Feedback: Budget Gaming Build $900

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Neon2303

Weaksauce
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
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I need feedback on a budget gaming build that, unlike my previous, will be purchased soon.

Updated @ post 24: http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032277216&postcount=24

Original:
Budget: $900
Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW
PSU:CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz
Cooling:ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro
Memory: G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2 800 F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
VGA:EVGA GeForce 9600GT
Optical: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T
HDD: SAMSUNG HD501LJ 500GB
Total @ Newegg: ~$855
I added an Xbox 360 Receiver for Windows.
It will use Vista.

The motherboard and processor in the wish list are subject to change. Others are as well, but the point is I want this build evaluated.

Opinions? Recommendations?

---
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...il.asp?WishListNumber=8743248&WishListTitle=V
 
Just a few changes...

The Centurion 5 has horrible cooling capabilities. If you want to stay with the CM family, choose a different case that supports 120mm fans:

Cooler Master Elite 330 - $40
Cooler Master Centurion 534 - $50
Cooler Master Centurion 532 - $55

As for case fans, purchase some Yate Loon 120mm fans from Petra's Tech Shop.

The Samsung SH-S203B is a better (not to mention cheaper) choice than the ASUS DVD burner. If you must have LightScribe, there's also the Samsung SH-S203N. Samsungs are recommended here because the operate more silently than other models.

Buy the Corsair VX550W from Buy.com. It comes with free shipping and a $20 mail-in rebate.

If you are planning to overclock, the AC Freezer 7 Pro won't be enough. Here are some better choices:

Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja HSF - $36
Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $45
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm HSF - $46
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme HSF - $57 & Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120MM Case Fan - $14

Since you're getting 4GB of RAM, make sure that you use the 64-bit version of Vista. (Check out the new FAQ/sticky to find out why.) Vista Home Premium should be enough for your needs... and if you haven't bought it yet, it's only $100 at NewEgg.
 
Oops. I probably meant to select that case. I think I clicked the other because the Centurion 5 is the one I'm using for myself right now and it was bookmarked ^^;
I'll look into it (and probably adjust the selection).

I'll check the drive. As a Samsung fan, I'm likely to get that one instead. I picked the ASUS as a sort of placeholder because there's typically a daily deal on DVD burners on purchase day.

As for getting the Corsair from Buy.com: I only put them all in the wish list for organization, but before purchasing I always check the usual sites such as:
Newegg, Mwave, Zipzoomfly, Buy, Xoxide and Tigerdirect for some parts, Amazon/Google Products for any good deals.
Do you have any other site-recommendations?

As for cooling: I've heard people get to 3.2GHz on stock with that processor. I'm open for change...but is it necessary?

PS I have the 64-bit version of Vista =)

Thanks for the input.
 
tiraides said:
Just a few changes...

The Centurion 5 has horrible cooling capabilities. If you want to stay with the CM family, choose a different case that supports 120mm fans:
Click to expand...
I don't mean to disagree with you, but I find the Centurion 5 to have good air flow.
Just because it only has a 80mm intake doesn't me it has bad air flow.

The case is a personal choice to be honest. :)
 
AMD_RULES said:
I don't mean to disagree with you, but I find the Centurion 5 to have good air flow.
Just because it only has a 80mm intake doesn't me it has bad air flow.

The case is a personal choice to be honest. :)
Click to expand...

Yes, it is a personal choice, but I've had problems cooling things properly with the Centurion 5 due to the 80mm intake.

Neon2303 said:
As for cooling: I've heard people get to 3.2GHz on stock with that processor. I'm open for change...but is it necessary?
Click to expand...

If you intend on overclocking past 3GHz with the E6750, it's preferable to get one of the HSFs that I recommended. (Many people would chime in and tell you to get the E8400, but with your budget -- and the currently inflated prices for the E8400 -- the E6750 is the better option.)
 
I second that Samsung burner. I've got one and it's very nice.
IMO, if you're going to OC you should go with one of the HSF combos listed above. It'll let you get the most out of the proc.
 
I actually like my Centurion 5. But as he mentioned, occasionally it can get warm inside. I would assume more so with these newer parts (despite being more energy efficient - they're still bigger and badder). So, ~$5 difference on a case with better cooling isn't a hard decision.

As for the E8400 - I told the guy that's what I *want* to put in his computer, but unless he waits until the gouging and shortage stops I just can't budget it. So yah, I've been there =D

The coolers aren't much more expensive so I'll look at which one I feel is best.

Any other words of wisdom?
 
Neon2303 said:
I need feedback on a budget gaming build that, unlike my previous, will be purchased soon.

Budget: $900
Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW
PSU:CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz
Cooling:ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro
Memory: G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2 800 F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
VGA:EVGA GeForce 9600GT
Optical: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T
HDD: SAMSUNG HD501LJ 500GB
Total @ Newegg: ~$855
I added an Xbox 360 Receiver for Windows.
It will use Vista.

The motherboard and processor in the wish list are subject to change. Others are as well, but the point is I want this build evaluated.

Opinions? Recommendations?

