First build :)

[ClassyKilla]

First I want to thank everyone on this forum for their help. Ok here is my first build. I have some questions that you guys could probably answer. First I have done a decent amount of research on the EVGA 680i MOB and found that they are having some trouble with a lot of components. I’m not sure if this is the majority of the owners or a select few. I like this board because it’s highly upgradeable, 3 PCI-e, will support quadcore(will get in the future), and seems to be great for graphic cards. I will be upgrading to Vista in the future also and getting a card that will process DX10. This machine will be mainly used to play games and create websites. So if anyone knows if something new is coming out that will out perform the following or if you just have any suggestions it would greatly be appreciated.
My budget is $1500 and I want to use the latest technologies. I would like some help finding a high end monitor. Or what goes into one.

Also would like some ideas about what keyboards and mouse should I get outside of the 1500 budget


Not sure if this is my best bet=???
Already have purchased=***

My First build:

***I have a GeForce 7900 right now in my pc build but will be upgrading to a DX10 card. Any suggestion of future cards that will be coming out in the future??

***Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case w/ 25CM Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133021

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

???EVGA 122-CK-NF68-AR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard?????
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813188009

???Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200JS 320GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136017

???Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 70SB073A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006


???CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145034

???LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache E-IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106055

***ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186134

[StykFacE]

do you already own the Arctic Cooling Heatsink/Fan? i don't know if you accidentally marked it as owned or not, but if you haven't bought it then i wouldn't worry about it. that processor is a retail boxed which comes with a heatsink/fan and the Core2 Duo's run extremely cool as is. just thought i'd comment.

nice HDD & Sound picks. :)

[ClassyKilla]

yeah i already purchased it and was going to put on my older system but thought it would help if i put it on the new on. As Homer Simpson would say "Doh!,"

[newbuilder14]

do you already own the Arctic Cooling Heatsink/Fan? i don't know if you accidentally marked it as owned or not, but if you haven't bought it then i wouldn't worry about it. that processor is a retail boxed which comes with a heatsink/fan and the Core2 Duo's run extremely cool as is. just thought i'd comment.

nice HDD & Sound picks. :)

The Core 2 Duos do not necessarily run extremely cool. I have seen several systems, two of which are mine, that have idled in the 40c range with no problems at all, although their core temps are considerably lower. Intels can usually run warm with no problems, if you think 40c is warm. :D

[glc]

If you won't be running SLI, don't get a SLI board. The Intel P965 chipset is better for a single card than the 680i, and all the Asus P5B models do support quad core.

I'd recommend a Seagate 7200.10 hard drive - twice the cache, faster, and 2 more warranty years.

Throw a Lite-On SATA DVD-Rom drive into the order.

Hold off on the sound card till you evaluate the onboard sound, you can always put a card in at any time.

[flanzig1]

ATI hasn't released any DX10 cards yet and the Nvidia 8800 series are the only ones out at this time. Your 7900 will work as a place holder until more cards are available. ATI probably not till spring/summer.

[ClassyKilla]

GLC: What would you recomend if i were to run duel graphics?

[glc]

I don't recommend dual graphics, you are asking the wrong person. If I *HAD* to run duals on Intel, I'd get a 975X Crossfire board - like the Asus P5W DH and use ATI cards.

[ClassyKilla]

Would this PSU suffice for my system now and for future upgrades in the next year or two. Does it support quad core or does that matter.:confused:

OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002

Thermaltake W0106RU Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, and BSMI certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153039

XCLIO GREATPOWER X14S4P4 750W ATX12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, TUV, CB, VDE, FIMKO, DEMKO, NEMKO, SEMKO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189011

[Khalil]

Some may disagree with me but you might want to consider these processors.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819105018
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103582

From everything I have heard and seen of the Opterons they are extremely fast and give you far better performance than the Intels or the Athlons.
Also your rig will probably cost alot less to build.

[ClassyKilla]

Thanks for the info i'll do some research and try and get back to ya later tommorrow. do you know any where to go for comparsions on these models that you have listed besides newegg.

[Khalil]

Here is a benchmark that shows Intel leading the way.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/intel_core_2_performance/page6.asp

I am part of a big gaming community, over 1000 members, most have very powerful computers.
Even though the benchmarks say whatever, generaly the people in my gaming community seem to agree (about 95%) that AMD rigs perform better.
I think the Core2Duo chips are fantastic but in real game environment they don't seem to out perform the AMDs.
Recently I built a machine very similiar to the one I own for a friend accept he wanted the Intel E6700 and the equivilant Asus Intel board.
I had it for a few days and installed the same games on it as what I have on mine.
I saw no difference, the core2 did nothing more to impress me. I did a 3D mark test on both machines and the intel won.
Still though from my prospective as a player, it seemed my Santa Ana was performing alot better in EQ2 where we were in a raid with 24 people with everyone casting spells and what have you.
The Intel lagged a bit, the AMD didn't. (same memory, same video card)
I don't question the benchmarks or those who worship Intel however I can simply relay my own experience.
So the bottom line is, both AMD and Intel make awesome processors, how much do you want to spend! What are you gonna use the machine for! And really how much over kill do you want!

[ClassyKilla]

Well i did reasearch on amd opteron and i'm stilll sticking with Core 2 duo. But i will not be purchasing untill the prices drop. I would like to get the quad core. but i still am needing some advice on which of the three PSU's i should get. I plan on buying one today on newegg.
After reading on EVGA forum about 1:1 link\synced am at a lost about what type of ram to get and how much to spend. I don't want to spend high dollar on RAM if i can buy a cheaper set and get the same result. What do you guys think??:confused:

Thanks for everyones responses so far.