New Build - Advice / Critique

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djfreex

n00b
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Messages
45
  • Run at 1920x1080 resolution with trusty Westy 37"
  • Plan to run the latest generation games at least 1280, preferably 1600x1200 resolution
  • Not interested in SLI due to possible config headaches and price
  • Not planning on multi monitor setup at the moment
  • Budget: $800-$1000
  • Recycle some old pieces

Here is the plan:

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail $89.99
EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP $259.99
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail $249.99 (Retail)
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $77.99
$677.96 Total

Case: Any known reliable case (P180/900 etc) that shows up as a deal. (~$100 possibly)
PSU: Recycled - Antec 550W $0
HDD: SATA HDD that will be recycled $0

My questions:
1. When is the best time to buy? E8400 inventory will be replenished and some good deals on 8800 GTS side as 9800 GTX rolls in. I am hoping that I catch a deal for the CPU/Video Card.
2. Is 4GB memory a lot for this system? My reasoning behind it is possibility of switching to Vista soon and increasing gaming performance.
3. Any suggestions on how I can cut more corners or build a better system with a different setup?
4. I am not really sure about the MOBO. Any other MOBO suggestions?
 
1. if you can get a e8400 for $200 then go ahead. on newegg you can get an oem for $200 but of course you dont get the warranty so that's a downside. otherwise i would go for a q6600 or q9300 (cooler than q6600 but limited overclocking due to multiplier)

2. really 2gb is all you need unless you use photoshop or anything like that. but since ram is cheap ppl like to get 4gb. anything more than that must mean you do serious photoediting or such. make sure your OS is 64bit to run all 4gb of ram.

3. i dont really see how you can make your setup better really. for your budget, the only thing i could imagine is a cpu cooler to overclock. this is where i would recommend the zerotherm nirvana nv120 120mm cpu cooler and thermalright 120 extreme w/ scythe s-flex 120mm fan.

4.
Danny Bui said:
And since SLI is out of picture, I recommend going with a motherboard based on the P35 chipset since it runs cooler, OC's higher and is more reliable than any Nvidia chipsets for Intel motherboards. Here are some recommendations:
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $90
MSI P35 Neo2-FR Intel P35 Motherboard - $112
DFI BloodIron P35-T2RL Intel P35 Motherboard - $120
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R Intel P35 Motherboard - $122
DFI LanParty DK P35-T2RS Intel P35 Motherboard - $140
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P Intel P35 Motherboard - $151

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 4 SATA ports or legacy ports, then the IP35-E is a good choice. If you like the IP35-E but need legacy ports, check out the DS3L. If you need 5 SATA ports, 2 eSATA ports, and a second PCI-E x16 port, then get the Neo2-Fr. If you want heavy overclocking abilities and six SATA ports, check out the Blood Iron. If you like the BloodIron but want significantly better overclock stability, go for the LanParty. If you want 8 SATA ports, RAID, and legacy ports and high overclocks, than the DS3R is a good choice. If you want the DS3R but need Firewire and a second PCI-E x16 port, then go for the DS3P. If you want something that can overclock pretty damn high along with eSATA ports and firewire connections, than the IP35 Pro. Note that the IP35-Pro seems to have problems with the Wolfdales CPUs
Click to expand...

*i took out the abit boards from the original list because they have had issues with the new 45nm processors such as the e8400.
 
djfreex said:
Case: Any known reliable case (P180/900 etc) that shows up as a deal. (~$100 possibly)
Click to expand...

The Antec P182 is at Microcenter for $105 ($70 with the MIR that expires today). Maybe. I ordered mine on Thursday and got an email saying it was backordered, yet it still shows up on the site as available. Not the best first impression for my first purchase with them.
 
If the Antec 550W power supply you're using is the Antec TruePower 2.0/II PSU, swap it out. That particular model (The TruePower series) is known to not be able to handle the full load that it's rated for. Buy one of the Corsair power supplies available at Buy.com; you could purchase the HX520, VX550, or TX650 for under $100 each with free shipping.

$250 is too much to spend on the E8400; its supposed MSRP is around $200. Get the E8400 if you really want it, but for $250, the Q6600 is the better buy.

Here are a list of cases known to be available for under/around $100 (plus shipping):

Cooler Master Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $40
Cooler Master Centurion 534 ATX Case (Black or Silver) - $40
Cooler Master Centurion 532 ATX Case - $55
Cooler Master RC-590-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $60
Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $70
Lian Li PC-7B Plus II Black ATX Case - $70
Cooler Master Mystique RC-632S-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $85
Lian Li PC-61 USB Black ATX Case - $100

If you need additional case fans, pick up some Yate Loon 120mm fans from Petra's Tech Shop.
 
That problem has been fixed a while ago. Today's Gigabyte boards are just as reliable as the other brands.
 
Shadowfury957 said:
I heard Gigabyte boards aren't as nice and reliable as others such as Asus, Abit,and DFI
Click to expand...

I've heard the same thing about all those other brands you mentioned. ;)

Whats funny is, I've had at least one board from each of those brands die, in the past. No brand is perfect. Choose what you like.
 
tiraides said:
If the Antec 550W power supply you're using is the Antec TruePower 2.0/II PSU, swap it out. That particular model (The TruePower series) is known to not be able to handle the full load that it's rated for. Buy one of the Corsair power supplies available at Buy.com; you could purchase the HX520, VX550, or TX650 for under $100 each with free shipping.

$250 is too much to spend on the E8400; its supposed MSRP is around $200. Get the E8400 if you really want it, but for $250, the Q6600 is the better buy.

Here are a list of cases known to be available for under/around $100 (plus shipping):

Cooler Master Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $40
Cooler Master Centurion 534 ATX Case (Black or Silver) - $40
Cooler Master Centurion 532 ATX Case - $55
Cooler Master RC-590-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $60
Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $70
Lian Li PC-7B Plus II Black ATX Case - $70
Cooler Master Mystique RC-632S-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $85
Lian Li PC-61 USB Black ATX Case - $100

If you need additional case fans, pick up some Yate Loon 120mm fans from Petra's Tech Shop.
Click to expand...

This is the power supply I have:
Antec TruePower TRUEBLUE 480 ATX12V 480W Power Supply 115/ 230 V UL, TUV, CB, VDE, FCC CLASS B, DEMKO, NEMKO, SEMKO, FIMKO - Retail
 
Yeah definitely replace that power supply.

You do know that's a 480W PSU in the link, not a 550W PSU that you said you had, right? Or did you mean it's part of the same family, the Trupower TrueBlue?

Either way, replace that PSU with any of the ones that Tiraides recommended.
 
Here is where I stand:

1 DFI LANPARTY DK P35-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $139.99
1 BFG Tech BFGE88512GTSE GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $254.99
1 CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX ATX12V V2.2 450W Power Supply - Retail $69.99
1 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model EU80570PJ0806M - OEM $199.99
1 GeIL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model GX24GB6400UDCA - Retail $99.99
1 ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm 2-ball UFO Bearing / Transparent CPU Cooler $40.99

Totall: $805.94 - Rebates $65.00 = $740.94
 
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