First Build Ever - Need Some Serious Advice

[Sun_Paladin]

Hi,

I'm a junior mechanical engineering major and I'm looking to build a computer that would be able to run games such as Oblivion on high settings but is also able to handle high end engineering applications such as Maple, Solid Edge, Matlab, and Mechanical Desktop. I also would like to be able to run Adobe's Creative Suite Production Studio without a visible speed decrease. I have between 1500 to 2000 USD to spend with 2000 being the absolute max.

Case & PSU
Something that is quiet if possible and has room to put in multiple hard drives. Most of the components of the computer I need help with basically. The PSU probably has to be heavy duty because of the engineering applications.

Processor
What is better for gaming and high end application use: AMD or Intel? And what would be a good model? Also be able to handle Vistas if possible.

Mobo
Have absolutely no clue on this one? Any suggestions?

Video Card
Something to run high end graphics well.

Sound Card
Don't know about this one either.

RAM
No clue.

HDD
I've had several externals in the past, but I don't know which manufacturer is good for internal. 200 to 300 gigs would probably be best.

Optical Drive
NEC Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827152058
This is the OEM version and I'm wondering where I can get the retail version. Also if there are other suggestions I am completely open.

Monitor
19" at the minimum, but after that I don't know whats best for an affordable price.

Peripherals
I have a the Logitech MX1000 laser mouse but my keyboard is trash compared to it. I would like something comparable to the mouse but not something that is going to crash my wallet. I also have no idea about speakers.

OS
Windows XP Pro which I can get easily or an upgrade to Vistas.


Thanks for all the help.

[blue60007]

I would suggest going with one of the new Core 2 Duo processors (Intel). Right now they are the best you can get.

Case - something you like the looks of
PSU - Antec TP-II 550, or something higher $90+
CPU - E6600 - $350
Mobo - ASUS P5W DH Deluxe - $270
Video - X1900XTX - $360
Sound - might try the onboard sound first
RAM - Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 2GB (2x1GB) - $220
HDD - Western Digital SE16 250GB - $75
Optical - might want to get the Retail version so you get some burning software.
Monitor - not sure on exact monitor, but probably $200-$250
Keyboard - $30
OS - whatever price you can get it at

That's about $1600-$1700

[Mr.Ferrari]

Do you have any plans on crossfire? (Dual card config.)

[Sun_Paladin]

Could you briefly explain what crossfire is and how you could easily configure a dual core. Thanks.

[Mr.Ferrari]

http://www.ati.com/technology/crossfire/index.html
http://www.ati.com/technology/crossfire/features.html

Basically ati's version of Nvidia's sli. You add 2 cards instead of the normal one for extra power. Requires more tougher powersupplies. Thats why I asked . Your board (the asus p5wdh) is compatible with crossfire.

[ddragon625]

Here's the build I'm going with which I think will suit your needs very well (already got the ok from Ferrari, in terms of compatibility and quality):

Case: Antec Sonata II

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811129155

Motherboard: ASUS P5W DH

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813131025

Video Card: eVGA 256-P2-N584-AR Geforce 7900GT

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130033

CPU: Core 2 Duo e6600

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115003

Ram: Corsair 2X1 gb DDR2 800 PC-6400, 5-5-5-12

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145590

Hard Drive: Western Digital 250 gb 7200 rpm

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822144701

CD/DVD: Samsung 16X w/ lightscribe technology and Nero burning software

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827151118

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home with SP2 OEM

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16837102059

Building Kit: BELKIN F8E066 Professional Computer Tool Kit (36-Piece) - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16899888202

This is around 1400-1600 (including tax, S&H, everything).

However, since it looks like you have some money left over, you can definitely upgrade your video card to the suggested x1900xt if you want to. Might require you to buy a higher power supply than the 450 Watts one that comes with the Antec case.

[Sun_Paladin]

Thanks a bunch for the recommendations. If anyone else has anything new or better to add and still be under the 2000 price cap, that would be excellent. Thank you all very much.

[dogdude16]

PSU: you should get something like a 550 watt PSU
harddrive: u want a sata hard drive connection with a 16mb buffer
on board sound works fine

ddragon612's build looks good

[clroberts]

Sun Paladin: I don't know if ATI has this or not, but NVDIA now has Dual SLI. This is Two Processors on One Card. And you can with certain motherboards (Like Asus) Place two of these PCI X Cards in your machine Giving you 4 processors. This is the 7900 series cards. I know that the new INTEL processors are right now about 50 percent faster than the fastest AMD. If you went with AMD I would recommend the FX2 60 (They probably have a higher one by now) FX is AMD's Gaming processor. One advantage with Intel, however, is that their processors run much cooler. They took the new Intel Processor. (Two 2.9 GHZ Processors) and ran it for an hour without any cooling fans and the processor was still running fairly cool. I know that a friend at work picked up a new magazine ' Maximum PC'. It has their Dream Machine on it. All I know about this one is that they are running Intel This time.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Clroberts-You mean the 7950GX2, well thats all well and good but theres no way he could fit all that in his budget, which you can see is 1500-2k.

And there is no absolute reason for quad sli. And right now its a joke. Bad drivers cause mediocre performance, and to see real performance gains you need to game at 2048x1920 resolution. Besides no point in spending so much money on quad sli when the X1950XTX, a single card, will beat a 7950gx2 hands down, and is coming out in a month.

Not to mention its gonna be much cheaper then even a single 7950gx2..

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ferrari the X1950XTX, a single card, will beat a 7950gx2 hands down, and is coming out in a month. Not to mention its gonna be much cheaper then even a single 7950gx2..

Do you mean the X1950XTX is a single GPU card? or a dual-GPU like the 7950GX2?

[Mr.Ferrari]

X1950XTX is a single card. Although I cant exactly say how much better or if it will even be better in some games, as Im only going by leaked benchmarks...But at a price of *hopefully* 400 bucks on release. Seems like a deal not to pass up if your on the lookout of a high performance card.
Plus if, by any chance you have more money that you know what to do with (i sure as heck know I dont) it will be much easier to do a dual card config with the 1950xtx versus the 7950gx2.

And the X1650XT should be a good competitor with the 7600gt..

If im not mistaken, i think that x1600xt performs worse then the 7600gt??