Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: eskimo2 on August 19, 2007, 03:02:12 AM

Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: eskimo2 on August 19, 2007, 03:02:12 AM
I’m pretty much a noob at building PCs from scratch and could have easily overlooked something important (like will the mobo fit in the case, do I have enough power, will something not connect right, etc.)  I know I still need a monitor and OS (I need Vista for work; I know it sucks but I need it).  

My research had lead me to believe that the Intel Core 2 DUO E6750 2.66G has the same performance as the Intel Core 2 DUO E6700 2.66G for about $100 less…  (one review) : http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/20/review_intel_core_2_duo_e6750/
Tom’s Hardware chart shows that it looks pretty good for only $200: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=873&model2=876&chart=435  Yes?  No?  

The mobo I picked out supports the 775 socket and 1333 bus speed of the processor; I also want a FireWire connect and like the Asus copper pipe heat sink sales pitch: http://event.asus.com/mb/p5k/index.html
Here’s the mobo link: http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=542&l4=0&model=1652&modelmenu=1
A good board?  Yes?  No?  

Is Crucial ram really better than Kingston or mwave?  I want to go with the 2 gig stick so that I never have to replace a stick if I ever want to max it out in ram.

The xfx geforce 8800 gts 320mb pci express video card seems to perform pretty well.  It looks like the popular 8600 models are not even as good as older 7900 models (as pointed out in another thread).  Its way more than I would want to spend, but it seems like an extra $100 in a video card will do more for frame rates than money spent anywhere else.  Yes?  No?  
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=854&model2=855&chart=278

The PS was recommended by a friend and even has a rebate; everything else is pretty much cheapo.
Let me know if anything looks like it won’t work well or is a waste of money:
***************************************

  ASUS P5K-V INTEL G33 CHIPSET ATX FORM FACTOR 2xPCI-E(X16)/1xPCI-E(X4)/3xPCI/4xDDR2 W/INTEGRATED VGA,SATA2 RAID,LAN(Gb),1394,USB 2.0 & AUDIO (CPU TYPE:INTEL - SOCKET 775) ($146)
•  CORE 2 DUO E6750 2.66G (1333Mhz) ($198)
•  CRUCIAL 2GB DDR2 667    ($120)
•  ASSEMBLE/TEST BUNDLE     ($10)
$470.44    SKU:BA23970 -BA24051 -BA24150 -TEST  
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=BA23970
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=BA24051
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=BA24150

 XFX GEFORCE 8800 GTS 320MB PCI EXPRESS 1.6 GHZ DDR3 DUAL DVI/TV (Retail) ($30 Mail-In Manufacturer Rebate Available from 08/01/07 till 08/31/07)     
$286.74    SKU:4273744  
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=4273744

SAMSUNG Black 18X SH-S183L SATA+LIGHTSCRIBE w/SW(Bare drive)  
$30.90   SKU:AA67460 -    
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=AA67460

SEAGATE 250GB ST3250410AS SATA2 16MB 7200RPM (Bare drive)While supply last!
$59.99   SKU:AA71142
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=AA71142

 MWAVE 6C29BS8R (BLACK) ATX MID TOWER NO POWER SUPPLY 4x5.25" 2x3.5" 4x3.5"(hidden) W/ FRONT USB CONNECTOR
$23.89  SKU:BA22624
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=BA22624

 EPOWER ZU-550W ZUMAX 550W ATX 12V UL & FCC POWER SUPPLY ($15 Mail-In Manufacturer Rebate Available from 8/08/07 till 8/29/07)  
$54.00    SKU:BA22359 - -  
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=BA22359

    LOGITECH INTERNET 350 USB DESKTOP KEYBOARD & MOUSE VISTA QUALIFIED (Black) (White box) (*Regular $21 - $5 Mwave Instant Discount = $16, While Supplies Last!)   
$15.94   $15.94 SKU:4146183  
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?&scriteria=4146183    

Sub Total   $941.90
(-$45 in rebates)


Thanks,
eskimo
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: lambo31 on August 19, 2007, 08:27:35 AM
Hey Eskimo,
  I just built a pc similar to that one,
E6850
P5K3
2 gigs DDR3
8800GTX

Keep in mind I'm far from a computer guru and relied a lot on the advice given to me here on the bbs. I love it and don't have the first problem. The only thing I might change with what you have is the motherboard, it doesn't support quad core and that might hinder you in upgrading later. I would definately go with the P5K series, just one that supports quad.


Lambo
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: Irwink! on August 19, 2007, 09:44:10 AM
Ummm - the power supply appears a little sketchy. That's one area you really don't want to scrimp on.
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: Eagler on August 19, 2007, 11:47:35 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Irwink!
Ummm - the power supply appears a little sketchy. That's one area you really don't want to scrimp on.


I second this. Go for one with huge amps on the 12 volt rails.
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: Fulmar on August 19, 2007, 11:55:28 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Irwink!
Ummm - the power supply appears a little sketchy. That's one area you really don't want to scrimp on.


