First Build - Mid/High End Gaming Computer

[thats_no_moon]

Hey, thanks for giving me the time of day. I will finally have the time/money this summer to attempt building my own computer, so I am already doing some preliminary research. I have been going over this build for the past few days trying to make sure everything will work out, but just in case I'm overlooking some fatal error on my part I'm hoping you guys would catch it.

I'm an engineering student so I will be running models/sims, but I also want something I can use for gaming. Not looking to run Crysis on best quality, but I want something I can enjoy and still be able to oogle at graphics from time to time. I do some video editing as well. Planning on running Windows XP x64 until Windows 7 releases - maybe dual boot with Ubuntu.

Not planning to OC, but it could be a possibility in the future once I'm more comfortable with my build. Just take a look at let me know what you think.

Case: Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

Mobo: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

CPU: Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

GPU: Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

PSU: Newegg.com - RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-630SS 630W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Modular LED Power Supply - Power Supplies

RAM: Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory (x2 -> 8 GB)

HD: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

CD/DVD: Newegg.com - LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

Monitor: Newegg.com - LG W2253TQ-PF Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) Full HD 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 50000:1 w/ Smart Package - LCD Monitors

Keyboard/Mouse: Newegg.com - Logitech EX 110 Black USB + PS/2 Standard Cordless Desktop Keyboard & Mouse Kit - Keyboards

DVI Cable: Newegg.com - Rosewill 6 ft. Digital DVI-D Dual link cable Model RCW-401 - Cables

Looking to keep it below $1500, which this build is at $1250 and I'm happy with it. Definitely want to make this thing last or at least be interchangeable enough to last. I've been advised to find another PSU, but not sure what a good brand is. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

[ShyguyXPC]

all of the links aren't working for some reason, so no idea what the parts are.

[thats_no_moon]

Ugh - sorry about that. Fixed.

[j.woody]

i would change the case to a coolermaster 690 nvidia edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119157

change the psu to an ocz 600w
Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

i would change the graphics card to a gtx260 216 55nm and is cheaper than the ati
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

[JLK03F150]

You should pick a PSU other than a Raidmax. Personally I like Corsair & Seasonic, but Silverstone OCZ, FSP and Antec make some good units too.

Everything else looks nice to me. If you can swing the extra $50-60 you may want to look at the HD 4890 video card too.

Welcome to TechIMO

[cksboy15]

First of all there is cheaper and faster memory out there. OCZ is really nice and the Fatal1ty edition is faster than the Gskill you picked out (not saying G skill is bad its really good memor) and this kind comes with a free mouse pad

Newegg.com - OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

if your gonna be running sims and stuff like that wouldn't you want to look at a quad core? Or maybe amd's triple cores?

Oh and for a list of manufacterors we have a thread just for that

Quote:

Good:
Akasa PaxPower....... Antec
Astec.......................... AOpen
Channel Well.............. Coolermaster
Corsair........................ Enermax
Enlight......................... Fortron Source (Sparkle)
Gigabyte..................... HEC Compucase (excluding the lower-end Orion line)
Hi-Power.................... Hiper
Jeantech..................... Lian-Li
Mushkin...................... NSpire
OCZ Technology.......... PC Power & Cooling (now owned by OCZ)
PowerMan................... Seasonic
SilenX.......................... SilverStone
Tagan (ABS)................ Thermaltake
TTGI/SuperFlower...... Vantec
Xclio............................. Zippy / Emacs Verax
Zion.............................. Zalman

Bad:
A GBP Athena................ Allied
Aspire/Apevia............... Athena Power
Apex.............................. Athenatech
Atop............................... Broadway Com
CoolMax......................... Chieftec
DEER.............................. Dynapower
Eagle Tech...................... EYE-T
Foxconn.......................... KingStar
Inwin.............................. Linkworld
L&C ............................... Logisys
MGE................................ PowerMagic
Powertek........................ PowerUp
Powmax.......................... Q-Tec
Raidmax.......................... Rosewill
Skyhawk......................... Star
Startech ......................... Sunbeam
Turbolink......................... Ultra

[ShyguyXPC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cksboy15

if your gonna be running sims and stuff like that wouldn't you want to look at a quad core? Or maybe amd's triple cores?

thats true, assuming the software their running uses all 4 cores.

but since this is a gaming computer mainly, with the ability to do the other stuff as well, Faster Dual cores would be more effective for that (gaming)...

though with whats left in the budget a good PSU & even a decent speed Quad core could be had.

Throw in a OCZ 550W PSU (2x 25A +12V, 6 pin & 6+2 pin PCIE connectors)

GTX 275, and a Quad core and the would still be under budget.

Newegg.com - OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1173-AR GeForce GTX 275 FTW Edition 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

GTX 275 above is factory OC'd way faster than a GTX 285, lowest priced 285 is $330, and at stock speeds, the only difference is that it runs a full 512-bit memory bus, the 275 run 448-bit, and the 275 has 896MB vs 285's 1GB. bus rates & memory aside, the only 285 as fast or faster for clock speeds is a model with built in water block for water cooling and costs $530.

with those changes and rest of parts from your list, total before shipping comes to $1359.88

$45 in mail in rebates.

but a stock GTX 275 (still quite fast and as good or better than a Radeon 4890) would be roughly $250

this particular model Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

costs $249.99, and up till May 5th, using this promo code EMCLRNW49 costs $10 less.

with that card, total is $1,309.88 before shipping, and would be $1,299.88 with promo code, just under the $1300 mark.

downside, is that should you want to run a 2nd card in the future, the motherboard only supports crossfire and not SLI, but if only using one card is all you need then that setup will do fine.

[cksboy15]

you could probablt get a cheaper motherboard thats just as good for a little less

Newegg.com - ASUS P5Q SE/R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

that ones can fit all those parts and it has the same north and south bridges so the performance difference (if there is any) is fairly small.

As for OCing the PQ5 board OCs fairly (well according to some of the reviews I've read) but not as good as gigabyte is. you'll also get express gate which is quite useful if you wanna check something on the internet in a hurry.

[thats_no_moon]

Good advice guys, thanks a lot. I really appreciate the suggestions.

Shyguy:
I like the PSU.
Since it is primarily a gaming machine (as you pointed out)should I go with a faster dual core or just knock it out now and go with a slightly slower quad core? I'm torn.
I think I'll go with the OC'd GTX 275 you suggested as well - or would the extra $30 for the 285 be worth it? Out of curiosity though, what is the big difference between the GTX GPU and the GPU I originally had in mind? Just for future reference, because I'm still learning it seems.

Cksboy:
Thanks for the find with the RAM. I'll definitely go with those instead, but I think I'll stick with the mobo I picked out. Being my first build, I'm willing to pay a little extra for something with better reviews just for my own sake and ease-of-use later. But correct me if that sounds crazy. Ha ha.

[JLK03F150]

The ATI HD 4870 is about equal in performance with a GTX 260. Otherwise it is just Ford vs Chevy. The GTX 275 is just a better performing card than the 260 & 4870 and the 275 is the same price/performance as the HD 4890.

IMO you won't see any benefit running 8GB of RAM for gaming vs only using 4GB. You can save a few there.

CPU speed means more in gaming than number of cores. A 3.0ghz dual core will out game a 2.4ghz quad core when you are using a single GPU video card.