New Build - Looking for Input

[Moosi]

Hey i am looking at putting a new machine together in the next couple of weeks. I live in Canada so i am thinking of getting my parts from a local store, wish newegg shipped up here. The computer will be used for mostly gaming, possibily some amateur video editing in the future if I get back into that. I currently have a 19" Viewsonic, but will be picking up a 22" widescreen in the future too, Samsung 226BW most likly.

Anyways just looking to see what people think about the build, its been awhile since i built from scratch so wanted another opinion on compatability and if any of it makes sense.

Case: Silverstone TJ09B Aluminum Tower w/ Window, Black
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...15538(ME).aspx

Motherboard: Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe w/ DualDDR2 800
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...13043(ME).aspx

Processor: AMD Athlon™ X2 6000+ w/ 2x1MB Cache (Socket AM2)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...16976(ME).aspx

PSU: Corsair TX 750W
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...18779(ME).aspx

Memory: Not sure about memory really looking for 4Gb most likly, either
OCZ 4GB PC2-6400 SLI-Ready Edition Dual Channel DDR2 Kit (2 x 2GB)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...19274(ME).aspx

or
Patriot Extreme Performance DDR2 4GB (2 x 2GB) PC2-6400
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...17889(ME).aspx

HD: SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda 7200.11 SATA II w/ NCQ, 32MB Cache
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...19181(ME).aspx
(have a 500 Gb currently that will be used as well)

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S203B 20X SpeedPlus™ DVD-Writer, SATA, Black
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...18134(ME).aspx

Video: eVGA e-GeForce 8800 GT 512MB PCI-E x 2 in SLi
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...19670(ME).aspx


i could really use help on the memory, I know Corsair is a good choice but I can't get the 2x2Gb packs here, also Crucial BallistiX is not in stock right now either and i have read good reviews on that brand. Any feedback is helpful, thanks

[Cricket]

OCZ RAM is good stuff but you might want to make sure it's listed on the ASUS QVL for that particular motherboard.

Do you know about NCIX.com?

Cricket

[Moosi]

Yeah I have checked out NCIX, only problem is shipping to me gets expensive where I live, so its cheaper in the end to get the parts from here, although I may end up ordering some things as the stock here runs out fast.

For video cards has anyone heard anything about the new EVGA cards, E-GEFORCE 8800GT Akimbo 600MHZ 1GB 1.8GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E. If its a 1GB card whats the difference between this and the 9800 GX2?

[Khalil]

Are you planning on using 2 Video cards? Those GTs won't be around much longer if you going SLI get them both now otherwise you don't need that motherboard.
I highly recommend the M2N-E http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131022
Evga are excellent video cards, so are BFG and Asus when it comes to Nvidia.

If its a 1GB card whats the difference between this and the 9800 GX2

Its like comparing a Toyota Camry V6 to a Porsche 911 Turbo. Hope this helps.

[Khalil]

double post

[Katreat]

Have not built high end AMD so I will leave to others.

With a 22" monitor you will not see much improvement going SLI. For the cost of the bigger PSU (single card systems can get by with 550w or so) and the second video card you could probably afford a better single card like the 9800 and get better video overall.

I would chose OCZ over Patroid but do like Cricket suggested and make sure it is supported.

Good quality all around on components and everything looks compatable. Dont forget an OS.

Kat

[Drunner611]

Originally Posted by Moosi Yeah I have checked out NCIX, only problem is shipping to me gets expensive where I live, so its cheaper in the end to get the parts from here, although I may end up ordering some things as the stock here runs out fast. For video cards has anyone heard anything about the new EVGA cards, E-GEFORCE 8800GT Akimbo 600MHZ 1GB 1.8GHZ GDDR3 PCI-E. If its a 1GB card whats the difference between this and the 9800 GX2?

Do not get the AKIMBO! The extra memory for the price is definitely not worth it!

The 9800gx2 is two 8800GTS cores on the same card. It's uber fast.

The 8800gt is only 1 core and is slower than a single 8800gts (G92).
Depending on your budget for cards, get a single 8800gt 512mb or 8800gts (G92) 512mb. Do not get suckered into buying an old
8800GTS (g80) 320mb or 640mb card as they are much slower.

[Moosi]

Well I've been thinking my build over lately and am really stuck between running the 8800 GT in SLI or getting the new 9800 GX2. I have read some reviews on it and they seem to be about the same depending on how much OC you do to each one. That being said I put together a possible build if I went with the 9800 GX2 which would mean a different mobo. Let me know what you think of this compared to the original.

Case: Silverstone TJ09B Aluminum Tower w/ Window, Black
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...15538(ME).aspx

Motherboard: Asus M3A w/ DualDDR2 1066
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...19486(ME).aspx

Processor: AMD Phenom™ X4 9500 Quad-Core 2.2GHz w/ 4MB Cache (Retail Box)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...19129(ME).aspx

PSU: Corsair TX 650W Power Supply w/ 120mm Fan
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...18780(ME).aspx

Memory: OCZ 4GB PC2-8500 Reaper HPC 4GB Edition Dual Channel DDR2 Kit (2 x 2GB)
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...20232(ME).aspx

HD: SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda 7200.11 SATA II w/ NCQ, 32MB Cache
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...19181(ME).aspx
(have a 500 Gb currently that will be used as well)

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S203B 20X SpeedPlus™ DVD-Writer, SATA, Black
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...18134(ME).aspx

Video: eVGA e-GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB PCI-E
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...20293(ME).aspx

Let me know what you think, advantages and disadvantages over the previous build, whether or not Intel might be a better choice. I think this build was about $150 more than the other so pretty much along the same lines in price. Thanks again for the feedback so far.