Give your opinions on this computer build. Feel free to list pros and cons.

[simplegenius]

Looking for some criticism on this computer that I built. This is my first build. Computer is just for general use and a learning tool for me. I want to put both windows XP and ubuntu on this.

Motherboard: MSI P6N Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core

Case: RAIDMAX Smilodon Extreme ATX-612WEBP Black SECC Steel ATX Mid-Tower w/500W Power Supply

Memory: Corsair XMS2 DHX 4096MB Dual Channel PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory ( 4 x 1024MB)

Video Card: EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE SB0570LPVP 5.1 Channels PCI Interface Low-Profile Card

Hard Drive: Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFDRTL 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150

External Hard Drive: Fantom Titanium-II TFD500U16 500GB 7200 RPM

Keyboard: Saitek PZ30AU Black Wired USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard

Monitor: SCEPTRE X20WG-1080P Black 20.1” 5ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD

Disk Drive: Samsung 20x DVD +-R DVD Burner with Lightscribe Black PATA Model SH-S202N

[Cricket]

You already built it?

Cricket

[simplegenius]

well, I am waiting to order everything. Just kinda a last minute checkup to make sure I didn't do something or wrong or unnecessary before I order it.

[doubledragon5]

Dump the psu that comes with the tower it is garbage.. Skip the raptor drive for a Segate 7200.10 or 11 they perform just as fast as the raptors but are cheaper, and come with a 5yr warranty.. Go with lite-on retail for the burner, there popular and come with nero burning software..

[Cricket]

Oh...this is what you want to build. Okay...

Do you plan to run two video cards in SLi? Because if you are you must get a SLi certified power supply off the appropriate list found here. SLi certified power supplies aren't cheap, but you should never go cheap on the power supply anyway, it's the most important component in the computer.

SLi isn't worth it unless you plan to run two of the most powerful cards available. Two moderately powerful video cards in SLi mode is still nowhere as powerful as one highend video card.

If you plan to use only 1 video card then get a motherboard that has a Intel chipset instead. That's the best combination for Intel processors.

Samsung optical drives are not very reliable, look at Lite-On, Sony or NEC instead.

The Raptor hard drives are over-rated, expensive and noisy and aren't really much faster than today's SATA 3.0 HDDs with 16MB to 32MB of cache. I'd get a 400GB or 500GB Seagate 7200.10 or 7200.11 SATA 3.0 HDD instead.

I don't know anything about Sceptre monitors so can't comment on them.

Cricket

[Katreat]

If you already built it not sure why I would give criticism but I will throw out a few comment if you want them.

Don’t really know the MB but if you are not planning on SLI I would have recommended a newer P35 or X38 board. They both support the faster 1333 FSB of the processor, not sure if the 650i does.

The CPU is a great choice, good price/performance. If you where building today I might has suggested the new E8400.

Case is a personal choice but I would not trust the Raidmax PSU. Also, if you are going to go SLI 500w might be a bit small for two 8600s. PSUs are very important and you don’t want to trust your expensive components to low quality units. Check out this list for a replacement from a quality company.

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

If going for 4 GB of memory it is usually recommended to go with 2 x 2 GB sticks so you will have future expansion. Also, there are some reports that when you fill the 4th slot for 4 GB that Vista 64 will not recognize it. That may have been fixed. Also, you don’t list an OS, but XP and Vista 32 will only recognize between 2.5 and 3.2 GB of your memory. If you want to use all 4 your will need Vista 64.

Excellent video card for a non-gamer. If you really want to play the newest games at moderate to high settings you will need to upgrade to something in the 3800 or 8800 series. But that is a very nice card for casual gaming on older games and occational gaming at lower settings on newer games.

Good sound card. Personally I usually skip this, new Mobos have excellent sound, but I usually use head phones also so maybe I am missing something.

Rapters are nice HDs. Personally don’t think the extra cost and small size make up for small speed increase but to each their own. The new 16MB and 32MB 7200 drives score just a wee bit slower in tests.

No second internal? Anyway, I have never heard of that external so wont comment on quality. I like using a standard internal HD with an external enclosure myself, that way I can get an enclosure with a fan in it and don’t have to worry about frying the HD.

Keyboard looks fine. I use a G-11 but almost bought myself a Saitek because they get very nice reviews.

Don’t know that monitor, but I use an off-brand and have had very good luck.

A lot of people on this forum have reported problems with Samsung burners and are recommending Liteon instead. I have never had a Samsung so cant give any personal view on them.

