New build idea, alternative suggestions welcome.

**ArcticFox** · March 5th, 2007, 05:26 AM

OK, so I just filed my taxes and should be getting quite a bit back, over what I get in a single paycheck. What I don't toss in savings or car payment will go towards a new build...

Ladies, behold my package:

X2 4400+, stock clocked (crappy overclocker BTW)
2GB DDR400 OCZ Gold
DFI nForce4 SLI-DR
eVGA 7600GT
Coolermaster 500w PSU
Lian-Li PC60
74GB Raptor
160GB WD
320GB WD
320GB Maxtor

What I'm considering:
$390 eVGA 8800GTS 640MB for graphical bling
$220 EVGA 122-CK-NF68-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI
$180-$270 for two or three WD3200KS drives, to combine with my existing 3200KS in RAID5
$315 Core2 Duo E6600
$250 Lian-Li PC-G75B
$240 Mushkin 2GB DDR2-800 EPP RAM
$150 OCZ GameXTreme 700W PSU

$1650-1800 range, will be lower by time of purchase, not including rebates, etc...

Those are the parts I'm pondering, but maybe there's another mobo out there that's better or something. Suggestions?

**Ultima** · March 5th, 2007, 06:24 AM

dude, 250 bucks for a case?? DAMN!!!

I'd get an Antec P180B over any Lian Li any time of the day, it cools better then Lian Li's as well.
That would save you way over 100 bucks already.

And why does everybody want to shell out over 200 bucks for a motherboard?? What is so great about that board?? Get an Asus P5E-N SLI or something, is around 130 bucks, you can clock up really nice with that.

The parts you selected scream WOW!! and so does the price that comes with some of them.
If you're gonna spend the money anyway, then by all means, do it, but if yer not gonna overclock all THAT much, why go for the most expensive parts on the market, more expensive doesn't equel better.

**pullmyfoot** · March 5th, 2007, 07:08 AM

haha i have nearly your current setup and im happy. im still waiting for more ram and a bigger screen to come my way.. though id love to spend 1.5k on a new system anyday

. but id do what Ultima said and do a less expensive case and a less expensive mobo. maybe you can do 4 gigs of ram then huh

?

**Rootstonian** · March 5th, 2007, 09:38 AM

WOW..you like hard drive space. Would love to know how you backup a terabyte's worth of data!!

Prices on the Intel chips are supposed to drop. Save some money on the case and the mobo and get the 8800 GTX. Just saw a review on a a severly overclocked 8800 GTS and it still couldn't touch the 8800 GTX. Yes, that may be obvious, but the moral of the story was that the GTX is WORTH the extra money.

Why don't you gut your old rig and get a new mobo and QUAD CORE?

**ArcticFox** · March 5th, 2007, 09:41 AM

Ok, I might drop down on the case, re-use my PC60 and check into other boards so I can get an 8800GTX, sounds like a better idea.

And I have a 160GB network drive to back up on.

**Rootstonian** · March 5th, 2007, 09:44 AM

Wait a minute...you have 640 gig on 2 drives, the 74 fasty (assume for OS load) and backup to a 160 Gig drive???

Oh, wait, what if RAID 5? Is that mirroring, so you effectively only have one 320? I'm so confused

Oh and on the 8800 GTX...it's a 2 year life card (AT LEAST)..just ask yourelf if it's worth $1.00 a day. I know the answer to that

**Ryan220587** · March 5th, 2007, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by ArcticFox

Ok, I might drop down on the case, re-use my PC60 and check into other boards so I can get an 8800GTX, sounds like a better idea.

get the antec nine hundred. i have one, and imo, best cooling and quality for the price. don't get the 8800gtx, unless you're REALLY into that sort of thing. you can do well for much less

**Rootstonian** · March 5th, 2007, 10:06 AM

With all due respect, how can you do better than a GTX when there is nothing in it's class? Not even dually SLI or Crossfires can touch that card. (and note that I'm not writing this with any "flame" tone whatsover; I'm finding I need to make this disclaimer because a couple people have toasted me not knowing what "tone" I was responding in)

He already expressed interest in the GTS, so I mentioned that the GTX can't be beat by anything currently on the market.

Agreed on the case 100% (I have a Sonata II and it's nice). The Antec 180 is also a nice case!!

