Another "Help Me Build a New Computer" Thread

aeonrevolution

aeonrevolution

2[H]4U
Joined
Aug 30, 2004
Messages
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My computer is finally showing its age and I'm in the market to build a new one.Below is my current system.

2.6 Pentium 4
2gb PC3200 running at PC2700 bc of the mobo
2x160gb 7200rpm hdd's
7600GS 256mb 8xAGP
Soundblaster Audigy vanilla soundcard
52xDVD rom & a broken cd burner :D
Sceptre 22" Widescreen LCD (I'm going to keep this for the new rig*)



I play Battlefield 2 really heavily with my clan, 6thAD. I run everything at medium or so.

After getting the demo, I'm going to get into Supreme Commander really heavily. The demo runs okay for 50%-75% of the time, but once any significant battles start taking place things slow way the hell down.




Okay. I'm 20 and a college student so my budget is limited. Here is what I have so far. I was looking for comments regarding the motherboard and processor choice (in the future I may start asking questions on the power supply and cooling:cool: )


CLick


The link above is to a barebones system with a Core 2 Duo E6600 and a ASUS P5n SLI nForce 570. It is $579 + $35 shipping.

Click

The link above is to a barebone system with a Core 2 Duo E6600 and a motherboard that appears to be the same as above....? $559 + $35 shipping.




As for a video card I'll prolly go with something when the 8600's come out and prices drop a wee bit. Memory, 2gb of g.skill. I'll just take the harddrives from the old computer. Another $30 or so on a DVD drive.


Comments, opinions, suggestions?
 
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Can you / are you willing to build your own?

For the 1st link, you could spend $600 better. Yeah the processor is good and about $310 itself, but the motherboard is on an older NF500 series chipset. Does that even include a video card? An OS? Plus, since the case is Aprevia, I'm assuming the PSU is and I know they have a real bad reputation for PSUs.
You'd be better off getting a lower model processor and going from there on your own.
Is the 2nd one the same thing?

I understand with you being on a budget, but I think you can spend your money better. Since you're on a budget, I'm guessing you're not going SLI. Therefore, start with the Intel P965 chipset...
Here's a nice choice.
GIGABYTE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128017

Then to keep costs down, get one of these processors and you can always overclock in the future...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004

Then you can find a cheap case you like and check out one of these FSP PSUs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

Or, I'd trust this much more than an Aprevia and its got a great rebate now...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155

Then after you add memory, just do like you said and reuse what you had.
Just working with round #s above, say $110MB + $200CPU + $50PSU + $50CASE = $410

Post up some combos you have in mind if you decide to build yourself.
 
Oh I definitely have no problem building it on my own.

I was looking to hit the $1,000 price mark or so. I definitely want a SLI board. For now I would probably just stick one card in it until down the road I needed the performance boost from another card.


This ******WILL BE MY FIRST COMPUTER I'VE BUILT******** so if this means I shouldn't be putting the proc in on my own gimme some feedback. I had a friend who chipped his P3 chip building a computer back in the day and it kinda has me scared.
 
If you want SLI, you're going to need either the Nvidia 650i or 680i chipset. By the time you'd add a new video card though, you'd probably just be better off getting what's new at the time b/c odds are it'll be faster than 2 of what you'd have at that time. Anyway, here are some examples and check here for differences...
Nvivia
http://www.nvidia.com/page/nforce_600i_tech_specs.html
Asus MB examples
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...5&Submit=ENE&Manufactory=1315&SubCategory=280
**note the P5N32-E SLI PLUS does x16x16 SLI unlike other 650i bases boards**

Chipping a P3 was most likely because they didn't have heat spreaders on them and you could therefore actually chip the core. You'll be fine with the heatspreaders on the new processors.

Post up some specs your thinking about for comment.
 
Okay I went snooping around for individual parts again. Heres what I have. Keep in mind I'll probably be waiting until the next price drop in the video card department. Tack on a dvd drive and this will hit right about $1,000 after shipping.

Case

Video Card

Motherboard

Processor
 
What about memory? An OS?

Also, I'd switch out the PSU myself as Raidmax PSUs aren't know to be too good.
 
I'm kinda up in the air about whether to get Vista or not...guys I know who have gotten it can't get BF2 to run or other games. I know newer stuff like Sup Com and the HL2 series should be okay with it though.

I could also go with a E6400 proc and save $100 then just overclock it a bit.

