New build 1st time need help! up to $2000 budget

[nicolivolkov]

Hey everybody,
I am looking at getting a new desktop and I am considering building my own. I have never done this before but I would like to learn. I have done some research but I still need some help. I would like to use the new core duo2 2 ee6600. I would also like to have 2 gig ram and a high end video card with the option to add a second. I am a student and I do a lot of graphic design and web design. I would like have something that I can have some fun with. Play some cool games etc. I also would like a nice 20" monitor. Would somebody walk me through this process? I would really appreciate it.

1. I am unsure what mother board I should get?
2. Unsure what case and power supply I should get and if I need extra cooling?
3. Where are some good places to purchase parts from? Is it wise to get entended warranties on parts?


any other information would be appreciated. Thank you.

[jayb1234]

There aren't any SLI certified boards for Core 2 Duo yet. For Crossfire look at the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=248&model=1198&modelmenu=1) and the MSI 975X Platinum (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130051). Case: Stick to one on Intel's TAC (http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/tech_reference/box_desktop/int_inst_info/dsk_tested_source_lists/53211.htm) list. Power Supply off this list (http://www.ati.com/technology/crossfire/buildyourown2.html). Wattage based on what model Video cards you use. The Antec TP-II 550W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931) is pretty popular. Extra cooling: Don't get an aftermarket CPU fan/heatsink unit. Using it will void the processor warranty. The stock unit in a TAC compliant case will be fine Most of the cases on the list have spots for adding case fans if needed. newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com/) and zipzoomfly.com (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp) are good. Avoid tigerdirect. Hard Drives Seagate or Western Digital 7200 rpm, 16Mb cache. About 250Gb is the best point for size/price. CD/DVD: Take a look at the Liteons, good value, come with burning software, 35-45 bucks for dual layer burner with lightscribe. If you want to go with the best available look at the Plextors, rather expensive though.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Cpu: Alot of places have e6600 on back order, eta is usually 8/14-8/16. Max. price you should pay for this should not be over 400.

Mobo: Asus P5WDH (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025) needs bios update, new stock should come with proper conroe bios update.
MSI 975X Platinum (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130051) Famous powerup edition.
Intel 975x Bad Axe rev.304 (http://www.tankguys.biz/intel-d975xbx-conroe-ready-p-1674.html?osCsid=0e9ec67104b4a99a9c7b3613bd2cc481)

Memory: OCZ Platinum 2gb ddr2 800 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139)

Video/GFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102025

Hdd: Seagate 7200.10 series are a great choice. 250GB Sata (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148144) version atleast.

Powersupply: You said you might go with a dual card configuration later on, So I suggest you get a powersupply that will handle it. Heres what I suggested someone else, Pick one out of these:
Yes it will be a little higher.

Powering crossfire, takes a whole lotta power more then powering sli with top of the line nvidia cards. Due to ati's higher power consumption, caused by basically the gpu's 300M transistors and bigger core design. Thats what you pay for to be able to run AA+HDR at the same time. lol.

Enermax Liberty 620W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194004) <---has modular cabling.

FSP Epsilon 700W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104015)

Mushkin 650W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817812001)

OCZ 700W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002) (OEM is FSP's 700W unit that I posted above, EXACT same powersupply, just cheaper)

Silverstone Zeus 650W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817163108)

Any of these will do great, just pick the one that fits best in your budget and is most aestheticly pleasing.

Case: Pick your choice here, although some good brands to look out for is antec, codegen, coolermaster, aerocool, thermaltake, lian li, silverstone, sunbeam. A really nice case for the 100 dollar range is the antec p180b, in my opinion the best airflow wise under 200 bucks.

Monitor: Lower the response time the better, high contrast the better, etc. Samsung, Viewsonic, benq, sony, would be all good brands.

Optical: Lite on dvdrw (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106013) plextor and nec are also good brands.

[nicolivolkov]

Wow you guys don't mess around! Very impressive!

So will this be a good machine with these specs?

Jayb what do you mean there isn't any sli certified board for the Duo 2? sli refers to the graphics card? So I can't get a good graphics card for the mother board?

[Mr.Ferrari]

Sli is nvidia's dual card setup. You NEED a board that supports this. Currently all intel chipset boards only support crossfire, but you CAN use hacked drivers for sli. There might be a nforce4 conroe board that is sli capable, however I highly suggest you wait for the intel nforce 570/590 boards to go sli/quad sli. Right now crossfire is your best bet, and highest performer.

Its just two of one of nvidia's sli supporting graphics card, I suggest you go on nvidia's site to learn more :).
Crossfire is ati's equivalent of that.

[jayb1234]

SLI is the nvidia dual graphics card setup. There arent any boards out yet that support it along with a Core 2 Dou. Crosssfire is ATI's version of a dual graphics card setup. Yes, you can get good cards, they just have to be ATI based.

[Mr.Ferrari]

There is one that supports both...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131031
But like I said, only the remaining nforce4 boards that have been modified. Nforce 570 and 590 is the sweet spot when it comes out, which should be in a month.

[nicolivolkov]

So what is the downside of the nforce4 board?

Is SLI better than Crossfire at the moment?

Mr ferrari, with the GPU you recommended can that be upgraded to dual GPU in the future? Or is the one unit considered dual GPU?

So you think it is best to wait?

What do you guys think of this setup overall?

Should I buy extended warranties with the parts?

Is there room for upgrades if I opt not to wait and go with the nforce4 or another recommendation?

Again thanks a ton guys. You ae helping out major.

Oh and what about OS? Should I get Media center for the time being?

[Mr.Ferrari]

Nforce4+intel=general no no.

Sli crossfire are as good as the cards. Equivalent in my eyes. Go with whichever one you like better.

