New build, looking for typical build list

[Binh]

Hi, I'm looking to build a computer specifically for gaming and photoshop. I have a budget of about $1800 for the tower itself, not including monitor, mouse, etc. So there, help me out guys.

[doubledragon5]

MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131185

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145175

Video: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130072

HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148298

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

Case your choice... Antec 900 is nice I have it now, and others here on the fourm have it as well.. It runs very cool.. Price 1347.99

[Katreat]

Case: Personal choice
MB: Asus P5K
Processor: E8400
Ram: Corsair 2x1gb DDR2-800
HD: Seagate 7200.11 500gb Sata
DVD: Lite-On DVD Burner Sata Retail
Video: EVGA 8800gt 512
PSU: Corsair 620
OS: Vista 32 Home Premium

Probably similar to dragons. I would say in the neighborhood of $1300 for this build.

If you really want to spend $1800 you might check out the 8800 GTS (512), i would not waste my time with the 8800 GTX, it is very overpriced for what little performance gain you recieve. You could also go with 2X2 GB of ram which would help things out a bit. If you still have money to spend look into sound card. The on-board sound is good, but a sound card with a nice set of speakers can really spark up a game.

[Binh]

Is this the top CPU? I am hoping to use up as much of the budget as possible.

Is it just me or has ddr2 ram gotten much cheaper?

[doubledragon5]

If you really want to spend $1800 you might check out the 8800 GTS (512), i would not waste my time with the 8800 GTX, it is very overpriced for what little performance gain you recieve.

Almost listed that one, but for some reason choose the other..

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by Binh The CPU seems lacking, is there anything stronger? I am hoping to use up as much of the budget as possible. Is it just me or has ddr2 ram gotten much cheaper?

Ram is has gotten a lot cheaper, so you could go 4gigs of ram I listed it is actually worth it price wise..

Here is top dog, but at a price tag of $979.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115026

[ToyotaSupra]

$120 more and you can get the 45nm quad core.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115034

[Jester]

go with the 45nm quad core. up the ddr2 800 to ddr2 1066. get 64bit vista and you can run with 4gb of ram. I would also go with the 8800GT 512. The specs are the same as the GTS with the excpetion that it is 256bit instead of 320bit. If you are really looking to just spend the money you could go with the 640mb GTS.

Edit: You could go with the 45nm quad core but I didnt realize how truley expensive it is. It also uses A LOT more power so you would need a 700W+ PSU
I would stick with a Q6600 for now.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

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

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail

2 X Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA1065 - Retail

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

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

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

Total: 1723.90 Shipping will bump that all up

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by Jester go with the 45nm quad core. up the ddr2 800 to ddr2 1066. get 64bit vista and you can run with 4gb of ram. I would also go with the 8800GT 512. The specs are the same as the GTS with the excpetion that it is 256bit instead of 320bit. If you are really looking to just spend the money you could go with the 640mb GTS.

Unless there has been a change, you want to stay away from the GTS 320 and 640. Both of those cards are older and do not use the new G92 GPU. The 8800 GT (512) and 8800 GTS (512) use the newer G92 GPU and are much better performers.

Kat

[Binh]

Thanks a lot guys, it's been a year since I've build my last computer, so I've been out of it. All of your lists are pretty similar, which makes choosing much, much easier. I wanted to let you guys look at the final list before I made any decisions. Note that I am getting 2x the 2Gb sticks for 4 Gb total.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Retail

ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

EVGA GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512-P3-N841-A3 Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail (x2)

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W Power Supply - Retail

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA - Retail

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

[renaldtao3]

-What OS will you be using? If Vista 32 bit, 4GB is unecessary. 4GB would make sense if you're using 64 bit Vista.
-Will you be overclocking? If not, DDR 800 would be more than enough.
-I recently was shopping for a PSU with a setup very similar to yours and after looking up the power requirements for the 8800GTS 512 on EVGA's website I found this:

Requirements
Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 26 Amp Amps.)
Minimum 450 Watt for SLI mode system.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 30 Amp Amps.)
An available 6 pin PCI-E power connector (hard drive power dongle to PCI-E 6 pin adapter included with card)

You can go on Corsair's website and plug in all your hardware and it will generate a recomendation. If your looking to save a few $ (it's single rail too), you would be fine with this for your system.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004
Have fun with your new build.

[shadowpr]

If not over clocking, save money and get the ddr2-800.

Also, no matter if over clocking of not, I would recommend getting 2x2gb instead of 4x1gb.

[Katreat]

Agree with shadow on the ram, it is better if going for 4 GB to get 2x2 gb sticks. Leaves you expansion room for what may come down the road.

XP and Vista 32 recognize about 3.2 GB of ram so 4 is a bit of over kill. but ram is cheap right now and you are getting an extra 1.2 BGs so not a bad investment. I also read somewhere that after sp1 Vista will see more than 3.2 GB. It was not an official reviews so take that thought with a grain of salt, but if it comes true then having 4 Gb will be a good deal.

Kat