Building a New Comp. Critique?

[DarK_AssassiN]

Ok, so this summer I am building a new computer. My current computer which I've been upgrading is 8 years old, and I feel it's time for a new one. I'm 17 so I don't have to much money, but I do have a job and have been working

I will mostly be using this computer for digital design (Photoshop, Cinema 4D, Web Design, Photography, etc) and gaming. I've already got some parts from some people (thanks!), which are in italics, so I'm just buying the rest to add around it. Here it is:

Case: APEVIA X-TELSTAR-RD Red/ Black Aluminum ATX Full

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W

Mobo: ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB (2 of these)

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)

Pri Optical: LITE-ON Black DVD Burner

Sec Optical: (I will buy another lite-on at another time)

Sound Card: (onboard for now, but later I will want a card with extra inputs for midi and recording stuff)

Video Card: EVGA 768-P2-N835-AR GeForce 8800GTX Superclocked 768MB

OS: Windows XP Pro


So any thoughts? I know a bit about computers since I've been playing with them ever since I was little (opening em up and screwing around with it till it breaks then fixing it ^-^), but I'm still learning so if there are any problems with this set up please let me know. Also, if anyone has any ways to save some money on all this I would really appreciate it as I'm trying to save for college too (this comp will be for college too, as I want to get into digital art as a career).

[Alaron]

Looks fine to me. You only need DDR2-800 RAM if you're not overclocking. You could save some money using an 8800GT instead of the GTX.

Also, if you are going to wait a month or two before building, check back then.

[Masaki 7-11]

Take a look at getting a 9800GTX, its faster than the 8800GTX and is about the same price, you'll also want to take a look at the E8400, when it is in stock, it is only marginally more expensive than the E6750, but a decent amount faster. The best way to get a lower price without losing performance is to get a less expensive case, most cases will fit the GTX cards if you are willing to lose one of the HD Drive Bays. If you are interested in saving money on the case, here is a good case that is over $100 less expensive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119115

[Drunner611]

Definitely look at the 9800gtx if your set on spending that much. A good alternative would be the 8800gts or 8800gt with an upgrade in another year.

If you're getting 4gb of ram, you will need a 64bit OS to utilize all of it.

Definitely bump the e6750 up to the e8400.

My biggest regret on my first build was spending so much on my stupid case, not worth it :down:
Get a decently cheap one and put the money somewhere else.

[DarK_AssassiN]

Alright, I'll look at bumping the processor up

The video card I can't change, as I said in the beginning the stuff in italics I already have (The PSU and GPU) because someone wanted to get rid of them and gave them to me for free, and PSU is still in the plastic wrap.

The case thing makes sense, I'll probably go with that cheaper one and put the money elsewhere in the build. I'll check it all out when I get back home and update the build list Thanks.

EDIT- oh, and the ram, doesn't vista 32 support 4gb or did I hear wrong? I want to upgrade to that later, but if it doesn't then I will definitely save some money and go for just 2gb.

[shadowpr]

A 32 bit operating system won't fully use the 4gb.

[Katreat]

Vista 32 will recognize around 4 GB but that includes the video card ram so it will only see around 3.2 GB or so of system ram. Still ram is cheap right now so going with 4GB is not a bad idea. You get the paired performance and will access more than if you just went for 2 GB.

Kat

[DarK_AssassiN]

I can't edit the first post so here's my new setup so far (italics I already have, so I cannot change that):

Case: COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W

Mobo: ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB (2 of these)

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)

Pri Optical: LITE-ON Black DVD Burner

Sec Optical: (I will buy another lite-on at another time)

Sound Card: (onboard for now, but later I will want a card with extra inputs for midi and recording stuff)

Video Card: EVGA 768-P2-N835-AR GeForce 8800GTX Superclocked 768MB

OS: Windows XP Pro


I upgraded the CPU from a E6750 to a E8400, and then I decided to get the cheaper case (which would allow me to put more into whats actually inside of it). I also changed the ram to 2gb. What about cooling? It gets pretty hot in my house sometimes so I'd like to get some effective cooling going. Any tips or suggestions on what I should buy/do for that?

[shadowpr]

Don't worry much about the cooling for now, wait to see if uyou have a problem first.

Also, get ddr2 800 ram.

[Katreat]

Try to get 7200.11 HD if they make them in the size you want, 32 mb cache for faster seek times at about the same price.

If you are worried about cooling look at a Antec 900 case, you can usually find them on sell around $75-85 bucks, they move a lot of air. If you are happy with the case you chose then you will probably be fine just adding a front fan. Easy fix and like shadow suggested you can wait until you see how temperatures are.

I agree with shadow, if you are not into super OC'ing back the ram down to 800. It is plenty fast for stock speeds and mild OC'ing.

Kat

[Masaki 7-11]

I've never heard of cooling problems with coolermaster cases before (otherwise they would have to think about changing their name...), the E8400 runs pretty cool, so temperature won't be much of an issue.

[DarK_AssassiN]

The reviews look pretty good on the CoolerMaster case so I'll probably just go with that, and if a problem with cooling arises then I'll check into it.

