New Builder - Big budget

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

Guys,

I get the feeling that this is the kind of thing everyone would love to help on. My budget is around 2700 including monitor. I've already done a lot of research, and this is what I've found (prices in USD, include shipping).

To note: I've skimped in HD space. I plan on getting two 500gig hard drives and putting them on RAID0, so the small primary drive is purposeful. Also, I want to make sure this system is SLI compatible for future upgrades. And, of course, I want to be able to overclock the hell out of this and still have it run rather quietly.

WD Raptor, 36gig -> $99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ -> $400
Nvidia eVGA GeForce 7800GT -> $299
Corsair XMS-3500LL PRO (2 1gig sticks) -> $304
Asus A8N-SLI Premium Motherboard -> $120
Creative Audigy 2ZS -> $67
ENERMAX All in One Noisetaker Series (600W) -> $120
ThermalTake Tai Chi (case) -> $322 (look at this case before you knock it)
Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW -> $929
I already have:
Network Card, DVD Drive, CD + R/RW (I'll get a DVD + R later)

Total: $2660

What do you guys think? (I think I gotta whip out the "O" face.)

GForce64 · Nov 25, 2005

Let's see...36GB Raptor sucks (check the HD sticky). Get a WD2500KS instead, great performer and has 250GB of storage.

You can get kickass overclocking memory for MUCH less than that. As evidenced by http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021

Do tell where you got an ASUS A8N-SLI Premium for 120, that'd be a [H]otDeal if I ever saw one.

Any reason for the Audigy 2 when the X-Fi's are out?

Dude, don't drop 300 bucks for a gimmick case. Pay like 100 for an Antec P series or a Lian-Li and pocket the cash/use it to make this rig better. You'll be happy for it. I'd personally get something from Lian-Li, then get a 7800GTX and a 4400+ X2 with the savings.

Top-end DVD burners are 40 bucks now, just go ahead and get an NEC 3550A.

iSkylla · Nov 25, 2005

If you want me to put together a system for you, tell me and I will.

NKDietrich · Nov 25, 2005

I agree pretty much entirely with what GForce 64 has said.

Ditch the gimmick case and get something like the Antec P180 which is a quality case with three 120mm fan slots, two of which are in the upper back corner near where your CPU and memory sit (great exhaust!)

If you're spending that much dough you might as well get an X-Fi.

The Raptor needs to go. The 74GB isn't noticeably faster than similarly priced 7200RPM 16MB Cache, SATA 3.0Gb/sec models. And the 36GB is quite a bit slower than the 74GB. Raptor will be worth it someday... when they release a new model that has more than good RPMs and a crappy PATA->SATA bridge chip.

Ditch the Corsair XMS. XMS, despite the name, isn't a very good overclocker for the price. Consider G.SKILL or Crucial Ballistix.

And as GForce64 said, the NEC ND-3550A DVD burner is one of the best, and also dirt cheap, $39.99 at Newegg.

Calculate your savings and add it to important performance parts like the CPU, or video card.

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

Found the mobo on newegg (through pricegrabber), but upon closer inspection, it's refurbished.

I looked at a bunch of reviews, and the xms had none bad, plus looks really good on paper. I'm not too worried about price, rather quality. Is the xms really no better than the G.SKILL?

I wanted the case because it is spacious, has good placement of parts, is really quiet, and is already setup for water cooling (and got really good ratings from lots of people and reviewers). As this is my first real build, I don't really feel comfortable putting in water cooling myself, but I do want it. If someone can find a case that fits those criteria, please let me know.

iSkylla · Nov 25, 2005

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

1. The gtx is $160 more than the gt. bear in mind that this system is sli compatible, so i do plan on putting another card in there when the need arises.

2. I looked up the Raptor, and it seems to do really well:
http://anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2454&p=3

But the WD2500KS seemed to be beaten by the Maxtor MaXLine III:
http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200507/20050705WD2500KS_3.html

3. I looked at reviews for the G.SKILL, and not everyone had nice things to say about it. This wasn't the case for the XMS. Granted, these are user reviews, but all the benchmarks said nice things, too. What's the problem with it?

