New build, please give feedback!

I'm building a new mid-range PC and I wanted some advice and criticism over what I'm wanting to put into my system.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] ID=5439709

I would like to stay under $1200 and would love to cut costs while keeping performance up. I'm already set on the Intel Processor and the Graphics Card though. I also want at least 4GB RAM.

I already have an OS and mouse and keyboard.

Let me know what you think. Thanks.

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its pretty good as a mid range pc, still i would go with a 780i (better in every ways + upgrade possibilities) and a 280 gtx cause i got a 260 and the 280 is better.

the rest is pretty good

Reply to yhw427

I didn't see any memory.

Reply to youngsatchmo

Actually, get the GTX 260 Core 216, its a little more, but a lot better than the regular 260 & for $200+ less than the 280, it isnt really far behind and can easily be overclocked to be BETTER than a 280 for a lot less.

As far as ram, OCZ Reaper is a good choice and has a decent rebate... Corsair Dom. is a good choice too and comes with a memory fan.

The case you picked is nice but give the Antec Twelve Hundred a look, it cost the same and is pretty nice.

Other than that, Good build.

Reply to beitzel15

Alright guys, changed some stuff around, hopefully looks better now: https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] ID=5439709

Idk if it auto updates the link but there it is anyways. I don't want to put to big of a hole in my wallet so I may have to wait before I go spending any more on a graphics card.

Reply to Nevermind42592

I've said it before, i'm a cheap bastard, i'd go with a Coolermaster 690 for $75, use the money to get a better cooler and 2x2 GB RAM. www.frostytech.com

Hard drive ??

Reply to dirtmountain

if you want to stick with the ocz mirror finish ram get this instead...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227248 little cheaper same capacity, and leaves room to add in the future.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to kurtyboh

kurtyboh wrote :

if you want to stick with the ocz mirror finish ram get this instead...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227248 little cheaper same capacity, and leaves room to add in the future.

nah, actually, I just saw that was the cheapest 1066 RAM for 240 pin. I don't care about how it looks.

Reply to Nevermind42592

are you gonna oc hardcore, like cpu overe 4ghz? otherwise your never going to use the full potectionof the 1066 and if youre not going to use it why pay for it?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to kurtyboh

kurtyboh wrote :

are you gonna oc hardcore, like cpu overe 4ghz? otherwise your never going to use the full potectionof the 1066 and if youre not going to use it why pay for it?

Probably not. I plan on OC'ing to about 3.4-3.6ghz. Is the system I'm building look capable of that? Do I need to change anything around to make it be able to handle that? Also, what speed ram should I get then? Any suggestions for cheap RAM that is good quality?

Reply to Nevermind42592

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209 $49.99

or

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146731 $57.99 -$20.00 MIR

I'd pick up a WD6400AAKS HD.

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218 $69.99

You might also want to get a better cooler to make sure you make it to your 3.4GHz - 3.6GHz goal.

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003 $31.99 $10.00

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019 $8.49

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by shortstuff_mt on 11-19-2008 at 11:07:16 PM

Reply to shortstuff_mt

I like shortstuff's recommendations and for $250 GPU I'd rather get the 4870! It's faster and just a better card, IMHO. I'd also consider getting a p45 based mobo, especially if your going to stick with just 1 GPU. The $75-100 savings can be used elsewhere or just saved for other upgrades later.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ PSU Tiers
GPU Power
8800gtx w/e6600 OC'd will run on Antec 380w w/27A on 12v rail, PSU!!
Reply to lunyone

shortstuff_mt wrote :

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209 $49.99

or

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146731 $57.99 -$20.00 MIR

I'd pick up a WD6400AAKS HD.

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136218 $69.99

You might also want to get a better cooler to make sure you make it to your 3.4GHz - 3.6GHz goal.

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003 $31.99 $10.00

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019 $8.49

I'm good with the HDD, it'll work fine for me. For RAM, i'm trying to get a Latency of 4, but would 5 be that noticeable?

Also, I heard that the cooler you are showing me is a bit large. It wouldn't interfere sizewise with the GPU right? I mean that GPU is HUGE!

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to Nevermind42592

lunyone wrote :

I like shortstuff's recommendations and for $250 GPU I'd rather get the 4870! It's faster and just a better card, IMHO. I'd also consider getting a p45 based mobo, especially if your going to stick with just 1 GPU. The $75-100 savings can be used elsewhere or just saved for other upgrades later.

Eh, I've been looking at benchmarks and as far as i'm concerned, the GTX 260 core 216 is pretty good for the price. I'm sorta a nVidia fanboy anyways (Have an ATI Radeon at the moment though).

Also, why do you recommend the p45 over the 780i? I'm a n00b, I don't really know the difference except for SLI readiness and different clock speeds and stuff. Could you point me in the right direction of a MOBO that you'd recommend that is compatible with the rest of my system so far? (and with 4GB DDR 2 ram? 2 x 2GB)

Reply to Nevermind42592

Try any of the ones listed below:
Comparison of several p45 based mobo's. Find one with the options/price that you like. They are all good!

------------------------------ PSU Tiers
GPU Power
8800gtx w/e6600 OC'd will run on Antec 380w w/27A on 12v rail, PSU!!
Reply to lunyone

Nevermind42592 wrote :

I'm good with the HDD, it'll work fine for me. For RAM, i'm trying to get a Latency of 4, but would 5 be that noticeable?

Also, I heard that the cooler you are showing me is a bit large. It wouldn't interfere sizewise with the GPU right? I mean that GPU is HUGE!

What do you mean you're good with the HDD? I didn't see one listed in your build. The HD is always a bottleneck in a system. I would not recommend using an old HDD in a new build. The WD6400AAKS is a very fast drive for only $70.

The G.Skill RAM I linked above is CAS 4 RAM. It doesn't get much better than that RAM. CAS 4 at 1.8v is awesome!

The Xigmatek cooler is big, but will not interfere with the GPU.

Reply to shortstuff_mt

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