As for the hard drive, how big of a difference does the 32mb cache make? I found one here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148309

That one look ok? I want to get two hard drives, so I'll be getting two of those.

[shadowpr]

Check this one out: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288

[DarK_AssassiN]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Check this one out: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288

Oh, I just realized the one I chose wasn't the .11 >.< That looks good, so I'll go with that.

Someone mentioned the Antec Nine Hundred, so I looked into it, and I found a "B Stock" on the Antec store at a reduced price. Is this good? http://www.antec.com/Detail.bok?no=523 Its just a little more than that coolermaster, but if its not worth it I'll just stick with the coolermaster.

[Katreat]

As somone else mentioned, the new E8400 runs much cooler than older processors and heat sinks have come a long way to keeping temperatures in check. I really dont think you will have cooling issues with any mid tower case unless you start OC'ing the system. If you do end up runniing a bit hot it is not that difficult to add a fan or two. Like others have said, with newer processors cooling is not the big issue it use to be unless you get into hard core over-clocking.

As for how much faster is the larger cache I would say not much. But sense the price is about the same I was just suggesting you take a look for it. If you cant find one or they are much more expensive you will do fine with the 16 mb cache and probably never notice a difference.

Kat

[phigdon]

i have the drive shadowpr recommended, its fast and quiet and definitely worth the money. you can always add a fan to the front it the temps are too high as well and the locking mechanism on the drive bays is a dream. I love it, just slide in the drive and press the button/turn the dial. click and done.

[DarK_AssassiN]

Alright, I feel better about upgrading the hard drives and CPU now ^-^

How about that Antec 900? Any good or no?

[shadowpr]

The antec 900 is a great case.

Only possible complaints is it's loud if you put the fans on high, and it collects a lot of dust.

[Katreat]

Agree with shadow, it is an excellent and very attractive case. With fans on High it is a wind tunnel but I keep my system cool with everything set to low. My only complaint is that it collects a lot of dust on the front, but with two 120 mm intake fans that is somewhat to be expected since it moves so much air. Cable management can be a bit interesting with the bottom mounted PSU so be sure to have zip ties handy to bundle stuff up.

Kat

[DarK_AssassiN]

Alright, I'll go with the Antec 900. So I think everything is pretty much setup now, so here's the final build list so far:


Case: Antec 900

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W

Mobo: ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB (2 of these)

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)

Pri Optical: LITE-ON Black DVD Burner

Sec Optical: (I will buy another lite-on at another time)

Sound Card: (onboard for now, but later I will want a card with extra inputs for midi and recording stuff)

Video Card: EVGA 768-P2-N835-AR GeForce 8800GTX Superclocked 768MB

OS: Windows XP Pro


First off, I want to say thank you all for your input ^-^ I REALLY appreciate it and I think its going to make this build a hell of a lot better than it would have been!

So, any final suggestions?

[shadowpr]

Get ddr2-800 ram if not overclocking.

The rest looks good.

[DarK_AssassiN]

I won't be overclocking at first, but I will later for sure. I overclock my current comp a little bit and have learned quite a bit about overclocking through trial and error, but at first, I believe the setup should be sufficient for what I need without overclocking for the time being.

Something that came to mind as I was looking at all this. I'm going to be going to some LAN parties and such a lot more often, and going with my Counter-Strike team to tournaments and stuff, so I wanted something more portable. So I was looking at some smaller cases, but this area is completely new to me so I really need some help deciding (sorry >.< I thought I had everything figured out but I'd really like something more portable because carrying a huge tower gets to be a pain).

So I was looking and found this: NZXT Rogue Crafted Series SFF Gaming Chassis . I like the way it looks, aesthetically pleasing yet simple, and it seems like it has nice cooling (and it says its big enough to hold the bigger video cards like the one I have). Good choice?

Now, I looked at what motherboard it supports, and of course, the current one I have picked out will not fit in this thing at all, so how about this one: ASUS P5E-VM HDMI LGA 775 Intel G35 HDMI Micro ATX ? Is there a better Micro ATX board?

Thats as far as I've gotten so far looking into this, but I think as far as my needs go, this smaller form factor would suit me a lot better than a full tower. In anycase, will everything else I have picked out work together with this or will I have to change some things?

[flanzig1]

Would go with a tower case. That NZXT case isn't that much smaller than the 900.
Antec 900: 49.3cm x 20.6cm x 46.8cm
NZXT: 36.8cm x 27.8cm x 42.1cm
But, if you still want the NZXT, the Asus board would be good.

[DarK_AssassiN]

I found something better I think: Thermaltake LANBOX Lite Micro ATX Gaming Cube ?

and the dimensions are 30x43x23cm which is smaller. This one says it will take a full PSU and the graphics card (requires taking out the HDD Cage or something, but it works!) so that should work right?

Also, the motherboard only supports DDR2-800, so I guess I will be going with that unless there is a micro-atx motherboard out there that supports higher. Any suggestions on good gaming DDR2-800 ram?

[AdamFaulkner]

Kingston or Corsair are good names in gaming RAM, maybe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134125 or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145168