new build

[shadowpr]

Hey everyone, I'm currently planning on building my first system. I'll be using it for a handfull of FPS games, and internet use. I also like to watch movies, and listen to a lot of music on my computer. I'll also probably be using quite a bit of Office, depending on my situation.

I do plan on trying to overclock my sytem, but that will wait till after i read a bit more on what to do.


Mother Board: ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retai

Memory: Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400PRO 2GB Kit DDR2-800 XMS2-6400 ProSeries Memory w/Platinum Heat Spreader Retail

Video Card: EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

HDD 1: for OS: Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

HDD 2: Storage, and other programs: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Monitor: SAMSUNG 206BW Black 20" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 800:1 (DCR 3000:1) - Retail

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

Speakers: Logitech THX Z-5300e 280 Watts RMS 5.1 Speaker - Retail

DVD-RW 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 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail

DVD-Drive: ASUS Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T OEM - OEM

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

The only other thing that i haven't decided on is a keyboard and mouse. Any suggestions??

What does everyone think??? I've tried to actually do some research before making this list.

Thanks for any feedback,
Will

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by shadowpr The only other thing that i haven't decided on is a keyboard and mouse. Any suggestions??

Check out what Logitech has.

Originally Posted by shadowpr What does everyone think??? I've tried to actually do some research before making this list.

Your parts list looks fine. Your research paid off.

Cricket

[shadowpr]

Would this be abetter choice for the primary HDD:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3160815AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM ???

I think I need to cut costs just a bit.

Could I get away with using the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail instead??


And I'm not sure if that MB is overkill. Any ideas???

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Would this be abetter choice for the primary HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3160815AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM?

Try looking for a 7200.10 with 16MB of cache...those perform nearly as good as the Raptors. They're quieter too.

Originally Posted by shadowpr Could I get away with using the CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail instead?

Yes.

Originally Posted by shadowpr And I'm not sure if that MB is overkill. Any ideas?

Do you need all the features of the Deluxe Wi/Fi model? If not, just get the plain vanilla version.

Cricket

[HaloAddict19]

Do you really need that much space? I would say just get the 500GB 7200.10 and partition like 20GB for the OS and some other installs and put everything else, games, music, w/e on the remaining space.

Also, not sure if you are willing to do this, but, x-fi is great for gaming compared to other cards but the some of the parts that creative uses are crap. Take a look at this guide, but if you are worried don't do it because you can easily ruin your sound card.

Haven't gotten to look the the QVL as far as what memory will work with that motherboard but you can get RAM as good as yours for 1/2 that price.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Cricket Do you need all the features of the Deluxe Wi/Fi model? If not, just get the plain vanilla version.

I definately doubt that i'll need wifi, but i wasn't sure which board to get. I noticed that the Deluxe was the one that had more then 2 chassis fan connectors i believe. would that really matter???

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by shadowpr I definately doubt that i'll need wifi, but i wasn't sure which board to get. I noticed that the Deluxe was the one that had more then 2 chassis fan connectors i believe. would that really matter???

Nope. You should connect chassis fans directly to the power supply, that way you minimize the load the motherboard power circuit has to deal with. The only fan I connect to the motherboard is the CPU heatsink fan. I connect all case fans directly to the power supply.

Cricket

[HaloAddict19]

Here is some other ram to look at, all Corsair.

These are same speed and timings as the ones you linked, $109 with $35 MIR = $74.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

Since your mobo has native 1066mhz support look at these for $174 with $30 MIR = $144
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145033

Or last but not least 1066 MHz Dominator series for $193 with $40 MIR = $153.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145043

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Cricket Try looking for a 7200.10 with 16MB of cache...those perform nearly as good as the Raptors. They're quieter too.

