a new gaming computer!

under one condition...she gets to build it

which is fine by me, she's really the expert and as long as I get the machine I've been waiting for these past few years. My current computer is a desktop replacement I've been using since I started school back in 2004 so as you can imagine it's on its last legs. For those of you interested here are the specs...

Sager - 9860
Creative Audigy 2zs Notebook
3.6 Ghz Intel Pentium 4
256MB ATi MOBILITY™ RADEON® X800 Graphics Card
60 GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
2048 MB DDR SDRAM
Internal 8X DVD±R/RW

It has served me well up until the release of Bioshock....when after I was given the game on my birthday of last year I discovered that my X800 did not support SM 3.0 and to this day I have not been able to play it! I graduated from school, got my first job in the gaming industry and have got the go ahead from my girl to buy a new computer.

I've been trolling the boards for a while and have picked some parts out. I would really appreciate anyones input on the components I've chosen because the last time I actually built a computer was in 2002 and as you can imagine I'm a little late to the party.


CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115042

MB:
ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131284

RAM:
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145184

H/D:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148288

P/S:
KINGWIN ABT-700MA1S ATX / BTX 700W SLI Certified Modular Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CSA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817121025

(or)

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006

Case:
NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146047

DVD:
Pioneer Black 20X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827129018

CPU Cooler:
ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835118019

Monitor:
Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009125

Speakers:
Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6836121120

Keyboard:
Saitek PZ30AU Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823175103

For the video card and any of the other parts I'm up for suggestions. I do not have any plans to O/C because it gets brutally hot down here in San Diego. I'm looking for something that can handle the latest games (crysis not included) and run programs like Maya, Photoshop, and Zbrush 3 with ease so I would like to stick with Nvidia. I know there is a new line of cards coming out in the next few weeks so would it be worth it to wait and then buy a cheap 8 series card so I could get the most bang for the buck?

I don't really have a budget but would like to hover around 2K. I can get any intel part half off so if I can get any comments or critiques on anything I would be really appreciative!

Looking forward to your input! Maybe if she lets me I'll take some pics of my g/f assembling the computer and post them

Looks ok.
Get the Corsair PSU and DITCH the zalman cooler. Get something from Noctua, thermalright or scythe.

The most my gf has ever given me is AIDS.
Its ok tho. U only catch it once.

I damn near fell out of my chair when I read that! lol

At the OP...I agree everything looks good, but the CPU cooler is loud. If you like the design and want the Zalman I would go with the 9500. I believe there is a Xigmatech company that makes a pretty good cooler for about $10 cheaper, and from what I have been seeing most people seem to like it more.

Edit: I believe this is the one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

Best,

3Ball

Wait for the new ones. The new 2xx series which is rumored to beat the 8800GT SLI setups will benefit you greatly, because of the monitor you chose. One 8800GT is good for now, if you want to go ahead and get the system. Evaluate the market around the holidays and see whats out at that point.

Corsair PSU for sure.

Don't get that RAM- the timings are poor. Instead pick up G.Skill's 4GB kit of DDR2-800 for $94. 4-4-4-12 are good timings.

Motherboard is very nice, but you can save $60 going with P5E which is still an excellent performer.

As for the CPU- Q9450 is a fine choice especially since you want to work in PS.

Speaking of PS, I would double up that G.SKill RAM kit I suggested for 8GB oF RAM. PS will use it.

you sir, are the luckiest guy on earth. a techy girlfriend who's giving you a computer and BUILDING it for you? my god, that is unheard of.

i am truly envious of you. haha. you're living the life! but i agree w/the poster above though, the Zalman cooler is decent but not the best and it's noticeably loud on the highest speeds but it looks sooo COOL (that's why i bought it) but performance wise, get the TRUE from thermalright or a Xigmatek.

enjoy your lucky life!

Corsair PSU and http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm to pick a HSF

a girl that gives you ass and computer, ur a lucky man.

I wasn't quite expecting that mrmez but thanks for the info. I'll be keeping the corsair PSU and maybe going for something with modular cables. I'm also looking at this heatsink

Scythe Orochi CPU Cooler http://www.xoxide.com/scythe-oroch [...] elid=FROOG

anyone have any experience with that?

shadowduck, I was wondering with that motherboard the memory standard is ddr 1200 so will the g.skill ram you mentioned still work with it? I have to do some more research on memory, it's been so long since I've even thought about buying some I feel completely ignorant so any help there is VERY much appreciated. Also, could I get an evga video card and then trade up when a new card came out? I heard the new nvidia cards were going to be in the $600 range

Thanks mrmez, 3Ball, shadowduck, aznguy0028, dirtmountain

I really value your input!

Thanks for the compliments too guys, I consider myself extremely lucky. She is a very talented video game artist and shes the only one I've met who shares the same passion for games and computers as I do

I don't think that board supports SLI...

That motherboard supports DDR2 1200/1066/800.

And of course it doesn't support SLI, its not an NVidia chipset.

But definitely wait a few weeks for the new cards, they should dominate current cards and make prices drop significantly.

I was referring to this board here with the memory standard, but thats news to me. I assumed since there were 2X 2.0 pci-e slots it would run SLI

What about this one?

XFX MB-N780-ISH9 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813141005

and this memory

OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227269



Oh well, any good suggestions for memory m/b combos with SLI?

If you don't plan on getting 2 video cards then don't bother with SLI and get a P35, X38, or X48 board. If you do plan on going SLI then the 780i is your best bet.

The Corsair PSU is a very good one.

The DVD burner is IDE. I'd switch it to a SATA model, and get a retail version if you need the burning/dvd software.

The S1283 cooler seems to be the best bang/buck choice these days.

I'd probably get an 8800GTS (G92) 512 card from EVGA and then use the step-up program to trade up for a new card when they're released.