New build (budget build) questions...

[Spikes]

Trying to make a budget build for under $500 or a little over.
So far I've got this:
Case- NZXT LEXA S LEXS - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - After Mail-in rebate = $69.99
Processor- Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q9400 = $189.99
Mobo- GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - After Mail-in rebate = $114.99
Power- APEVIA ATX-JV650W 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply - After Mail-in rebate = $39.99
Vid Card- Up in the air...I could re-use my X1650, or get something new...want to keep it under $100 though, suggestions?
RAM- Getting 4GB of DDR2-800 ram from a friend for no cost, saves me money!
CD-ROM- Probably taking one from my old comp.
HDD- I have a Barracuda 7200RPM IDE ATA 160GB I *may* use, yes I know it's slow, if I've got some extra change I'll get a small SATA. Don't need much more than 250Gb, plus I would have that other HDD as more space if need be.

Criticism? I think I did pretty good for $500...

[Masherbrum]

Get a better PSU. DO NOT SKIMP ON THE PSU first and foremost.

Like this one:   http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

Video Card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130518

Someone else can recommend an ATi card.   Not gonna attempt to find equivalent.   It's gonna come down to "bang for the buck", at less than $100, I don't see anything "blowing away" that eVGA.



I also noticed only TWO PC Power & Cooling PSU's exist on Newegg now.  Product overhaul? 

[Spikes]

Only reason I chose that Apevia pSU is because I have a few Apevia products and have had good luck with them, and for that price I didnt think I could do wrong. Will definately swap out those PSU's though. I found another Zodac or Zotac 9800GT on there but a friend said the fan sucked on it, this one looks better since it's an EVGA.

600W will be fine to run all of the new stuff?

[guncrasher]

think the e8400 might be faster and 20 cheaper unless ur planing to do some video editing, there's a whole debate over the quad being slower than duo when it comes to games.  case has ps on bottom.  make ps cables are extra long so they can reach.  dont plan on having 2 big video like the 9800gtx+ installed on the mobo.  on/off switch, reset pins, etc are on the way.  but then again for playing ah i only have one and its more than plenty.  also first check to make sure the ram will work with the mobo some mobo's are kindda picky about the ram.  and if you have to buy new ram, buy it now, prices went up almost 100% in the past month, no kidding, or at least they did on the ram i bought.

also most people will buy an after market cpu cooler, the one that comes with the cpu is kindda crappy.

semp

[Masherbrum]

Only reason I chose that Apevia pSU is because I have a few Apevia products and have had good luck with them, and for that price I didnt think I could do wrong. Will definately swap out those PSU's though. I found another Zodac or Zotac 9800GT on there but a friend said the fan sucked on it, this one looks better since it's an EVGA.

600W will be fine to run all of the new stuff?

Apevia's are made cheap.  I have an Apevia PSU from my old X-Cruiser.   I'm telling you, go with a SOLID PSU.   You'll be glad you did.   The $25-$30 extra IS worth it.   

Go with eVGA, returns/etc are "No-Hassle".    They are great to deal with, when unfortunately you have to.   

[Spikes]

Apevia's are made cheap.  I have an Apevia PSU from my old X-Cruiser.   I'm telling you, go with a SOLID PSU.   You'll be glad you did.   The $25-$30 extra IS worth it.  

Go with eVGA, returns/etc are "No-Hassle".    They are great to deal with, when unfortunately you have to.  

Yeah I have heard evga has great return policy. Grand total w/shipping is $616, with all the rebates it is $561, not bad for a Quad Core system, eh?
Karaya, any insight on the HDD? Should I use that 160GB or spend an extra buck for a newer HDD?

Also, is this little thingy worth anything? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150097

[Masherbrum]

Yeah I have heard evga has great return policy. Grand total w/shipping is $616, with all the rebates it is $561, not bad for a Quad Core system, eh?
Karaya, any insight on the HDD? Should I use that 160GB or spend an extra buck for a newer HDD?