Memory

I keep forgetting memory is going to be so expensive :mad:



Also looking at this now....if I decide to build soon I may just get another 7600 or something to hold out until the rest of the 8x series cards come out and prices drop. That would save quite a chunk of money. Hell, even a 7900 would only run $150 or so.

Do you have any suggestions on the power supply? Thanks for the help so far btw :D
 
When 3dgameman did a review of the Smilodon he said it was ''Kickass'' but it looked somewhat cheap. One thing I would think about is the fact that you want to upgrade in the future? To a 8 series card? Are you sure this case will keep that cool enough? Those are the kind of things I would look into.

Also, ease of installation, sharp edges within the case and also the number of drive bays are just a few things to think about. If this case meets all you needs now, and your needs in the future - go for it.

to tell you the truth, I'd go with

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144133

since that looks pretty solid, or even

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2215103&Sku=TC3J-2145

Which has a real pretty side window. Don't skimp on the PSU!!!



But the Smilodon, for that price you just can't beat it - plus it's a realllllllly cool case.I guess it's up to you. besides, you can always re-case in the future.
 
aeonrevolution said:
This ******WILL BE MY FIRST COMPUTER I'VE BUILT******** so if this means I shouldn't be putting the proc in on my own gimme some feedback. I had a friend who chipped his P3 chip building a computer back in the day and it kinda has me scared.
Click to expand...

"Back in the day" as you say the pins were on the processor and I guess were easy to bend etc. That got reversed and now pins are on mobo and it takes pressure of levered clamp to contact them so putting in a CPU is pretty easy. Its like dropping cpu in and clamping it down. There are less damages cpu's this new way:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_775

I would add that if you want practice - or want to save a few bucks so as to get going -
then keep in mind a $45 Celeron (2.8) will fit 775 socket on Asus. You could have Celery cpu and your mobo above and good Thermaltake psu (430 watts - $40 -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023 ) for $200 bucks. You could always add a E6600 latter on and you'll have experience installing by then - and you'll have an idea for new heatsink and fan by then no doubt. You want to have a nice mobo and psu and case thats easy to work on. Memory, vid cards and processors are easy to upgrade latter. No shame in running a 50 buck Celery for awhile and its nice to have a spare.

I also think some sellers/manufacturers still have Windows machines in stock and will be discounting them. You can buy a lot of Dell, Gateway, HP with 6 or 7 hundred if you shop right.
 
Okay here is a list of what I think I'm going with. If I forgot anything please lemme know or anymore suggestions.

[img=http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/1337/scr30661e1hv1.th.png]

7900 GS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130056

Sony DVD drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827101131

G.Skill 2x1gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231114

E6600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115003

Antec case + 550 watt psu http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129020

Asus P5N-E http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131142



Do you guys think its really worth the extra $100 to get the E6600 over the E6400? With all the stock fans and stuff couldn't I just overclock the E6400 a slight bit...? I mean hell I can knock the price down to $855 if I go with the E6400
 
aeonrevolution said:
Okay here is a list of what I think I'm going with. If I forgot anything please lemme know or anymore suggestions.

[img=http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/1337/scr30661e1hv1.th.png]

7900 GS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130056

Sony DVD drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827101131

G.Skill 2x1gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231114

E6600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115003

Antec case + 550 watt psu http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129020

Asus P5N-E http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131142



Do you guys think its really worth the extra $100 to get the E6600 over the E6400? With all the stock fans and stuff couldn't I just overclock the E6400 a slight bit...? I mean hell I can knock the price down to $855 if I go with the E6400
Click to expand...

If I were doing it, I'd grab the E6400 and a nice hsf and then just over clock it. Could save yourself a good $50 or more.
 
the cpu of choise in this configuration I would say is the e6600. The additional cashe and higher multiplyer gives you better performance especially when o/clocking. With the range of higher multiplyers you have a better shot at getting a higher stable o/clock...The wider choises of multiplyers and fsb gives you more possibilities of a stable o/clock especially with all the different motherboards and chipsets that are becoming available...You cant really go wrong with the higher line cpu...Anf for only a 50 dollar difference its well worth the the additional money IMO.....
 
8800GTS 320mb should do you good. The DVD drive is fine, and good choice on the memory. Go with a 6400 and a zalman CNPS 9500 HSF to overclock it. Good choice also on the mobo, but that is one wierd choice of a case. The Centurion5 will do you good. Try a HIPER 580W PSU.


