New Build, Please Feel Free to Comment

[Marke522]

Many thanks for reading.

My buddy is wanting me build him a new computer, as he is currently using a Athlon 64 3200+. An old trusty Socket 754. Nothing wrong with it, he just feels like he's being left behind while everyone else is talking about the new Core 2 Duo. So while he's got some money, he wants a new build, before he goes to the boat, thinking he has a chance of wining.

We need everything except the sound card, he will be moving over an Audigy ZS 2. The rest will be givien to his father. His dad still uses an old Sempron. Barely good enough to read his email anymore, since most of it is pictures. I'm sure the Sempron system could be saved with some more ram and a new video card, but it will go to my buddy's niece to be used with Winne the Pooh and Disney games.


APEVIA X-PLEASURE-BK Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail $129.99

ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $189.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail $229.99

EVGA 512-P2-N773-AR GeForce 8600GTS 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $209.99

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $84.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply - Retail $169.99

MITSUMI Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 digital card reader with Floppy Drive - OEM $18.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $79.99

Sony NEC Optiarc Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1615/B2s - OEM $17.99

Sony NEC Optiarc 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black E-IDE / ATAPI Model 7170A-0B - OEM $29.99

PLANTRONICS GAMECOM1 67003-01 3.5mm Connector Supra-aural Stereo Gaming Headset - Retail $18.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM $89.99

Not interested in using Vista until a Service Pack is released. Still too many bugs for my taste. We are at the top of his budget, this comes to $1,270.88 before any MIR's, and he was hoping to stay under $1,000. OOPS!!

If someone knows of a better/cheaper video card, motherboard, or whatever, please feel free to reply. Or for that matter, reply if you like everything, just to make us feel better about our choices. I have that headset myself, and my friend really likes it. Don't know if there is something better for that price, it seems like a steal. Worked with that tower before in a different build for my brother, seemed to be real nice.

My main concern is that video card. He MIGHT be willing to spend the extra $80.00 to get this one. That's if everyone else here says it would be worth it. He's afraid he wouldn't notice the difference, and would hate to spend that much for nothing. EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $289.99

Thanks, Mark.

[Jimmy0]

If you want to save some money, you could get this case instead of the $129 one you picked out.

Also I would go with a Asus P5K motherboard coupled with an E6750 , and both of these will save you money and also give you performance. (Note: If you chose the P5W Deluxe for a certain reason, eg. it has a certain feature you need, then say what the feature is and we can see what can be done)

With the optical drives, personally I recommend Lite-On burners, also if you don't really need 2 of them just stick with 1 and you can save some money. Also I would advise you in this day to get SATA burners over IDE ones.

If he games, I would recommend getting the 8800GTS over the 8600 as you will see a performance increase.

[freakitchen]

In addition to Jimmy's suggestions, switching the RAM to these Corsair modules is getting you top quality stuff, while saving you money after rebate!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

Save further money by going for the 520w version of that power supply - it's good enough to power pretty much any single-video card system out there. With the money you save, you should be able to arrange that worthwhile 8800GTS upgrade:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b520w

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130082

[RazR]

Jimmy O hit the spot on that one

[Marke522]

WOOT!!! Thanks so much for the quick replies. There are a few items here that have an MIR that require a purchase by the 7th, that's just two days, so any other ideas need to come rather quick.

Total price is now down to $1,145, and we now have better parts.

The P5W and the other Conroe were simply chosen because I was viewing items through the Top Sellers. I figured you can't go wrong with a Top Seller, but as you guys pointed out, you needlessly spend some extra money.

Changes:

ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $134.99

EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $289.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply - Retail $129.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail $199.99

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail $95.00

Staying with the tower because he likes the lights and the window. Although there might be something similar at a lower cost that we didn't see. I'll take a look at the SATA DVD-RW and see what we can find.

Thanks for all the help so far. Mark.

[Krazeee]

I'd definately get the Lite-On drive Jimmy0 suggested. Very good quality.
Lite-On Burner - $39

If your friend likes windows and lights, this is a great case. Got a KickAss rating from 3dGameMan.com.
Raidmax Smilodon - $90

I actually have that case Jimmy0 Suggested and I love it. There is also a model with a window if your friend is interested. CoolerMaster Centurion 5 - $50

I'd just go to Newegg and browse the cases and find one you like. Newegg has a great sorting system, so just have a ball. Everything else has been covered I think.

[Marke522]

New price $1,136.

Changed tower, thanks for the link!!

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black SECC STEEL ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $79.99

ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T - Retail $19.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail $38.99

Decided to get a SATA DVD-ROM as well. Might not be completely necessary, but what the heck, it was only $2.00 more than the Sony. Now everything is SATA. 2 Barracuda's, and 2 SATA opticals.

Keep the ideas coming guys!! It's looking GREAT!!

Thanks once again!! Mark.

[Krazeee]

Two HDDs?...does he need a lot of storage for audio and video files? If you're trying to stay sub 1k, one HDD would suffice, as well as one optical.

By the way, does he need a Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse? These things can run you $300 or more real quick.

[Marke522]

He doesn't need, but he would like the two HDD's. He wants to make an image of all his movies, and then use Daemon to to mount the images. Then he can play anything he wants, at any time, and keep all the original DVDs safe.

That and we play a LOT of games. Supreme Commander takes almost 8 Gbs on its own. NFS Carbon is 6 Gb, Call of Duty 2 is almost 6 after all the Mods we downloaded. I could go on with a dozen more titles, but everything I mention wouldn't come close to 100 Gbs, so maybe it's just so that he can say he did it.

But I have 500 Gbs in my PC and it's full. I've got almost every Star Trek show televised, I have every hour of 24, every episode of House M.D., so I guess it's all about options. Sure I've seen the shows before, but they're GREAT!! So I keep them around, even though I may never watch them again. And since I've got 2 HDDs, he needs to one up me, and 2 HDDs that are bigger than mine.

That last part might be the biggest reason.

He allready has 2 TFT Flat Panel Monitors that he's using. One 21" widescreen and a 17" for his 2nd. Allready has bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and he is keeping his Logitech X-530's.

Order placed today, but please don't let that stop anyone from making a reply.

[jer888]

Good luck!