Possible new PC specs

[SKColt]

Comments and suggestions welcome.  I will install XP Pro on the new machine.

I don’t have the cash to throw together the BEST system, but have been looking at bang for the buck. 

Below is the hardware list I am working on:

XCLIO A380BK Fully Black High Gloss Finish SECC 1.0mm thickness ATX Full Tower Computer Case OR Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

 

BFG Tech ES SERIES ES-800 800W Continuous @ 40°C ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.92 SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified GTX 260 NVIDIA HYBRID SLI 9800 GX2 CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC SLI Power Supply

 

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard (Supports 2 Gforce 9800 GT SLI cards)   

 

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor  ( I also edit video and very large graphic files)

 

CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

 

ASUS EN9800GT HB/HTDI/512M GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

 

Western Digital SATA drives.

 

My pre-existing DVD burner. (IDE)

 

 

The MB has Realtek sound, but if it is troublesome, I could toss my Audigy into one of the PCI slots.


SKColt
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[drdeathx]

Most of the guys are going with the Intel E8400 for gaming. I own a AMD quad core but the duos outperform the quads. If you intend to a lot of 3d graphics or video quad may be a better choice but if not the guys here reccommend duo. The E8400 wolfdale can be bought for about the same price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

With the Wolfdale core Intel pours more power into a Core 2 Duo package. The 45nm process allowed Intel to reduce the power needed to 65W. Lower power means lower CPU heat, which translates to lower system heat and longer system life. They also packed more features into the chip.

With the information I have read in these forums and others, this is the way I would go. They are essentially the same price you are spending.

I believe Tildeath recommended this motherboard due to overclocking abilities and it is about the same price. Gigabyte EP45-UD3P.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

[SKColt]

Most of the guys are going with the E8400 for gaming. I own a AMD quad core but the duos outperform the quads. If you intend to a lot of 3d graphics or video quad may be a better choice but if not the guys here reccommend duo. The E8400 wolfdale can be bought for about the same price.

Valid point for sure. I am still evaluating exactly what CPU punch I will need for the video work I am doing. In retrospect, I think I would rather take a performance hit on the video work(I don't do a lot of it), but I play AH almost daily. I do agree that the dual core would be preferable for gaming. Hmmm... must set priorities 

[TilDeath]

I would suggest this case over the XCLIO A380BK.  Has better reviews (not newegg sales but real review sites) plus has a bottom mounted PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047&Tpk=NZXT%20Tempest  Plus is 40.00 cheaper.  I have actual experance with this case and it is outstanding.  Using it in over 50% of the builds in my store.

For the same money after rebate here is a much better board if you like EVGA (which I do over ASUS)  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026

As for the Corsair memory,  have you looked at OCZ for 4 dollars more http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227277 The timings are a shade slower but the native FSB is faster giving you an overall performance increase.  Also this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227371 has faster timings and same FSB native for 5 dollars less and lastly this Reaper series for 14 dollars less http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

I prefer modular power supplies for 1) cable management 2) airflow within the case.  The Tagan 700watt which will be more then enough for your listed build is modular but is 10.00 more then the rebated price of the BFG.  It also has free shipping like the BFG.

If you shop you can find a SATA DVD burner for 20 bucs.  It would leave the ribbon cable out and help with cooling via airflow.  My buc 2 fifty input

[drdeathx]

I went the same way you think. I built my computer for more than a short term deal. At the time AMD 9850 was less money than the Intel quads although the Intels performed better. Aces high will perform great with the Q6660 no worries but with doing video I think you are making a nice choice.

[TilDeath]

Valid point for sure. I am still evaluating exactly what CPU punch I will need for the video work I am doing. In retrospect, I think I would rather take a performance hit on the video work(I don't do a lot of it), but I play AH almost daily. I do agree that the dual core would be preferable for gaming. Hmmm... must set priorities 

If this is an AHII only box dual core, you do anything else Quad.  I am a benchmarker, I look at scores of benchmarked machines.  They simply show performance overall.  The Quad will give same game performance as a dual (once you hit a point with AH you cant go further, its as good as it gets) so the less expensive duels can do the game and do it very well,  but the more expensive quads give you expandability in the long run.  And for a 30 dollar difference I love the Q6600.  Also they are no longer in production.  If your lucky enough to get a Q6600 G0 series you have an overclocking monster on your hands.

[SKColt]

I really like the Tagan modular supply after taking a look. Are the included cables long enough to reach all of the devices in the Antec case?

[TilDeath]

I really like the Tagan modular supply after taking a look. Are the included cables long enough to reach all of the devices in the Antec case?

I have a Tagan 900 in a Antec 1200 case and yes they reach with out problem.   Still highly recommend the NZXT Tempest case over the Antec.  Much better fit and finish.  The Twelve Hundred is supposed an airflow master, does not compete to the Tempest IMHO.  We switched to the Tempest from the Nine and Twelve Hundred cases in our entry level builds.  The Twelve hundred has so many fans in it its a power hog.  You cant turn the blowhole fan off its always running and although the 1200 has what Antec calls "Superior Cable Management" I don't like the Nine or Twelve Hundred cases.  Still had to break out the dremel for cable management and routing.  Lesson learned for me.  Interested in a used one    Kidding, but would not buy one again in all honesty.  Yes I will be selling the TWELVE Hundred soon, but 5 to 7 weeks away.  Awaiting a few releases.  Also, get your memory ASAP, word in the community is Ram is gonna rise,  it has over the past 2 weeks and should continue doing so for another 4 or so.

[SKColt]

Hardware is ordered.  I modified my original list as follows:

Got the Tagan PS, the Tempest case, the OCZ memory, and EVGA MB instead of what I originally listed.

Oh, and I went with the Q6600

[BaldEagl]

Do you really need a full tower case?  I've got a nice (discontinued) Cooler Master mid tower that's huge.  I know I wouldn't want anything bigger.

I'm a proponent of single rail PSU's.  While it's not modular I and many others here run this one:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009  It's got more than enough power for your build and is a quality PSU.

I'd go with the eVGA mobo TilDeath posted (yes, I'm an eVGA guy too) and upgrade to 1066 memory (2x 2 Gb).

As far as the CPU goes you'll get better bang for the buck with an E8400 or E8500.  If you're doing professional video editing then stick with the quad core.

Video card; get the eVGA 9800 GT (lifetime warranty with a 30 day step-up program).

Unless you already have the HD's get Seagates as they all have a 5 year warranty vs variable 3-5 year warranties on the WD's.

As TilDeath suggested, unless your old optical drive(s) are SATA just get (a) new one(s).

I's also take a good hard look at this:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006  It will totally unload all audio processing off the rest of the machine.  As long as you're running XP there won't be any driver issues.

My 2 cents.

[TilDeath]

Do you really need a full tower case?  I've got a nice (discontinued) Cooler Master mid tower that's huge.  I know I wouldn't want anything bigger.

I'm a proponent of single rail PSU's.  While it's not modular I and many others here run this one:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009  It's got more than enough power for your build and is a quality PSU.

The Tagan I suggested has a switch in the rear to put it all on one rail or keep it separate

[Getback]

Most of the guys are going with the Intel E8400 for gaming. I own a AMD quad core but the duos outperform the quads. If you intend to a lot of 3d graphics or video quad may be a better choice but if not the guys here reccommend duo. The E8400 wolfdale can be bought for about the same price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
 

With the information I have read in these forums and others, this is the way I would go. They are essentially the same price you are spending.

I believe Tildeath recommended this motherboard due to overclocking abilities and it is about the same price. Gigabyte EP45-UD3P.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

Ditto, Duo cores run cooler and use less power.