Just looking for some build advice, and a check over my specs :)

[aeirion]

This is my first post on this forum, and I'm hoping my experiance goes well here, as it comes highly recomended by a friend of mine for great tech advice.

This also happens to be my first build Which is the reason I'm posting this in the first place. I've been working on computers for years, replaced many parts, and have upgraded just about every system I've owned at one time or another, but this will be the first system I've built *entirely* from scratch. I'd really appreciate it if I could get some feed back on my plans, specifically in the areas of any compatability issues that may arise, and any important building tips.

My main goal for this system is to build a decent gaming rig for as little as possible. I know that probably sounds like an oxymoron to alot of you, but the way the economy is, I'm in a pretty tight spot at the moment, and don't have the 1-2k to invest in something crazy-good.

I will accept donations!

Anyway the main thing I'll be using this system for is playing various MMORPGs (WoW, age of conan, and Warhammer), as well as a few decent RTS, and SIM games I like. But I also hope to use this as a multimedia platform for watchin HD content, and possibly as a DVR (I'm not really sure how to accomplish that at this point, so any advice in that area would be nice as well).

So here comes the specs!

Hard Drive:Western Digital Caviar GP WD5000AACS 500GB

PSU:CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W

Video:EVGA 512-P3-N873-RX GeForce 9800 GTX+

Memory:CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM

Mother Board:Foxconn G31MV-K LGA 775 or if thats too much junk perhaps: EVGA 122-CK-NF63-RX LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard Though one of the reviewers of this said the wolfdale processor that kyle mentioned won't work with this board unless the bios are flashed.. have no clue what that means, if I could get some input that would be great.

Processor:Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz
Probably overclocked to around 2.8 - 3.0ghz

Optical Drive:LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black

Case:COOLER MASTER Elite RC-331

O.S:Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit This is the 'System Builder' Edition, as far as I know that just means it comes without tech support from microsoft, which I dont' care about, if I'm wrong about that please correct me.


Like I said earlier my main thought on this is money consumption, I've gotten pretty good deals on a few of the parts (like the GeForce 9800 GTX+ for example), but if you know of a cheaper part that has either similar, or increased functionality, or something that I've left out please note this as well. I'm trying to keep the cost of this less than $600. I'm sure that budget is funny to many, and I'll probably get a few comments about my idiocy, but thats what I have to work with.

I'll check back here in a few hours, and I look forward to the flood of responses that I'll hopefully recieve.

Regards,

Brad

p.s.

The system I layed out with shipping and everything tallies up to 604.09 cents including shipping. I have a person that will sell me this system below for $550 bucks, which is the better deal do you think?

It has a dual core AMD Athlon x2 with both cores @ 2.8 Ghz (extremely fast)
2 GB DDR2 800 Corsair memory
250 GB Seagate HD
500W Thermaltake Power Supply
Foxconn motherboard
Nice HEC case
LG DVD burner
HD4650 video card
Windows XP Professional
Office 2000

[jdeb]

Welcome to PCMech, we are glad to have you, the great people just like you keep coming

you need to bump up the power supply to a minimum 550 w for that card. you may consider ati card that is not an open box.

cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115206

video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102770

here is the total build under 700.00, you will get a better power supply, video card, and cpu. the motherboard is a very good value for 50 bones, works great and stable.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136152

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119188

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102770

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371002

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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186145

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115206

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116488

[aeirion]

Can't figure out how to edit this thing so here's my updated build, I'm trying to order parts today so it would be nice if I could get some more feed back on mah plans


Hard Drive:Western Digital Caviar GP WD5000AACS 500GB

PSU:RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W

Video:EVGA 512-P3-N873-RX GeForce 9800 GTX+

Memory:CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM

Mother Board:Foxconn G31MV-K LGA 775

Processor:Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz
Probably overclocked to around 2.8 - 3.0ghz

Optical Drive:LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black

Case:RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238WU

O.S:Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit

The system I layed out with shipping and everything tallies up to 625.78 cents including shipping, and it comes with $60 bucks in rebates So.. 565.78

[shadowpr]

Get a wd caviar black hard drive

That psu isn't quality. Read the psu sticky for a better idea of good brands.

If going with a matx board, I would look at the asus p5kpl-cm instead.

[tomtoon]

Save you the stress of overclocking why don't you get the E7500 OR E8400?
E7500:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115056 $139.99

E8400:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037 $164.99

And yes, Raidmax PSU's are crap.

