Help Me Build a New Computer

Keebler Elf · Jan 30, 2009

PussyHunter said:
XFX nForce 750i SLI Extreme Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 750i, 45nm Support, Socket 775, ATX, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, USB 2.0, Firewire, Serial ATA, RAID $175.00

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Processor BX80580Q8200 - 2.33GHz, 4MB Cache, 1333MHz FSB, Quad Core, Retail, Socket 775, Processor with Fan $200.00

OCZ Fatal1ty 4GB Dual Channel PC8500 DDR2 1066MHz (2x2048MB) $70.00

OCZ StealthXStream 700-Watt Power Supply - ATX, 120mm Fan, SLI-Ready, SATA-Ready, PCI-Express $100.00

XFX GeForce 9800 GT Video Card - FREE Call of Duty 4 PC Game, 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, (2) Dual Link DVI, HDTV, VGA Support $140.00

Thermaltake / Max Orb / Multi-Socket 775/AM2/939/754 / Copper Base / CPU Cooler $65.00

Total cost $750.00

Don't forget a tube of thermal paste for the CPU and cooler.

What do people think about the above? I'm a little leery of the NVIDIA mobo as my last two have been Asus. I'm also prepared to spend a bit more on a mobo (~$250). I have a few questions:

Does the mobo support DDR3 (for future upgrades)?

The Power Supply references PCI Express. Does it have a controller card???

The graphics card references GDDR3. Will it work with DDR2 RAM?

In terms of future upgradability, does this fit the bill?

Any downsides to using thermal paste? I've never used it before...

p.s., I appreciate all the help; I'm kinda out of the loop on this...

PussyHunter · Jan 31, 2009

Keebler

Should have clarified a bit as well for you. These were from the TG web site. Was trying to keep the cost reasonable for you while getting great performance. I to am an ASUS user myself but my son swears by Nvidia. He's a gamer who likes to overcock his systems to the extreme.
This board is DDR2 only. The power supply has connectors for power to the PCI express cards. The graphics processor runs it GPU with DDR3 ram and is independent of the motherboard, it will work fine with DDR2 on the motherboard. If your looking for a motherboard that will support DDR3 your looking at 3 bills or over.

My previous system had the ASUS Stricker Extreme motherboard and I had a lot of problems with it. While ASUS has made some great motherboards they also have had their share of bad ones. My next one I'm going to try the Nvidia. I know a couple of gamers who have been using them as well as my son and they are all pretty pleased with the perfomance and the overclocking abilities.

Hope that helps a bit. Send me a PM if you have any questions.

WoodPeckr · Jan 31, 2009

Keebler Elf said:
What do people think about the above?

The specs look great.
You can always modify as you want.

Keebler Elf · Jan 31, 2009

If I was prepared to spend say another $100 on the mobo (say ~$275), what should I be looking for?

What about this one for $321.99 at Canada Computer: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131319 (click the specs tab on the right)

I should mention I won't be overclocking.

PussyHunter · Feb 1, 2009

That board looks good as well but you aren't getting anything more than the one I sent you. Your just paying more for ASUS.

Don't rule out overclocking your system as you can really crank up the performance to the next level for no additional cost. It's not hard to do.

I used to be hung up on specific name brands (ASUS Intel etc) but now these secondary brands have improved to the point where the only difference is the price. Save the addditional money and put it into memory and upgrading to Windows XP 64 bit.

JEFF247 · Feb 1, 2009

I built every computer I have owned since the mid 80's til I bought this HP last year off the shelf. Even overclocked a few CPU's in my day. We used to have local computer markets once a month where you would have 50-60 vendors selling the latest in cases to CPU's at dirt cheap prices. They're all gone now.

This site was a lot of help: http://www.tomshardware.com/us/

My advice, buy an eMachine. For $1200 you can buy an emachine every 2 years and celebrate with an SP you locate on your new computer!! They also have a better reliability score than Dell, HP and Sony in Consumer Reports. Good luck.

Keebler Elf · Feb 1, 2009

PussyHunter said:
That board looks good as well but you aren't getting anything more than the one I sent you.

I'm taking another look at your XFX nForce board. I just realized it supports both SATA and IDE, which is a very nice feature since I still have two IDE drives that I could still make use of...

PussyHunter · Feb 1, 2009

You won't be disappointed and it's $500.00 cheaper than the e-machine above. Which by the way I would stay away from. They have had reliability issues in the past then your stuck dealing with FS.

