New PC - Need Help

I personally would go with 1 EVGA 8800GTS. 2 is kind of overkill. Your Quad and 1 8800gts will handle anything out there with ease.
As for the motherboard, I would recommend anyone of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130098
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128067

I would dump the Ballistix and go for the
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)

especially with you going Vista 64.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

I would also dump the COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850
Not very good. You can do better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002

and get this mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104178

These speakers rock:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121121


with all of these changes to your order, you will have almost $300.00+? Better Keyboard ? Better case? (though the 690 is a great value)
 
I need to keep the build under 200 dollars. Shipping and all.

None of those mobo's you suggest are SLi compatible (Or at least they don't say they are on Newegg, and I know no other way to check.).

RAM you suggest is actually cheaper. Noted.

And if I run SLi, won't I need more than 650w?

Changed mouse, maybe. >.>

I plan on running a bunch of video games (Crysis, UT3) so wouldn't running two of those cards in SLi be better? Or is the performance gain minimal? Would I be better off to get a 8800 with 768 MB of RAM, and then wait awhile untiI can afford another and run those in SLi?
 
truthelixirx said:
I need to keep the build under 200 dollars. Shipping and all.
Click to expand...

I hope you meant $2000. :)

This quote pretty much sums up my thoughts on SLI:
Markyip1 said:
SLI is a terrible idea as an upgrade path, as a by the time you're ready to buy that second card, a newer, better card will be out that offers considerable more performance than two older cards in tandem for a similar (or sometimes cheaper) price. SLI is only needed if you want to game at 1920x1200 or above at max settings on most current games, and if your prepared to buy two cards today. Otherwise, a single card solution is better. Keep in mind that a single card solution runs cooler, is simpler to maintain, and gives you more motherboard choices.
Click to expand...

So unless you're planning on getting a 24" or larger monitor, anything higher than 1920x1200, don't bother with SLI. SLI won't make too much of a difference on anything less.

In addition, the 8800GT 512MB and 8800GTS 512MB cards perform just as well or better than the 8800GTX 768MB. So it's a total waste of money now to get the 8800GTX 768MB. And not the 8800GTS 640MB does not outperform the 8800GTS 512MB. The GTS 512MB has more shaders and is higher clocked than the GTS 640MB. Hence why the GTS 512MB can outperform the GTX 768MB and GTS 640MB despite having less RAM.

Also, 8GB of RAM is total overkill if this is just a gaming PC. If you're running multiple virtual OSes, a server, or deal with large files i.e major video or photoshop editing, 8GB of RAM would be a good idea. But for gaming? Total and utter overkill. And a bit useless I might add.

As for power supplies, it depends on which cards you're planning to use in SLI. The Corsair 620HX can easily handle two 8800GTS 512MB in SLI.
 
Danny Bui said:
I hope you meant $2000. :)

I did. :p

This quote pretty much sums up my thoughts on SLI:


So unless you're planning on getting a 24" or larger monitor, anything higher than 1920x1200, don't bother with SLI. SLI won't make too much of a difference on anything less.

In addition, the 8800GT 512MB and 8800GTS 512MB cards perform just as well or better than the 8800GTX 768MB. So it's a total waste of money now to get the 8800GTX 768MB. And not the 8800GTS 640MB does not outperform the 8800GTS 512MB. The GTS 512MB has more shaders and is higher clocked than the GTS 640MB. Hence why the GTS 512MB can outperform the GTX 768MB and GTS 640MB despite having less RAM.

Also, 8GB of RAM is total overkill if this is just a gaming PC. If you're running multiple virtual OSes, a server, or deal with large files i.e major video or photoshop editing, 8GB of RAM would be a good idea. But for gaming? Total and utter overkill. And a bit useless I might add.

As for power supplies, it depends on which cards you're planning to use in SLI. The Corsair 620HX can easily handle two 8800GTS 512MB in SLI.
Click to expand...

Okay, after checking here, and on some other forums, I have updated my list.


I upped my power supply to a 1kw one. I'd like to know if it is any good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256010

I got rid of the two 512 GTS's and replaced them with one 8800Ultra (At the suggestion of a friend.) :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143107

If you think I need to go back to the other card let me know. Sorry if you feel like your original advice was wasted. :(

Not sure why you thought I had 8 gigs of RAM. Must have been while I was copying things over and has my quantities on my list messed up. That is fixed now. :)
 
1000W is seriously overkill. The Corsair 620HX 620W is more than enough power for any of your planned setups. At most the Corsair 750W PSU is what you need.

Also the 8800Ultra is a bad idea as well. A single ~$360 8800GTS 512MB performs on par with the ~$650 8800Ultra:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3175&p=3

In addition, I would not bother with a OEM Q6600. Go for the retail box since it comes with a HSF and a 3 year warranty. Those alone are worth the extra costs.

Though if you still go with the OEM model, you will still need to buy a HSF. Any of these are good choices:
Cooler Master GeminII RR-CCH-ANU2-GP HSF - $30 & 120mm Yate Loon D12SL-12 Case Fan - $3.50 x 2
Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja HSF - $36
Tuniq Tower 120 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

Forgot to do so last time but I recommend getting a Intel P35 mobo instead of an SLI mobo if you're not getting or have a 24" or bigger monitor. Any of these mobos are good choices:
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $86
Abit IP35-E Intel P35 Motherboard - $90
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R Intel P35 Motherboard - $130
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P Intel P35 Motherboard - $145
Abit IP35 Pro Intel P35 Motherboard - $168
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 Intel P35 Motherboard - $175

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 need legacy ports, than the DS3L. 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, then go for the DS3P. If you want something that can overclock pretty damn high, than the IP35 Pro.
 
Forget SLI ! Go with a EVGA 8800 GT SSC or the new GTS. With EVGA, the new 9000 series cards are coming out in February and you will be in the 90 day step-up window.With EVGA, When you register your new card, you have 90 days to "Step up" to a new card. You will be able to use the full purchase price of your card towards a new Updated Model Card with in 90 days .

The Corsair 620 has more than enough power. That silverstone is overkill also. If you still insist on a bigger , more powerful Power Supply, This one is hard to best:

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Black)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

Also Danny Bui is correct about the 8 Gigs of Ram. Overkill!
You can do this way under 2000.00 if you can get over the SLI stuff. As far as Heatsink and Thermal paste , you will not find better than :
[SIZE=-1]
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme[/SIZE]

http://www.svc.com/ultra-120-extreme.html

Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E

http://www.svc.com/sy-fan-sff21e.html

[SIZE=-1]Arctic Cooling MX-2

http://www.svc.com/fan-mx2.html
[/SIZE]
Yate Loon D12SL-12 Case Fans -4 for $15.96 -Get 8! That case has alot of spots for 120mm fans. These push alot of air and thay do it quietly. A favorite Fan for all us.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/12yalod1cafa.html
 
msarp said:
Forget SLI ! Go with a EVGA 8800 GT SSC or the new GTS. With EVGA, the new 8900 series cards are coming out in February and you will be in the 90 day step-up window.
Click to expand...

90 day step-up window?


Anyways, gonig throguh the suggestions from you guys I have:

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/MySavedWishDetail.asp?BundleExist=N&ID=5251745


But, the monitor I have is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824252015

Its native resolution is:

1680 x 1050

I don't know if that changes anything you guys have said so far though.



And, thanks for all the help. Looks like I'd have wasted a lot of money otherwise. :)
 
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