Also, is this little thingy worth anything? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150097

I almost got burned by not upgrading HDD.   Grab an AALS series WD, about $60 for a 640GB and worth it. 

Water Cooling?   PM TilDeath, he'd know best IMO. 

[Spikes]

I almost got burned by not upgrading HDD.   Grab an AALS series WD, about $60 for a 640GB and worth it. 

Water Cooling?   PM TilDeath, he'd know best IMO. 

640! More than I'd ever need but why not!
I'll be sure to shoot him a PM tomorrow, maybe he'll find this topic tomorrow morning before I get to it, regardless thank you for all the help!

[Fulmar]

640! More than I'd ever need but why not!
I'll be sure to shoot him a PM tomorrow, maybe he'll find this topic tomorrow morning before I get to it, regardless thank you for all the help!

I remember when 3gb on two hard drives was more than I could use.

[Getback]

think the e8400 might be faster and 20 cheaper unless ur planing to do some video editing, there's a whole debate over the quad being slower than duo when it comes to games.  case has ps on bottom.  make ps cables are extra long so they can reach.  dont plan on having 2 big video like the 9800gtx+ installed on the mobo.  on/off switch, reset pins, etc are on the way.  but then again for playing ah i only have one and its more than plenty.  also first check to make sure the ram will work with the mobo some mobo's are kindda picky about the ram.  and if you have to buy new ram, buy it now, prices went up almost 100% in the past month, no kidding, or at least they did on the ram i bought.

also most people will buy an after market cpu cooler, the one that comes with the cpu is kindda crappy.

semp

Ditto on the e8400 unless you're doing video editing. It's cheaper, over clocks well and is much faster.

You may want to look at the ATI 3850 or 4850. I know the 4850 can be a hair over $100 to $130. If possible I would go with the 4850. I use the 3850.

[Chalenge]

The last E8400 I got acted more like an E8600. I linked and synced and ran the FSB up (from 1333 to 1600) until the RAM was running stock speeds and the CPU was a very mild 54C with AHII running. I was just testing and I dont leave systems clocked like that for long but it acted like it could take it easily.

[Fulmar]

The last E8400 I got acted more like an E8600. I linked and synced and ran the FSB up (from 1333 to 1600) until the RAM was running stock speeds and the CPU was a very mild 54C with AHII running. I was just testing and I dont leave systems clocked like that for long but it acted like it could take it easily.

54C idle or load?

[katanaso]

I just built a system with the same MB, but went with an E8400.

Running it at 3.6GHz, RAM at 1066.

It idles at 35, gets to 49 while running Prime95.

I'm not pushing it at all, and I couldn't see a reason to go with a Quad Core when I do some basic photo editing, office work, and minor gaming (AH2).


mir

[guncrasher]

54C idle or load?

he was playing ah so on load which how hot mine get.  also I have a really crappy aftermarket cooler but it is better than the stock cooler that comes with it.  then again i have the tempest case too the case temp stays in lower to mid 30 and i dont recall see it go past 40.  cpu at idle is around 33-34.  I tested the cpu for 2 hours with occt at 3.8 and it never went past 58.  if u do decide to buy an after market cpu cooler then invest also on the kit to replace the push pins that most fans have to secure to the mobo.  I think its only like another 7 or 8 dollars.  the cpu fan that I have doesnt use push pin, and if you read in the reviews most people are nervous about using the push pins.  and plan to spend another 100 on stuff that you didnt think u needed but will. most of it will probably go for beer  .

semp

[katanaso]

h if u do decide to buy an after market cpu cooler then invest also on the kit to replace the push pins that most fans have to secure to the mobo.  I think its only like another 7 or 8 dollars. 
semp

This is a great investment.

I use a Xigmatek HDT-S1284 Enhanced Edition with a Xigmatek ACK-I7753 Retention Bracket.

I used the pushpins for a week and aside from being a major pain in the bellybutton to install, they never felt sturdy holding a large heatsink and fan.



mir