Nervous First Time Builder... Help me avoid a mistake please!!

[Doom]

I've got an old Gateway from 2002 (Pent-4 2.4GHz / 512 RAM / PNY GeForce 6600 256MB / CD+/-RW / 400W / 40GB HD). Instead of spending $1500 on an HP or $3000 on an HP Blackbird 02 that I won't fully utilize... I want to build my own... and maybe systems for friends next. I've read a ton on this and came up with the following... (based on Newegg and Bestbuy total price is $1060 )

Case: Apevia X-Jupiter-Jr G-Type
MoBo: Gigabyte GA-P35-DSL3
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz
RAM: 3x G.Skill 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 800
GPU: EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB
Sound: On board optical out to Bose Companion III
HD: Western Digital SE 320GB 7200RPM IDE
Power: Apevia ATX12V 750w
Optical: HP 20x Internal DVD+/-RW...CD-RW
1x Extra 120mm Case Fan (2x 120mm come w/ case)

Any thoughts...will this work? I've checked specs a dozen times to make sure it will fire up. HD and Optical will likely be bought locally...I don't feel comfortable w/ OEM (what exactly does OEM give up). I also figure I'll be running this thing hot...should I get a chipset fan (would give me 3x case fans, heat sink and fan for CPU, and the case fan).

I read horror stories all over Newegg... are there any brands I can go with regardless of bad ratings on a site like that. Thanks to anybody who can help out with this.

[Doom]

- Oh yeah... planning on Windows XP. Does 64 bit give me anything special other than the ability to go above 4GB RAM... and would it drain resources so as to take away from gaming?

- Purpose: Home office and gaming. Nothing too serious... planning on upgrading to new video card when GeForce 9XXX comes out and prices drop. Also planning on eventual addition of PhysX card if I get low FPS rates eventually.

[shadowpr]

Ok, a few suggestions.

Either get 2x1 gb or 2x2 gb of ram. Don't just get 3, cause you should see a bit improvement in performance by running it in dual channel.

Instead of the 8800gts 320, which is outdated, get a 8800gt.

Get a sata hard drive. OEM is fine.

Get a lite-on dvd burner. Get it with a sata connection and retail.

Don't forget to get an operating system too.

[amdalex]

Your list will work. Also when you put it together be slow and careful like a turtle, have you ever seen a turtle fall? Also don't put to much thermal grease on the CPU, just enough that you can barely see the top of the CPU should be enough.

[Doom]

Thanks.
- I'm changing CPU to the 8400 Wolfdale (less money for same speed).
- Will go w/ Lite-On retail
- Will go w/ OEM hard drive... will probably go up to 500MB.

Does anybody think the following are worth it?

- PhysX card?
- Sound Blaster Extreme sound card?

A couple folks told me the on-board sound was okay... if the mobo has onboard sound and I add a sound card... how do I tell the system which one to use... I assume it's in the BIOS somewhere?

[Masaki 7-11]

Apevia power supplies are bad quality, go with something from a company like Antec, FSP, or Corsair which have much better quality. If you only need to use one video card, going down to 500W should work fine.

[Doom]

-- Shadowpr... is this what you meant... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318

I guess I just figured that if GTS took up two slots it had to be better. I'm looking to run Crysis and Bioshock (new games to me) along w/ HL2 Episide 2 and Doom 3 (to see what they look like on high. If GT w/ 512 does that it will help w/ heat.

-- Masaki 7-11... moved to this...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139001

I was thinking of putting in a PCIx1 Sound Blaster and eventually a PhysX card... I'm assuming 520 would handle the power for those as well...

... by the way... is there a way to calculate exactly how much power everything needs to ensure you get the proper PSU?

Thanks to all for the help and all the threads. This place kicks ass for noobs looking to break into building.

[Masaki 7-11]

There is a way to calculate how much power a system will take up; search power supply calculator and you should find a few websites that have calculators which will help you find out the amount of power you will need (however most are somewhat outdated). Corsair has really good power supplies, so taking a look at your system, you shouldn't have any problem with the amount of power the power supply outputs. Putting in a sound card and physics card, won't take very much power, so I wouldn't worry about that, most of the power used in higher end computers come mostly from the video card, so running multiple video cards would increase the amount of power you would need to run the system. Upgrading to a physX card will only help if the game is supported by the card, so make sure a good amount of your games support physX. Half life 2 epsiode 2 I'm currently running at max settings (4x AA, 16x AF, 1440x900) with a Pentium D 915 and a 7900GS, so you won't have any problems with that, crysis is the one that may be a problem. I read a review recently on the HD3870X2 that had the 8800GTS (512MB) run a lot faster than all the other cards including the 8800Ultra and HD3870X2, so if you can go up to that, it's probably a good idea. Here is a website with a relatively updated PSU calculator: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

[shadowpr]

I wouldn't bother with the Physx card. And try onboard sound for now. You can always upgrade later on.

That 8800gt is nice. Slightly above that is the 8800gts 512, but cost a bit more. The gt you just linked to should play those games nicely.


Also, the retail processor comes with a heatsink that already has the thermal paste on it. You don't have to apply anymore. You just connect the heatsink to the processor and board.

[sagan]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Ok, a few suggestions. Either get 2x1 gb or 2x2 gb of ram. Don't just get 3, cause you should see a bit improvement in performance by running it in dual channel.

He can get 2 x 1gb and 2 x 512mb to take advantage of dual channel can't he?

[amdalex]

yes

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by Sagan He can get 2 x 1gb and 2 x 512mb to take advantage of dual channel can't he?

Yes, but with ram being very cheap these days you would probably pay almost the same for that set up. Also, although I have read a few places that at times 32 bit OS will see as little as 2.5 GB, in general most studies seem to say it will recognize about 3.2 GB, so you might get a little more performance than if you just put in 3

[sagan]

Originally Posted by Katreat Yes, but with ram being very cheap these days you would probably pay almost the same for that set up. Also, although I have read a few places that at times 32 bit OS will see as little as 2.5 GB, in general most studies seem to say it will recognize about 3.2 GB, so you might get a little more performance than if you just put in 3

OK, just making sure.

[liambl]

If you want a dual slot card, the Radeon HD 3870 is almost as fast as the 8800GT, has some newer techs such as DX10.1. This one has a particulary nice looking and performing cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161218
But there are cheaper 3870's available.

[backithink]

this card is a good choice if you can get the $

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130325


and hopefully when the new 9xxx series come out you could *possibly* step up to a faster card (if there is one available within 90 days, yes it is sort of a gamble) if its within the purchase price range.... or your willing to spend the extra $, be kinda like getting a $315 discount on your new card if your within your 90 days