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I want to build a new PC within a month likely, just waiting for Nvidia and AMD to throw out some new cards to pick from.
Budget is around $1500-2000 (although its not that easy converting prices over here to $, difference varies a lot between components).
Budget isnt that strict, I'm willing to pay a bit more for quality, but of course I dont like to waste money either
The goal is to have a top end gaming pc, which is reasonable quiet (important factor, although quieting down a high end pc obviously got its limits), and able to perform good for at least 2 years before upgrading (likely when Intel release the 32nm shrink of Nehalem (2010), which would mean new MB, CPU and RAM upgrade of course, and maybe a GPU same year, e.g. mostly a new pc, hopefully re-using the other parts if something revolutionary haven't happened in those areas...).
I wont overclock heavily, but I'll surely try a decent overclock of the CPU, to gain whatever it can offer without compromising on noise.
The components and a few comments (so you got something to base your criticism on ^^)
CASE:
- Antec P182 - $130 - Good case for a 'quiet' pc
MOTHERBOARD:
- GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DS5 - ~$200 (can't find it at newegg) - Not totally sure about this one. Might look at P45 boards too. Seems like a good board however, just a bit expensive. Difference between DS4 and DS5 as I can see it is slightly better northbridge heatsink, but I dont know if its worth the small price difference.
Having quite some issues figuring out what the best board is for a reasonable price.
Feature wise I'm mostly concerned about good quality, and some of the 'standard' high end stuff like eSata/firewire. Earlier PC's Ive build, Ive often regretted buying a cheap MB, only to end up missing some features later.
CPU:
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz - $339 - Yet another difficult choice due to the price. While games might run better with 2 cores, I'd like a processor which still runs great even with plenty of other software running at the same time too.
Could save quite a lot by going E8400, Q6600 or Q9300, but haven't been able to convince myself if I should pick one of the cheaper ones so far.
RAM:
- Mushkin 'Redline' DDR2 PC2-1000 4GB CL5 Kit HP2 - $100
or
- OCZ 'Platinum' DDR2-1000 4GB CL5 - $95
Listing both because I'll just pick the one they have where Ill buy most of the other componensts (less complicated if as much as possible is bought same place), and they both seem to good quality and same price.
I realize 1000 Mhz isnt needed, but prices on 800 and 1000Mhz seems to be the same (here at least), so why not?
HD:
- Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA - $100 - Seems to be a great quiet drive, not much to say about it.
SOUND CARD: Two choices:
- Asus Xonar DX - $80 - Best thing about it: Its not Creative Slightly concerned about compatability with games, but at the same time Creatives combatability in Vista isnt exactly great either.
- Creative X-FI XtremeGamer - $70 - Hardware EAX and all the driver issues which follows.
I'm biased toward the Asus, but its not an easy choice given the driver problems both cards have.
DVD:
- Samsung S203 (B or N depending on availability) - $27 - Nothing to say, people seem to like it.
CASE FANs:
- 3x Scythe Slipstream 120mm 1200RPM - 4x $9 - Should be very quiet. Attaching Zalman FanMate2's to turn speed a bit down. One will be placed as rear exhaust, one at the bottom near PSU, and uhm, last one might be used either as extra front intake otherwise just as backup.
- Scythe Kama Bay - $20 - Front intake fan in the 5.25" bays.
CPU HEATSINK:
- ThermalRight Ultra-120 Extreme - $60 - Still seems to be a good choice. Although the newer heatsink design with heatpipes at the contact surface, as in OCZ Vendetta 2 and others seem interesting too.
CPU FAN:
- Scythe S-FLEX 120mm - $20 (- Or just yet another Scythe Slipstream) - The reason I'm considering S-flex instead of the cheaper Slipstreams would be 1) some people argue it performs better under air pressure (e.g. placed on a heatsink) than the Slipstreams, and 2) its rated for much longer runtime than the slipstreams (a CPU fan dying sucks a bit more than a case fan dying)
PSU:
- Corsair 620w 620HX - $165 - Standard choice everywhere it seems Quality, reliable and quiet.
OS:
- Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit OEM - $99.99 - For 4GB RAM and DX10. I'll dualboot WinXp for the stuff Vista still sucks at, if needed (and if I can cheat my old OEM XP to accept a new PC, has worked before).
Undecided:
- GPU - Most likely either Nvidias 260 / 280 or AMDs 4870 - I dont plan on going SLI (obviously not with the choice of motherboard), CrossFire might be a possible if the choice ends up being 4870, but so far I dont plan it (current monitor is 1680x1050 btw).