Currently with crossfire you need a Crossfire card and a normal version of that card. The one I have linked to is the normal version of the card. There is a crossfire version which you can get later if you so desire to go dual card. I just linked the normal one incase you change your mind in the future and decide not to go crossfire.

Best to wait if your really that intent on getting a sli board...=/

Great setup.

No need to, your choice here though.

Yes theres room for upgrade..ALOT of upgrade..just dont go with the nforce boards, keep with the intel chipset.

Choose whichever os fits best in your budget and you. Media center is fine.

[nicolivolkov]

He Ferrari I really appreciate the help! a few more questions...

So if I go with the ATI x1900xt and I decide I want to go dual, all I need to do is buy the crossfire version card and pop it in and I'm running with gig?

I saw a big discount on the x1900xtx, but I should stay away from that card because it doesn't have crossfire capabilities?

Where can I read about the sli 590 I checked nvidia website but couldn't find it.

Would I be better off with An AMD and the sli 590? I Would like to have this thing operational before school starts. Which is about a month.

Do I need audio card?

Anything else to consider here?

Any reco for a monitor? will any monitor be compatible?

Again thanks... and sorry for the extensive questions, just don't want to make any mistakes...

[jayb1234]

SLI 590 won't be out for a while yet. Sound card: Not really needed, the motherboard will have pretty good integrated 8 channel sound. Unless you have some pretty good speakers, you wouldn't be able to notice the difference. I recommend trying it first. Check with the school before you order an OS. Some of them require XP Pro. Also most of them have student editions available for cheap prices like 10 bucks or even free at some schools. This Samsung (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001063) monitor is pretty popular. And about the extended warranties, they aren't really worth it on electronics. If they are going to go bad, they usually do it pretty fast and well within the standard warranty period

[Mr.Ferrari]

He Ferrari I really appreciate the help! a few more questions...

So if I go with the ATI x1900xt and I decide I want to go dual, all I need to do is buy the crossfire version card and pop it in and I'm running with gig?

I saw a big discount on the x1900xtx, but I should stay away from that card because it doesn't have crossfire capabilities?

Where can I read about the sli 590 I checked nvidia website but couldn't find it.

Would I be better off with An AMD and the sli 590? I Would like to have this thing operational before school starts. Which is about a month.

Do I need audio card?

Anything else to consider here?

Any reco for a monitor? will any monitor be compatible?

Again thanks... and sorry for the extensive questions, just don't want to make any mistakes...

Your crossfire card will basically be a x1900xtx which will slighltly downclock to xt (when paired with a xt) levels. The performance difference between xt and xtx is minimal at best, just go with whatever fits in your budget better. And basically thats all you have to do. Dont forget the dongle. You have to attach a dongle which will come with the card. To join both cards. If your really set on sli and amd, then that would be fine. Your choice here dude, its your money.

Right now conroe is laying waste to anything amd has to offer for 1/3 of the price. If your for all out performance and stability, I suggest you keep with Intel chipset. We still dont know how the 570/590 boards will perform. And they shouldnt be out for atleast a month.

Perhaps google the 590 and 570 stuff?

Most onboard sounds on current motherboards is pretty decent. However if you are not content with onboard audio, I suggest the Creative Labs X-Fi.

Dell, acer, samsung, viewsonic are all great brands. Depends on what size you need. And what your budget is here.

[nicolivolkov]

Okay last couple of questions...

There is an ati x1900 crossfire edition on sale $150 rebate, should I start with this and then the second one if I want later or is it better to have the 1900xt solo then get the crossfire edition?

Thanks for all the inpt man, I think it's time to get started...

[nevermore]

SLI 590 won't be out for a while yet. Sound card: Not really needed, the motherboard will have pretty good integrated 8 channel sound. Unless you have some pretty good speakers, you wouldn't be able to notice the difference. I recommend trying it first. Check with the school before you order an OS. Some of them require XP Pro. Also most of them have student editions available for cheap prices like 10 bucks or even free at some schools. This Samsung (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001063) monitor is pretty popular. And about the extended warranties, they aren't really worth it on electronics. If they are going to go bad, they usually do it pretty fast and well within the standard warranty period

I have a 930 BF which is basically the same monitor but with 4 ms response time, however in these regions the 940BF (2 ms) is already available as well which I think goes for about $300-$350 ... Since you're building a rig with a high end videocard(s) I'm assuming you'll be using it at least in part for gaming, I highly recommend going for the 940BF as I have noticed the responsetime with my current monitor (ever so slightly but still) on a pretty old game (but hey movement is movement)

[EDIT] Oh on the videocard I'm looking at this purely in perspective of price but I'd say get the one that's cheaper (if the crossfire edition comes out cheaper with the discount I'd go for it), if you're not buying the second one right away prices probably will have dropped by the time you get your second card anyway.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Id really suggest you dont go any under then a 20.1'' monitor. You are buying a X1900XT with possibilites for crossfire, and if you end up playing in 1280x1024 res, well thats just a waste of money, 16x12 should really help bring out the capabilities of your chosen card. 20'' monitor's can be had well under 300 bucks, from good manufacturers too.

[nicolivolkov]

There's a 20 inch 1600 X 1200 full screen ultrasharp dell for $218. Is this a good buy?

What's better the wide screen or the full screen? The wide screen has to be 24 incher to get the resolution of the full screen at 20 inches I think...

[nicolivolkov]

hey there is some company on ebay that has a bunch of 24 inch dell ultra sharps. They are all going for around $200! The boxes say "made in Mexico" I haven't seen that on any other boxes on ebay. Is this a shady deal? he has a 98.2% rating... WHattaya think?

[minsonngo]

There are a lot of scammers on eBay so just beware. Some of them artifically boost their seller ratings so they look good to buyers.