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$2000 Gaming Computer

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This will be my second build my first was about 4 years ago and I never dealt with liquid cooling or SLI enabled video cards before so I am not 100% sure on the right power supply to get or cooling system that I need. I am also looking for the right case to buy, preferably with a side window and blue LED fans that come with the case and it has to be big enough for an 8800 GTS. I have mostly everything I want on the computer so far. Please give other suggestions incase one of my selections can be improved and still have a price around $2000. I will be overclocking the Wolfdale to hopefully atleast 3.8, want to get it 4.0 + though.

 

Monitor : Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP support 300 cd/m2 700:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009094

 

Case : Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

 

Power Supply : OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341010

 

Motherboard : ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131219

 

Sound Card : Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102006

 

Speakers : Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6836121006

 

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115037

 

Video Card : x1 EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130337

 

Memory : mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146785

 

Optical Drive : LG Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 4X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM DVD-ROM: 16X Blu-ray DVD-ROM: 6X HD DVD-ROM: 3X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 24X CD-RW 4MB Cache SATA Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136133

 

Hard Drive : 2x Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218

 

Mouse : RAZER Copperhead Blue 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Tempest Gaming Mouse - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6826153022

 

Keyboard : Logitech G11 Silver & Black 104 Normal Keys 29 Function Keys USB Standard Gaming Keyboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126009

 


Current Total : $1,951.86


Message edited by RGFox29 on 06-03-2008 at 09:09:22 AM
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-1

If you SLI 8800s right now you are foolhardy. With new cards coming out within the next month that will outpace that SLI setup with a single card.

Besides with the monitor you selected you don't need SLI anyway. Don't fall prey to the marketing hype/trap.

Ditch the motherboard with the buddy nVidia chipset and pick up an Asus P5E x38 motherboard.

Other than that, not a bad build. The Raptor is pretty useless also, but not as bad as the SLI.

------------------------------ http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ate-modode <-- Computer Builds
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."-John Wooden
Reply to shadowduck

Lose both the raptor and the seagate drive and raid two of the newer velociraptors.
lose the acer monitor they look good on paper but not in real life. I would get a samsung, hp or gateway 22" monitor. you'll be looking at the monitor all the time so don't cheap out on it.

Reply to PsyKhiqZero
- 0 +

$600 for Hard Drives total is a little bit much Psy.

Reply to RGFox29
- 0 +

Well you need 64bit OS for 4GB but I didn't see that you listed an OS there. I just got a setup with everything including the monitor,keyboard, and everything else for roughly $1900 but I didn't SLI I just got 1 8800GTS, I can give you the specs of everything I got, I also got a $250 case but since you don't want one that expensive you can save some money there and spend it on something else.

Reply to efx92

as for the case NZXT Blackline lexa or just the normal lexa have one they are great

for the keyboard i like the saitek eclipse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823175103

and if you have the money get the new velociRaptor much faster cooler and quiter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] lociraptor

case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146048
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146018

Reply to gators1223

PsyKhiqZero wrote :

Lose both the raptor and the seagate drive and raid two of the newer velociraptors.
lose the acer monitor they look good on paper but not in real life. I would get a samsung, hp or gateway 22" monitor. you'll be looking at the monitor all the time so don't cheap out on it.



Really I beg to differ. My Acer 22" looks great.

What real advantage do Raptors give other than a high price a few seconds shaved on loading time? If you can provide a real benefit to using one, I will start recommending them. Otherwise, I think it is a total waste.

------------------------------ http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ate-modode <-- Computer Builds
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."-John Wooden
Reply to shadowduck
- 0 +

Thanks gators, lexa looks like a good idea, but as for the monitor Psy, I have to agree, I just looked for the cheapest top selling monitor. For $70 more I am pretty sure this would be better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824001268

But, $70 more is extra money, its the SAME SIZE for $70 more. The acer should be good enough


Message edited by RGFox29 on 06-03-2008 at 06:20:56 AM
Reply to RGFox29

intel chipsets suck, go with nvidia chipset

Reply to Crazywheels

Crazywheels wrote :

intel chipsets suck, go with nvidia chipset




Care to justify such a blanket statement?

------------------------------ http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ate-modode <-- Computer Builds
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."-John Wooden
Reply to shadowduck

Shadowduck has been your angel so far mate, good work duck. OP, do yourself the favour of waiting for the new cards coming out. The intel chipsets are terrific, the Acer 22" is a good monitor, and the Raptor HDDs are a silly concept. Buy yourself 2x6400AAKS.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218

Reply to p0isonapple

Raptors are near enterprise lvl drives. if you don't care about the performance then the reliablity of these drives is enough to justify the price IMO. They have a much higher MTBF then your normal drive would.

If you can't afford 2 of the velociptors, then i'd say just get one. However I will admit that against newer 7200rpm drives the old raptors don't cut the mustard. so if you can't afford it then just skip the raptors altogether.

I'd like to retract my statement against acer monitors as I haven't actually seen one in quite some time. they may have improved since then.


Message edited by PsyKhiqZero on 06-03-2008 at 06:43:59 AM
Reply to PsyKhiqZero
- 0 +

p0isonapple wrote :

Shadowduck has been your angel so far mate, good work duck. OP, do yourself the favour of waiting for the new cards coming out. The intel chipsets are terrific, the Acer 22" is a good monitor, and the Raptor HDDs are a silly concept. Buy yourself 2x6400AAKS.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218



Yes, I liked most of the suggestions that Shadow had, thank you for confirming this.

That combo seems good, might do that, it is around the same price as the one I currently have and now I am starting to think that the raptor is unnecessary also.

Reply to RGFox29

Your very correct about the MTBF their Psy, I just personally don't think they are worth the price.

Reply to p0isonapple
- 0 +

Crazywheels wrote :

intel chipsets suck, go with nvidia chipset






According to Tom's recent benchmark on NVidia vs. Intel chipsets, the Intel chipset beat NVidia in nearly every benchmark while using less power. As far as I remember, the only place where NVidia was better was in its support for quad-SLI, and maybe one more minor area.

------------------------------ "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliott
Reply to leo2kp
- 0 +

And I never plan to use Quad-SLI and not many people do therefore, Intel > Nvidia.

Reply to RGFox29

Good choice Rg. (:

Reply to p0isonapple
- 0 +

Can anyone let me know if this case and power supply I edited in at the top will work correctly with all of the parts and will be at a recommended temperature or better.

 

Case : Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

 

Power Supply : OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341010


Message edited by RGFox29 on 06-03-2008 at 09:04:17 AM
Reply to RGFox29

multiple +12v rails are no longer ideal with PSU. but yes the items will work.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703005
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006
Great sales on both items. A good psu will last you a couple of system builds to the extra 50 is well spent.

Reply to PsyKhiqZero

PsyKhiqZero wrote :

multiple +12v rails are no longer ideal with PSU. but yes the items will work.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703005
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006
Great sales on both items. A good psu will last you a couple of system builds to the extra 50 is well spent.



Excellent choices for PSUs.

------------------------------ http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ate-modode <-- Computer Builds
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."-John Wooden
Reply to shadowduck

650tx will probably work too as a psu

Reply to gators1223
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