Final Build for new PC -- Thoughts welcome!

[bnason]

Final thoughts -- thanks to all who have contributed help to my quest for a new PC!

1) I know everyone is directing me to the Corsair PSU. I want the extra 100w though. Is Zalman a good name? Where else can I turn for a good PSU that's in the 800w-1000w range?

2) Mobo. I want to stick with an SLI capable board in case I have the funds for a second card. Is that a waste of money? What do y'all think? Either gonna' go with the 750i FTW or the Gigabyte P35 board people recommend.

3) RAM. Is 8GB crazy? Is 4x2gb sticks gonna' mess my mobo up?

4) Have everything else I think I should need (dvd-rom, etc.) -- but is there anything missing here? Would you recommend a non-stock HSF?

Thanks!



Case Coolermaster 690 $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

PSU Zalman ZM850-HP $180 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379007

Mobo 1 Gigabyte GA-EP35 $89 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128337

Mobo 2 eVGA 750i FTW $189 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026

RAM 8gb G.skill DDR2 (4x2) $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

HD WD Caviar 6400 $99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

Video Card eVGA 8800gts (g92) $260 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130325

Audio Xtremegamer X-FI $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102018

CPU Core 2 Duo E8400 $199 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

OS Vista 64 Home Premium $99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116204

TOTAL (eek!) $1,455



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[BIGJ]

Here is my only thought, you are looking at spending aprox $280 for your mobo and sound card, but you can buy a 780i board that comes w/ the sound card for aprox $250-$260. so there is my humble observation, take it for what its worth!

 

[tiraides]

What monitor do you have? If it's not at least a 24 inch widescreen (or, a resolution of at least 1920x1200), you don't need SLI. Hell, a P35 motherboard and one high-end video card (like the 8800GTS) would be enough for a 1920x1200 resolution.

You can get the RC-690 for less at Provantage. Or, consider the RC-590, which has many of the same features as the RC-690.

The Corsair TX750 will work just as well as the Zalman ZM850-HP, but it's also under $100 right now. That's why we've been recommending it.

8GB is crazy if you aren't a heavy Photoshop or Maya user, you're not planning any heavy video or 3D graphics editing, or you don't use a lot of (nor know anything about) virtual machines. 4GB is plenty.

Yes, I would recommend an aftermarket CPU cooler -- especially if you plan on overclocking the E8400. Here are some options:

Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle HSF - $37
Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $50
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm HSF - $50
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3
Noctua NH-U12P HSF - $60
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme HSF - $57 & Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120MM Case Fan - $14

In case you need one, the Samsung SH-S203B is a good SATA DVD burner.

 

[bnason]

Thx for the great advice guys. A few comments:

1) Yeah, I use a 24" LCD at 1920x1200, thus the desire for SLI. Wanna' keep that option open.
2) What's the 780 do that the 750 doesn't? I didn't see much in the way of features.
3) 8gb is just a fantasy. Can prolly skip it easy.
4) I know the Corsair is cheap. I like the modular connections on the Zalman though.

There we go

 

[tiraides]

If you're not going to buy a second video card within 6-12 months of this purchase, then it's a waste of money to consider an SLI setup. New cards will continually arrive, with many of them being capable of performing at the equivalent level of two midrange/high-end cards in SLI.

If you gotta have SLI, then the EVGA 750i FTW is the current "it" motherboard for SLI. However, the Intel chipsets (P35/X38/X48) are much more stable (both at stock and overclocked) than the NVIDIA-based boards will ever be.