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Building gaming pc.. what do you think?

S

stevenscobra

n00b
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
10
Hey guys... I'm new to this forum but long time poster on many other boards on the net. I'm stepping up and building a gaming pc. I've been researching all week and would like your input on what I've decided on.


COOLER MASTER RC 690 - case 49.99
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006342

EVGA GeForce 8800GTX 768MB - gpu 549.99 mail in 529.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130072

(raid0) 2x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB - hd 2 x 79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R - dvd $31.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153&Tpk=SH-S203B

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R - mb $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

CORSAIR HX CMPSU-620HX 620W - ps $140.00 mail in $110.00
http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A6200027

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate - os 179.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116215

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping - cpu 275.49
http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1938452

Tuniq Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler - cooler 44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154001

(total 4gb) 2x Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - ram 2 x 62.99 mail in
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

Logitech THX Z-5300e 280 Watts RMS 5.1 Speaker - speakers 134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121121

Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard - kb 68.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126179

Logitech G5 - mouse 45.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104191

Razer eXactMat - mousepad 29.99
http://www.razerzone.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3
 
Everything looks pretty good (almost exactly like my build minus the processor and mobo). I have the GA-P35C-DS3R. You might want to look into that if you are big on future-proofing your machine, but really DDR2 should be perfectly fine for awhile.

Also, you might want to look out for the barracuda's. I got 2 of them like you did. They are both pretty loud (from what I read, it's a gamble...some are loud, some aren't). Also, my second drive died in about a day or 2 after giving me a lot of trouble. RMA'd it then got a WD which has been holding up really well, and it's whisper quiet.

Also, I wouldn't worry about RAID. Unless you're really trying to protect the data on your HDD, there isn't really a point to doing it. You'll probably run into a lot more problems with RAID than without it.

hope you enjoy your build, looks pretty good
 
Thanks for the reply man. I will definitely spend the extra $20 and upgrade to the C model and check out the hd situation.
 
very very nice research everything looks great, Graphics, PSU, RAM, CPU. Personaly id get a better case but that has very little to do with perf. better to get better ram ect.. than case, so that depends on your budget.

Thers a new Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme with an extra 2 heatpipes to the ultra and Tuniq Tower and has the best perf. of any cooler out there. Chekc it out here. http://www.anandtech.com/casecooling/showdoc.aspx?i=2981&p=3
 
What size monitor do you have?

stevenscobra said:
Thanks for the reply man. I will definitely spend the extra $20 and upgrade to the C model and check out the hd situation.
Click to expand...

No point in getting the C version. By the time DDR3 is mainstream, there will be new chipsets/boards/CPUs that will be needed to make use of it. Intel expects DDR3 to be mainstream in 2009... by then it'll be time for a new motherboard. Don't waste your money on the C version... plus, people seem to be having more problems with it than the non-C.

I have 5 barracudas, and they're all workin great. Granted, they are a bit loud (as loud as my raptor), but they're DAMN fast! I have a couple in RAID0, and they'r blazing. I need fast disk access for ripping and encoding media. I also do a lot of photo and video editing, so a fast HDD helps.

78MB/s: WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB, $160AR
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB, $80
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3300620AS 300GB, $60
52MB/s: WD Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB, $70
112MB/s: RAID0 'cuda's, 600GB total, $120 (ICH9R on P35-DS3R)

As you can see, the 'cuda is twice the size and half the cost, for nearly the same performance. Stick them in RAID0, and you've got an even more cost effective solution.

Also, I'd look at the Centurion 532 or 534 instead, since neither use an 80mm fan (loud). They use 120mm fans instead, which push more air while remaining much more quiet. The CM RC-690 is also a good case.

The Tuniq Tower is good enough, IMO. Its nearly as good as the Ultra 120, yet $25 cheaper. The Tuniq is $45 while the Ultra 120 eXtreme is $55, plus another $15 for an S-Flex fan.
 
enginurd said:
What size monitor do you have?





I have 5 barracudas, and they're all workin great. Granted, they are a bit loud (as loud as my raptor), but they're DAMN fast! I have a couple in RAID0, and they'r blazing. I need fast disk access for ripping and encoding media. I also do a lot of photo and video editing, so a fast HDD helps.

78MB/s: WD Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB, $160AR
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB, $80
65MB/s: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3300620AS 300GB, $60
52MB/s: WD Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB, $70
112MB/s: RAID0 'cuda's, 600GB total, $120 (ICH9R on P35-DS3R)

As you can see, the 'cuda is twice the size and half the cost, for nearly the same performance. Stick them in RAID0, and you've got an even more cost effective solution.

