Building first PC: Is this all I need?

[helmgt01]

I'm looking at buying these items from newegg to build a Gaming PC myself:

IS this all I need? and is an NIC all that is needed for ethernet?:

Case- COOLER MASTER Mystique 631 RC-631-KWN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

HD- Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Mouse- Logitech G5 Laser 931376-0403 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1x Wheel USB Laser Mouse - Retail

Mobo- ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Mem- CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail

OS- Windows XP Home SP2B w/Vista Beta 2

CPU- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail

Fan/Heatsink- ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail

Thermal Compound- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

Sound Card- Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS SB0350 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - OEM

Video Card- SAPPHIRE 100150L Radeon X1900XTX 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

PSU- Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail

Speakers- Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail

CD/ DVD RW- NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM

Flash- Atech Flash XM-28U BLACK 28-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader - Retail

Floppy- SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM

NIC- LINKSYS EG1032 10/100/1000Mbps PCI Network Adapter - Retail

Keyboard- Logitech G15 2-Tone USB Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail


Please help, I'd like to have feedback before I buy.-Thanks in advance...

[Mr.Ferrari]

1. Stay away from the P5N32. NForce4 and Intel just do NOT mix. If your dedicated on conroe and want a dual card configuration. I HIGHLY suggest you go with ATi Crossfire with a coupled 975X chipset board. Otherwise go AMD.

2. Your cpu does come with a Stock Heatsink Fan Assembly. By using any other you risk voiding manufacturer warranty. If thats not something your worried about then its fine. Its a decent hsf but there are a few better choices for the $$$.

3. Audigy 2 zs is a great sound card. However I would see if you can swing the extra few bucks for the X-Fi. Its is a WHOLE lot better for the price difference. Your choice.

4. That PSU is a quality unit. But it will not run Two of those cards in crossfire. IF thats something your looking at. Otherwise good choice.

Oh and welcome to pcmech

[helmgt01]

Can you suggest a Mobo (I'm not doing crossfire yet but maybe in the future)

[Mr.Ferrari]

Well since you want a crossfire ready mobo my picks would be:

Asus P5WDH $249.99
OR
Intel Bad Axe 975x $269.99

And I assume you will upgrade the psu later on when you do go crossfire?

I would like to note that the X1900XTX is a BEAST of a card. As long as your not planning on running at 1920 resolution with everything maxed out. That card will be MORE then enough.

[DarkPacMan77]

i second the motion for the P5WDH if it is in your budget... and also, like Mr. Ferrari says (who is almost always right) that X1900XTX will be able to play anything with all the eye candy on, especially if you play at a lower resolution.

[helmgt01]

I will go with:
Intel BOXD975XBXLKR Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

What would you suggest for PSU?

And my 32" LCD HDTV runs at 1280x1024 60hz

[newbuilder14]

Never knew Bad Axe was Crossfire compatible, good to know. Also, a motherboard has an NIC no need for the Linksys.

[helmgt01]

I'll dump the NIC.

How about this PSU (combo with Mobo)?:

COOLMAX CW-650T EPS12V 650W Aluminum ATX v2.01 APFC Power Supply w/ "SLI" - Retail - Retail

[newbuilder14]

Definately don't get that power supply. The reviews are mostly 1 stars or 2 or 3. Seems like it arrives dead on arrival. Look into Antec, Enermax, and basically anything that has good reviews on Newegg.

[DarkPacMan77]

that power supply has rather iffy reviews from newegg... which are only 70% reliable anyways (i'd say)

if you are getting a good combo deal with the mobo you already chose... eh, it may be ok.

you say you don't necessarily want crossfire right away, so it is kinda iffy to tell you what psu to get.

if you don't want it, the antec true power II series (i think it is) are very good.

if you do, look for something reliable 620W is prolly enough.

[helmgt01]

yea, i read the reviews (stinky, stinky, stinky).

Want a great PSU, quiet, powerful (for future crossfire)-Suggestions?

[Mr.Ferrari]

For a crossfire setup these are the psu's I reccomend:

Corsair HX620W $179.99

Enermax NoiseTaker 600W ($129.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)

OCZ GameXtreme 700W ($134.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)

PC Power&Cooling 610W Silencer $169.99

Silverstone ST65ZF 650W $159.99

ThermalTake Toughpower 650W $154.99

*My personal Choices?
-The Silverstone 65ZF and the OCZ GameXtreme 700W.

[helmgt01]

This one reviews good, however only 4 total:

Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply with Three 12V Rails - Retail

[Mr.Ferrari]

Please take a look at my post.

[helmgt01]

decided on:

OCZ GameXtreme 700W.

[helmgt01]

So this is revised setup:


Case- COOLER MASTER Mystique 631 RC-631-KWN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

HD- Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Mouse- Logitech G5 Laser 931376-0403 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1x Wheel USB Laser Mouse - Retail

Mobo- Intel BOXD975XBXLKR Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Mem- CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail

OS- Windows XP Home SP2B w/Vista Beta 2

CPU- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail

Thermal Compound- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

Sound Card- Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

Video Card- SAPPHIRE 100150L Radeon X1900XTX 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

PSU- OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply - Retail

Speakers- Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail

CD/ DVD RW- NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM

Flash- Atech Flash XM-28U BLACK 28-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal Card Reader - Retail

Floppy- SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM



Keyboard- Logitech G15 2-Tone USB Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail

Surge Protector- BELKIN F9M923-08 8 Feet 9 Outlets 2655 joules SurgeMaster Maximum Series - Retail

total $2,241
Is this your final answer before I hit the 'purchase' button?

[Mr.Ferrari]

Awesome build.

Just one thing. The stock heatsink does come with thermalpaste. Although a tube of as5 is never something bad to keep around the house.

[helmgt01]

I'm pressing the 'purchase' button.....NOW!!!

[helmgt01]

When it arrives, I hope you guys will help me through this-my first build...you'll be hearing from me quite soon.

[helmgt01]

I just noticed that the "bad axe" mobo is ddr2 667 and not ddr2800.

Is this a compatibility problem?

Will this mobo run slower than say, the asus p5wdh which is ddr2800?

[torotoro]

monitor?

[helmgt01]

32" HDTV LCD at 1280x1024 60hz

[flanzig1]

A quick tip when you start building and installing XP: instali the card reader after you get XP installed and everything loaded and running. If you do,XP can assign drive letters to the card reader before the HD.

[helmgt01]

OMG,OMG,OMGWTFBBQ!!!

The parts have shipped, and all are expected to arrive in only two days (Thursday)!!!
I'm quite nervous.
Furthermore, I happen to have Thursday off of work.
But, I made TENATIVE plans to spend the day in the mountains with my ex-girlfriend...
Do the pros here have any advice on PC Building vs. keeping your (tenative) word to your ex-girlfriend?--could really use a hand here!!!

[flanzig1]

1st: Personal obligations
2nd: Work obligations
3rd: Hobbies(PC building)
When you get the parts: read every manual for every part then read them again. Inspect the parts/organize parts,CDs,cables, etc so things don't get lost. Do things in an orderly fashion and don't rush.

[glc]

Sorry I didn't get in here earlier - the OEM NEC drives do not come with software. You should have bought the retail box version or a different brand of OEM that comes with software. You need both DVD playing software and DVD/CD burning software - and if you have to buy those retail you will pay 3 times what you paid for the drive.

[helmgt01]

can the software be downloaded?

[Alaron]

Originally Posted by helmgt01 can the software be downloaded?

Nope.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832111004