New C2D Machine, need comments/suggestions

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beserk1

n00b
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
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Hi all

I want to build a computer with a budget around $1500, hopefull can last me for at least 4 years. The machine will be mainly use for gaming and lots of multi-tasking

My plan is to purchase this computer now and add some auxiliary components as times goes on, mostly stuff that can be reused on the next big upgrade.


CPU
  • I think I will go for the e8400, since the new upgrade is going to be a full upgrade anyway with the socket change at the end of year.And since I doubt the gamming or application will fully ultilize anytime soon


*Fan
  • Seem a little pricey but it looks like a solid investment.


DVD Burner
  • If anyone can suggest a better one, feel free. I am open to suggestion, I just picked this one base on price and performance listed on newegg.


Case
  • This case may be a little bigger than what I hope, but then I guess the air flow will just be better, love the all silver look.


Harddrive x2
  • Planning to set up a RAID0 configuration, should I toss in the extra harddrive now? or wait untill the price drop?


RAM
  • This seem to be the best for bucks, heard nothing but good things so far.


Monitor x2
  • Going for 22", hopefully I can find a S series.


Motherboard
  • They both have RAID controller internally, leaning towards the Gigabyte one since is cheaper


Power Supply
  • Read a couple more review on OCZ and Seasonic, it seem seasonic is more on the quiet side.


Video Card
  • Any one know if I will need to buy another fan for the video card if I am looking for some moderate OCing? Anyone know if the Step-up program only apply to their best of the line video card? or it can apply to any card from eVGA?



Thats it for my list, if anyone has any comment/suggestion, fire away. I will keep a close look at the replys and modify my list as times goes on.

Thanks for all the inputs in advanced. Cheers!
 
since you want the computer to last for 4years, I would say go for the q6600 G0 SLACR which is guaranteed at clubit.com. overclock it with thermalright 120 extreme heatsink with a scthe s-flex fan attached to it. you should at the very least get to 3.0ghz

pretty good cases for air flow and sound reduction is the antec p180, p180b, p182. cm690 is good as well.

get a 2x2gb ram @ 800mhz. its all you need for overclocking.

if you could fit it into your budget.. then get the 8800gts g92 512mb.

a corsair 550vx or 520hx will do fine.

motherboard. unless you plan to go sli or crossfire, go with p35 mobo.
 
On the CPU, you can go either way. They are both good. I think most would lean on a Q6600 especially if you plan on overclocking. As far as the case, The Coolermaster RC-690 is a good one at a decent price. The Tuniq Tower 120 should cool your CPU nicely. The HDD get the 500 gig WD SATA 300 for $99. The RAM, 2 x 2gig DDR 2 800s like the G. Skills from NewEgg for $90 is good. Mobo - P35 chipset motherboard such as one from Gigabyte. Monitor id go with 24", PS a Corsair VX450 is sufficient but, a VX550 is also good. If you want it to be modular, Corsair HX520. The Video card go with the 8800GT. That's my 2 cents.
 
don't limit yourself to newegg only. search around websites like clubit, buy, zipzoomfly, etc to find better cheaper deals.
 
did a final update, thanks for everyones input so far.

If nothing is change this seem too be my rig for the next few years.

I am just using newegg as a guide line to what I am going to buy, when the actualy shopping begins, is another research for me
 
For just $30 more, I recommend getting the Q6600. Yes, right now there aren't many apps that fully utlize quad-cores. However since you're planning on keeping the PC for 4 years, go for the quad-core since future games and apps will use all 4 cores. In addition, that's a crap price for the E8400. It's MSRP is suppose to be $190. However due to heavy demand and low supply, the price has jumped up $50. Frankly, that's a really bad price for a dual-core CPU nowadays.

As for the AC7 Pro HSF, I do not recommend it for either the E8400 or Q6600. It will not do too well of a job cooling an OC'd Q6600 or E8400. I recommend these other HSF instead:
Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja HSF - $36
Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $45
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm HSF - $45
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme HSF - $57 & Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120MM Case Fan - $14

Why do you need that raid controller card for? If you need RAID, get the Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R for $125 for ease of RAID setup.

I recommend getting a different power supply. That Seasonic PSU is great but there are other PSUs out there that provide more power on the +12V rail than it. Check out these two Seasonic made but Corsair branded PSUs:
Corsair 550VX 550W PSU - $89
Corsair 520HX 520W PSU - $106

As for eVGA's Step-Up program, it applies to any card from eVGA I believe. Dunno how well the stock HSF does for OCing.
 
Absolutely. If you research and read enuff of the postings, you will get an idea on what components a majority of the peeps on here suggest and recommend. You will find numerous threads on PC builds in General Hardware section.

Danny Bui said:
For just $30 more, I recommend getting the Q6600. Yes, right now there aren't many apps that fully utlize quad-cores. However since you're planning on keeping the PC for 4 years, go for the quad-core since future games and apps will use all 4 cores. In addition, that's a crap price for the E8400. It's MSRP is suppose to be $190. However due to heavy demand and low supply, the price has jumped up $50. Frankly, that's a really bad price for a dual-core CPU nowadays.

