Indicisive new build.

[d_mon1]

Hello all,

I'm a 1st time poster but i've been reading around for a while now. I want to build my first computer ever and need some advice from the pros. I am going to use it mainly for gaming and i do want to play games at max or near max settings.

OK, this is the list of components I've got so far.

Case - I am going to get this case for sure.
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PSU - not sure wich power suply to get yet. Maybe a 650W or 700W one.

CPU - this is a big choice because of the price diference. which one?
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
OR
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retaill

Mobo - I was thinking one of these two.
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retaill
OR
EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retaill

GPU - there are two cards that I have in mind but cant make up my mind
EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
OR
EVGA 512-P3-N980-AR GeForce 9800 GT Hybrid Power 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

RAM - another hard (for me at least) choice. (should I get another brand or another speed?)
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
OR
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

HHD - you guys think this is enough space and a good brand?
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Optical - is this ok? This will play and burn cds and dvds, right?
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM

Heatsink - will i need a heatsink if i'm not overclocking?
Thermaltake CL-P0114 120mm CPU Cooler - Retail
OR
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail with Retention Bracket - Retail

Thermal Compound - will i be needing this?
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

As for all the other extra stuff, i'll probably get a 22" later, got the keyboard and mouse, and i do want a wireless connection so I was thinking of getting THIS.

Please give me your thoughts on my build and feel free to make any recomendations. Thanks.

[tomtoon]

I think all is find.

OCZ is fine. The corsair is more expensive as your paying for the name.

MOBO: You should get a Intel P43 Chipset MOBO or P45 if overclocking. It should be a board without VGA graphics.(They have PCI-E 2.0)

Wireless:
How fast is your router??

I recommend you get at least a 128 MBPS wifi card or even wireless n(300 MBPS)

[d_mon1]

Originally Posted by tomtoon I think all is find. OCZ is fine. The corsair is more expensive as your paying for the name. MOBO: You should get a Intel P43 Chipset MOBO or P45 if overclocking. It should be a board without VGA graphics.(They have PCI-E 2.0) Wireless: How fast is your router?? I recommend you get at least a 128 MBPS wifi card or even wireless n(300 MBPS)

OK, so OCZ it is.

I am not planing on overclocking, so why the P43? Because it's cheaper? Looks like nobody buys it and the reviews aren't so great.

I have comcast but am not sure how fast my router is. I will look further into that later.

How about the PSU, which one do you guys think i should get?

[tomtoon]

Originally Posted by d_mon1 OK, so OCZ it is. I am not planing on overclocking, so why the P43? Because it's cheaper? Looks like nobody buys it and the reviews aren't so great. I have comcast but am not sure how fast my router is. I will look further into that later. How about the PSU, which one do you guys think i should get?

The P43 Chipset because it has the PCI-E 2.0 you are looking for.
Or you could go for the x38/x48. Purely up to you mate.

Heres another MOBO you could be ok with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131295


PSU 650W would be enough

Recommend this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

[d_mon1]

Originally Posted by tomtoon The P43 Chipset because it has the PCI-E 2.0 you are looking for. Or you could go for the x38/x48. Purely up to you mate. Heres another MOBO you could be ok with: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131295 PSU 650W would be enough Recommend this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

I'll get back into the Mobo later. But i like your choice of PSU. What about the CPU cooling? Doesn't it come with stock cooling already? Will I need to buy one even if i'm not overclocking? Look at my choices.

[tomtoon]

CPUs usually come with stock cooling. In your case it does yes.

[joshrogoff]

Drop your memory down to 800...here is a great deal...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184


No overclocking, no need for the 1066

Also, no thermal compound, your stock heatsink will come with it pre-applied.

Look at Asus p5k mobo

[catacon]

The Asus P5K Pro is a great motherboard. Very solid. I think I would trust Asus more that EVGA.

[d_mon1]

Thanks Joshrogoff, i will get that RAM. Now the big question is if I change my chepset choice, what video card should I get. And i'm looking at something not too expensive. Any ideas?