**Ultima** · March 5th, 2007, 10:34 AM

the fact that the GTX can't be beat is no reason to get it.

The GTS is more then adequate to run anything you throw at it, so why get a part that's like 200 bucks more??

So that you can get like maybe 10fps extra??? the GTX is a waste of money if ya ask me, but that's a matter of opinion.
I always say, never get the best of the best, but just 1 below that, way more bang for the buck.

**Rootstonian** · March 5th, 2007, 10:45 AM

Indeed! Why do anything?

His rig isn't that bad to start with. Probably could get by with mobo, core 2 duo, memory and GTS for $700 or $800 and bank the rest and have a FINE system.

Part out the old stuff, which again, isn't that bad and get some money there.

**ArcticFox** · March 5th, 2007, 11:57 AM

I don't do a lot of gaming, that's why I wanted the GTS. It's a very fast card that isn't outer-space expensive.

If I had three 320GB drives in RAID 5, I'd have 640GB (actually 596GB) usable, the other is a parity drive. Yes I do need a larger backup system...

**Dachipsta** · March 5th, 2007, 01:01 PM

Ever thought about looking into a new MOBO that supports the new Intel Matrix Raid? Looking at the spec, it seems you can implement a Raid 5 configuration with only 2 drives instead of 3. Also, you can vary the degree of mirroring vs. the amount of striping as well. Unfortunately, I havent actually used it yet to find out how good it actually works so I cant say whether or not its worth the effort. Sounds good on paper tho. I guess I will find out as soon as UPS shows up with my new hardware on Weds.....l8r

**RobRich** · March 5th, 2007, 01:25 PM

Intel Matrix RAID is just an implementation of RAID 0 and RAID 1 across two volumes on two drives. Neat, but not exactly revolutionary technology, and still far from being a RAID 5 setup. If a drive fails in a two-drive Intel Matrix RAID configuration, you will retain data from the RAID 1 volume but lose data contained within the RAID 0 volume.

**RobRich** · March 5th, 2007, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Ultima

dude, 250 bucks for a case?

I have to agree.

I can spend good money on components, but could really care less about the case. The cooling difference between most cases is minimal at best. Then again, I have ten fans (total) in my current primary desktop system anyway.

**Rootstonian** · March 5th, 2007, 01:36 PM

10 FANS??? You got that sucker bolted down or you just let it taxi on it's own? ROFL!

**Dachipsta** · March 5th, 2007, 01:39 PM

Hey Rob,
I am in the learning phase on pretty much everything Raid so I am glad you posted. I would agree from what I have been reading that Matrix is kindof a reintroduction of old technology maybe? Isnt the requirement of 2 drives instead of 3 new or could that have be done before? Is there anything special about Matrix raid then? I am really curious. Thanks...

**RobRich** · March 5th, 2007, 01:40 PM

Most are subject to either thermal or manual rheostat control.

The system is actually rather quiet considering the large number of fans.

**RobRich** · March 5th, 2007, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dachipsta

Hey Rob,
I am in the learning phase on pretty much everything Raid so I am glad you posted. I would agree from what I have been reading that Matrix is kindof a reintroduction of old technology maybe? Isnt the requirement of 2 drives instead of 3 new or could that have be done before? Is there anything special about Matrix raid then? I am really curious. Thanks...

Nothing really special. It allows you to create two RAID volumes across two discs.

One volume is for RAID 0, which is non-redundant.

The other volume is for RAID 1, which is redundant.

If one of the two drives fails, you retain the data on the RAID 1 volume, but lose the data on the RAID 0 volume.

At the application level, Windows would see each volume as a drive. You are supposed to split up your data accordingly. For example, your OS and important files would go on the RAID 1 volume, while your cache/temp files and non-important applications (i.e. games) could go on the RAID 0 volume.

**Dachipsta** · March 5th, 2007, 01:47 PM

I see you are in Tampa. I'm just across the bridge in St. Pete bro. Meaningless little fun fact but nevertheless a small world it tis.....

....l8r

**RobRich** · March 5th, 2007, 01:49 PM

To be honest, I live further north near Crystal River. I just say the Tampa metro area since most people don't have a clue where Citrus county is located.