Ok, I think I've got a good gaming rig now.

[Parker03GT]

This should be a pretty good/powerful gaming machine. I will not overclock anything. I'm going with SLI equipment so that I can add an additional graphics card down the road, not right now though.

Normally $108.99 Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Computer Case With Side Panel Window
$89.99 Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply
$219.99 ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce SPP 100 ATX AMD Motherboard
$295 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz HT 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor
$195 CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
$160 Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
$0 Maxtor 120Gb 7200rpm Hard Drive *Already have*
$319 eVGA 256-P2-N563-AX Geforce 7900GT CO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$22.99 LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model SOHD-16P9SV
$0 Lite-On 16X DVD Burner *Already have*
$0 Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy 2ZS *Already have*
$0 Klipsch Promedia 4.1 *Already have*
$0 Dell UltraSharp 1905FP 19" LCD *Already have*

*Is there any difference in these 2 operating system packages? Is the second one more expensive because it comes in the box?*
$139.95 Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2
$249.95 Microsoft Windows XP Professional with SP2 - Retail

[doctorgonzo]

The cheaper Windows CD is OEM, the second is retail. The retail version is more expensive because it comes in a box, yes. With OEM software, you just get the install CD, nothing else, and you are on your own for support.

[Parker03GT]

Which would you recommend?

[doctorgonzo]

OEM, of course. You don't need to pay $110 for a box, do you?

[786ARS]

you can downgrade to value ram, if you are not planning on overclocking.

[blue60007]

Unless you need the extra features of XP Pro, Home will work just as good and save you a few bucks. That RAM isn't a bad deal after the MIR.

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by blue60007 Unless you need the extra features of XP Pro, Home will work just as good and save you a few bucks. That RAM isn't a bad deal after the MIR.

Yeah the mail in rebate is $40 so I end up paying $155 for both. I didn't think that was too bad.

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by Parker03GT $295 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz HT 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor

I just noticed, does this come with a cooling fan or do I have to look for one on it's own? If so, what is a good fan to use?

[Staren]

Originally Posted by Parker03GT I just noticed, does this come with a cooling fan or do I have to look for one on it's own? If so, what is a good fan to use?

It's listed as Retail, so it has the heatsink & fan. The OEM CPU packages are the ones that don't come with that part of the kit.

[Parker03GT]

I also need to get a tube of this thermal compound for the processor correct? Does it act as a glue along with cooling?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

[doctorgonzo]

No, you don't NEED to. A retail processor comes with a heatsink, fan, and thermal compound already installed on the heatsink. It's typically just a fairly simple wax that melts and fills in the gaps, and it doesn't work as well as something like Arctic Silver. It's certainly good enough if you don't plan to overclock, though.

Thermal compound doesn't act like glue. The heatsink stays on the processor because it is clamped on, not due to the thermal compound.

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by doctorgonzo No, you don't NEED to. A retail processor comes with a heatsink, fan, and thermal compound already installed on the heatsink. It's typically just a fairly simple wax that melts and fills in the gaps, and it doesn't work as well as something like Arctic Silver. It's certainly good enough if you don't plan to overclock, though. Thermal compound doesn't act like glue. The heatsink stays on the processor because it is clamped on, not due to the thermal compound.

That's good to know. I was looking some more at mobo's and noticed that I have listed one of the more $$$ models. Would you say that it's overkill and is there a more basic mobo that you'd replace it with?

[doctorgonzo]

Do you want SLI? If not, get a non-SLI model.

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by doctorgonzo Do you want SLI? If not, get a non-SLI model.

I want SLI for future use. However, I'll use 1 graphics card for a while until then.

[Staren]

Then go ahead and stick with what you have. The cheaper SLI motherboards basicly split a single x16 slot into two slots for SLI. So each slot with two cards is 8x. Now that's not so bad, but these newer models with the X32 in their name like the Asus A8N32 or the Abit AN8 X32 have two full X16 slots. It won't make a big diffrence right now, but down the line it might.

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by Staren Then go ahead and stick with what you have. The cheaper SLI motherboards basicly split a single x16 slot into two slots for SLI. So each slot with two cards is 8x. Now that's not so bad, but these newer models with the X32 in their name like the Asus A8N32 or the Abit AN8 X32 have two full X16 slots. It won't make a big diffrence right now, but down the line it might.

