Rate the best bang for your buck build

[alcmaeon]

I have to admit I only took a cursory glance down the forum to make sure there wasn't already a thread on this article, so if there is just point me at it.

I happened to see this article on the front page of PC mech. I wonder how you all would rate it? For discussion purposes skip the monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers to focus on the actual PC part of the build.


http://www.pcmech.com/article/best-b...puter-of-2008/

ASRock NVIDIA 650i SLI ATX
intel Core 2 Quad QX6600 2.66GHz
2X ZOTAC 8800GT 512MB AMP Edition in SLI
NZXT HUSH ATX mid-tower
2X Western Digital Raptor 150GB 10,000RPM in RAID 0
2 X Samsung DVD+/-R/W Combo burner with Lightscribe
Hiper ATX 880watt quad 12V rails
Zalman 2 ball CPU cooler

[shadowpr]

To be honest, I think there are better quality parts that can be used.

[erucader]

WD Raptors in RAID would be nice, but it's hardly worth the cost. Just get a SATA 500Gb or two for plenty of space. I dunno anything about those cards but I'd consider a 9600GT instead. I've never used Intel on nvidia chipset, someone else should comment on that board.And 2 DVD burners seems unnecessary, I've never needed two drives but they are dirt cheap so might as well. That's my $0.02..

[Tin]

Id get one Raptor for the OS and apps and a 500GB+ for storage. RIAD 0 is quick, but for the cost of 2 Raptors its not worth it, plus your data isnt as secure. If one drive fails you lose everything. As far as the motherboard goes, ASRock is ok, but they arent a very reputable board. You could scrap the ASRock and go with Asus or Gigabyte. Hiper power supplies are also not very good. Look into a big single rail unit from PC Power and Cooling, Corsair, Seasonic, or Silverstone. SLI with 8800GTs isnt very cost effective...at most youll see another 15% to 20% increase in performance. A better idea would be a G92 8800GTS or wait a month for the 9800GX2. Not trying to knock the guy who wrote the article linked above...but he needs to do more research on parts instead of splurge shopping at Newegg. Theres much more room for improvement on that list. 1/2 the parts on there most of us PC Mech vets wouldnt touch even if you paid us for it.

[Katreat]

Was not impressed with his parts selection or his reasoning for why they were important. He definately needs to read up on "Bang for the Buck" because IMO his system does not meet the criteria. To be honest, that looks more like a system that was put together by Tigerdirect to move parts that where not selling. He had a few winners but the overall match up just was not there.

Kat