Critique my first computer build

minigister

n00b
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
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MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128337&Tpk=GA-EP35-DS3L

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

PSU: SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151028

GPU: EVGA GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130319

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488&Tpk=32-116-488

OD: LITE-ON - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106072

Case : LIAN LI PC-V1000BPlus - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112058 or LIAN LI ARMORSUIT PC-P60 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112160

I will probably overclock this in the future and i will use it for mild gaming. I will use this mostly for web surfing/work/music. I really have no fixed budget, I just want a decent computer, If someone can persuade to by a more expensive product because it is better/faster I will buy it.

thanks for the help
 
Please list the name of those parts. It's a pain to click through and reference those links.

And please answer the following questions:
- Will you be overclocking?
- What will you be using this PC for?
- What is your budget?
 
Drop that G.Skill set and go with this set instead. It's only 66Mhz slower yet is $60 cheaper:
G.SKILL F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ 2 x 2GB DDR2 1000 RAM - $90

Also, drop that Seagate hard drive and get an extra 70GB for only $5 more:
Western Digital WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $70

Also, you might be lucky and get the newer revision of that hard drive with the new single 320Gb platter. It's almost as fast as many Raptors these days.

As for case, I like the design of the V1000B Plus better. The other case seems abit much.
 
Yeah, not a fan of the Armorsuit series, but cases are 9/10ths personal preference. Get whatever you like so long as it has all 120mm fans (at least 2).

I'd also recommend you spend the ~$40 more for an 8800 GTS 512MB. Not only does it have higher core and shader clocks, but it has 128 SPs to the 8800 GT's 112. Also, and most importantly, it has a very effective and comparatively quiet dual slot stock cooler, while the stock cooler on the 8800 GT... is horrible.

The LiteOn drive may be a little loud. You may want to get a Samsung instead.

Pick up the ZeroTherm Nirvana NV120 or Xigmatech Rifle 120mm HSF and just get that installed from day one -- avoids having to pull the motherboard and install a backplate when you decide to OC, and the stock HSF is trash anyway. ~$35-45

$130 for that PSU is crazy -- Newegg tends to overcharge bad on quality PSUs. Cehck out ZipZoomFly.com, Buy.com, Clubit.com instead. Also, Buy.com has the Corsair TX 750 for $100 right now. It is way more than you need for that build (a quality 450 watt unit would be enough, really) but at that price is rather hard to beat.

Given you won't be doing anything super-intensive a second-hand E6420 or E6750 might be a better fit than the E8400... or even an E2xxx series chip OCed to 3.0-3.2Ghz. Save you $100+ there, and you'd likely never feel the difference.

High FSB OCs on the DS3L (required due to the E8400's comparatively low multiplier and high OC threshold) is not a great idea. The stock cooling is completely insufficient, and replacing it with something quality will cost more than just buying a nicer board to begin with. Consider the Gigabyte P35-DS3R, DFI P35-TR2S, Abit IP35-Pro, or MSI P35-Neo2-FR instead.
 
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