---
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...il.asp?WishListNumber=8743248&WishListTitle=V
Click to expand...

I really like your build. Good price performance. If I was building a new system today, it would be very similar to what you got there.
 
Neon2303 said:
As for getting the Corsair from Buy.com: I only put them all in the wish list for organization, but before purchasing I always check the usual sites such as:
Newegg, Mwave, Zipzoomfly, Buy, Xoxide and Tigerdirect for some parts, Amazon/Google Products for any good deals.
Do you have any other site-recommendations?
Click to expand...

Get the case fans from Petra's and the PSU from Buy.com. You could purchase everything else from NewEgg. (Well, maybe not the HSF cooler... only the ZEROtherm Nirvana is available from NewEgg; you'll have to go to Jab-Tech for the rest.)

Neon2303 said:
The coolers aren't much more expensive so I'll look at which one I feel is best.

Any other words of wisdom?
Click to expand...

You can check the reviews for each CPU cooler, but here's the quick primer:
  • The TRUE-120 + S-FLEX combo is the best of the CPU coolers around. (They're also the most expensive.)
  • The Nirvana NV120 has the best bang-for-buck performance out of the entire group. (I believe that NewEgg also has a $10 mail-in rebate for it.)
  • The Ultima 90 + Panaflo combo has the smallest footprint and mounts the easiest.
  • The Scythe Ninja is the cheapest of the bunch... but to get the most versatility from it, it's recommended that you also buy the Thermalright LGA775 Bolt-Thru kit ($7).
  • The Tuniq Tower? It's a good alternative, and comes with its own fan (compared to the Thermalright CPU coolers).
 
Pretty damn good build, many things are subjective but I would make a couple changes.

The new WD 320/640GB (320 per platter) hds are better than Raptors in many cases, http://techreport.com/articles.x/14380, definitely get one of these instead of that Samsung. Also spend the extra few bucks and/or wait a couple of weeks to get a E8400, much better than the E6660.
 
Thanks tiraides for the clarification and info.

I'd like to hear more about Western Digital's new SE16 from members. It's within the price-range.

CpuMan, thanks for the compliment. I'd like to hear what you would have different out of curiosity.
 
I agree with tiraides (everything) and shiznit (640gb hdd). As for the CPU, yes, the E8400 is overpriced right now due to supply and demand. With the recent price drop on the Q6600, its a much better value than the E8400, IMO. The E6750 isn't bad either... in fact, I have one at 3.8Ghz 1.5v. ;)
 
It's getting hard to budget an improved case (+$5), cooling (~+$15), and hard drive (~$25). That's almost $50 more.
I probably should have mentioned $900 (shipped). The $855 tag leaves room for shipping.
Any suggestions or priorities?

One thing I'd like to say. The hard drive looks impressive. I do, however have the Samsung HD501LJ. It is rather loud, and does lack in some areas. However, overall I find it exceptional. I'm not sure if the added price of the WD SE16 640GB justifies the performance, however the capacity does.

PS. I will discuss the shipping issue with the person I am building this for. It is possible he is willing to spend the extra money - these are good improvements at minor cost.
PPS. Enginurd, what cooling are you using to achieve 3.8GHz 1.5v?
 
Neon2303 said:
CpuMan, thanks for the compliment. I'd like to hear what you would have different out of curiosity.
Click to expand...

I think the G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2 800 F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ, GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L, and the EVGA GeForce 9600GT are good choices and would not change that at all.

About the only thing I might do differently is the cpu. The e6750 is a good value for the money if you going to keep it for a while.

What I might consider doing different is go for a Q6600. It is the best dollar per horse power value right now and probably will be for the next 6 months or so. But even if you stay with the e6750 it is still a pretty good value for a $180. Like others have said the e8400 is overpriced.

I might consider a dual core e4500 or even a dual core e2160 being the DS3L is good overclocking motherboard and you could probably hit 3.0GHz with out much trouble with either one of them, for maximum price per performance per dollar. And then upgrade to a Q6600 when they will be even cheaper then they are now.

I agree with what enginurd, tiraides and, shiznit have said. Good solid recommendations.

At some point within the next year the only upgrades I will be doing with the system in my sig, is replacing my e6400 with a Q6600 and my 7600GT with a 9600GT
 
After reading tiraides and enginurd's post it looks like I've decided on the .Ultima 90 + Panaflo combo.
As far as processor I wouldn't go as low as the e2160 but the e4500 w/ Q6600 upgrade or even a new Yorkfield in future.
PS. This just in: I refreshed Newegg and I see the E8400 going for $199 (OEM). They previously only had Retail. It's much more appealing now with the $50 off.

Any idea on juggling/budgeting these improvements?
 
shiznit said:
I would definitely get the the E8400 or the Q6600.
Click to expand...

I agree,

Can't go wrong with a Q6600.

And with the recent drop in the price of the e8400 at Newegg and Tigerdirct, I would now consider it. Only $20 more than the e6750.

It looks like you can get a e8400 OEM for $199 with free shipping. Still a bit high, but not bad considering you could probably get it to 3.6GHz with little or no increase in vcore voltage = nice cool temps. And you might get it up to 4.0GHz, but stay under 1.40v to be safe and you would have a blazing fast dual core system.
 
