New Build

[Emorex]

Hi,

As suggested by a few people I chatted with in the Neowin IRC, I decided to post a computer I am thinking of building end of year (December 20, 2008 to be exact :) ).

First off, just a bit of background. I currently have a XPS 1330 (laptop) + a custom build AMD 64 3000+, 2GB, 7800GT, and 2 250 HDDs. I am looking to replace another compute around the house with my desktop and building a new desktop for myself. I will be reusing one of the hard drives + optical drive from my current system.

Also, I'd prefer you give any suggestions of hardware from www.directcanada.com. They are a sister site to the infamous NCIX but a bit cheaper, with the same service.

Finally, this computer will be used for day to day things such as web browsing, music, word processing, development in Visual Studio 2008/Eclipse, Photoshop as well as gaming. Ultimately, I am looking to build a PC that can run Crysis :) If it can run Crysis on High, it should be able to chew through anything I throw at it. I do not plan on doing any encoding or rendering or anything CPU intensive though.

Also, something I am looking for is a small/light case. I don't want something too big or too heavy, since I move every 4 months and lugging that thing around is just an extra burden. The case I found is a bit bigger than the sought after Antec Sonata 3, but it's lighter by quite a bit, and seemed like a better choice. I would love having a Shuttle, but I have been told, I will not be able to get a decent graphics card in it :cry:

Ok...now the build

CPU: Dual Core E5200 2.5Ghz

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...nufacture=INTEL

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...acture=GIGABYTE

RAM: OCZ Gold 4GB DDR-800

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...manufacture=OCZ

Video Card: EVGA Geforce 9800GTX+

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...anufacture=EVGA

Case: Antec Three Hundred

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...nufacture=ANTEC

PSU: Coolermaster Extreme Power 650W

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...re=COOLERMASTER

Thanks for your help/advice.

[+PeterUK MVC]

PSU: Coolermaster Extreme Power 650W

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...re=COOLERMASTER

That's not a good model to go for this would be better:

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...facture=CORSAIR

[nonick]

get a better cpu, 8400 or better

[Ci7]

(Y) good build overall

but i suggest to wait and decided in early dec

plenty of time from now till dec 20th

you will get better deal by then

my just some thoughts ,wouldn't went to ruin it for you

[Mannlich]

I would look at a better cpu as well. Perhaps the E7200 would suit your needs.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=...nufacture=INTEL

[+shift. MVC]

Either E7200 or E8400 if you want dual cores. Any higher than that and you're just paying more for clock speed which you can acquire from overclocking.

[hawker1986]

Personally I would go for a 4850 rather than 9800GTX+ but it depends on the price you can get them for really.

Hawker

[Emorex]

Ok, sorry I couldn't reply earlier.

1) CPU: E7200...I was told that the E5200 can be overclocked to reach speeds of the E7200, because it is 45nm. But if it's worth the extra $37, I will be more than willing to spend that much.

2) Regarding the video card 4850 vs 9800 GTX+. I seriously considered the 4850, but ultimately it boiled down to the fact that the companies sellin the 4850 don't have lifetime support similar to Nvidia cards. Even companies that sell both offer a 1-2 year warranty for ATI cards and a lifetime for Nvidia. I have had some problems with video cards in the past (overclocking them too much), so I would like that lifetime warranty. Unless you know a company that does have lifetime warranty for their ATI Cards??? :p

[hawker1986]

Right yes the E5200 can be fairly easily overclocked to 7200 speeds (you should manage 3.5Ghz to be honest). If that sort of warranty is important then thats fair enough, its not something I had considered because its rare for me to keep a card longer than 2 years ;).

Hawker