Comments on new build - under $1k

[aggieliberal]

Howdy, everyone, thanks for helping me out with my new rig. I'm looking to get a long lasting (easily upgradable to next gen in a few years), yet budget-friendly computer. I'm a mild gamer, but wouldn't mind getting a system that can run games like C&C3 pretty efficiently. Otherwise, the computer will be used for work. Oh - and I am an as-is computer guy... I never overclock; I'm too afraid of really messing something up. I'll try to explain why I picked specific parts and what I was looking for as I go along.

Cooler Master Centurion 5 Alum Mid Tower Case - here - 49.99

Asus P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVidia nForce 650i Intel Motherboard - here - 132.99

Wouldn't mind bumping up to SLI if I need to, or at least keeping an extra PCI-Ex16 slot open if a new addon is needed in the future.

Asus EN8500GT 256MB Vid Card - here - 99.99

I want to be able to be ready for DX10, but I don't want to drop 300 bucks on a vid card. This is my biggest question about my build - this card seems too good to be true, especially if I SLI link it in a year or two. Any comments?

ePower 550W atx12v Power supply - here - 54.99

More power? Less?

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz CPU - here - 188.00

Is there a real difference in this and the e6420. And should I swallow the $40 to bump up to a 6600?

Corsair XMS2 2 GB (2x1GB) 240 pin ddr2 ram - here - 123.00

Asus 18x DVD-+R Burner with LightScribe SATA model - here - 35.99

3.5" floppy (for startup) - $7

Western Dig HDD 7200rpm, 250gb - here - 80.00 (this model is IDE)

I'm definitely looking for advice regarding IDE vs SATA for the primary HD (and should I get a secondary HDD, would I be able to easily hook it to a SATA port?)

Although the prices are dropping slowly on many things and I'm looking to buy within the next 2 months. This keeps the current build at around $850 - give or take for shipping, special deals, etc. Thank you all for all y'all's help, and I hope this can serve as a model for others!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by aggieliberal Cooler Master Centurion 5 Alum Mid Tower Case - here - 49.99

Just so you know, that case isn't really made of aluminum, only the front face plate is aluminum. The chassis is SECC steel.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal Asus P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVidia nForce 650i Intel Motherboard - here - 132.99

I personally feel the best match for a Intel processor is a motherboard with a Intel chipset. And I don't think SLi is worth the money it costs.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal ePower 550W atx12v Power supply - here - 54.99 More power? Less?

Depends on the video card. For the one you've listed the 550 watt PSU is fine...but if you're going to do SLi you need to go here and find a SLi certified power supply for the video cards you're going to use.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz CPU - here - 188.00 Is there a real difference in this and the e6420.

Yes. The E6420 has 4MB of L2 cache and the E6400 has only 2MB of L2 cache. More L2 cache means better performance.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal And should I swallow the $40 to bump up to a 6600?!

I don't think you'd see much difference between a E6420 and a E6600.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal Corsair XMS2 2 GB (2x1GB) 240 pin ddr2 ram - here - 123.00

Unless you're going to overclock you really don't need DDR2 800 RAM...DDR2 667 works fine at stock speeds.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal 3.5" floppy (for startup) - $7

A floppy drive isn't necessary for initial start up anymore...but it doesn't hurt to have one on hand, just in case.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal Western Dig HDD 7200rpm, 250gb - here - 80.00 (this model is IDE)

Don't get a IDE HDD for a new build, use SATA 3.0 HDD.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal I'm definitely looking for advice regarding IDE vs SATA for the primary HD

IDE is old technology that is being replaced by SATA. SATA has been around long enough for all the bugs to be worked out and since this is a new build you might as well use current technology.

Originally Posted by aggieliberal and should I get a secondary HDD,

That's really up to you but I like having more than 1 HDD in my computers...more storage space and if the OS gets hosed I can just wipe the drive and reinstall the OS without worrying about my personal data (on the second HDD).

Originally Posted by aggieliberal would I be able to easily hook it to a SATA port?!

Yes, connecting SATA drives to the motherboard is very easy.

Cricket

[aggieliberal]

Thank you so much for the advice, Cricket!

Is there a particular MB you'd recommend with myu build (let's assume that I'll never SLI my vid cards, so I only need 1 PCI-Ex16 slot.

And do you think that my vid card is suitable?


(Oh, I don't plan on running Vista for a while - until all the kinks are out. XP Pro is what I have and is fine for me.)

[LeftyAce]

The ASUS P5B Series of motherboards is excellent. Pick one with the features you need.

If you want to run C&C 3, from what I've seen of it, you'll need a better video card. Take a look at the 8800GTS line. eVGA is a good manufacturer; they supply nVidia with their test models.

If that's too expensive ($280 ish) take a look at an ATI x1950 pro.

[aggieliberal]

OK, Now I'm looking to suck up the cost of te 8800gts series. I'll work a couple extra nights to get it - I mean, hell, everything is headed that way now, right?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130038

With this new Vid card, should I look into a new power supply? 500w is what I'm looking at, but should I get a 6-700W?


And here's the motherboard. There were some cheaper and some more expensive; this was a little in between. Anyone had an problems with this board?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131030

119.99. It also has an Intel chipset to more closely match the Intel Processor.

[LeftyAce]

That video card will give you a noticeable improvement games; I'd say it's worth the added cost.

500-520 watts is fine, even for that card and some slightly more powerful.

That board's great. I've built two machines with them and they're reliable and easy to work with.