PSU- HIPER HPU-4K580-MS ATX12V v2.2 580W 120V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817128002
90.00

Video- 8800GTS 320MB (eVGA)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130082
299.99

DVD Drive- Sony watchamacallit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...E168271011 31
18.99

Proc- C2D e6400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004
222.00

HSF- Zalman CNPS9500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118223
45.00

Mobo- ASUS P5NE SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131142
129.99

Case- CoolerMaster Centurion 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068
49.99

There are some mail in rebates in there too that will bring down the price.
 
Nah I'm going to stick with the 7900 for now.

Okay so I was going to pull the trigger today but the memory is sold out :p


A few of you guys said this case was odd...

http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129020


Is there any reason not to get it? It comes with a decent power supply. Down the road when I buy a new video card I'm going to just grab a new power supply with it. So if the 550watt psu was bothering you guys, yeah thats why I'm skimping on that.
 
Look at this thread, it makes me want to get rid of my PSU that I've got.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1138851&highlight=Antec
and if you are planning on building the computer mostly to game its nuts to not get the 8800GTS it will give you a lot more headroom in the future and you won't be forced to buy another video card as soon.
This is a very good PSU choice http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189005
and I'll recommend the quietest and coolest case that I've seen, it cools almost as good as my Antec 900 with 5 120mm fans and one 200mm fan but is much quieter and cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811124114
also list out what you've got down so far I don't really care to click on all of those links to see what you've got and I'm sure that everyone else feels the same way.
 
shmitty said:
Look at this thread, it makes me want to get rid of my PSU that I've got.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1138851&highlight=Antec
and if you are planning on building the computer mostly to game its nuts to not get the 8800GTS it will give you alot more headroom in the future and you won't be forced to buy another video card as soon.
Click to expand...

Haha yeah...I don't think I'm going to be stressing a 550 watter that much though. By the time I start to do any overclocking I'll have upgrade to a new video card and psu anyhow.



But yeah I'm not going with the 8800 stuff because honestly I don't wanna spend that much right now. My 7600gs is doing fine for what I play for the most part, so a slight bump up will be okay.



Back to the case...is it small or something?
 
What do you mean by small its a standard ATX size it is a little smaller then my 900 but that huge fan and three 120mm fans allow it to cool real nice. Did you read the thread about some of the Antec PSU its killed some of those guys rigs if I got another PSU it would probably be the one that I listed for you or maybe a Corsair 520w I don't need a generator either but its all about the reliability factor and something that compromise the longevity of my system makes me a little nervous. If you got a 1000 dollar budget hit it by god you won't regret it later and for the case and PSU that I listed you are going to save like 20 bucks with better reliability and cooling for the case.
 
Oh..........so those people who had a PSU go up in flames weren't pushing it real hard? I just figured the Antec psu's couldn't handle loads close to their limit.


Oops :D

So whats a case/psu combo you'd check out again....:eek: - nvm I see you edited that other post. Thanks!


Do you think a 500watt psu is enough? I always thought that was cutting it kind of close with 2 HDD's and a newer video card.

As for fans...are they all about the same?

Man I am more of a noob than I thought....I'm looking at the images of the case you suggested. It looks awesome, especially the side case fan thats 250mm!! But um...if I wanted to buy like a 120mm or 80mm fan....where do they go?
 
Look here for a good description on buying a PSU
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1036
The one that I listed will push any single card that you can buy right now plus your hard drives.
In this thread Jonny talks about the recommended Gaming PSU's and the one that I gave you is highly recommended especially on a budget.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103
The case has one 250mm fan included plus room for three more 120mm fans, we did put three more in my friends computer and like I said it was very nice it kept his e-6400 and X1900XTX very cool of course the Zalma 9700 helped and so did the VF900 but it was whisper quite and very cool. That case is even better in person its not tool less and cut yourself proof but it was sturdy and had some neat features I really liked the hide away optical drive bay and the inputs on the top and most of all that huge fan, it had three settings so you could adjust it to your liking. If you buy 120mm fans I really like the Antec Tri-Cool 120's that are in my case. I have them on High but its nice to be able to adjust when you want. Make sure that you get a good heatsink and some artic Silver when you do purchase.
 
Ahh okay gotcha. I guess I'll just have to wait til the case gets here. I was looking at the pictures and couldn't figure out where the 120mm fans went lol
 
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