Would Like Suggestions for 1st Build

M

McLMan

n00b
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
9
Revised - See Post #7

While I've done some upgrading in the past, I've yet to build a computer from scratch. I'm by no means very knowledgeable, but after about a week of reading these are the components I've come up with:

Case - Antec Nine Hundred ATX Mid Tower Case
Motherboard - MSI P7N SLI Platinum
Video Card(s) - Dual GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB
Power Supply - Corsair 650TX 650W Power Supply
Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz
Memory - 4GB (2 x 2GB) Corsair DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Memory - TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX
Hard Disk - SAMSUNG SpinPoint T 500GB SATA Hard Drive
Keyboard - Saitek USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard
Mouse - Logitech G5 Wheel USB Laser Mouse
Optical Drive #1 - Sony 20X DVD+/-R DVD Burner w/ LightScribe (SATA)
Optical Drive #2 - Sony SATA DVD-ROM Drive
Operating System - Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate
CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler

Hopefully you can tell from the parts that I'm attempting to build a gaming computer. While my building experience level is low, I can follow instructions.

The above list runs $1,829.87 at newegg. I was hoping to stay around $1,700.00. Are there any opportunities for cost savings without sacrificing performance (I know that keyboard and mouse are very obvious areas)? Am I screwing up somewhere and could do better for about the same $$ by going a different route? Most importantly am I missing anything?

Will cooling be a problem with 2 video cards? I tried to pick a case that would cool well.

Overall what I'm looking for is something that will be good now, and upgradable later. That's why I went with a newer motherboard. I plan on running stock for a while, and then overclocking after I'm certain everything is going to mesh. (And I learn more about overclocking ;) )
 
What size monitor/resolution are you playing on? You may not need sli. Also why not a quad core processor like a Q6600?
 
If you're going to run Dual 8800GTS than the MSI NX8800GTS will be cheaper at $249.99/each. I personally would get 2 x 8800GT for $187/each such as the MSI NX8800GT card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127329 Also, a Corsair VX550 will be sufficient to run those cards in SLI and cheaper at only $85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004. The O/S, no need to get Vista Ultimate 64 bit. Get the Home Premium 64 bit for $110 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116202

BTW, unless you want to run Crysis at a higher resolution and setting, or expect to play graphic intensive games at 1920 x 1200 resolution with settings on high, a single 8800GTS 512MB will be fine. What PC games do you play or intend on playing? A single 8800GTS 512MB or even an 8800GT will run a majority of the games now at high settings with 1680 x 1050 res to 1920 x 1200 res depending on the game.
 
McLMan said:
Overall what I'm looking for is something that will be good now, and upgradable later. That's why I went with a newer motherboard.
Click to expand...

Just to note, Intel is bringing out Nehalem at the end of this year/start of next according to current plans, and that will have a new socket incompatible with LGA775, because it has an on-board memory controller. So no LGA775 board can be that upgradeable; Penryn-class processors are the best you'll get.

Answering the question about what resolution you're using should sort out the SLI issue, and if you decide not to use it, then an Intel chipset motherboard is preferable to Nvidia for Intel processors.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys.

The monitor I just recently got, and like a lot, is a 20" widescreen Samsung. Max resolution 1680 x 1050. What I've read as far as processors go is that Core 2 Duo is the best "bang for your buck" processor.

I'm looking at the MSI NX8800GT, not much difference from the 8800GTS, other than price. Thanks also for the O/S link!
 
Is there a reason why you went for Vista Ultimate? Do the backup and security features of Vista Ultimate warrant the additional $80 over Vista Home Premium?

Since your monitor is maxed out at 1680 x 1050, you do not need SLI and, as a result, that Nvidia 750i motherboard. And that's a good thing. Generally, Intel based chipsets (Intel P35, G33, X38) are more reliable, run cooler and can OC higher than Nvidia Intel SLI chipsets. Some Intel P35 motherboards to look at:
Abit IP35-E Intel P35 Motherboard - $90
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $90
MSI P35 Neo2-FR Intel P35 ATX Motherboard - $117
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R Intel P35 Motherboard - $125
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 DS3L is a good choice. If you need 5 SATA ports, 2 eSATA ports, and a second PCI-E x16 port, then get the Neo2-Fr. 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.

So a single 8800GT is more than enough for your needs. You'll only notice a significant performance increase with SLI if you play at 1920x1200. Since you're not, a single 8800GT will suffice.
 
