First time building desktop

[stormin1222]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of building a gaming desktop for the first time and following some guides online have come out with the below. I need to know if all the components work with each other and if there are better options there. I am not a serious gamer but I do look for better graphic. The overall price need to stay around 600ish if not less.

EVGA 01G-P3-1158-TR GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130514
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Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80580Q8300

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130234
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MSI G31TM-P21 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130234
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A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model AD2U800B2G5-DRH

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211188
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hec X-Power Pro 650 650W Continuous @ 40°C ATX 12V v2.2 / EPS 12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339024
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SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
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ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
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Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Thanks for the help guys.
David

[JPMiller]

I'd rather have a Seagate...
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Better PSU for the Money...
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply

Better Video for cheaper...
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100284L Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

I'd rather have a faster dual core than a slower quad for gaming..
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E7600 Wolfdale 3.06GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor BX80571E7600

[quickoldcar]

Ditto for what jp wrote. Except maybe even the 32mb cache seagate.

[stormin1222]

Thanks for the replies,

You guys think the 460W is enough for a gaming desktop? What can happen when desktop need higher than 460W during some intense gaming scenes etc?

Another question is I am thinking of installing windows 7 with xp compatible support. Honestly I am still using XP so i dont know what that is all about. Which version of windows 7can do visualization? and which hardware need to support visualization to make it work? I see the core 2 duo support visualization so...

Lastly, do I have enough ventilation with the fan included with the case (3 total), the one on CPU and the one on GPU? Any extra fans necessary?

THANKS!

[RicheemxX]

IMO I wouldn't want to build on the old 775 platform. Nothing against it but if I'm building something new I'd want to build on the newest platform possible. By building on the 775 you are limiting any upgrade path you might have. Not a major concern for some but something I'd consider.

Secondly to answer your other question - Its virtualization, not visualization and XP mode is only available on W7 professional and Ultimate Windows 7 Features: Windows XP Mode

Honestly, even though I have it installed I have almost no need to use it. I use it manly for messing around with some older software but really have yet to find anything that can't/won't run in W7.

If you already have an XP license you aren't using a second better option would be to run XP via Virtualbox or another VM. It would save the extra cost associated with the Pro or Ultimate version of W7.

[ShyguyXPC]

Thanks for the replies,

You guys think the 460W is enough for a gaming desktop? What can happen when desktop need higher than 460W during some intense gaming scenes etc?

Another question is I am thinking of installing windows 7 with xp compatible support. Honestly I am still using XP so i dont know what that is all about. Which version of windows 7can do visualization? and which hardware need to support visualization to make it work? I see the core 2 duo support visualization so...

Lastly, do I have enough ventilation with the fan included with the case (3 total), the one on CPU and the one on GPU? Any extra fans necessary?

THANKS!

it won't, that PSU is enough to run the Whole PC.

the single biggest consumer of power on the PC is the Video card.

the 5750 JP listed doesn't consume the full 324W of Combined +12V power that the PSU is rated for.

so it will never exceed the rating of the PSU, unless you were to run say a crossfire multi GPU based rig, add a 2nd or 3rd card and it could, but as the list/suggestions are now, it will never exceed the rated output of the PSU.

[stormin1222]

Thanks for all the replies.

can someone please tell me how much ventilation a gaming desktop needs? I know there are different cooling mechanisms needed for gaming so I am wondering if my build with 3 case fans, 1 cpu fan and 1 gpu fan is enough. Thanks!

[ShyguyXPC]

Well the CPU and GPU fan is sort of required, so you don't really count those.

there's no real set required amount of airflow for a given system, just recommended to have as much uniform airflow as possible, usually a couple 120mm fans is good, one intake and one out, usually the fans should match specs for airflow etc.

Overclocked systems or those with multiple video cards, usually want more airflow. more fans, better airflow case, etc.

there's really no set requirements though.

the case you selected, has 120mm front and rear, and a side vent over the CPU area, not a big fan of those shrouds over the CPU, but whatever, can easily be removed.

This case is a bit better in airflow design, plus cheaper

Newegg.com - Rosewill Blackbone Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan

another good design

Newegg.com - Rosewill DESTROYER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 120mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan,1x Top 120mm Fan,1x Bottom Fan

all of these are FAR better in airflow and fan placement and all that and cheaper than the one you picked in your first post.

[JPMiller]

3 120mm Fans is pleanty of cooling, sometimes less is more..
Clean wiring and good airflow THROUGH the case is more important

I WAS going to link some cases... but again Shy beat me to it...
Turnabouts fairplay...
Ditto on those being better designs in general...

[ShyguyXPC]

Well to be honest I posted those over an hour before you, so that sort of helps

but the main thing with those cases is their of the more "breathable" design, with the perforated Mesh front panels, and what not, besides the fan placement. which is something I Like in cases myself.

if there's too much air intake than exhaust it basically allows a more even air pressure/flow in the case, or vice versa, though most of the cases intake and exhaust is still from the fans.

but the cable management is an important thing too.

for front intake I prefer a case that allows positioning of the front intake fan up or down, and try to take air in from front, directly to CPU cooler (vertical tower coolers), then exhaust right through to rear exhaust fan and out.

Thermaltake Armor Case, Coolermaster Stacker series, or some of the newer variations on those older cases designs, Antec 900, etc series for example.


I also like cases with larger 140, 230, 250mm fans on them as well, larger fan, area covered, lower RPM, quieter, etc.

[stormin1222]

Thanks a lot guys! Now I just need to put everything together