- GPU cooler if any is released which fit. If not it will be added later.
Budget is around $1500-2000 (although its not that easy converting prices over here to $, difference varies a lot between components).
Budget isnt that strict, I'm willing to pay a bit more for quality, but of course I dont like to waste money either
The goal is to have a top end gaming pc, which is reasonable quiet (important factor, although quieting down a high end pc obviously got its limits), and able to perform good for at least 2 years before upgrading (likely when Intel release the 32nm shrink of Nehalem (2010), which would mean new MB, CPU and RAM upgrade of course, and maybe a GPU same year, e.g. mostly a new pc, hopefully re-using the other parts if something revolutionary haven't happened in those areas...).
I wont overclock heavily, but I'll surely try a decent overclock of the CPU, to gain whatever it can offer without compromising on noise.
The components and a few comments (so you got something to base your criticism on ^^)
CASE:
- Antec P182 - $130 - Good case for a 'quiet' pc
MOTHERBOARD:
- GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DS5 - ~$200 (can't find it at newegg) - Not totally sure about this one. Might look at P45 boards too. Seems like a good board however, just a bit expensive. Difference between DS4 and DS5 as I can see it is slightly better northbridge heatsink, but I dont know if its worth the small price difference.
Having quite some issues figuring out what the best board is for a reasonable price.
Feature wise I'm mostly concerned about good quality, and some of the 'standard' high end stuff like eSata/firewire. Earlier PC's Ive build, Ive often regretted buying a cheap MB, only to end up missing some features later.
CPU:
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz - $339 - Yet another difficult choice due to the price. While games might run better with 2 cores, I'd like a processor which still runs great even with plenty of other software running at the same time too.
Could save quite a lot by going E8400, Q6600 or Q9300, but haven't been able to convince myself if I should pick one of the cheaper ones so far.
RAM:
- Mushkin 'Redline' DDR2 PC2-1000 4GB CL5 Kit HP2 - $100
or
- OCZ 'Platinum' DDR2-1000 4GB CL5 - $95
Listing both because I'll just pick the one they have where Ill buy most of the other componensts (less complicated if as much as possible is bought same place), and they both seem to good quality and same price.
I realize 1000 Mhz isnt needed, but prices on 800 and 1000Mhz seems to be the same (here at least), so why not?
HD:
- Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA - $100 - Seems to be a great quiet drive, not much to say about it.
SOUND CARD: Two choices:
- Asus Xonar DX - $80 - Best thing about it: Its not Creative
Slightly concerned about compatability with games, but at the same time Creatives combatability in Vista isnt exactly great either.- Creative X-FI XtremeGamer - $70 - Hardware EAX and all the driver issues which follows.
I'm biased toward the Asus, but its not an easy choice given the driver problems both cards have.
DVD:
- Samsung S203 (B or N depending on availability) - $27 - Nothing to say, people seem to like it.
CASE FANs:
- 3x Scythe Slipstream 120mm 1200RPM - 4x $9 - Should be very quiet. Attaching Zalman FanMate2's to turn speed a bit down. One will be placed as rear exhaust, one at the bottom near PSU, and uhm, last one might be used either as extra front intake otherwise just as backup.
- Scythe Kama Bay - $20 - Front intake fan in the 5.25" bays.
CPU HEATSINK:
- ThermalRight Ultra-120 Extreme - $60 - Still seems to be a good choice. Although the newer heatsink design with heatpipes at the contact surface, as in OCZ Vendetta 2 and others seem interesting too.
CPU FAN:
- Scythe S-FLEX 120mm - $20 (- Or just yet another Scythe Slipstream) - The reason I'm considering S-flex instead of the cheaper Slipstreams would be 1) some people argue it performs better under air pressure (e.g. placed on a heatsink) than the Slipstreams, and 2) its rated for much longer runtime than the slipstreams (a CPU fan dying sucks a bit more than a case fan dying)
PSU:
- Corsair 620w 620HX - $165 - Standard choice everywhere it seems
Quality, reliable and quiet.OS:
- Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit OEM - $99.99 - For 4GB RAM and DX10. I'll dualboot WinXp for the stuff Vista still sucks at, if needed (and if I can cheat my old OEM XP to accept a new PC, has worked before).
Undecided:
- GPU - Most likely either Nvidias 260 / 280 or AMDs 4870 - I dont plan on going SLI (obviously not with the choice of motherboard), CrossFire might be a possible if the choice ends up being 4870, but so far I dont plan it (current monitor is 1680x1050 btw).
- GPU cooler if any is released which fit. If not it will be added later.
