Yet another New Build

[matt_21484]

Hello everyone, I would like to say thanks to all of those who helped me out on my first build. I have another PC that I am building for a friend and wanted to get everyone's input on it before I tell him to pull the trigger. This is going to be primarily a gaming rig with a little bit of video burning in there as well. Not really looking at doing SLI, I've heard that it's better to have one fantastic video card rather than two good/outdated ones. I want it to be DX10 for future proofing abilities. We want to stay under $2000 after tax. What he currently owns is:
Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse

The List:
CPU: Intel C2D E6850 300

MOBO: Asus P5K-E 160

CPU: CORSAIR \ 170

Video Card: EVGA 512-P2-N773-AR 210

RAM: OCZ Platinum 2GB 150

HDD1 (For OS/Office): WD WD740ADFD 150

HDD2 (For Games/music/movies): Samsung HD501LJ 120

Case: Lan-Li PC7B 120

Vista Ultimate 300
Office 2007 150

This puts us around $1830 by my calculations. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Look forward to hearing back from everyone.

[RazR]

for your second hard drive, i would stay away from samsung
get something from western digital, seagate, or maxtor

[shadowpr]

for a gaming rig, i would upgrade the video card to an 8800.

save money with this HD as primary: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

not sure about the samsungs, but they don't get much love here

get vista from newegg as an oem. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116213 could save more if you don't get ultimate, and use that for the video card

and unless he needs the features of that MB, you could save moeny and just get the p5k.

[matt_21484]

Not a problem switching manufacturers on the HD, however we were set on a 500 GB, he needs the room for all his music and movies. I was estimating on Vista, I'm not sure which version he is going to go with.

I liked that mobo for the built in wireless, gigabit Ethernet for future use and thats about it. I also liked the 8GB availability of RAM. If there is a better/cheaper one out there with these features let me know.

I also just realized I didn't put a DVD/CD-ROM drive on there. I liked this Lite-On for about 40 bucks shipped.

This Seagate HDD looks good for a similar price

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by matt_21484 Not a problem switching manufacturers on the HD, however we were set on a 500 GB, he needs the room for all his music and movies. I was estimating on Vista, I'm not sure which version he is going to go with. I liked that mobo for the built in wireless, gigabit Ethernet for future use and thats about it. I also liked the 8GB availability of RAM. If there is a better/cheaper one out there with these features let me know. I also just realized I didn't put a DVD/CD-ROM drive on there. I liked this Lite-On for about 40 bucks shipped. This Seagate HDD looks good for a similar price

you could get that seagate to replace the other 500gb one, and the 320 i listed before to replace the WD.

that dvd is good, but get the retail for a few more bucks and it comes with nero, and a sata cable.

this mb here is good, just doesn't have the WiFi. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131180

if you want the WiFi, then the board you picked looks good to me

[matt_21484]

I chose the raptor for the high rpm. I've heard that this will help load times of the OS since it runs faster at 10,000rpm. If I am mistaken let me know and I can just pick up a 320 or possibly another 500. Thanks

[shadowpr]

everything i've heard is that it's not a noticable difference in times. so it might actually be faaster, but the odds of you actually noticing the diffrerence is slim.

plus there's the big difference in cost for that small increase in speed.

[flanzig1]

With the parts you picked, could reduce the PSU down to the Corsair 520HX and save $40. The 520 will power just about any single video card very well.

[matt_21484]

Ok so here is the updated list, this is hopefully going to be the final check before he goes and purchases everything

CPU Intel C2D E6850 $300

PSU Corsair CMPSU-620HX $170

Case Lan-Li PC-7B $90

HDD Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3500630AS $120

Optical Lite-On $36

RAM Crucial Ballistix 2GB PC28500 $155

MOBO Asus P5K $135

Video EVGA GeForce 8800GTS (Is this a step up from what I had before?) $290

Vista $190

Office $125

This puts the grand total before tax, rebates, etc at $1611 USD if my math is correct. Any last thoughts are appreciated.

[Jimmy0]

You could save like 100 bucks if you dropped to the E6750, without losing too much power, if you wanted too.

Also yes, the 8800GTS is a good improvement over the 8600GTS.