Nice price on the E8400. Too bad its OEM. MC had some retail for that price, but they're long gone.
 
shiznit said:
Noctua NH-U12P is the new best air heatsink, and it comes with one of the best silent fans on the market included. Every other review confirms the results, it beats the TRUE hands down...

http://anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus/showdoc.aspx?i=3268 ...
Click to expand...

According to that review, it doesn't look like a "hands down" victory to me. :confused: Maybe my definition of "hands down" differs from yours. Regardless, the price is clearly lower for the Noctua than the TRUE, while still performing on the same level as it -- making it a very appealing.

shiznit said:
Noctua NH-U12P ... probably has the best LGA775 mounting mechanism on the market. ...
Click to expand...

The Ultima90 has a similar mounting mechanism, BTW.
 
Updated build info:

Budget: $900 (it went overbudget...)
Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 532 RC-532-SKN
PSU:CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz
Cooling: Ultima 90 + Panaflo combo
Memory: G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2 800 F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
VGA:EVGA GeForce 9600GT
Optical: Samsung SH-S203B
HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB
Price ---
I'm in a hurry I may have forgotten something or done my math wrong. ^^; [update: I forgot the burner XD - added]
I added the Microsoft receiver again.


Updated Wish List
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...l.asp?WishListNumber=6018865&WishListTitle=V2
Updated again to remove processor. Tigerdirect has the E8400.
 
well my definition of hands down is lower load temps in every review I have read so far, as well as lower price when you consider the very nice included fan. Didn't know about the the Ultima90 but then again I only use 120s, 90mm fans are too loud. I have a panafllo L1A and M1A 120mm and they could be quieter too, i run them both at 7v.
 
That Gigabyte Mobo rocks. I've got one with a Q6600 CPU, 4GB of Corsair XMS RAM and a 8800GT. Does what it's supposed to do and does it right.
 
I just added the wish list to cart and checked shipping - it's about $32 shipping at Newegg. I added the products at Jab-tech (may I ask why Jab-tech? I'm new and open to alternate stores, I've just never heard of it before). It's roughly $960 total with shipping.
He said the price is good, so how about a final check? (see post #24 & wishlist)
 
The processor just went out of stock *cries* *waits*
Anyone see it in stock at that price elsewhere?
When are Newegg's restock days (or is it random?)
 
Neon2303 said:
. I added the products at Jab-tech (may I ask why Jab-tech? I'm new and open to alternate stores, I've just never heard of it before). It's roughly $960 total with shipping.
Click to expand...

Jab-Tech is the only store that I know of that offers the Ultima 90 at a decent price. And I've shopped from there before. Everything went smooth.

Anyway, your build list looks good to me. Got no objections. No idea where else you can get an E8400. Those CPUs sell like hotcakes.

Might want to hit up a Fry's or Microcenter and see if they have any left. Newegg's restock time is pretty random and is dependent on their supplier, in this case Intel.
 
It was in stock like a second before he went to buy everything...
No Fry's around here :(

PS - While we wait anyone want to help find cheaper products? I saw the case refurbished for $34 at mwave. 9600GT looks to be same price everywhere...
 
Neon2303 said:
It was in stock like a second before he went to buy everything...
No Fry's around here :(
Click to expand...

Then go with the Q6600 then. Can't find any other reputable place that offers E8400s for around $200.
 
...by the way, should I get the Q6600 Retail or OEM? I know the difference. I would *THINK* OEM because I already picked an aftermarket cooling solution and the OEM is $10 cheaper... and if I overclock it would void the warranty anyway.
Or should I stick with Retail?

PS ... If he doesn't want to overclock is it ok to buy Retail and stick with stock cooling or would yall recommend against that? I realize I should probably ask him about his warranty preference.

Update: didn't see Kyle's E8400 TigerDirect link. Thanx.
Update2: updated post 24 with new info.
 
Get retail if it's only $10 more, has anyone's warranty been actually refused because of overclocking?
 
Not my warranty. ^^;
He got OEM because he got the E8400 at TigerDirect which only had the E8400 OEM in stock for $200 whereas the Retail was $250 and out of stock.
He's ordering all parts now =D
I told him to throw in the Orange Box (He said he had the money).
 
I finally built it. It gets about 12,050 3DMarks in 3DMark06 free at default. The monitor was 1024x768.
Temps are superb. Most annoying part was the fan didn't fit perfectly with the heatsink, but that was due to poor mounting. Also, I was kinda surprised that unless I missed something, the motherboard has no Firewire.
Benchmarks from other games will come later on, as I have sent it to owner. It's quite fast.
 
The nice Coolermaster case, Wolfdafe 8400 processor, and Ultima cooling solution HARDLY fit within the budget build category.

I'm not saying it's a bad build! Far from it, I can practically guarantee you'll have a shi*-ton of fun. Enjoy Orange Box!

:)
 
Did I mention the final price ended up being ~$950 :D
PS - My cousin is loving Team Fortress 2 as we speak.
 
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