Also, I'd look at the Centurion 532 or 534 instead, since neither use an 80mm fan (loud). They use 120mm fans instead, which push more air while remaining much more quiet. The CM RC-690 is also a good case.

The Tuniq Tower is good enough, IMO. Its nearly as good as the Ultra 120, yet $25 cheaper. The Tuniq is $45 while the Ultra 120 eXtreme is $55, plus another $15 for an S-Flex fan.
Click to expand...

I have a 320gb 7200.10 Barracuda that is whisper quiet. I've been using Barracuda's exclusively since 2003 and I have never had a loud one. At least, I've never been able to hear them over my case fans which are in the 30dba range. In the 4 years I"ve been using Barracuda's, I've not had a Barracuda go bad due to defective merchandise. I use them in PCs I build for people, and in my own machines. One went bad becuase it was in a computer I shipped that got banged around and the SATA connector was ripped off. And the other that died was becuase it I had my PC in the back of my drag race built Mustang and I hit a pothole on the highway at 80mph.

I agree that the Tuniq is good enough. If the OP was getting a B3 stepping, I'd recommend a Ultra-120 extreme, but for the GO the Tuniq should be fine.
 
GregP24 said:
I have a 320gb 7200.10 Barracuda that is whisper quiet. I've been using Barracuda's exclusively since 2003 and I have never had a loud one. At least, I've never been able to hear them over my case fans which are in the 30dba range.
Click to expand...

All my case fans are within the 25dB range, usually less. I don't hear the 'cuda when its under my desk. I hear it when its sitting on my desk, lol. Compared to my WD's, they're loud. I can't hear my WD's when they're on my desk, except my raptor.

Now that I think about it, I have two 300GB 'cuda's on my desk, and I can't hear them. They're not as loud as the other 'cuda's I have... lol. weird.

Audibility is subjective, so its hard to say whats loud and what's not. But comparing most of my 'cuda's to my WD's or Samsungs, they're louder.
 
wow i pretty much got the same stuff as your first half of the list

same graphics card, power supply, case, ram, motherboard.

but your budget's definitely a lot higher than me, i got the e6750 and 2gb of ram instead of 4.

i think the case is fine, i got the sycthe ninja heat sink, and was planning to get the 5300e speaker too but got the x230 in the end to save money.

i really like everything here, what monitor you getting?
 
I actually ended up getting the 690RC cooler master case instead. Found a good deal online. Plus 3 120mm fans vs 2.

I am going to be using my 42 inch westinghouse 1920 x 1080 monitor.

edited cause I'm a bonehead lol
 
Yah, thats the RC-690, not from the Centurion series. :p

The GTX should be OK with your monitor. If you want a bit more performance, OC it.
 
Oh ya whoops haha..

Thanks for all the replies guys. I will keep this thread updated with pics from the install when everything arrives. :D
 
Everything looks great, the only thing I would advise against would be vista 64. Right now the the IQ you'll get out of DX10 is not woth the performance hit. Even more so if your only running one card.
 
Darkatom said:
Everything looks great, the only thing I would advise against would be vista 64. Right now the the IQ you'll get out of DX10 is not woth the performance hit. Even more so if your only running one card.
Click to expand...

According to what I hear from current Vista 64 users, the OS is a great choice now, with all the updates since Jan. The only thing still problematic is if you have old peripherals that don't have drivers.
 
Setup looks good, the only thing I would change is the HD's more like my own setup (a main hd for os and programs and a secondary hd for documents and downloads) just in case you need to format.

Also, for the mobo, I would get a DFI Blood Iron or UT P35 if you can afford it.
 
Have you used a laser mouse before regularly? You might want to make sure you like them that is the only thing I would add.

I found the Microsoft 6000 to be a jumpy mess for gaming. Haven't used the Logitech yet. I went back to my trusty MX510 on gaming rig and an original (old school and still going) Intellimouse on my laptop. I just couldn't stand that 6000.

I thought it was the surface at first, but I tried it on my Ratpadz GS, a Steelpad 4D (don't buy one of those btw, I got it free at CPL a while back, the surface wears smooth quickly unlike other 'hard' mousepads I have, making it pretty useless), and a cloth ALLSOP. It would skip when you moved quickly on all 3 and my desk.
 
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