out to be poor overclockers?

I was looking at those as well. Do you know if they are at least guaranteed to function? I'd hate to risk it and get a DOA that someone else has already tried and returned DOA.

I would imagine Newegg would be very irresponsible if they do not test their returned merchandise. A quick call to them can confirm that to you.

There is also an open box DS3 mobo for $99 on Newegg. That's an outstanding deal. I have the Revision 1 of that board and had very good experience with it (although not enough fan headers). But with F9 bios (which adds 1333FSB support) it overclocks to 500fsb (i.e 2000 effective) and supports and quad-core. It has solid state capacitors which won't leak. I paid $150 for mine.