another New system build thread

N

nmanley

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 27, 2005
Messages
424
I've spent many hours on this forum and have seen many great deals posted. I love reading about other peoples builds so here's mine added to the mix.
I think I'll be very happy for the next few years. I may use the EVGA upgrade service if the 8800GT get slammed in the next 3 months. :eek:
I hope my post helps someone pulling the trigger soon as others postings have helped me. :D.

From ClubIT.com
CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W MODULAR PWR SUP $139.99 (+$20 rebate)
CPU,INTEL C2Q Q6600 2.4 S775 SLACR OEM $265.99

From ZipZoomFly.com
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Mid Tower Case Retail ***Free Shipping*** @ $59.99 (+$20 Rebate)
Asus Silent Square 3-in-1 CPU Cooler Retail ***Free Shipping*** @ $46.98

From Newegg.com
MB GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 P35 775 RTL - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$177.99)
DVD BURN SAMSUNG|SH-S203B % - OEM (Qty=1, Price=$31.99)
THERMAL GREASE ZEROTHERM|ZT100 R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$5.99)
HD 500G|SAMG 7K 16M SATA2 HD501LJ - OEM (Qty=1, Price=$119.99)

From Amazon.com
1ea - "Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit for System Builders [DVD]"
DVD-ROM; $189.99

From eXtremePCgear.com
4ea - 120mm Yate Loon D12SL-12 SuperSilent PC Case Cooling Fan (120x120x25mm, 3 Pin and 4 Pin Pass-Through Connectors,

Orange/Black) $6.99ea
1 Seagate 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 Serial ATA II 7200RPM 16MB Buffer SATA Hard Drive: ST3320620AS (OEM) $84.99


From Frys.com
2ea - DDR2 2GB PC6400 DUAL BAL BALLISTIX LINE, (2X1GB) $161.98 (+$40 rebate)


I got a EVGA 8800GT SC that I put in my old system last week but it's coming out and going in this one.
That was $279.99 direct from EVGA. Missed the Monday intro deals.

Total $1313.83 (minus rebates $1233.83) With Video card $1513.82
 
Good list but it can be improved upon.

First, don't go with the OEM version of the Q6600. It only has a 90 day warranty. The boxed version is only $5 more and comes with a 3 year warranty. Not bad for an extra $5 don't you think?

Second, if you have no need for all the backup and security features that Vista Ultimate includes, then Vista Home Premium is a good and cheaper choice. And frankly, for the average gamer, Vista Home Premium is all that he/she needs:
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit OEM - $110

Third, you can get the Yate Loons for cheaper:
120mm Yate Loon D12SL-12 Case Fan - $3.50

Fourth, I recommend getting the Ultima 90 instead. It cools slightly better than the Pro version of your HSF but is only a few dollars more than the non-pro Silent Square:
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3

Other than that, looks good to me.
 
I've never invoked a CPU warranty, but for $5, why not.

Ultimate...yeah, do you really need Ultimate?

Try to get the hard drive on your ZZF order instead of from Newegg, since Newegg packs theirs in a way that leaves it much more vulnerable to damage from getting knocked around by UPS. All the vulnerable bits are inside a nice metal block so you can't tell if it's been hurt, either - it'll just fail early. I notice you have a 500GB and 320GB on there separately though? Anything particular up with that?
 
I agree with Danny, especially about the Ultima90 over the Asus SS.

The ballistix are cheaper at newegg. $90 - $40MIR.
 
:eek: 30dba on the panaflo ouch, have fun picking a fan and the push pin while you don't have to worry about a thing with the silent square
O and you didn't include shipping on ultima and the fan, total is about $56... still can't beat the silent square ;)
I bought mine at zzf when it was on sale $39.99 shipped :D

o wait op, why OEM Q6600 while the retail version at clubit is just $10 more, and free lost planet to test ur GT!!!
 
According to this review, the Ultima 90+ Panaflo 90mm fan is quieter than than the Silent Square Pro:
http://anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus/showdoc.aspx?i=3068&p=5

Also, the Ultima 90 cools better than the Asus Silent Square Pro especially under load:
http://anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus/showdoc.aspx?i=3068&p=6

And since you're bringing in shipping and tax into the equation, the Asus SS is about $51 assuming the OP lives in Southern California. And you're right, the Ultima 90 + Panaflo is about $56. $5 more for a cooler that cools better and is a bit more quieter? Not a bad deal.
 
one thing I learned in building your own pc is you can't trust only one review site, especially anandtech, their dba noise rating is off, they never really go in depth to tell the reader how they test it and how they record it, you pretty much don't know if the noise rating is recorded from a closed system or not, and other components noise.