[catacon]

You might want to look at the ATi HD4870 or maybe the nVidia GTX260 if you need to keep prices down. If you want a real budget buster go for an HD4870 X2 or an nVidia GTX280.

[Khalil]

I would go with the P43 thats a nice Intel chipset, make sure you buy an Asus motherboard though. For gaming a dual core is the way to go.

[minsonngo]

Go with this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

It is very reliable and currently at a great price.



Stick with the stock heatsink/fan and preapplied thermal compound that is included with the retail boxed processor. It is more than you need plus it allows your CPU to retain it's manufacture warranty.


As for optical drives... many on here generally recommend Lite-On drives instead of Samsung.


And like joshrogoff suggested. No need for DDR2-1066. Just stick with the DDR2-800 modules.

[tomtoon]

Originally Posted by Khalil I would go with the P43 thats a nice Intel chipset, make sure you buy an Asus motherboard though. For gaming a dual core is the way to go.

No one seems to buy them as there's hardly any reviews on them.

Thats why I was going to go with P43 but now Im going with P45

[d_mon1]

Ok, so i got the P45, 4870 1GIG, and which PSU?
Crosair 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005
OR
Crosair 750W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

[tomtoon]

650W version will be enough.
However, if you want to be on the safe side go for the 750W version

[d_mon1]

Originally Posted by tomtoon 650W version will be enough. However, if you want to be on the safe side go for the 750W version

Thanks. I might go with the 750W incase i want to add something extra to the rig. What about a card reader? Any suggestions?

-here's my current Newegg wishlist so you guys can check out what I've got so far. Let me know if everything is compatible and if it'll fit in the Antec 900 case.

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by tomtoon 650W version will be enough. However, if you want to be on the safe side go for the 750W version

Just go with the 650w. Even if you plan on running the system with in SLI mode with dual video cards... with the cards you selected originally... you would only need about 550w according to manufacturer suggestions.

Save yourself a little cash so you can invest it in another component in your system.



As for card readers...

If you want to go with external...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820308010


If you want to go with internal...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820162016

[d_mon1]

Originally Posted by minsonngo Just go with the 650w. Even if you plan on running the system with in SLI mode with dual video cards... with the cards you selected originally... you would only need about 550w according to manufacturer suggestions. Save yourself a little cash so you can invest it in another component in your system. As for card readers... If you want to go with external... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820308010 If you want to go with internal... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820162016

I'll probably get the internal one, and the 650W PSU. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Khalil I would go with the P43 thats a nice Intel chipset, make sure you buy an Asus motherboard though. For gaming a dual core is the way to go.

I am thinking of switching to asus, but which one. Help me choose one that is under $200 please.

[tomtoon]

Go with the Asus P5Q MOBO:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813131295R

or P5Q Pro:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299

[d_mon1]

Originally Posted by tomtoon Go with the Asus P5Q MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813131295R or P5Q Pro: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299

I would probably go with the P5Q Pro, but why this over the Gigabiyte P45? What's the big diference? And will the HD 4870 be compatible with the P5Q Pro?

[minsonngo]

It is a matter of preference. Asus makes good boards... but there are other brands like the one you picked out that are decent too.

[tomtoon]

Originally Posted by d_mon1 I would probably go with the P5Q Pro, but why this over the Gigabiyte P45? What's the big diference? And will the HD 4870 be compatible with the P5Q Pro?

No difference really.

But its your preference and plus you said you wanted to go with Asus..

[joshrogoff]

Originally Posted by d_mon1 I would probably go with the P5Q Pro, but why this over the Gigabiyte P45? What's the big diference? And will the HD 4870 be compatible with the P5Q Pro?

The gigabyte has a bunch of things I'm sure you don't need like dual LAN ports and an optical audio....

[catacon]

The HD4870 will be compatible with the P5Q Pro.

I would recommend Asus for the P45 chipset. I had some experiences with a Gigbyte P35 which have also has been reported with P45s. There were some BIOS options that would cause unstability when they were enabled. Granted, this was mostly with overclocking, but personally I would feel safer with the Asus (I switched to an Asus P45 and everything is fine.)