Yes yet another computer build

C

CaptRR

n00b
Joined
Dec 18, 2002
Messages
49
Getting ready to pull the trigger on my computer upgrade and wanted to run it by you guys first.

I already have DVD drives, I would like to go to Vista, but I just can't make it fit in my budget right now, so I will be using my retail version of XP for now.

I want to keep everything at right around $1,000.

The List:
1. LIAN LI PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $99.99
2. GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 Rev. 2.0 LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard $177.99
3. Rosewill RP550V2-S-SL 550W SLI Ready-ATX12V V2.01 Power Supply $64.99
4. Q6600 $279.99
5. G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $54.99
6. WD Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s HD $79.99
7. NV120 120mm 2-ball UFO Bearing / Transparent CPU Cooler - Retail $49.99
8. 8800 GT (Assuming I can find one) $250 - $300
 
For that price, I'd go with either the Tuniq Tower 120 or the Thermalright Extreme 120. Also I'd consider a better PSU to power all those high end goodies, a good PC Power and Cooling would do you well, or a nice Corsair unit.
 
I agree with kmS, ditch that Rosewill PSU and get a better cooler.

CaptRR said:
I want to keep everything at right around $1,000.

The List:
1. LIAN LI PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $99.99
2. GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS4 Rev. 2.0 LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard $177.99
3. Rosewill RP550V2-S-SL 550W SLI Ready-ATX12V V2.01 Power Supply $64.99
4. Q6600 $279.99
5. G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $54.99
6. WD Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s HD $79.99
7. NV120 120mm 2-ball UFO Bearing / Transparent CPU Cooler - Retail $49.99
8. 8800 GT (Assuming I can find one) $250 - $300
Click to expand...

1) I like the PC-7B instead since it uses 120mm fans instead of 80mm fans, but cases are personal preference.

2) Do you really need all the features of the DS4? If you don't need RAID nor Firewire, the DS3L is a good alternative. If you don't need firewire but want RAID, the DS3R is a cheaper alternative. If you want both and want to save some money, check out the Abit IP35 vanilla from mwave.com for $120 - $25MIR:
$125 - abit IP35 LGA 775 Intel P35 ($20 MIR)

3) Ditch that rosewill PSU. Rosewill PSUs aren't known for good quality, especially the low end ones. Go for the Corsair 450W, but not from newegg. Check zipzoomfly, clubit.com, or buy.com instead.

$76 - Corsair CMPSU-450VX 450W PSU ($10MIR)

Here are more PSU suggestions:
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showpost.php?p=1590883&postcount=193
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1460
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103
PSU FAQ: http://www.jonnyguru.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1036

4) Be sure to get the Q6600 G0 stepping. Clubit guarantees it.

7) Here are some other cooling alternatives:
$35 - Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja Plus Rev.B CPU HSF (optional $7 Thermalright LGA775 Bolt-Thru-Kit; recommended if using w/ quadcore)
$45 - Tuniq Tower 120 CPU HSF
$46 - Thermalright Ultima 90 CPU HS + FBA09A12M - Z ($3)
$55 - Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme CPU HS + Scythe S-Flex Fan SFF21E ($15)

8) Bestbuy.com should have some for $250, if they're still in stock, hehe.
 
enginurd, you are 100% right with the mobo, I really have no need for a fire wire or raid. I have had raid on my lat 3 mobo's and have never used it. If I need fire wire some day in the future, a card should do the trick.

I guess I am looking for a good reliable motherboard, that can overclock in the future and can handle an SLI configuration (again in case I want to do that in the future).
 
SLI, for the most part, is only worth it if you need to game at really high resolutions. So, unless you have or plan on getting a 24" or larger LCD (1920x1200+), you don't really need SLI.

If you want SLI still, just know that the SLI boards aren't as stable as intel based boards and can't OC as well. For SLI, the boards to look at are the eVGA NF67-A1/T1 and eVGA NF68-A1/T1. The A1's have lifetime warranty. The 680i SLI LT is a lite version of the chipset thats a bit more stable than the full blown 680i SLI -- its also cheaper.

Oh, and don't forget the other suggestions I listed... especially the PSU.
 
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