$1.4k Budget Advice

E

evoluti0n

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 14, 2006
Messages
85
Hi all,

Summary: My current computer is 5 years old, fast enough for the average use, but not for gaming/watching Blu-Ray. AGP isn't what it used to be. I would love to make a new rig, I will be placing the orders starting next week. My budget is $1,400, but I could go just a little higher.

Current System:

P4 2.4 Ghz @ 2.8 HT. (Socket 478)
1 gig Giel RAM
X800 XT All-In-Wonder
Asus P4C800 Deluxe
500 Watt Antec PSU
Thermaltake Tsunami

Needs: Gaming, Programming. I would like to play Crysis and COD 4. I would also like a good workstation to use VMWare when needed. I don't plan on overclocking until next Spring or so (Then I can afford a good water cooling solution)

Components: Any suggestions?

Lian-Li PC-V2000B Plus II (Expensive case I know...but I want something that will last/is sharp looking)
http://www.xoxide.com/lian-li-pc-v2000b-plus-2.html

ASUS P5E (Mobo)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131219

EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX (Video)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 (Proc)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042

CORSAIR XMS2 (VMware will suffer with only 2 gigs, I will get more in july)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590

Thermaltake Toughpower W0172RU 850W (Is this over kill? Too much or too little?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153062

Seagate Barracuda 320GB x 2 (Already obtained)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148215

Price: $1362 (Not including shipping/Hard drives/Cables)

I will need at least 24" Sata cables for this case. I will get a better heatsink eventually.

Thanks for any advice! I just want to make sure everything is right before I lay down a good chunk of change. :)
 
Replace the PSU with this Corsair 620HX:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002

With the money you save you can get 4GB of RAM(2x2GB) if you plan on using Vista x64.

You may be set on the case, but look at the Lian-Li PC-A17B... it is cheaper and still a real beauty.

Possibly downgrade to a Q9300 to save $ and OC it more? It has a lower multiplier though...

Finally, if you can skim enough on some things you could possibly afford a GTX 2xx series when they are out next week.
 
Agree with opting for the Corsair 750watt power supply. Everything else looks good. The video is up to you . When those new GTXs come out, that 9800GTX will sure come down in price.
 
Wow,

Thank you for the advice.

I will opt for the G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000. I will wait a bit for the Blue-Ray.

I like the look of that case Bop, but I have been so dead set on this one for a while lol. As for the GTX 2xx...I'm sooo planning on getting this instead. I thought these were coming out much later. I may have to bump my budget up depending on the initial price.

Does that 750W have the necessary connections for the new Nvidia card that is coming out? I've heard of a few people that have gotten PSU's without the appropriate power connectors.
 
Yeah the TX750W has all the connections you need. If you look at the Newegg link for that PSU you'll see it has 4x 6+2 PCI-E connectors. So the PSU has enough connectors to run 2 GTX280s (each requires 1x 6 pin + 1x 8 pin PCI-E connectors) or any other pair of high end GPUs if you so wished.
 
Thanks Toaster Oven. I will place the orders starting next week...hopefully ending with that GTX 2xx (not sure which one...I'll have to wait for the prices to come in)

If GTX 280 - $649 is correct...the Q9300 it is. :)
 
BTW, that P4C800 dlx mobo is still pullin in nice prices on eBay ($100+), so you could sell your old stuff to help offset the cost.

If you need to save even more money, the Q6600 is a superb deal for $200-$220. Its only around 7% slower than the Q9300 at similar speeds, and can OC to around 3.6Ghz. If you switch to a Q6600, you don't even need DDR2-1000, as DDR2-800 will get you to its near max OC anyhow.

The WD3200AAKS drives would have been more ideal, since they use higher density platters and can transfer data faster than the old raptors (pre-velociraptor). Oh wellz.
 
hehe, I could sell parts that I have now enginurd. But I plan on converting my current machine into a media server. I have an old xbox I plan on converting into a media center, that way I can pull off movies from my room to my living room. Gonna be a nice dorm setup I'd say.
 
server? sure. some people want to turn their old stuff into htpc's to play hd movies... not gonna happen. but a server, yes. though, since my p4c800-e dlx sold for $170 (the board, alone, lol) on eBay, I just picked up a cheap E2200 cpu/mobo combo from fry's and added some cheap ram for a much better htpc than what i could have done with my old p4 stuff. I have an old dual p3 733 for my server. :)
 
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