new member, new rig

[entheoddity]

Hey all,

i made my first computer and it was a great learning experience. Now im in college and get to create a brand new gaming rig for myself. My old computer has an AMD XP 3000+ and a 256 meg Radeon 9600 pro....yea its definately time for an upgrade.

heres what im looking at so far.

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black SECC STEEL ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156062
I heard this was a grade A case for the money


Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

Hanns·G JW-199DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824254001
Think i should cut costs on another part to upgrade this screen???

EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130071
I wanna go with this card just for the sake of future proofing my machine...im hoping it will pay off in the era of DX10 games

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341010
Is this power supply big enough for me? Anyone know of good cheaper alternatives?

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034
I figure this is some solid ram for an ok price, gonna pick up 2 of them so i have 4 gigs

ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131196
Good mobo from what ive heard. Im gonna do some overclocking so if nothing else id like some feedback on this and my processor

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017
This is the biggest choice im making...is the extra two cores worth it or should i get something else like the e6850? Also what is a great heatsink for this baby, or if you think the 6850 is better, whats a good heatsink for that...ive never bought a heatsink ive just used stock so i dont know much about them.


Thanks for helping this college kid out

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMech. Your list is very solid.

There has been some debate regarding dual or quad-core CPUs. I'd go for the Quad for future proofing, even if all of the cores are not used right now. But the E6850 is a great performer as well. I'd say to get the Quad for an all-around machine, the dual if you just want gaming.

[perkster]

remember to get a 64 bit OS for the 4gb you want to run.

as for PSU alternative look at the corsair HX 620W unit, great power and value. your system will be fine on anything over about 550W i think

[Katreat]

If you are planning on OC'ing then you might read this article to decide if you want to go quad or duel.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/08/...b_2/index.html

The duel cores are faster but as more software (including games) is written to utilize the extra cores things may really change. In the end it looks like quad core for future proofing and duel core for speed today. I personally went the speed route (and spent a few less $) figuring that if a game came out that really performed better on the quad I could make that my first upgrade.

Kat

[mbiggs]

If no one already knows... AM2 is quad core compatible. MEANING, AM3 processors will be backwards compatible with the AM2 socket. Gosh, I can't believe no one knows this...

[entheoddity]

mbiggs - Thanks for the tip but i am building an Intel system not an AMD system. My last AMD processor gave me many problems and im trusting my money to Intel this round.

hmmmm lots to think about with the processor...not sure what to do at the moment. I am pretty much building this computer so i can play hellgate london, tabula rasa, and crysis. Along with any other games coming out...so maybe ill just hit up a dual core...gotta think about it.

anyone have any recommendations on heatsinks? I just wanna make sure i get a quality heatsink that wont overcrowd my case.

thanks for the advice so far

[flanzig1]

Would just start with the stock heatsink that comes with the CPU. If you start having CPU temp issues then start looking at aftermarket heatsinks. As for brands and models, Artic Cooling Freezer Pro are a good budget unit and the Tuniq and Zalmans are at the higher priced good units.

[entheoddity]

Alright well i have decided to go with the e6750. After checking out the benchmarks I have decided that four cores just arent going to be utilized enough to warrent the extra money...ill upgrade to a quad core once its worth it.

do you guys think that the 775 socket is going to be around for very long? how long of a lifespan would you give my mobo...cause 4 months after i bought my last motherboard they released the new amd socket and i really had nowhere to go as far as upgrading my cpu without a new mobo.

[backithink]

Originally Posted by mbiggs If no one already knows... AM2 is quad core compatible. MEANING, AM3 processors will be backwards compatible with the AM2 socket. Gosh, I can't believe no one knows this...

lol just read this today.... and yay lol


and entheoddity that case looks nice..... i like the mobo tray alot that is a nice feature for future upgrades

[Krazeee]

You can save a few dollars and get the Smilodon w/o PSU.

The 775 socket will still be a very usefull interface for quite some time. I've read however that within the next 18 to 24 months Intel will be coming out with new interfacing and new CPUs.

I would suggest saving a bit of cash on the Video Card and getting the 320mb version. Benchmarks show it performing almost exactly as the 640mb version, especially when you buy the OC'd version (usually runs $290). You could use the money saved to get a 22" Hans-G or similar if you wanted, they run about $250.

The Asus is a great board and recommended around here quite often. An equally strong overclocker is the Abit IP35 series board for a bit less if you're looking to shave a bit of $ off. Three different versions only differ in the "extra doodad" category.

Hope this helps

[hoemee]

Good selection of parts. I just built my last system with the Antec 900 case and I love it......but, I really like the the case you have chosen....I have one suggestion - lose the stock power supply and save yourself some aggravation down the road. Look at the psu sticky in one of these forums for info, but a modular power supply would look a lot neater...... here is the one I used:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153039

I only use Thermaltake, Antec or Enermax

[entheoddity]

About the case coming with a PSU. My old computer's PSU has been acting VERY funny... it came with this aspire case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144026
So im gonna take this extra power supply, plop it in my old comp, and give it to my mom/younger siblings...lets just say they REALLY need a better computer.

Also the price is 89.99 with a 20 dollar MIR. The non PSU version is 79.99 with no MIR, i figure ill take a free power supply and ten dollars off...we will see how the mail in rebate goes.

i have a decent ammount i can spend on this computer so I am sticking with the 640 meg 8800. Also I am going to use my current monitor until thanksgiving time, hopefully ill get a good deal on a new LCD monitor on black friday.

[backithink]

i would shop for one before black friday......... you can find a nice monitor cheap as an open box.... i got mine for $75 and i love it

[entheoddity]

75 dollar nice LCD...from where...?


checked on newegg and they are pretty much still >180 for a open box lcd of a respectable size

damn you expensive technology...damn you



also, parts are ordered...now we play the waiting game...and maybe eventually some hellgate:london

[hoemee]

Here are the PSU links:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=101151

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[entheoddity]

alright well every single part is ordered now, ill let you guys know what is different from the initial list.

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

Thermaltake W0106RU Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version 700W Power Supply - Retail

I took a visit to my local tv/computer/appliance store and what do you know i bought a 22 inch floor model LCD monitor for 95 dollars. It has one stuck pixel but i am not really worried about it for such a cheap price, heck ill probably be able to remove it or it will go away by itself.

thanks for the help guys...lets just hope it runs once i connect the dots.

[entheoddity]

got half the parts now...man the 8800GTS was SUCH a pain in the ass to get into the slot and lined up so i could toss a screw in the case to hold her down...seriously took 15 minutes.

now just waiting for monday when the rest of the stuff comes