How does this one look??? Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Cricket Nope. You should connect chassis fans directly to the power supply, that way you minimize the load the motherboard power circuit has to deal with. The only fan I connect to the motherboard is the CPU heatsink fan. I connect all case fans directly to the power supply. Cricket

Ok, then that other MB would work. You just saved me a few bucks. Thanks.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by HaloAddict19 Since your mobo has native 1066mhz support look at these for $174 with $30 MIR = $144 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145033

This seems like it would work. Thank you.

What does everyone else think???

[HaloAddict19]

Originally Posted by shadowpr How does this one look??? Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

It looks just fine, as long as that is enough space for everything you want.

[shadowpr]

Ok, so I've made a few changes based on suggestions.

I'm now planning on buying the following:

MB: ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail

HDD 1: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM


I'm still not sure about the memory though. Should i go with this, this, or this???? Or does anyone have anything better to suggest?

Thanks for all your feedback so far,
Will

[Katreat]

I would go with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590. It is faster than you need right now, but will allow for overclocking in the future. Unless you are really planning on heavy OCing I cant immagine you needing 1066 ram. It will also save you some money.

kat

[shadowpr]

Parts are finally starting to arrive. Just a few more boxes.

Where is that darn UPS guy????

[shadowpr]

about to try and post my new build......

[shadowpr]

ok...i got my sytem up and running. bios recognizes everything, and correctly sees the processor, and correct amount of ram.

question: my bios is saying that the cpu temp is 78, and mb temp is 97. is that too high for it just sitting there. the side panel is still off and i haven't even installed an OS yet.

any feedback would be appreciated.

thanks,
Will

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by shadowpr question: my bios is saying that the cpu temp is 78, and mb temp is 97. is that too high for it just sitting there. the side panel is still off and i haven't even installed an OS yet.

Those temps are messed up. The motherboard temp shouldn't be that high and it shouldn't be higher than the CPU temps. And the CPU temps is way too high for idle temps. Something is messed up.

Is than in fahrenheit or celsius?

Cricket

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Cricket Those temps are messed up. The motherboard temp shouldn't be that high and it shouldn't be higher than the CPU temps. And the CPU temps is way too high for idle temps. Something is messed up. Is than in fahrenheit or celsius? Cricket

those are both in fahrenheit.

the system seems to be fine...hasn't shut off or anything. any suggestions on how to lower them then???

EDIT: windows vista 64 won't install. it keeps saying it can't find a good volume, or something to that extent.

EDIT 2: windows is installing....just had to be persistent.

[shadowpr]

i'm finally up and running. all drivers have been installed and updated. only one problem, and that's my second HDD isn't recognized by windows. any ideas??

EDIT: Fixed thanks to Freakitch's tread. Thank you to everyone that helped me along the way.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by shadowpr those are both in fahrenheit.

If it's in fahrenheit then the CPU temp is very low but still messed up (lower than room temperature...not possible).

I think the temp sensors are just messed up.

Cricket

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by Cricket If it's in fahrenheit then the CPU temp is very low but still messed up (lower than room temperature...not possible). I think the temp sensors are just messed up. Cricket

any ideas how i can verify the temps now?

[nocturnx]

I had a similar problem with a motherboard giving incorrect temps and updating the bios fixed it, just a thought.

You could try some temp software, I think motherboard monitor software displays all system temps. Some video card drivers will also display temps such as the warcat drivers.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by nocturnx I had a similar problem with a motherboard giving incorrect temps and updating the bios fixed it, just a thought. You could try some temp software, I think motherboard monitor software displays all system temps. Some video card drivers will also display temps such as the warcat drivers.

i'll have to look at the motherboard website to see if they have any updates.

thanks for the tip

[shadowpr]

just when i thought i was in the clear.....

apparently my second hard drive is bad. when i start the computer, it says that the status is bad, and to replace. windows says that the drive is damaged.

i called newegg and told them that i wanted to exchange it for a new one, but then i would have to wait a few days. I decided to just return it and ordered a new one. except i just paid $10 more, and then got the overnight delivery. having no patience is expensive.