4. Also, my issue with the sound card is that I'm an RA in a dorm, and I can't really blast my music, anyway. I'm graduating next year, and will probably upgrade my sound system then to be top of the line. I'd like to either get top or somewhere towards the bottom as far as quality goes, so that I'm not wasting money when I ditch stuff later on down the road. I guess I can go with the X-Fi XtremeMusic, but not anything better.

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

Ok, I don't want to bash anyone. These are really just questions. I don't know a whole lot about current hardware.

I have a keyboard, mouse, and speaker system already. I REALLY want a 24" lcd.

To justify the case, it already has water cooling, a really good radiator, a couple of powerful, well-placed fans, and is contained in a solid-aluminum case with convection fins. And the price includes shipping and tax.

NulloModo · Nov 25, 2005

You don't need water cooling. Any current high end CPU will run anything you want better than you need it to. Save your worries, money, and time on water cooling setups, just use the 4200+ at what you can get it on stock or cheap HSF air, and upgrade the CPU later if you need it.

EDIT:

You can get old style Antec 'Dragon' (the old Alienware cases) cases for cheap at computer shows, like $60 for a very, very, very nice full tower, go for one.

Om1kron · Nov 25, 2005

I have a big budget to build a pc but I need a monitor. LOL

Dude I got my ass flamed so hard 3 years ago when I said I was going to build the hottest shit out there.

I tell you what I am actually trying to sell an audigy 2zs and I can do 65shipped with all of the original software and games that it came with if you're interested. Its in a box now im not using it.

I am also thinking of ditching my A8nSLi Premium and getting the A832N so if you would like I can do you 130 shipped or 200 shipped even for the mobo and the sound card.

The processor is a good choice, a lot of the elitist dickheads here will tell you that you should get an opteron and overclock the tits off of it. Not everyone wants to build a pc for benchmark purposes.

To everyone who says 36 gig raptors suck can go hump your grandmothers gravesites.

thats all I have to say. regardless of noise, or how fast they're not I think they're solid little fuckers.

This is what I built and I know its a lot more than your budget and that doesnt include the 475 I paid for the Dell 21 ultrasharp lcd all of that is connected to.

But when windows vista comes out this thing is going be running at full potential, its being held back due to the os and me not tweaking it.

(the second videocard is on back order guys sorry if it seems im lying about something I have)

Anyway you're off to a good start the raptor is a good "OS" drive. thats all I use those raptors for is my os and games. Everything else is on the 250 gigger.

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

WD Caviar WD2500KS -> $115
AMD Opteron 170 -> $396
(vs. Athlon 4400+ X2 @ $495 ??)
Nvidia eVGA GeForce 7800GT -> $299
Corsair XMS-3500LL PRO (2 1gig sticks) -> $220 (Just bought it!!)
Asus A8N-SLI Premium Motherboard -> $120 (refurb)
Creative X-Fi XtremeMusic -> $111
ENERMAX All in One Noisetaker Series (600W) -> $120
ThermalTake Tai Chi (case) -> $322 (11 drive bays, 2 fans, water cooling, convection fins on aluminum case)
Dell UltraSharp 24" LCD -> $929

I already have:
Network Card, DVD Drive, CD + R/RW (I'll get a DVD + R later), keyboard, mouse, speakers

Total: $2635 (2730 with 4400+)

Two questions:
1. Which processor?
2. Is refurbished really bad?

iSkylla · Nov 25, 2005

Look what I posted

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

I looked at each thing on the list.

I really want the 24" lcd, so that's a big chunk off the top.

I think the power supply I found is a bit better, and cheaper.

The case + mods end up costing about the same as the case I found, if you were to include the water cooling which most people here don't seem to recommend (but which I want for bragging rights around the dorm, I'm sure you understand).

I looked into your recommendation for the processor, and that's a better choice than the one i had originally, also the sound card. Already bought the XMS memory for cheap, and I don't need a big hard drive at the moment.

Om1kron · Nov 25, 2005

as far as the 24 inch goes hold off on it. I want the damn thing too but not for 900 bucks or 1100 bucks. I have a buddy who scored a whole pc set up and they threw in that monitor for 650 dollars. I could turn around and resell that pc for 200 bucks and get the 24 for 450.