I would not put much weight on my comments since it is already built. However, I really would suggest you look into a better PSU. Bad PSUs have the tendency to take out more than just themselves when they fry so you may not want to risk your system to it. Good PSUs burn up also, but they have safety features to protect the rest of your system

Kat

Edit: just read you have not built, in that case at least consider some of the changes. If you switch Mobos look at the Asus P5K series, rock solid mobo. Oh, and take a minute to price out your monitor at 22". Personally, I found it very hard to go from a 19" standard monitor to a 20" widescreen because it is only the height of a 17" standard monitor. I felt I was going backwards. So I switched to a 22" widescreen which is the height of a 19" standard and felt like I was gaining size. Something to think about.

[simplegenius]

Thanks for the comments guys. I am going to look at the Lite-on burners right now.

Cricket, when you say a motherboard with an intel chipset, that would make the motherboard I have up right now an MSI chipset? (Kinda new to this world).

As far as the WD hard drive, I chose the 10,000 rpm because I did a couple benchmarks on Tom's Hardware against the 7200 rpm HDs and it significantly outperformed them doing things like DVD burning and such. But you would suggest seagate as a better brand?

Kinda a general question, but besides the brand of that HD, is there anything wrong with putting in a 10,000 RPM hard drive?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by simplegenius Cricket, when you say a motherboard with an intel chipset, that would make the motherboard I have up right now an MSI chipset? (Kinda new to this world).

No, that motherboard has a NVidia chipset.

Originally Posted by simplegenius As far as the WD hard drive, I chose the 10,000 rpm because I did a couple benchmarks on Tom's Hardware against the 7200 rpm HDs and it significantly outperformed them doing things like DVD burning and such. But you would suggest seagate as a better brand?

Currently I'm biased towards Seagate but only because of their track record with me. Back around 2000 to 2002 or 2003 I was using Western Digital hard drives exclusively and had a bunch go bad in the computers I had built for other people. I decided to switch to Seagate hard drives because the folks here started to report good performance and reliability from them. By 2003 I was only installing Seagate hard drives in the computers I built and 5 years later not one has gone bad yet of the 30 to 40 installed. I'm very happy with their reliability.

Originally Posted by simplegenius Kinda a general question, but besides the brand of that HD, is there anything wrong with putting in a 10,000 RPM hard drive?

No.

Cricket

[simplegenius]

Katreat: How do you like your Antec 900?? I was going to go with that case until I saw all of the complaints about excessive noise. And what power supply did you get with it?

And another noob question: what exactly is SLI???

P.S. What Lite-On cd/dvd burner drive should I get for a good price and if I do alot of dvd burning?

[doubledragon5]

Antec 900 is fine I use it and it keeps my system nice and cool.. It has 3 120mm and 1 200mm fan.. The noise is not that bad..

[Katreat]

Noise has not been an issue for me either. I do not Overclock so run all fans on low. I think most complaints are from people who turn up the fan speed. They are adjustable and the case will become a wind tunnel if you put them on high. The only complaint I have so far is the case is a dust magnet. With all those fans I guess that is to be expected but was suprised at how much dust this case can collect. It is pretty easy to clean but it does collect it.

SLI is a method to run two video cards side by side to increase performance. It is something that you should only really consider if you are already running the best video card out there and it is still not fast enough. For most people a better option is to just buy a better video card.

Here is a burner. If you get it retail Liteon throws in Nero. If you have a burning program already you can save a couple of dollars and get OEM. They also have one with lightscribe if you are into that kind of thing, I just use a Sharpi.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

Plextor is another very good brand. They are more expensive but often finish first in reviews. I dont know if they would burn any faster but I have heard alot of good stuff about them.

Kat

[shadowpr]

The 900 is definately a dust magnet. But that gives me an excuse to open it up every few months to clean, and take things apart...lol

[simplegenius]

Any suggestions on a good case and power supply that is not too excessive in price?

[amdalex]

Cooler Master Centurion 5 and a Xclio Goodpower 500 watt PSU. Get them at newegg.

[simplegenius]

With an Antec 900 specifically, what is a good power supply or what type of wattage am I looking for?

[amdalex]

That Xclio will be fine unless you run SLI which you most likely won't do. But it is SLI certified.

[simplegenius]

with memory, would it be faster to have (4 x 1 GB) or (2 x 2 GB)??

[shadowpr]

not that it's faster, but it could be more stable with 2x2, and it gives you room to upgrade.

[simplegenius]

with memory, would it be faster to have (4 x 1 GB) or (2 x 2 GB)??

[Icyman23]

double post...

I have the upper range version of that Sceptre Monitor and it is great! Not one dead/stuck pixel, no problems, very high contrast and black levels.

I've seen that that version is the "lower, cheaper version" listed on Sceptre's site. Made of tons of plastic and is around 50$ cheaper.

Sceptre seems to be a good brand to me, I will buy from them in the future
www.sceptre.com

also, how about a E8400 Wolfdale? almost the same price and more performance...