I would get this one instead, especially if your choosing a 9800GTX:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341018 $69.99 after $35 rebate.

[aeirion]

Hows this for a board upgrade? GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard Also: I didn't see this PSU sticky topic, but hows this... I know it's actually cheaper, but it's also originally more expensive... I guess new egg is phasing it out what with the 50% discount.. plus it's 680w anyway: Sunbeam PSU-HUSH680-US 680W

[tomtoon]

No, I would get the one I suggested or the corsair 650w.

They are more reliable(as they are in the high end section of the list)

Unless anybody knows sunbeam are reliable, I don't know.

Somebody might though.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by aeirion Hows this for a board upgrade? GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard Also: I didn't see this PSU sticky topic, but hows this... I know it's actually cheaper, but it's also originally more expensive... I guess new egg is phasing it out what with the 50% discount.. plus it's 680w anyway: Sunbeam PSU-HUSH680-US 680W

they are about the same, I like the foxconn because I have had very good luck with them. Have used around 10 of those boards and they have all been solid and zero problems. The majority of the members on here recommend Asus and the one suggested would be fine as well. I do prefer the foxconn over it though. Don't cheap out on the power supply... that is the most common mistake people make when building a new system. Go with the one I recommended for sure, you will be happy you did, especially with that card you were originally looking at. I don't like that hard drive you chose either, I will never order one again...

CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115206
HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320

PS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371002

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by tomtoon Save you the stress of overclocking why don't you get the E7500 OR E8400? E7500: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115056 $139.99 E8400: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037 $164.99 And yes, Raidmax PSU's are crap. I would get this one instead, especially if your choosing a 9800GTX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341018 $69.99 after $35 rebate.

he is asking for a direction in regards to spending his hard earned money not by his experience. I owas only pointing out the fact that he ... forget it... I need to go to another thread already, actually I think I need to cancel

[tomtoon]

Didnt mean to annoy you jdeb, if I did.

[not important]

Originally Posted by aeirion Also: I didn't see this PSU sticky topic,

PSU sticky: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by aeirion Can't figure out how to edit this thing so here's my updated build, I'm trying to order parts today so it would be nice if I could get some more feed back on mah plans Hard Drive:Western Digital Caviar GP WD5000AACS 500GB PSU:RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W Video:EVGA 512-P3-N873-RX GeForce 9800 GTX+ Memory:CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Mother Board:Foxconn G31MV-K LGA 775 Processor:Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz Probably overclocked to around 2.8 - 3.0ghz Optical Drive:LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black Case:RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238WU O.S:Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit The system I layed out with shipping and everything tallies up to 625.78 cents including shipping, and it comes with $60 bucks in rebates So.. 565.78

looks good except for the power supply, nice job... it appears you are sticking to the video card which is fine but you need a minum 550w and get a quality one. You may consider this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817101021

[aeirion]

Thank you all for you great input And great thanks to you Jdeb for finding me a better PSU, within grasping range for my money. So my final build was everything previously mentioned in my final build notes, just with this PSU. So I've ordered the parts, and when they arive I'll be sure to tell you all how it goes Oh and Jdeb, about the video card; I couldn't resist it's sexy allure lol.. being a $200-300 dollar item, getting it for 120 made me too happy to throw it away So yeah.. well anyway thanks again to all of you.

Regards,

Brad

[tomtoon]

The PSU link doesnt work. oh i see what one jdeb suggested.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by aeirion Thank you all for you great input And great thanks to you Jdeb for finding me a better PSU, within grasping range for my money. So my final build was everything previously mentioned in my final build notes, just with this PSU. So I've ordered the parts, and when they arive I'll be sure to tell you all how it goes Oh and Jdeb, about the video card; I couldn't resist it's sexy allure lol.. being a $200-300 dollar item, getting it for 120 made me too happy to throw it away So yeah.. well anyway thanks again to all of you. Regards, Brad

You are very welcome Brad, I think everything should work fine although I am a little nervous about the video card being so inexpensive and all, just get it built right away in case you have any problems with it so you can send it back. It wouldn't hurt to to download the drivers for it ahead of time and put them on a flash drive... I assume you will not get any drivers or extra cables for it being that it is an open box item but you never know sometimes they send everything. Should be a fairly nice build when you are done, follow that sticky thread on build your own pc.