Finalizing a build

I

iGravity

n00b
Joined
Nov 16, 2006
Messages
29
So for the past few weeks I've been looking at different components for an upcoming build. It won't be long until I place my order and I was just wondering if I could get some last minute comments on this system. Please suggest any changes if you could, I would really appreciate it :)

Case: Antec Nine Hundred (yea I know expensive but its sick)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129021

Motherboard: evga nforce 680i (might change when the 650i or 650 ultra comes out, possibly tomorrow?)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813188009

Video Card: evga 8800 gts
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130071

PSU: Thermaltake toughpower 650w (room for future upgrades + modular)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817153040

Processor: Intel core 2 duo e6600 2.4Ghz
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115003

RAM: corsair xms2 ddr2 pc2 6400
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145590

HD: Western Digital 250gb sata 3.0 gb/s (oem)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144417

dvdrw/cdrw: Samsung 18X DVD burner (oem)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151136

price: $1680

Thanks again,
Ryan
 
The only things I can recommend are a different PSU (though, the toughpower is good already), and a different HDD. I'd go for the corsair 520W or 620W. If and when you go SLI, you could always get a GPU PSU 300W BoosterX from FSP. I'd also get the Seagate 7200.10 320GB HDD instead of that WD. I have both, and my Seagate gets about 65MB/s while my WD gets 52MB/s (new one; my older one is a bit faster at 55MB/s I think). My raptor gets 78MB/s, to put things into perspective. My seagate is about as loud as my raptor, though. So the only good thing about those WD2500KS drives is that they're rather quiet. If you want more storage, though it doesnt sound like you do, you could go for the Samsung HD400LJ. It performs on par with the seagate, and is much more quiet than the seagate (quietness on par with the WD2500KS).
 
Some realy good stuff in there like the choice for the ANTEC housing ....make excelllent powersupplies as well. For powersupplies is important "ACTIVE" and not the cheaper "PASSIV" and certaily not the "NON" PSU.

I only would have a closer look at the motherboard is everthing there?

Raid (you now have motherboards which can do two types of Raid on one HD like Raid 0 for the OS and Raid 5 for the precious files) Gigabitlan, enough HD connections maybe a motherboard with Wireless Lan onboard?

Donnow .....just some suggestions.

Western Digital is top at the moment also with the noise levels.
Have four of Western Digital Caviar RE WD3200YS, 320GB (7200rpm, SATA II, 16MB) babies myself in Raid 0...very fast 260 MB/s and REAL 300GB. Don't hear them at all.

So getting into using RAID is also an upgrade even with two HD's. With three you already can make RAID 5 if you want..but not so fast. I like the idea of the two RAID configs mixed in RAID 0 for the OS and 5 For the files..(other subject anywayzz).
 
So the toughpower psu is fine for this build? It has active pfc and is modular, which is also a plus. How does this psu look instead (seasoic s12)? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817151028

Also right now I am using a seagate hd as my secondary and I would say that it is pretty decent, so maybe I should go with a seagate instead. I only decided on the WD because it seemed like 'the thing to do' for hd's. Also loudness doesn't really bother me, I'm sitting next to two dells right now that are pretty loud.

How does the 650i sound for a mobo if it comes out soon? Also this is my first build.

Thanks for the responses,
Ryan
 
Either of those PSUs are fine. I only recommended the Seagate because its a faster single drive solution as opposed to the wd2500ks. I have both drives, as I mentioned above, and they're both great drives. I'm also curious as to how well the 650i chipsets will perform, and knowing NVIDIA, they should be really good. I'd definately go for one for my own build, because I dont like spending more than $130 on a mobo (and I'm not a big fan of SLI).
 
enginurd said:
Either of those PSUs are fine. I only recommended the Seagate because its a faster single drive solution as opposed to the wd2500ks. I have both drives, as I mentioned above, and they're both great drives. I'm also curious as to how well the 650i chipsets will perform, and knowing NVIDIA, they should be really good. I'd definately go for one for my own build, because I dont like spending more than $130 on a mobo (and I'm not a big fan of SLI).
Click to expand...