Sounds good to me. I should be ordering all my parts within a month I'm actually pretty anxious to build my own computer. woot!

[Parker03GT]

OK gang, here's the finished product. I'll go with this setup. I didn't hear too many complaints so I'll take it as a good build. I've been price watching and switching out parts since January and I think it sounds perfect for me now I already have a sound card, 120GB secondary harddrive, and DVD Burner in case someone notices it's not in the list. I built a look alike, as best I could, at Dell to compare pricing and it was going to be around $2K.

$105.00 ....Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000SWA Silver All aluminum Tower
$89.99 .....Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply
$219.99 ....ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce Motherboard
$295.00 ....AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor
$195.00 ....CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)
$319.00 ....eVGA Geforce 7900GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$21.00 .....LITE-ON Black IDE 16X DVD-ROM Drive
$155.01 ....Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
$89.95 .....Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2

$1495.93 MSRP
$85.00 Mail-In-Rebates
$44.29 Shipping
-----------------------
$1455.22 TOTAL

[freakitchen]

I'd second the suggestion by 786ARS to save more money by getting Corsair Value Select RAM, unless you're planning on Overclocking the system.

Otherwise, good parts selection.

FK

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by Freakitchen I'd second the suggestion by 786ARS to save more money by getting Corsair Value Select RAM, unless you're planning on Overclocking the system. Otherwise, good parts selection. FK

I just looked up the Value Select Ram @ newegg and 2 out of 3 available are in the $150 range. After the mail in rebate for the XMS Ram, I'll wind up spending the same amount.

N/M, I just noticed that those were 240 pin, I need 184 pin.

[freakitchen]

Heres the PC3200 DDR Value Select Ram

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145579

$136 after the $155 for the XMS after Mail in Rebate. Not much in it - your call.

FK

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by Freakitchen Heres the PC3200 DDR Value Select Ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145579 $136 after the $155 for the XMS after Mail in Rebate. Not much in it - your call. FK

I was just looking at that. The Value Select actually has a shipping cost of $4.81 so it ends up being $140.81. With the XMS I get heat shields,maybe better timing 2-3-3-6 (no timing info on the Value), and no shipping charge. I think I'll stay with the XMS for the additional $14.19

[Dustmann]

Looks like a nice build, any reason for the extra dvd drive? I spotted this on newegg today, and for 10 bucks more you can have a second dvd burner. (8 hour sale, better act now! haha) The dvd-rom does not have a faster read speed for dvd or cds so I see no benefit for a dvd-rom only drive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106014

Edit - just read your above post, even the cheap XMS is nice memory (check the sig hehe) you wont regret spending a couple extra bucks for it.

[Parker03GT]

I can't see the use for having 2 dvd burners. All you need is one DVD drive to read while the dvd burner does it's work. correct?

[freakitchen]

I can't see the use for having 2 dvd burners. All you need is one DVD drive to read while the dvd burner does it's work. correct?

Agreed.

FK

[Dustmann]

True. But if one of them (like the burner) craps out on you, then you won't have to go buy another burner. It's possible to burn dvd's with a single drive, just copy an image to the hdd and then burn. This is what I do because I'm too cheap to buy another dvd drive. Also, you'll never have to waste a few minutes of your life when you confuse the two drives.

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by Dustmann Also, you'll never have to waste a few minutes of your life when you confuse the two drives.

That's why my burner is always on the lower rack

[flameshad0w]

I really have no idea about this, but doesn't it matter that the motherboard supports Athlon 64, Athlon FX and Athlon X2, while the CPU is an Athlon 64 X2?

[Parker03GT]

Originally Posted by flameshad0w I really have no idea about this, but doesn't it matter that the motherboard supports Athlon 64, Athlon FX and Athlon X2, while the CPU is an Athlon 64 X2?

I believe Athlon X2 = Athlon 64 X2

[Eggs Benediction]

Hmm.. If it's in your budget, maybe you could consider investing in the X2 4400+? It has 2x 1mb cache, so that could help your gaming machine.

Oh, and I hope you are happy with your EVGA card. I love mine. :P