Getting ready to order, need feedback

[jimson]

Here's my revised build plan. any suggestions?

Rosewill R5605-BK Dual 120mm Fans SECC Cold Rolled Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

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

E8400 cpu

PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DVR-115DBK - OEM

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400c4.

Thinking about WD Raptor HDD

Still need suggestions on sound card.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Fulmar]

Are you plan on overclocking this computer?  If not, I'd maybe go for some cheaper ram.  Some $40 name brand stuff will perform just as well as the Corsair at stock speeds.  If you do overclock, then I'd justify the Corsair.  The reason I say this I'd stick the money you saved on ram into a better case.  I'm not fan of Rosewill product.  I've ordered one of their lower end cases before and wasn't impressed.  You really get what you pay for in cases.  I do know that R5605 is one of their better cases, but IMHO it's like buying a loaded Kia....it's still a Kia.

Anyways, I do highly recommend the Antec 900.  Excellent case and I've worked with it first hand.  $80 after $40 MIR.  Excellent airflow, very quiet.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec%2b900

You have a lot of high end name brand equipment, just a low end case.  Don't get a Cadillac w/ a tape deck.

[DREDIOCK]

Same case I bought. Though havent installed anything in it yet.
Seems solid. well built. though I'll probably kep the front door locked to keep the dog from busting it off as he likes to lay under my desk (great footwarmer though)
He has been known to walk through the sliding screen doow to my backyard..Yes I mean THROUGH the screen..while the door is closed. So he wouldnt let a little thing like that dor stop him.
But that door is about the only slightly cheesy part on it.
Georgeous looking and I like the fact it has a removable ..lint screen (for lack of a bettter term) on the side.

The way its built you dont ned to install the little grommets to screw the motherboard onto first. You just plop the board in and screw it down.
Looks like it has plenty of room to work in. as well as room to run wires so they are out of the way.
comes with a little tool/spare parts box. But |I'll probably remove that as it looks like it will restrict airflow from the front of the case. But the little tool box wasnt one of the features I cared much about anyway
installing componenets DVD, Hard Drive,etc looks to be pretty much a peice of cake
Personally from what I can tell so far. I like it.

[DREDIOCK]

Anyways, I do highly recommend the Antec 900.  Excellent case and I've worked with it first hand.  $80 after $40 MIR.  Excellent airflow, very quiet.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec%2b900

The front lights and see through side panel would be a deal killer for me.
I know its all the rage now but I really dont like that look....at all. LOL

[jimson]

Thanks guys,

Interesting opposing views on the case.
I like the looks of it. Like Dred, I want something without see through sides and neon lights and all, just something that looks businesslike, and of course price is right.

No plans to overclock, but no real need to step down from the Corsair ram. its only about 45 bucks with MIR, right now.

Still need soundcard Ideas.....  Anyone?

[Ghosth]

Jim personally I favor Creative Sound Blaster cards. But I seldom run with their top line product.

When everyone else was paying 150$ for the new "Live" cards I bought a pair of PCI128's that lasted me for years.

Like everything else, take the time, read the reviews, do the research.
Which card is going to burn fewer cpu cycles, tie up less memory.

I recently picked up a SB Audigy 4 (retails for 130-150$) reconditioned at Creative for 30$.

So far I've been pretty happy with it.

[BaldEagl]

The build looks good.

I've got a Coolermaster mid-tower case (without side windows) that is roomy, tool-less and runs cool but they've discontinued the one I have.  Regardless, they all seem to get pretty good reviews.

I'd stick with a Creative sound card.  Regardless of the reviews you read, I've got an X-Fi Gamer and haven't had any problems whatsoever (although I'm running XP Pro, not Vista where it seems most of the problems are occurring).

[Fulmar]

Well for simplistic looks, then I'd recommend the Lian-Li brand.  A quality brand, a bit more expensive, not 'holey' or LED flashy.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000007&Description=Lian%20Li&bop=And&Order=PRICE

[jimson]

Thanks all.

I've added this:

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

I already have the E-8400, (bought back when they seemed to be as rare as hens teeth, now it's cheaper) and a fresh copy of XP Home. Yeah I know I wish it was Pro.

I'm gonna keep the case on the list, if I hate it when I see it, I'll get something else.

Also, because I need to keep the cost of what I don't already have to around $800.00, I'm going to drop the Raptor and get something like this

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

This PC will be about 99% Aces High and I don't think I need a huge amount of storage.

I can always upgrade later if I think I need to.


I'm going to pull the trigger tomorrow if there's no more plan changing advice from you kind folks.

Last chance..........

Thanks again to everyone.

[Masherbrum]

I JUST need the video card upgraded on mine.  I went to Best Buy and grabbed a Raptor X for $99 on Clearance.   Newegg has the identical 150GB drive for $175.

You might want to find the nearest BB's to you and see if any are in stock. 

[Getback]

Looks good to me. Good choice on the board. I think I would go with a cheaper ram that has high ratings.

Sound card? I use an asus. However I won't swear by it. Still though it does the job.

BTW, I overclocked my E8400 to 3.5 easily on cheap ram.

[Masherbrum]

BTW, I overclocked my E8400 to 3.5 easily on cheap ram.

I won't go there, I promise.   

[Chalenge]

I was told you cant overclock this board easily and the CMOS doesnt hold CPU voltage settings and the little OC you can get away with isnt stable. You selected great memory and CPU for OC but not the board.

WD Raptors that Ive seen were all Sata Is w/ 16MB cache and SATA II would be faster and 32MB cache is a must anymore.

[Getback]

I was told you cant overclock this board easily and the CMOS doesnt hold CPU voltage settings and the little OC you can get away with isnt stable. You selected great memory and CPU for OC but not the board.

WD Raptors that Ive seen were all Sata Is w/ 16MB cache and SATA II would be faster and 32MB cache is a must anymore.

Don't know, I use the Gigabyte IP 35 pro. I had now problem using their software to do it.

[Getback]

I won't go there, I promise.   

Tempting hey Karaya!

btw I have left mine at 3.492. Runs good. Leaving well enough alone.