My first build.. WOOHOO

[bucksfanjimj1]

I just wanted to make sure these parts are good to go before I order them. I must admit that I borrowed from other threads and tweaked a little to suit my needs. I am pretty sure that I am in good shape but would appreciate somebody double checking. This is my first build after all. Thanks for your help in advance.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811129025

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813131225

Video card: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130082

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817139004

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115028

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145175

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822148136

DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827106070

OS: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16832116400

I will be re-using my keyboard and mouse and plan to find a monitor locally.

P.S. I would also appreciate any comments or advice.

[doubledragon5]

You did your home work, I like those parts..

[Masaki 7-11]

I would go for this video card instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318, it's a decent amount faster, and costs only $10 more.

You might also want to take a look at getting a E8400 instead of a E6850 since it's both cheaper and faster.

[Dave21]

I disagree with a number of things:

1) You selected the old 8800GTS. Get the 512 mb GTS. If you want to save a little bit of money, go for the 8800gt, you won't lose much in performance.
2) Get the E8400 instead, i think its cheaper now and is better than the E6850.
3) Get the 7200.11 32 MB cache 500 gb seagate HDD

[shadowpr]

Along with what Masaki and Dave said, I'll suggest you get the retail dvd burner. That will include nero and it's only a few dollars more.

[bucksfanjimj1]

Thanks for the suggestions folks I will pass those on to my wife since this will be her computer. She's the one paying for the parts.

shadowpr "Along with what Masaki and Dave said, I'll suggest you get the retail dvd burner. That will include nero and it's only a few dollars more."

We have Nero 8 already but thanks for looking out for us.

Btw will there be any spare parts (screws, cables etc.) that I should pick up as well? Like I said before this will be my first build so I don't have a lot extra things lying around. I have no idea what kind of silly little things I might run into in the process of putting this thing together.

[shadowpr]

You should have everything you need. The motherboard will come with the cables. The case should come with all the screws you need.

You should be set.

[bucksfanjimj1]

I think I may have missed something. Which RAM would be better:

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145175

or this

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145033

or this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145177

.

Also what makes the E8400 better than the E6850 aside from 2 extra MBs of cache?

[shadowpr]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

That should work unless you plan on overclocking at all.

[bucksfanjimj1]

I forgot to include that set. That's the one that started the confusion. No, I won't be overclocking it. There will be some moderate gaming involved though, COD and the Battlefield series.

[shadowpr]

That should be all you would need. You could even get 2x2gb.

[bucksfanjimj1]

OK then, we appreciate all of your help.

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by bucksfanjimj Also what makes the E8400 better than the E6850 aside from 2 extra MBs of cache?

Along with the Cache, the newer E8400 is the new 45mm chip. The E6850 is an older 65 mm chip. The smaller size makes it more efficient. It runs cooler and uses less power. Add them all together and it is just a better preformer for the cost.

Kat

[bucksfanjimj1]

Thanks for the explanation Katreat. I wondered what the fuss was all about.

[bucksfanjimj1]

Hey gang! I have spent the last couple days looking for this E8400 CPU. It appears to be out of stock everywhere except E-bay. I was wondering if someone could recommend an equivalent that is available. I'm leery of the few on E-bay because several are close to $300 and they are used. No thanks. If I'm going to spend $300 on a chip it had better be brand spanking new.

Because of this, would the average user notice the difference in speed between the 8400 and the 6850 that I started with? I would really like to get the parts ordered soon and don't want to wait who knows how long for the 8400 to become available again.

[David M]

double post

[David M]

Bucks,
I have been watching the availability of the E8400 over the past few weeks. Availability comes and goes. When it does become available it sells very quickly. Right now, Saturday March 15, Directron claims to have it in stock for $285. I have ordered from them before and they did me well..fast and no problems. In the benchmarks the E8400 and the E6850 are very close, depending on which benchmark. I think the real difference is in the overclocking capabilities. With the E8400 being a 45nm chip, it produces much less heat. I am like you, I would not buy it through EBAY for the same reasons...the chance of getting burned is too high for my tastes.

Look on Pricegrabber and Google Shopping for price and availability.

I have been reading about the E8400 being able to get over 4GHz on stock air cooling. Personally, I went and bought a cheapo E2180 and am holding out for the E8500 which people are guessing will be out in a few months.

[bucksfanjimj1]

Thanks David M, I've been doing the Pricegrabber and Google thing. No luck. However I did find this on Newegg today.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115038

Any thoughts?

[David M]

Bucks,
That depends on how much you want to overclock. I read (forgot where) someone was overclocking the E8500 (engineering sample), E8400 and E8200. The E8200 could not reach 4 Gigs before it got too hot. Apparently it is not as near as good of an overclocker as its faster brothers. They said it depends on the sample...but THAT much of a difference? Unless you don't want to wait a few months for an E8500, I think your best bet is to buy an E8400 when they, on occasion, become available. I would not spend more than $300 for an E8400 though. As I said earlier, you can always go with a cheapo sub $100 CPU for now

The Newegg price for the E8200 at $240 seems a little high. Apparently even the demand for this 45nm dual core is still high.

Edit: I found the article. http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu..._12.html#sect0

[bucksfanjimj1]

I have no interest in overclocking right now. I just want to get this thing built. Newegg is now out of the 8200. So I am considering the 6850 or the 6750. Either one is faster than the P4 2.6 the wife is using now.

[cmichael258]

The PSU goes in the bottom compartment of the ANTEC P182 case. Make sure the Corsair's
24 pin connector cable is long enough.

[David M]

Wow...those relatively inexpensive dual core 45nm cpu's are sure selling.

[bucksfanjimj1]

Originally Posted by David M Wow...those relatively inexpensive dual core 45nm cpu's are sure selling.

Yea they are selling faster than hotcakes. Newegg has raised their price on the 8400 to 259.99 and they don't even have it back in stock yet.


Thanks for the tip cmichael. According to the website where I saw the PSU it supposedly has "extra long" cables for full tower cases. What "extra long" actually means I'll find out I suppose.

[Katreat]

I used the Corsair 620 in my build with the 900 case and it was plenty long enough.

If the E8400 is out of stock and you are in a hurry I would go for the 6750. The 6850, unless they really dropped the price, is just not that much better. The 6750 would be a good place holder with lots of performance now.

If you really want the E8400 just keep looking and get yourself on the e-mail notice list for major suppliers. Just had a freind get one from NCIX for around $250 (she lives in Canada) and only waited 2 days for them to be back in stock, so they are shipping them, you just need to watch carefully and get your order in.

Kat