So im just waiting for the opportunity to arise, but in the meantime I dropped 475 for the 2001 flatpanel and its Massive.

NKDietrich · Nov 25, 2005

Why do people always ask for advice, claiming they are clueless, and then ignore it because some newbie gave something a good review on Newegg. Seriously.

I've been building PCs for myself and others for years, yet I _still_ often ask for advice because sometimes we just do something stupid or get suckered into hype, and so forth.

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

eh? I bought the corsair because it was cheaper than the recommended stuff. and i thought the main problem with the corsair was that it was too expensive. I can always send the stuff back if it's really not the best. I was under the impression it was just marginally better, and not worth the price jump.

Kwang · Nov 25, 2005

The 24" LCD is totally worth it.

The Raptor is worth it if you already have a lot of storage space. If you don't, it might be a good idea to get a really fat drive in addition to it. If that's too much money, then just replace the Raptor with a a fat drive.

The case does look pretty iffy to me.

GForce64 · Nov 25, 2005

NKDietrich said:
Why do people always ask for advice, claiming they are clueless, and then ignore it because some newbie gave something a good review on Newegg. Seriously.

I've been building PCs for myself and others for years, yet I _still_ often ask for advice because sometimes we just do something stupid or get suckered into hype, and so forth.

QFT. Listen to us about the Tai-Chi...it's a gimmick.

NKDietrich · Nov 25, 2005

Oh, i didn't see you moved to cheaper stuff. Thought you got the $300 stuff, which is a waste.

Another question, you asked about refurbished? Which part were you looking at that is "refurbished"?

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

the mobo. but it looks like i can get it from someone for about the same, so it's no big deal.

Om1kron · Nov 25, 2005

GForce64 said:
QFT. Listen to us about the Tai-Chi...it's a gimmick.

I have a lian li v1100b and a seasonic st12 600 psu which rounded out to about 450... that tai chi plus a psu is wasting like half of the budget...

get a lian li pc 61 they have gone down dramatically in price, the antec cases are trying to catch up in efficiency while still failing, but at the prices they're selling them at its hard not to buy one.

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

Ok, ok. Finally got some good reasons why this case sucks. All of the site reviews i found were stellar, but the user reviews were not so hot.

Anyway, how's the system other than that?

NulloModo · Nov 25, 2005

I haven't looked at your case, but designer cases are a huge waste of money unless how it look sit majorly important to you.

Get a big case with good airflow (old antec tower will do it for cheap) beyond that, you are just paying to be a pretty boy. I mean, if that matters to you, do it, but honestly, case windows are for fags. Get a big fucking steel tower that has good airflow and be done with it, functional and mean, that is the way it is meant to be.

Om1kron · Nov 25, 2005

NulloModo said:
I haven't looked at your case, but designer cases are a huge waste of money unless how it look sit majorly important to you

yeah like if you have to stare at it and its clear window with 3 million led fans it better be something people wont laugh at you for having I suppose.

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

Well, I also have to sleep in the same room as my case, so if it's brighter than 1000 suns, I surely don't want it.

NulloModo · Nov 25, 2005

jstuckey said:
Well, I also have to sleep in the same room as my case, so if it's brighter than 1000 suns, I surely don't want it.

Black steel tank of a case ftw. Plus, the 3 80mm fans and the PSU one are like a lullabye to me now.

jstuckey · Nov 25, 2005

Yeah, I looked at that Lian-Li V SILENT PC-V1100B, and it looks pretty hot. Black steel case, indeed.

http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/M_V_S_PC-V1100plus.htm

NulloModo · Nov 25, 2005

jstuckey said:
Yeah, I looked at that Lian-Li V SILENT PC-V1100B, and it looks pretty hot. Black steel case, indeed.

http://www.lian-li.com/Product/Chassis/M_V_S_PC-V1100plus.htm

Nice, but pricey. Just find a used Antec on ebay for cheap. I have kicked the shit out of mine, and it is still going strong, enough for my next build easy.

EDIT:

No one honestly gives a fuck what your PC looks like. Unless you are an expert modder and are going to turn it into a work of art, or you have a prissy gf who is going to withhold sex unless it looks pretty, get something functional over pretty.

New Builder - Big budget

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