Look for a better brand like the following on this link:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1460 (http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1460)

Spend at least $100 on a PSU.  Remember, the PSU is supply electricity to all your other more expensive units.  Too many times I've seen cheap PSU's fail burning up motherboards etc.  Don't risk it.
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: Roscoroo on August 19, 2007, 12:00:07 PM
Didnt you need to run Vista also ? I would go for 2 hard drives and set up a duel boot xp on one and vista on the second . this way  you have a solid gamer with xp and not be relying on vista for gaming.

dont use the same drive partitioned for duel boot w/vista ... its a total headache.
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: lambo31 on August 19, 2007, 12:14:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by lambo31
Hey Eskimo,
  I just built a pc similar to that one,
E6850
P5K3
2 gigs DDR3
8800GTX

Keep in mind I'm far from a computer guru and relied a lot on the advice given to me here on the bbs. I love it and don't have the first problem. The only thing I might change with what you have is the motherboard, it doesn't support quad core and that might hinder you in upgrading later. I would definately go with the P5K series, just one that supports quad.


Lambo


Sorry Eskimo, I stand corrected on this. I didn't read enough before stating this. That Motherboard does indeed support quad cores.

Lambo
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: 0thehero on August 19, 2007, 02:29:52 PM
Everything looks pretty good, but the PSU is suspect, and like everyone here said, it's the first, most important part of the system.

Mwave has good Antec units here. (http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewproduct.asp?PID=PW500-ANTEC&updepts=PS-600WP&DNAME=Power+Supply+%2D+500W+%2D+695W+)  The TruePower series is pretty good and not a bundle of cash.

One minor point; is there a reason you're getting the P5K-V model instead of the cheaper, equally effective P5K base model (no VGA)?
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: eskimo2 on August 19, 2007, 03:18:26 PM
The mobo I picked out supports the 775 socket and 1333 bus speed of the processor; I also want a FireWire connect and like the Asus copper pipe heat sink sales pitch: http://event.asus.com/mb/p5k/index.html  
http://event.asus.com/mb/p5k/spec.html

I haven’t played AH in two years, but when I did my system would lock up on hot summer days (while running AH).  I’m pretty concerned about heat since every PC I’ve had in this house has run much hotter than they should.  I’m planning on dropping both systems down into the basement and running wires up into the living room.  The PCs will be on a high shelf that I’ll build.  The basement is 15 degrees cooler.  I also have an old window AC unit that I’m going to rig to blast them with cold air.  Noise shouldn’t be too bad since they’l be downstairs.
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: eskimo2 on August 19, 2007, 03:21:25 PM
I’m reshopping a PS based on what everyone is saying.

Also, will the SATA HD & DVD come with all necessary wires?
I think I should get extra fans for the case too.

Best Buy has 2 Gig PNY sticks on sale for $75.  The sale started today, they may be out...  but if I were to buy 1 or 2 I couldn't have the bundle tested... What do you all think of the generic mwav brand?
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: eskimo2 on August 19, 2007, 03:27:26 PM
I'm having second thoughts on the Video Card:

The xfx geforce 8800 gts 320mb pci express video card  is $256 after the rebate, but it's not ASUS.  

I'm leaning back towards the ASUS EN8600GT/2DHT/256M GEFORCE 8600GT 256MB DDR3 PCI-E for $150 even though it might yield half the frame rates.  I'm concerned about heat, my old system would lock up when it got hot in out un-air-conditioned house.  It seems that a cool (temp) good card might work as well as a hot great card and last longer... I'm already way over budget anyway and should cut back somewhere.

How about ATI?  $170:
ASUS EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M ATI RADEON X1950PRO 256MB DDR3 PCI-EXPRESS VIDEO CARD W/DUAL-DVI & HDTV-OUT

Would this do better than the ASUS EN8600GT/2DHT/256M GEFORCE 8600GT ?
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: eskimo2 on August 19, 2007, 05:08:35 PM
Can someone confirm that I want:
MICROSOFT WINDOWS VISTA 64BIT HOME PREMIUM 1PK DVD (DSP/OEM) #66I-00788

and not 32BIT

Thanks.
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: lambo31 on August 19, 2007, 06:10:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by eskimo2
I’m reshopping a PS based on what everyone is saying.

Also, will the SATA HD & DVD come with all necessary wires?
I think I should get extra fans for the case too.

Best Buy has 2 Gig PNY sticks on sale for $75.  The sale started today, they may be out...  but if I were to buy 1 or 2 I couldn't have the bundle tested... What do you all think of the generic mwav brand?


The motherboard should have all the cables you need with it. On my P5K3 the DVD connects into an IDE port (the cable was included with MB).


Lambo
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: Fulmar on August 19, 2007, 07:12:38 PM
Quote
Originally posted by eskimo2

Also, will the SATA HD & DVD come with all necessary wires?
I think I should get extra fans for the case too.


Every Asus board I have every bought has come with the necesarry cables for your system.  My first Asus board I bought in 2003 has SATA I on it (this is when SATA was in its infancy and pretty new) and they gave my SATA cables.  My last Asus board I bought in January can with SATA cables.

I've always enjoyed my Asus boards and have never had any problems with them.  My only beef with their website is their website is slow, and their download section is even slower.
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: RATTFINK on August 19, 2007, 08:42:34 PM
My Asus hurts from sitting to long while playing AH
Title: Please check out my parts before I order:
Post by: ergRTC on August 22, 2007, 09:58:58 PM
Hey Eskimo,

I just came back to AH after a 2 year hiatus (a phd hiatus so its ok, nothing against the game).

I plugged in my old amd 3200 with a geforce3 ti200 (fan is busted) and I get 30-60 fps and the median is 58 fps (I turned on the limit).

If you haven't bought it already...
I would go for quality rather than bleeding edge.  Find a good quiet PS
Find a good quality second generation mb
Find a smaller high throughput hd.
Buy a decent case, not some POS knuckle buster.

You get the idea.