brainwash
join:2003-04-26
Vista, CA
| First Gaming PC Build
I've upgraded, modified, and tinkered with pc's numerous times, but this will be my first build from the ground up. I'm looking to build a gaming pc and I hope to leave some room for expansion and overclocking in the future. Please let me know what you guys think:
BOARD:EVGA 122-CK-NF68-T1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400
CASE: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 EPS12V EPS12V 610W Continuous @ 40°C Power Supply
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM (Yes, I'm using this at my own risk 
MEMORY: OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit OCZ2N800SR4GK
HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (2 of these for Raid)
GRAPHICS CARD: PNY VCG88GTS5XPB GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI
DVD: SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM
SOUND: HT OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
HEATSINK: ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
-BW |
|
BA
The Old Man's Gonna Roll the Hard Six
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-24
Vancouver, BC
clubs:  | I'd select another motherboard based on the P35 or 780i chipset. The 680i chipset is old and as far as I know, it doesn't support 45nm quad-cores. |
|
eX_NihiLo
Here's Your Something For Nothing
Premium
join:2003-08-05
Louisville, CO
| reply to brainwash
I'd get a better single drive like the Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB rather than Raid-0 together two cheaper ones.
If the reason you are getting an add-on soundcard is for gaming I can't reason why you'd get the Omega Striker. It off-loads the processing to your CPU anyway. Even with its relatively crappy driver support I'd go for a Creative card or just use on-board sound. |
|
signmeuptoo
Tune in to XM 120. BOO
Premium
join:2001-11-22
LOSTinSpace
clubs:
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to brainwash
In inclusion what what they suggested, which I agree with:
While that is a really good power supply, you don't have to buy PCP&C to get a premium quality supply. Also, while it is called a "silencer" it isn't exactly silent, it is a little louder than some comperable models.
If you have time, check out hardocp, jonnyguru, and hardwarecannucks sites for reviews on supplys.
HTH.
--
You know your life has gotten "DICEY" when it turns into an episode of LOST, like my ex wife, who I swear is one of "The Others". Cancer and other diseases kill fellow members here at DSLR! Easy: Join us in Teams Helix and Discovery to save the world! |
|
brainwash
join:2003-04-26
Vista, CA
| reply to brainwash
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.
So to start with here's the mobo I thought I'd switch to. Its another EVGA but I'm willing to look into other brands if there's one that offers better performace/quality:
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
As for drives, if I decide to switch to single drive would I be better off with something with a 32mb cache like this:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Or since I really don't need a large amound of storage would a raptor be better off?:
Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
A friend suggested an x-fi soundcard so i found this one for close to the same price as the omega:
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card (I've actually been happy with my old creative cards so this switch is easy)
The PCP&C power supply was suggested by a friend. He was happy with the one he had ( I think it was a 750W), and plus they're located a couple miles from where I work. I don't even know if that's something to take into account should anything happen to it. I will definitely check out the sites you suggested "signmeuptoo", and see what else is out there...
Thanks again everyone for your input!
-BW |
|
eX_NihiLo
Here's Your Something For Nothing
Premium
join:2003-08-05
Louisville, CO
| reply to brainwash
the 500GB 7200.11 has a slight edge over the 500 WD Caviar depending on what benchmark you like and the 150GB Raptor slightly faster than the 7200.11. You can read this review comparing the 500GB 7200.11 vs the 150GB Raptor »www.nextlevelhardware.com/storage/barracuda/
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 is good choice and its on sale at Newegg »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···29102006 $51 after rebate. If you are going to get an OEM drive shop elsewhere. Newegg packs their OEM drives with just some bubble wrap and that's not up to their usual standards. |
|
Konceptz
45nm Here I Come
join:2001-12-22
Chesterfield, VA | reply to brainwash
whatever you do, stick with intel/nvidia. |
|
Chrno
join:2003-12-11
1 edit | reply to brainwash
I would change:
HEATSINK: ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
To Scythe Ninja Rev 2. Better cooling performance, less/no need to clean the fins and not to mention, a lot cheaper.
Edit:
Forgot to mention, you are going to have one hell of a fun time trying to install Vista 64 on this rig and even more fun considering this is your first build. (Sarcasm) |
|
brainwash
join:2003-04-26
Vista, CA
| reply to brainwash
I saw some recent replies to my post so I thought I'd give a final update. I actualy just finished building my rig yesterday and it actually went really smooth. The only hiccup I had was during the install of Vista (i know, big shocker), it gave me a BSOD. Luckily I read a forum post somewhere saying Vista will sometimes do this with more that 3 gigs of ram installed, so I took out 2 gigs, installed Vista and downloaded a fix from MS. All is well now (knock on wood)
MOBO: EVGA Nvidia 780i SLI Ready
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz
GRAPHICS: PNY 8800GTS 512mb
PSU: Corsair 620HX (620 watt)
MEMORY: OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB)
HD: Western Digital Raptor 150GB
DVD: Samsung SH-S203B
OS: Vista Home Premium 64
HEATSINK: Zalman 9700 (w/ Artic Silver 5 compound)
SOUNDCARD: None, using onboard (Friends has extra x-fi that he's going to give me- FREE)
CASE: Coolermaster 690
-BW
now, back to playing Crysis  |
|
Konceptz
45nm Here I Come
join:2001-12-22
Chesterfield, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| reply to BA
said by BA  :I'd select another motherboard based on the P35 or 780i chipset. The 680i chipset is old and as far as I know, it doesn't support 45nm quad-cores. P33 or P34 680i bios revision will support yorkfields (45nm quads) |
|
BA
The Old Man's Gonna Roll the Hard Six
Premium,MVM
join:2001-05-24
Vancouver, BC
clubs: | Are you sure?
Yorkfield has been out for four months now. If they haven't supported it by now, I don't think it'll happen.
Today, I even tried to put a QX9650 on a non-reference 680i board - an MSI P6N Diamond. Same result: No POST. |
|
Roundel
Blau Und Weiss
Premium
join:2002-03-24
Westport, CT
clubs: | Newegg states that with a bio revision, these EVGA boards will accept Wolfdales. |
|
Dentist
join:2001-08-11
Waterloo, ON
| said by Roundel :Newegg states that with a bio revision, these EVGA boards will accept Wolfdales. Evga states that the 680i board is not physically capable of supporting 45nm quads due to the architecture of the board. A bios change can't physically alter a board.
I believe only the Asus board which isn't reference design is capable of doing so. A bios change can't physically alter a board.
The 680i's will run the e8550/e8400 duos apparently.
By the time 45nm quads are out, the 790i could be out as well. I'd even question the value of a 45nm quad for a gaming build. An e8500 or a q6600 would be extremely comparable.
That being said all of this is going to be irrelevant when the Intel socket change hits late 2008 early 2009 |
|
Konceptz
45nm Here I Come
join:2001-12-22
Chesterfield, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| reply to BA
said by BA :Are you sure? Yorkfield has been out for four months now. If they haven't supported it by now, I don't think it'll happen. Today, I even tried to put a QX9650 on a non-reference 680i board - an MSI P6N Diamond. Same result: No POST. thats what EVGA told my PD dept earlier this month, a future bios revision. the main advantage to the 780i is the 3 PCI-E 2.0 slots. and 45nm support out of the box |
|