Alright thanks. I guess I'll keep the thermaltake because of it being modular and I'll probably go for a seagate 250gb. Hopefully 650i does come out tomorrow like some people were saying because I really do not need 16x sli, the psu probably couldn't handle it anyway and I'd rather not pay more money for a new one.

Thanks,
Ryan
 
elation said:
If you're not dead set on the video, you might check out the hot deal from Dell.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0775615

It's listed in the Hot Deals section of the forum. There's an extra 10% off coupon on the last page you can add as well. I think I'm probably going to have to bite on this one. It comes out cheaper even after tax and shipping. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, but the 10% code isn't working for me, or I just don't notice it and the card comes out to $429 I think without tax/shipping. I think I might stick with the evga though because of stepup and the warranty is not voided with overclocking. I appreciate the info though, thanks.
:)
 
Yeah it worked earlier... looks like they killed it. :( I should have clicked buy when I had the chance!
 
I am not an expert on PSU's but it looks cool. Amperage is also important next to Active PFC is the best but honestly I don't even know what "Modular" means?


4 x 18A seems OK.
12 cm fan A -OK (you even have some with 14 cm fans today)

I like the Server Case from Antec the Titan 550 with PSU already built in:

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=91550

Power Supply included: TruePower 2.0 550W ATX12V v2.0 and EPS12V compatible

OUTPUT(maximum output 530 Watts max)
+3.3V +5V +12V1 +12V2 +5VSB -12V
Max.Load 32.0A* 40A* 19A* 19A 2.0A 1.0A
Min. Load 0.5A 0.5A 0.4A 0.4A 0A 0A
Load Reg. ±3% ±3% ±3% ±3% ±5% ±5%
Ripple V(p-p) 50mV 50mV 120mV 120mV 50mV 120mV
* +5V, +3.3V, +12V1, 12V2 maximum output 530 Watts max.
 
Youri Carma said:
I am not an expert on PSU's but it looks cool. Amperage is also important next to Active PFC is the best but honestly I don't even know what "Modular" means?
Click to expand...
Modular means the cables are modular... oops, I used the word in its own definition. Lets google it for you... here ya go:
Equipment is said to be modular when it is made of "plug-in units" which can be added together to make the system larger, improve the capabilities, or expand its size.
Click to expand...
Now apply that to a PSU, and you basically have removable cables, lol. Jonnyguru recommends any of the toughpower series tt models, I believe, so you're good. Check out his site, jonnyguru.com, for his testing methodology and all that good stuff. Antec had a bad run of PSUs lately, (some 550W models) ... so just know that anyone going with Antec right now, you may need an RMA. It should take a while for the bad units to get flushed out of inventory, but I may be wrong.
 
How about a sound card? Would it be worth it to get the creative x-fi xtreme music instead of using onboard sound? I do like to game a lot and I listen to music practically 24/7 if that counts at all. I also use a headset for everything.
 
I know that the onboard sound is getting better and better. Maybe you can find out which chip is used. I don't have much experience with onboard sound since I have the Audigy 2.

Lot of problems with the software but I am OK with the sound. De X-Fi must be much better. I think it is worth it if you buy the most simple version of the X-Fi.

If you gonna talk with sound and music freaks the say that Terratec is much better

http://sounduk.terratec.net/

Maybe I buy Aureon 7.1 Universe with a very good price/quality ratio cause it has everything you have to buy extra on th X-Fi very expensive and maybe even worse in quality.

But with the X-Fi you have much more software tweaking fun and Creative has the patent on the EAX 5.0 game sound. So for gaming X-Fi. For music lovers I would go for a Terratec cause all audiofreaks say it's much better than the creative stuff and the Terratecs are quality build.

With a optical out you also can send the signal with no loss of quality to your optical in on your stereo set. :)
 
As far as sound cards go... try onboard sound first. If you don't like it, then upgrade to a soundcard. Using onboard sound won't affect gaming much, maybe about 10fps loss for worst case scenario.
 
Alright sounds good. Probably will be buying this system soon enough then. Hopefully I don't run into any problems with my first build :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top