New Computer, few questions?

[Katreat]

Hello again, well X-mas is over, bills are paid, and I am finally ready to build a new computer.

This computer will be used for gaming, internet browsing, and home stuff like office. I DO NOT plan to overclock. Budget is somewhere around $1500 but lower would be better to account for the 10X video card upgrade. Basically, looking for a good gamer that will need minimum upgrades for 3+ years. Budget is flexable and I would rather pay for quality parts now rather than down the road replacing bargin basement deals.

This is my current list of parts, most of them coming from my earlier post which is deeply buried somewhere on this form. Could you give it one more look over before I start spending the money!

Parts:

Do Not Need Monitor, keyboard, speakers, or mouse.

Case: COOLER MASTER Mystique 631 RC-631-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail In Stock $95.99

Mobo: ASUS P5B LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $124.99

Video: SAPPHIRE 100196L Radeon X1950PRO 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail $209.99 Mail-in Rebate $229.99

PSU: FSP Group (Fortron Source) FSP600-80GLC ATX12V / EPS12V 600W 80 plus Power Supply - OEM $124.99 $10.00 Instant $114.99

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail $315.00

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail Mail-in Rebate $207.00

Floppy: NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive - OEM $6.25

HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $94.99 -$5.00 Instant$89.99

DVD: LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM Write and Replaceable White Front Panel Black SATA Model SH-16A7S-06 - Retail Out Of Stock ETA: 2/19/2007 2:40:00 PM $36.99

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM $89.99


Also, I have a bunch of new questions:

1. Mobo - What is the difference between the P5B, P5B-E, and P5B deluxe? You don’t have to name all the extras, but are there any extras that would be handy and worth paying the cost for the intended use?

2. PSU - How big a PSU would you recommend assuming I will be upgrading video card to a 10X within a year or so? Also, if there is a specific power supply you recommend please list it. I just chose one from the list of good PSUs suggested and have no idea if it is the best.

3. Video Card – is the one chosen too expensive if I plan to replace within a year, should I be shooting for a cheaper place holder? If so, what is your current recommendation?

4. CPU – I read somewhere that if I am going for a C2D I should wait tell sometime in April to buy? Is that based on a stated or assumed price drop?

5. OS – Now that Vista is out, and upgrade coupons expire this month, is it still recommended to buy XP and upgrade later or are people just going for Vista?

6. OS – If I decide to go Vista, are you recommending 32 or 64 bit for a build like this?

7. DVD – do you recommend a replacement for the lite-on SATA DVD from Newegg? The re-stock date seem to keep slipping, but have not seen any other brands recommended.

Thanks in advance for any help

Kat

[flanzig1]

1: Options: firewire/different RAIDs/extra slots/extra USB/WIFI- pick the board that has the options you want
2: PSU is sized pretty good for a single card
3: Video card: could drop done a notch until more DX10s are out there. Place holder would be a Nvidia 7600GS
4: New C2Ds in April will cause older ones to drop in price.
5: Myself, I would say XP then Vista in a year
6: 32
7: That's an on going problem with the SATA opticals.

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 1: Options: firewire/different RAIDs/extra slots/extra USB/WIFI- pick the board that has the options you want 2: PSU is sized pretty good for a single card 3: Video card: could drop done a notch until more DX10s are out there. Place holder would be a Nvidia 7600GS 4: New C2Ds in April will cause older ones to drop in price. 5: Myself, I would say XP then Vista in a year 6: 32 7: That's an on going problem with the SATA opticals.

1. Well, once set up I don’t intend at this point to change the system much so the only option that is somewhat appealing for me would be the firewire. But I have always done without that so not sure how I would use it. So think I will stick with the basic board.

2. OK, and I assume the unit I selected a good one so I will stick with that for now.

3. Is there a Radion in that range or do you recommend Nvidia as a place holder. I have personally had much better luck with Radion.

4. OK, will hold off tell new ones are released, thanks for info.

5. OK, but since the free upgrade is going away the way I read it this month, I think I might use my old copy of XP until I switch to vista. Of course I will be sure and clear it off my old comp first

6. Can you explain why 32? I figured 64 was the wave of the future.

7. OK, hopefully by april there will be more available.

Thanks for the replays

Kat

[flanzig1]

3: A X1600 Pro is in about the same price range but not sure if as strong as the 7600GS.
6: Very few Apps and hardware drivers that are available at this time.
7: Newegg had a Plextor SATA drive but it is about 3 times as much.

[Katreat]

OK, no comments on compatability and no recommendations for changes to power supply so guess I will get to ordering and get back to you all when I get it up and running.

Thanks for taking the time to look it over.

Kat

[newbuilder14]

Looks good, make sure you choose the CAS5 XMS2 memory (it would be best, but CAS4 should work).

Also, the Corsair HX520 is an excellent power supply to consider; it is widely recommended here.

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by newbuilder14 Looks good, make sure you choose the CAS5 XMS2 memory (it would be best, but CAS4 should work).

If I am understanding you right, your recommending the CAS5 DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) which sells with rebate for $312.00.

What I had planned on buying was the CAS4 DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) which sells with rebate for $194.00.

The only reason I went up to the 800 was that with rebate it is cheaper than the value select which everyone seems to recommend as all you need for a C2D if you are not over-clocking. So is there an advantage to paying an extra $120 to get 1066 memory? Or am I looking at the wrong memory all together and you meant something different when you said CAS5?

Originally Posted by newbuilder14 Also, the Corsair HX520 is an excellent power supply to consider; it is widely recommended here.

Well they are about the same price but I would drop 80 watts in the exchange, is the corsair a better unit? My main concern is that the system has enough power that when I upgrade to a 10X video card I don’t have to run out and buy a new PSU. I know there is not way to be sure, but I wanted something that can handle an 8800 now with a little head room incase the newer 10X units are hungrier that it is.

Kat

[flanzig1]

No, NB was recommending the XMS DDR2 800 in a CAS 5 timing.

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 No, NB was recommending the XMS DDR2 800 in a CAS 5 timing.

Thank you. After much searching I found where I could sort by CAS 5,4 or 3 so found the correct reference. They dont make it easy since it is never mentioned in the product description. Can you tell me why this is important?

[flanzig1]

The CAS 5 has been known to be more stable and work with out any tweaking with the Intel 965 chipset.

[glc]

The 965 chipset is not sensitive to tight timings - it runs best at CAS 5, running tighter doesn't gain you anything to speak of.