Need Advice On Gaming Rig

[excelion27]

Hello everyone, I am soon going to start building a gaming machine for myself, and would like to get some advice and opinions and the parts I have selected. I want to know if this thing is gonna blow up when I try to use it or if it will be prettyu stable. I also plan on overclocking to processor a decent amount.

Case: NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case (I chose this for the large amount of fans it has, I think it will be good to keep my system cool.)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor (I'm hoping for at least an overclock of 3.2GHz, 3.6 if possible. I'm thinking about using the fan listed next.)

CPU Fan: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler (Reviews seem to be very good for this little baby)

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (I might make this 4GB if I can afford it)

[Alaron]

That looks like a solid start. You may want to wait a couple of weeks, the Core 2 Duos are set to drop in price on Apr22.

I'd stick with 2GB of Ram for now. It will be plenty for gaming, and XP can't use over 3.2GB anyway.

[ChoboSeki]

It's good so far, have you chosen a motherboard, video card or PSU yet?

Good PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817139001

Recommended motherboard:
ASUS P5B
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813131030

[excelion27]

Hello everyone, I am soon going to start building a gaming machine for myself, and would like to get some advice and opinions and the parts I have selected. I want to know if this thing is gonna blow up when I try to use it or if it will be prettyu stable. I also plan on overclocking to processor a decent amount.

Case: NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case (I chose this for the large amount of fans it has, I think it will be good to keep my system cool.)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor (I'm hoping for at least an overclock of 3.2GHz, 3.6 if possible. I'm thinking about using the fan listed next.)

CPU Fan: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler (Reviews seem to be very good for this little baby)

Mobo: ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard (This thing looks good)

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

DVD Drive: 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

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (I might make this 4GB if I can afford it)

GPU: EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card (I'm just hoping this thing fits in the case I selected)

Sound: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

PSU: COOLER MASTER RS-600-ASAA ATX Form Factor 12V V2.2 / SSI standard EPS 12V V2.91 600 Watts Continuous Power Supply 115/230 V Nemko, TUV, cUL, CE, BSMI, FCC, CCC (I don't know if this is good or not, and weather I'll need more power)


Any comments/tips on changes or anything else I'd need would be greatly apprecitated!

[Alaron]

I merged your threads together so we can all follow along easily.

That list is solid.

The one thing I would change is to use the Corsair unit recommended above instead of the CM PSU. Corsair's are very good for the 8800 series.

Also, switch to a Retail LiteOn to get burning software.

[excelion27]

ok thanks for the tips... sorry about how my thread aparently got chopped up, didnt even realize that happened x.x

[excelion27]

sorry to dig up this old thread, but i thought it would be better than starting a whole new one.

earlier it was said to just stick with the 2GB of RAM, i see now i forgot to metion that i was planning on using vista, not xp. should i still stick with the 2GB? or should i go for 4GB?

[LeftyAce]

Depends on which version of Vista; I think you need at least premium to get access to more ram, but double check the features of the version you're getting....

[Panama Red]

32 bit OS's (inluding Vista) will only be able to use about 3.5Gb of installed memory so keep that in mind if you go with 4Gb. 64 bit Vista would use all 4Gb but there are still some issues with drivers and software compatibility with 64 bit. I wouldn't recommend that option. I'd just start with the 2Gb plan you have now and once you have it running, check the Performance area of Task Manager and see how much memory is being used. If you need more, add a 1Gb kit (2 x 512) and you would still keep Dual Channel enabled.

[excelion27]

ok thanks a bunch

[HarshWinter]

Originally Posted by excelion27 Case: NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case (I chose this for the large amount of fans it has, I think it will be good to keep my system cool.)

I think that case is silly. I think the Antec 900 will have better air flow and is $20 cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

[excelion27]

i really dont know if i can fit all this stuff into a midtower, i want to have an excess of room in this thing

[LeftyAce]

1 harddrive, 1 CD drive and a GPU? You should be just fine.

[excelion27]

you're both right, i could probably fit it all in a midtower, but i want this thing to be epandable to a large degree, i plan at some point to add more HD and dvd/cd drives, i just dont have the money for that now

[hitchface]

I personally like that case. If you are looking for roomy, the Cooler Master Stacker 830 is pretty hot looking, not to mention HUGE.