First Build in a Long Time

[CamaroDMD]

OK, so I built my last computer about 5 years ago...and that system is basically super old and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, I'm starting dental school soon and can't build a really nice system. I'm trying to do a budget computer that can play first person shooter modern games (MOH: Airborne, Call of Duty 4, Crysis, ect...) decently. Not full sliders with awesome frame rates. I'd like a system that will play them at the medium (or slightly higher) quality level. But, I also need a computer that is stable and can be used for school work. I'll be making lots of powerpoints and word documents and so forth...so I doubt there will be much of an issue there. ;)

I don't have an exact cost in my head, but I was hoping to keep it around the $1000 (a number which has grown)...but I need a system that will be decent for a few years, so I'll just have to see where I end up cost wise.

To put it into perspective, I currently have the following system:

AMD Athlon XP 2400+

ATi Radeon 9500 Pro 128MB

1GB PC2700 RAM

WD 250GB 7200rpm IDE Hard Drive

Unknown Power Supply (probably about 300W, I bought a case and power supply combo before I knew better).

Windows XP

Anyway, its a ancient system and desperately needs to be replaced.

Here is the system that I have planned out...I think I have built something pretty good but I really need some general input. I have used a few online power calculators and I think I have enough power. This system comes out right at $1100 with shipping included...and I don't know if I can get any more bang for my buck. I'm planning on ordering it tonight, so any opinions (or objections) would be very helpful.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

Video Card: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

RAM: Kingston HyperX NVIDIA SLI-Ready 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Power Supply: SILVERSTONE SST-ST60F 600W ATX 12V 2.01 & EPS 12V Power Supply 115 - 240V

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM

Speakers: Logitech X-540 70 watts RMS 5.1 Black Speaker System

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

2 DVD-RW Drives, Both: Samsung DVD-RW

Windows XP

OCZTFRZTC Freeze Extreme Thermal Conductivity Compound, I have no idea where my old Artic Silver is and I heard this stuff is better.

Also, I have no idea what happened to my anti-static bracelet...so This

I was originally going to go with this processor, but other people have told me that the quad core is a better choice because it should be better in the long run. They basically said it was been a 2 core world for a couple years and will be a 4 core world soon. I don't know if this is correct, but it sounded good.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GH

Also, I am going with Windows XP because I like XP and haven't cared for what I have seen in Vista. Plus, my system is still below the maximum XP specs so it should run just fine with XP. I know I can't run DirextX 10 but I don't see that as a big deal.

Anyway, any thoughts or opinions about this system would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

[CrashG]

I'd change the ram to something like:

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

You're not going to need anything over DDR2 667 unless you plan to overclock, but DDR2 800 has a lot more choices available and it's dirt cheap.

And go for this Video Card EVGA 512-P3-N800-TR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB it has a better cooler and it's a few bucks cheaper and still has a rebate.

[obiwong]

i'd pick a Seasonic PSU over Silverstone....

$95 SeaSonic S12 II SS-500GB ATX12V / EPS12V 500W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817151034

[Geranium_Z__NL]

i bought an AMD Phenom 9550 + motherboard + memory + video for only 320 euros

motherboard was retail MSI something

memory was 40 euros Corsair Overclock memory (2GB) (i dont really overclock.. but it was the cheapest one.. and it had cooling on it XD)

8600GTS 256mb HD OC whatever that means same.. from MSI

[portauthority]

Why are you buying a 2nd license? Are you keeping your old system? Or was your XP an OEM copy?

[+PeterUK MVC]

^^I'm with CrashGordon changes the rest looks fine.

[CamaroDMD]

You're not going to need anything over DDR2 667 unless you plan to overclock, but DDR2 800 has a lot more choices available and it's dirt cheap.

Why don't I need over 667? I was always told to match the ram speed with the FSB on the CPU and motherboard's standard memory. In this case, both are 1066 so I assumed I wanted the same with the ram. Is this an incorrect way of thinking?

Are you keeping your old system? Or was your XP an OEM copy?

In both cases, yes. I'm going to leave my old system back at home and take the new one with me to school. I plan on being home somewhat regularly...so I will have a usable computer there. Originally, I was going to use XP, the case, and IDE hard drive in the new system...but over the last couple days my plans have changed (and got a lot more expensive :| ).

[CrashG]

Why don't I need over 667? I was always told to match the ram speed with the FSB on the CPU and motherboard's standard memory. In this case, both are 1066 so I assumed I wanted the same with the ram. Is this an incorrect way of thinking?