Buying a cpu heatsink and fan is a trial and error, review cannot be fully trust, everyone has different system and settings. I am just suggesting op to follow my experience to save time and money.
 
alexlyc said:
I am just suggesting op to follow my experience to save time and money.
Click to expand...

Same here. The Panaflo's dBA rating is overrated, IMO, but I don't have anything to actually measure its audibility. Its actually rather quiet, imo, as are most FDB fans. The Ultima90 is also lighter than the SS. I'm guessing the Ultima90 is better than the Asus SS because it actually has one more heatpipe. $5 for one more heatpipe and smaller footprint? sounds like a good deal to me. Oh, you also get the option to run a 120mm fan instead, if you so choose (and if you'd like to, I suggest a Scythe S-Flex fan). I'm just pointing out my thought process when I was shopping for another cooler. Reviews for audibility can't be fully trusted because its a subjective thing. People's ears are different, so if you don't like the $3 Panaflo fan, shop for another one... Its good to have such freedom, even to use a 120mm fan instead, which are known to be even quieter.
 
ashmedai said:
I've never invoked a CPU warranty, but for $5, why not.

Ultimate...yeah, do you really need Ultimate?

Try to get the hard drive on your ZZF order instead of from Newegg, since Newegg packs theirs in a way that leaves it much more vulnerable to damage from getting knocked around by UPS. All the vulnerable bits are inside a nice metal block so you can't tell if it's been hurt, either - it'll just fail early. I notice you have a 500GB and 320GB on there separately though? Anything particular up with that?
Click to expand...
First thanks to all who posted.
I've ordered all this stuff Sat and I can live with the decisions. I like the thoughts all of you have as it never ceases to amaze me how some of you can stay on top of the good deals. :D
Doing some Networking so I wanted to try Vista Ultimate.
I got the 500 for storage and the 320 ST3320620AS is the faster version of drives from Seagate. It's to be the main program drive.

The Yate's fans are going to be mounted Vertically (Since their bearing-less) and I may get the sunbeam controller I saw listed at a CoolMaster 690 thread. Should quiet down the original (to be moved to horizontal) fans also. ;)

I completely missed the Q6600 OEM vers Retail :eek: connection but I'm knocking on wood that it'll be ok for the long haul. I do not plan on OCing this one too hard. Things just seem to last longer that way.

BTW .. I'm not in CA (SE Alabama) and paid no tax on any of these products. My total shipping was about $80 for 3 day on everything. That pretty much killed the rebates. :rolleyes:

Forgot to add, this should look good on my Samsung 22" 226BW.
 
nmanley said:
I got the 500 for storage and the 320 ST3320620AS is the faster version of drives from Seagate.
Click to expand...

The difference between the "fastest" and "slowest" modern 7200RPM drive is relatively minor. You'll probably get some benefit from using separate drives, strongly depending on your own behaviors - but probably not from the specific model. It's a slightly complicated topic (including why I'm reluctant to use the terms fastest and slowest outright - hard drive performance depends on a number of dimensions combined with how you're using it), but that's the nutshell version.
 
ashmedai said:
The difference between the "fastest" and "slowest" modern 7200RPM drive is relatively minor. You'll probably get some benefit from using separate drives, strongly depending on your own behaviors - but probably not from the specific model. It's a slightly complicated topic (including why I'm reluctant to use the terms fastest and slowest outright - hard drive performance depends on a number of dimensions combined with how you're using it), but that's the nutshell version.
Click to expand...

Yeah, most of the time all these little gains are minimal when compared to buying a good component to start with. ;)
That's ok, I'm not anally deep into the speed thing as much as I am seeing good eye candy when I load up games and such.
Thanks for the reply.


BTW .. I did get the CPU upgraded to Retail. I like new games too much to pass up. haha
 
System up and running @3ghz stock voltages on all systems.

So far so good. Still loading software. Man, I didn't realize I had so MUCH. :eek:
 
hhhmmm Was doing a backup and went to watch TV, came back and system was shut down. Hit the power switch and it went into constant reboot till I turned off the power. Speed Fan gave no warnings. Started it back up and set the CPU back to stock till I have more time to investigate. :(

Pics??

Here's a couple.

index.php



index.php


Before the EVGA 8800GT and two more drives were installed.
index.php


One more.
index.php
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top