Tax refund means new computer! Feedback on build?

[fc3646]

Any feedback would be appriciated. I have a monitor and plan on reusing my optical drives.
Thanks



Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148262
$69.99


XFX PVT94PYDF4 GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814150277
-$5.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$179.99
$174.99


G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231145
-$40.00 Instant
$139.99
$99.99


ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131196
-$10.00 Instant
$159.99
$149.99



Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115029
$179.99



Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116213

Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129024

[IntegraGSR]

Looks solid -- similar to my build in terms of brands. Mine runs like a dream

[fc3646]

Any suggestions on cooling options would be welcome as well....

[IntegraGSR]

Stock HSF for the Intel chip is sufficient, pretty much the entire setup will cool itself. If you are planning on overclocking, look at some nice copper aftermarket HSF and some active northbridge cooling (if the motherboard is passively cooled)

[Khalil]

I second IntegraGSR on his advice regarding stock HSF. With the equipment you listed you don't need to overclock as it will meet and exceed everything you throw at it. Only thing I would recommend changing is the hard drive go with the new Seagate 7200.11 hard drive, newer better technology.

[Katreat]

If you old optical is IDE you might consider getting a new one for about $30 that is SATA. New MB do not offer native IDE support, they have a 3rd party controller but I have heard it can be some what problomatic.

I would recommend Vista Home Premium instead of Ultimate. Most features of Ultimate are just not utilized in the home and it takes up a lot of space. I went with basic Home just to keep in simple myself, but premium does have some nice features if you want them.

6750 is a very nice processor, used it myself in my last build, but compair prices with the newer E8400, last I looked they where about the same so if you can find one you might want to go that direction for the newer tech.

I agree with Khalil but think the 7200.11 start at 500 GB. If that is too much space then the 7200.10 are still great HDs.

Kat

[fc3646]

I'm being frugal here, but how would this system compare to my build specs?

Dell Inspiron 530
Date & Time: March 27,2008 4:19 PM CST

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Dell Inspiron 530 Qty 1
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4500 (2MB L2 Cache,2.20GHz,800 FSB), Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition - English Unit Price $1,099.00
Save $300 on all Inspiron Desktop purchases over $999
Expires Thursday, April 03, 2008
- $300.00

Catalog Number: 29 DDCWDAU
Module Description Show Details
Dell Inspiron 530 Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4500 (2MB L2 Cache,2.20GHz,800 FSB)
Operating System Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition - English
Memory 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 4DIMMs
Keyboard and Mouse Bundles Dell USB Keyboard and Dell Optical USB Mouse
Monitor 19 inch S199WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel Monitor with TrueLife*
Video Cards Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT 256MB
Hard Drives 320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Floppy Drive and Media Reader Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
Mouse Mouse included with Keyboard purchase
Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Modem and Wireless 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1
Optical Drive 16x DVD+/-RW Drive
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Speakers Dell AS501PA 10W Flat Panel Attached Spkrs for Analog Flat Panels
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) Microsoft Works 9.0
Security Software No Security
Warranty & Service 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
Internet Access Service No ISP requested
Miscellaneous Award Winning Service and Support
Dell Digital Entertainment No Entertainment software pre-installed
Labels Windows XP™
DataSafe Online Backup Included 3 GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Yr

Sub total:$799.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Additional Discounts and Coupons FREE GROUND SHIPPING!
Limited time offer !
Sub Total $799.00
Shipping & Handling $29.99
Shipping Discount -$29.99
Tax $40.37
State Environmental Fee --
Total 1 $839.37

[IntegraGSR]

Well, for one, your processor is better and the video card you chose is far more powerful than the Dell machine. It's all up to what's more important I suppose

[Katreat]

Your CPU is much faster. The E4500 is quite a step down.
Your DDR2 ram is faster. 667 could limit you if you upgrade in the future to a 1333 FSB processor.
Your video card is much faster. The HD 2600 XT is quite a step down.
Would like to know the Cache on the HD they supply, it might be smaller.
PSU, if Dell runs true to history, will be “just” big enough to handle the system, very little upgrade room. Your PSU gives you flexibility.

Kat

[Khalil]

If you have the ability to build one yourself you should not bother with Dell or any other mass system builder like them.
They no longer have quality control, according to several sites and a lot of people I know Dell's customer support has gone south, way south.
You can get so much more if you build your own and the fact that you built it gives you major advantage for future upgrades and debugging, a Dell generaly is not upgradeable.

[Drunner611]

Only thing I would change is to get a differnt 9600gt. $175 is quite a rip off these days and if you're going to spend that much get an 8800gt for $185 :up:

9600gt can be found on Newegg for $140 shipped

[fc3646]

ok..I was easily convinced to build...I have had my current case for about 8 years...built 3 computers in it....also have a Dell laptop, and it's good enough..so

Here is my wish list..I made a few changes to try and bring down the cost a little...

1 SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151153
$26.99

1 Rosewill R230-P-BK Black 0.5mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811147075
$29.99

1 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148262
$64.99

1 EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130290
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$149.99
$129.99

1 Antec earthwatts EA380 ATX12V v2.0 380W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817371005
$25.00 Mail-in Rebate
$59.99
$54.99

1 Kingston 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2N5K2/4G - Retail
$74.99

1 ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813127030
$35.00 Mail-in Rebate
$169.99

1 Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115029
$179.99

1 Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116202
$99.99

Subtotal: $831.91

With mail in rebates --
Grand Total:* $746.91

Am I forgetting anything? or missing any issues?

Thanks guys -- love this fourm!!

[IntegraGSR]

Good luck with the rebates -- most of the time they don't work

You think a 380w Antec will power all of that? Have you checked the Amps per rail?

[Khalil]

Good choice for a motherboard brand. Great CPU. Solid video card. Excellent memory. Antec is a great brand but I would go with a bit bigger power supply, just in case you upgrade video card later. Seagate owns. Samsung Optical should work well. Rosewill stinks!

[fc3646]

Changed PSU to:
Antec earthwatts EA500 ATX12V v2.0 500W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817371007

Whats wrong with Rosewell case? It's just a box to put the parts in....isn't it? Don't really care how it looks...just performance.

[Khalil]

If you don't mind bad fit and finish it should work well for you, I orderd a few of them in the past, could not mount the motherboards straight in the case, all the holes were slightly off it made the I/O plate sunk in way too deep. The front panels were falling apart on them. Bad fit. I sent them back.
You can buy the Antec Sonata3 with a 500 PSU for about the same you are paying for the rosewill plus Antec power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024
The Sonata is a superbly made case.

[fc3646]

Thanks Khalil!

Ok...got the parts list and the "bottom line"...now all I have to do is convince the wife..

Wish me luck...

[shadowpr]

You might want to look at the 3850 or 9600 video cards instead. They are around the same price.

I've even seen the 8800gts 320 for cheaper then that 8600.