As for the AC7 Pro HSF, I do not recommend it for either the E8400 or Q6600. It will not do too well of a job cooling an OC'd Q6600 or E8400. I recommend these other HSF instead:
Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja HSF - $36
Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $45
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm HSF - $45
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme HSF - $57 & Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120MM Case Fan - $14

Why do you need that raid controller card for? If you need RAID, get the Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R for $125 for ease of RAID setup.

I recommend getting a different power supply. That Seasonic PSU is great but there are other PSUs out there that provide more power on the +12V rail than it. Check out these two Seasonic made but Corsair branded PSUs:
Corsair 550VX 550W PSU - $89
Corsair 520HX 520W PSU - $106

As for eVGA's Step-Up program, it applies to any card from eVGA I believe. Dunno how well the stock HSF does for OCing.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the heads up.

I think I will go for TRUE 120 and a fan on the side, now I just have to make sure I can mount the damn thing.

Good advice on the mobo too, found a more pricey alternative, can't find any major difference that I really can use on the more expansive one. If I can't find anything that makes me goes with the Asus one, I am mostly likely going to go with the Gigabyte one.
 
Nice! Do you need a fan for the heat sink? or is the one on the case sufficient?

I see 3 out of 4 case there has a fan on the heat sink, I am debating if I should go with that or not. Then again, is only $12-$15 extra. The thing I worry is will I mess up the air flow if I install additional fan in there.

By the way, thanks for those pictures.
 
beserk1 said:
Nice! Do you need a fan for the heat sink? or is the one on the case sufficient?

I see 3 out of 4 case there has a fan on the heat sink, I am debating if I should go with that or not. Then again, is only $12-$15 extra. The thing I worry is will I mess up the air flow if I install additional fan in there.

By the way, thanks for those pictures.
Click to expand...

I recommend getting a fan for the Ultra 120 Extreme just to keep your CPU temps on the safe side. And no you won't mess up the air flow inside the case with the addition of a HS fan.
 
I am just guessing here, as non of the pictures show a air flow diagram.

I think the air goes from the front, to the back; and the fan on the heat sink should be blowing through the heat sink toward the back fan.

Also, I saw a lot of case have several fan in side, like some has one just above the heat sink, is that only blowing air in, or sucking the hot air out?

And some of them has fans on the 5"25 bay, and the middle box or even the bottom box where the hard drives are installed, does all those fans make a difference? Or I wont know until I actually set the things up?

One more thing, how much space will I have on the gap between the plate and the mobo tray? I want to stuff all the cables in the back there, think I will have enough space there?
 
I think the air goes from the front, to the back; and the fan on the heat sink should be blowing through the heat sink toward the back fan.
Click to expand...
Correct. The top fan is exhausting the air out.

As for whether or not those extra fans helps, it really depends on your environment and parts. For me, putting a fan in the 5'25" bay didn't make a difference whatsoever. Putting a fan in the upper hard drive bay and lower hard drive bay lowered my video card and hard drive temps. I've seen in other people's cases where putting the fan in the upper hard drive bay didn't do a thing. So yeah, it depends on you.

And yes, there is plenty of room to hide cables in the P180 cases:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=43763
 
Your setup is on the right track...I would go for Better Ram then A-Data , and Bring it down to 2Gbs (2 x 1GB). I got crucial and its real nice hasnt given me problems with the 1066 so far. TIP: Dont Judge by Newegg Customer Reviews Until you get your RAM SET. Crucial is Known for Good Performance RAM. ...........Good Luck Wit your Build :>
 
@Asusrocks
oh man, did you just hijack my thread? :p

but while you are here, mind sharing some experience?

What mobo was that? was it the asus one?

Did you need that much watts in your PSU? or did you just kind of went with that one??

On a more general note, how did you find your new computer? work good? played any games on it?


@Danny Bui
So I guess the main fan that is a must is the 1 intake from the front, 1-2 exhaust on the top rear and the back.

@everyone
And also, have any one feel the need of hard drive cooling a must? I dont plan on getting those SCSI 10k rpm hard drive, does those average 7200 get hot to an alarming temperate that warrant a fan for itself? Please bare in mind I will have 2 hard drive, not stack right on top, but have a space of a hard drive between them.
 
@Asusrocks
Please make a new thread elsewhere asking for opinions. Don't hijack other people's threads.

@berserk1
Well it depends on your environment, airflow inside your case, the power supply you chose, which hard drives you chose and how hot is too hot for you. Some 7200RPM drives run pretty cool and thus don't need active cooling while others need active cooling since they run pretty hot. Some people live in hot places and need that active cooling. I personally don't like having my hard drives reaching 35C and above. However, there are others don't mind what the temps are as long as they are under 50C, just 5C lower than the maxmimum operating temp of many hard drives.

So the answer to your question is: It depends. You just have to decide for yourself if you need that 120mm fan in the lower hard drive bay.
 
Asusrocks -- If you didn't make post 1 of this thread, then it's not an open thread... make your own.
 
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