Because Intel chips have a "Quad Pumped" FSB (266x4=1066), DDR2 is Double Data Rate so even DDR2-667 is running faster than your CPU's FSB (333x2=667)

[+PeterUK MVC]

This is incorrect...as someone if not me will tell you the reason for this...

^there you go. :p

[Digitalx]

[edit already answered my bad]

[CamaroDMD]

OK, that works for me. I have changed to the other video card and I think I will go with the Mushkin ram as I have used their stuff before and it always seemed to work. So, that has saved me a little bit of money right there.

Am I correct in assuming the quad core processor is the way to go over the dual core?

[Geranium_Z__NL]

well my quad core is still slower then my brothers dual core (E6850)

[CrashG]

Well, since you plan on keeping this machine for several years, I'd say yes, go Quad. More and more programs will begin to use multiple cores in the future.

[CamaroDMD]

Well, since you plan on keeping this machine for several years, I'd say yes, go Quad. More and more programs will begin to use multiple cores in the future.

That is exactly what my brother has been saying. I'm kind of hoping to get the same life out of this one as I did out of my AMD. I built it back in 2003 and planned on using it through college (graduated in 2007). I'm hoping this one will last through dental school (will graduate in 2012).

[CrashG]

That is exactly what my brother has been saying. I'm kind of hoping to get the same life out of this one as I did out of my AMD. I built it back in 2003 and planned on using it through college (graduated in 2007). I'm hoping this one will last through dental school (will graduate in 2012).

It looks like a solid machine so far, and should do well for several years. You might have to upgrade the video card at some point down the road, but that depends on what games you're playing and if your (soon-to-be) current one just won't cut it anymore. By that time technology should have advanced enough that you'll need to build a whole new machine.

[CamaroDMD]

Well, I feel better about this machine. I was worried that since it had been so long since I thought about building one...I would struggle with it. But, after a week or so now of going over it again and again...it sounds like I have something worth building.

Are there any other thoughts that any of the experts here feel that I should consider before I take the plunge and order the thing?

As crazy as it may sound...I am going to put a floppy drive in it because it allows me to use an old school boot disc to wipe the hard drive if I ever need to do so (and I have the drive sitting around here anyway).

[Elessar]

I just bought a GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L and Intel E7200 for my very first custom built computer. Should be more than enough for games.

[CrashG]

Well, I feel better about this machine. I was worried that since it had been so long since I thought about building one...I would struggle with it. But, after a week or so now of going over it again and again...it sounds like I have something worth building.

Are there any other thoughts that any of the experts here feel that I should consider before I take the plunge and order the thing?

As crazy as it may sound...I am going to put a floppy drive in it because it allows me to use an old school boot disc to wipe the hard drive if I ever need to do so (and I have the drive sitting around here anyway).

Nope, it looks like you thought out your build and we could only suggest a few minor changes.

Glad we could help. Let us know when you get it put together.

Edited July 6, 2008 by CrashGordon

[CamaroDMD]

OK, I just ordered it...I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

[+shift. MVC]

I'm SO glad the generic questions weren't asked!

[CamaroDMD]

I'm SO glad the generic questions weren't asked!

Just out of curiosity...what would those be? :rofl:

[DaTech]

o why did you buy a 8800gt? why o why did you buy that crap when there are so much better cards like a 4850?

8800gt is a rip off card now!

omg you paid 169.99 for that 8800gt OMG

GET A 4850 for 30 bucks more and WAY MORE PERFORMANCE

I saw your system quad core (great choice)

everything was ok but 8800gt WTF WHY!!!!!

[+shift. MVC]

Still not a bad card. Plus the 4850 has been plagued with heat issues, even though it is the better choice, an 8800GT is not bad.

[CamaroDMD]

o why did you buy a 8800gt? why o why did you buy that crap when there are so much better cards like a 4850?

8800gt is a rip off card now!

omg you paid 169.99 for that 8800gt OMG

GET A 4850 for 30 bucks more and WAY MORE PERFORMANCE

I saw your system quad core (great choice)

everything was ok but 8800gt WTF WHY!!!!!

I actually bought a 8800GT for $159.99, plus there is a mail in rebate of $20...so in the end I'll pay $139.99, so its actually a $60.00 difference. So, its roughly 2/3 the price and I did have a budget.

[+shift. MVC]

Just out of curiosity...what would those be? :rofl:

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=647056

I meant more along the lines of "generic questions" asked by the people trying to help you, we didn't have to ask those cause you answered them all in your initial post. Notice how it only took two pages of posts to finalize your build. :p

And to answer the questions about why Quad over Dual, my response would be a Dual overclocks better than a Quad. But you can't overclock two extra cores into a Dual core. :p

Edited July 6, 2008 by -SHiFT-