OK, thanks for all of your replies. I've taken all the suggestions, done a lot more reading, and have come up with a new configuration:

Case - Antec Nine Hundred
Motherboard - ABIT IP35 Pro
Video Card - EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS (G92) 512MB
Power Supply - Corsair CMPSU-650TX (650W)
Processor - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Memory - 4GB Corsiar Dominator DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
Hard Drive - Samsung SpinPoint T Series 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
Keyboard - Saitek Eclipse Keyboard
Mouse - Logitech G5
Optical Drive #1 - Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD+/-R DVD Burner (SATA)
Optical Drive #2 - Sony NEC Optiarc SATA DVD-ROM Drive
Operating System - Vista Home Premium (64 Bit)
CPU Cooler - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler

I was hesitant to give up the ability to go SLI, but the stability of the P35 chipset won me over. The IP35 Pro does support Crossfire though, maybe ATI will catch back up in the video card race if/when the need to run dual GPU's arises for me.

Throw in some Arctic Silver 5 and an anti-static strap and the total comes to $1,537.87. Under budget, which is nice. I've got to go out of town this week, but intend to place the order when I get back on Saturday. I'm still interested in hearing any comments.
 
Drop the Dominator RAM. It's overpriced and its lower latency and higher speed does not warrant the high price. Even with overclocking in mind, all you need is DDR2 800 RAM for the Q6600:
G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ 2 x 2GB DDR2 800 RAM - $90

Other than that, looks good to me.
 
Any real reason youre getting a quad core? I would get an E8400 if I were building today but Im a gamer/OCer. Its OCs higher and theres not much support in games for quad cores yet. Either way if you have a Microcenter near you they had each of those processors for around $200 a while back.

That memory is also way overpriced. 4GB should be easily under $100.

You might not need a power supply that powerful either. Corsair has a PSU finder on their page if you plug in your specs.

Any reason you went Vista 64? I tried it for a while and it does see the full 4GB of RAM which is nice but the occasional incompatible program just killed it for me.

Oh no why a Samsung HD? I would go with Western Digital or Seagate. Very hassle free RMAs when that time comes.

Also since it seems money isnt an issue for you you might think about getting a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme (make sure its the Extreme model) heatsink for you CPU once you start looking into OCing. You would have to get a separate fan but its the generally accepted "king" right now.
 
The Q6600 is a better buy at the moment, as the E8400 is sold out at most places and when it is in stock, it carries a huge price premium. The E8400 can be a better choice if you can find it for under $200, but otherwise the Q6600 is a better buy. If you overclock both, there really won't be any percieved performance difference between the chips, especially if gaming at high resolution. Furthermore, while you can always squeeze more mhz from a processor, you can't add cores :)

Also, Vista x64 is definitely the way to go with new hardware and four gigs of RAM. Drivers have matured, and you should have absolutely no problem with application compatibility in a home / gaming environment.
 
I agree with Mark. The Q6600 is also only $200 right now, if you're near a microcenter. As long as you have new, powerful hardware, and don't need to run any old hw/sw/peripherals, then Vista 64 bit should be fine.

I agree, drop the dominator RAM, and here's why:

/*------------- <cut n paste> -------------*/
Formulas for Intel platform @ 1:1 settings: (base FSB speed is SDR, or single data rate)
c x [Base FSB speed] = CPU speed (c = CPU Multiplier)
2 x [Base FSB speed] = RAM speed (DDR: double data rate)
4 x [Base FSB speed] = FSB speed (QDR: quad data rate; Effective FSB speed)

On Intel platforms, running the RAM higher than a 1:1 ratio with the CPU is, for the most part, useless, so don't bother trying to do so. If the BIOS does it for you, just let it. All you need is a 1:1 config, though. Here's some possible clock speeds (as always with OC'ing, your results will vary):

Q6600: 9 × 266 = 2.4Ghz, DDR2-533 << STOCK speeds
Q6600: 9 × 333 = 3.0Ghz, DDR2-667 << Nice OC
Q6600: 9 × 378 = 3.4Ghz, DDR2-756 << Good OC, near max for B3 stepping
Q6600: 9 × 400 = 3.6Ghz, DDR2-800 << Great OC, near max for G0 stepping

You won't notice the difference between CL4 and CL5, unless you're running benchmarks (and even then, its negligible), so don't pay a huge price premium for lower latency.
/*------------- </cut n paste> -------------*/

I agree that you don't need a 650W PSU, though, that price isn't bad at all. The Corsair 520W will handle everything you need, and is modular. If you don't want modular, get the Corsair 550W instead. Get it from buy.com, clubit.com, or zipzoomfly.com (they're usually cheaper than newegg, for good PSUs).
 
Wow, thanks for all of the helpful comments. I just got back from a business trip this morning, and I'm going to go ahead and order the parts:

Q6600 CPU
G-Skill Memory (it's ok right?)
Vista 64

I'm sure I'll be asking for more help with the build, and especially BIOS adjustments, after the parts arrive.
 
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