Keebler Elf · Feb 1, 2009

What about this build? It's more top of the line but seems to be better suited to future upgradability. The one thing I don't like is that it's LGA775 rather than LGA1366...

Mobo: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/motherboards/1742_3.html $325 at CC (granted, out of stock) but $480 at Tiger Direct?!?!

CPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019870&cid=CPU.84 $225

RAM: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=015506&cid=RAM.346.673 $310

Vista: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=012532&cid=SW.815 $150

PSU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=020580&cid=PS.808 $108

CPU Fan: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=020921&cid=FN.349 $70

Don't know about the graphics card yet. This would be a Vista (*shudders*) build. This is only 2 GB RAM but I'll be upgrading in the near future as prices drop.

We're looking at around $1500.

I also took a look at a couple XFX boards but the reviews seemed to indicate it's better to wait a bit for them to establish themselves better in the market as they're still working some kinks out and fine tuning (vs. Asus which has been around forever).

Powershot · Feb 1, 2009

This reminds me of my past gaming life. Kind of glad I'm really not into them anymore and can just buy a ~$500 all in big box store PC, add a $100 video card and be done with it. Even my PS3 is more of a media centre for me except for Rock Band and a few other games.

Might want to add a card reader that can be mounted in the case so you don't have to have an external one.

Don · Feb 1, 2009

Keebler Elf said:
What do people think about the above? I'm a little leery of the NVIDIA mobo as my last two have been Asus. I'm also prepared to spend a bit more on a mobo (~$250). I have a few questions:

Does the mobo support DDR3 (for future upgrades)?

No

Keebler Elf said:
The graphics card references GDDR3. Will it work with DDR2 RAM?

The memory on the graphics card does not have to be the same as the memory on the mobo. They are independent of each other. graphic cards usually have faster memory than what is on the mobo

Keebler Elf said:
In terms of future upgradability, does this fit the bill?

yes

Keebler Elf said:
Any downsides to using thermal paste? I've never used it before...

I've used it... to be honest I didn't see much of a difference. Just invest in a good case with fans.

wantoplay · Feb 1, 2009

WoodPeckr said:
LOL!
He only wants to spend 1K.
Where you gonna get a new Mac for that?

PCs have some teriffic deals going now.
They are practically giving them away...an equivalent Mac would run double or triple that.
i.e. Here's a nice package AMD Quad, complete with 19" LCD monitor & 3-1 printer for $749.97

HP Phoenix Special Edition a6755y Desktop with 19" LCD Monitor & 3-in-1 Printer

Check out the specs.

If it is a PC with an HP name on it, leave it there, they are a POS IMHO. (Pretty sure they are a POS Compaq in disguise...)

The only HP stuff I own is their printers.

PussyHunter · Feb 1, 2009

You have to apply a layer of thermal paste between the processor and external fan or you will have heat issues. The fan that comes with the CPU's already has a layer of paste applied so you don't have to worry about it.

The add on coolers require it and will make as much as a 20 degree difference in the temp.

Lower temp = longer life and better performance, not to mention stability.

If your looking at uping your budget move to a DDR3 motherboard and faster processor.

Remember though it's just a computer with a limited life anyway. Why spend more than you have to.

Keebler Elf · Feb 1, 2009

PussyHunter said:
If your looking at uping your budget move to a DDR3 motherboard and faster processor.

Yeah, that's what I figured. The tentative build a couple posts up has a DDR3 mobo.

WoodPeckr · Feb 1, 2009

If you want the latest & greatest go with; Intel i7 that comes with DDR3 RAM.
Prices are dropping a bit if you hunt around.

Keebler Elf · Feb 2, 2009

Anybody know any good website message boards that will review/comment on PC builds?

WoodPeckr · Feb 2, 2009

Tiger Direct a couple years back had an excellent help forum on just about anything PC related and installing PC components you bought from them.

But I don't know if they still have that help forum running.

Keebler Elf · Feb 4, 2009

benstt · Feb 4, 2009

Keebler Elf said:
So I got some helpful advice on the Tom's Hardware forums and here's what I think I'm going to buy:

Mobo: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018815&cid=MB.157 $185

CPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=019566&cid=CPU.84 $375

RAM: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=016092&cid=RAM.346.307 $80

Graphics Card: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=020531&cid=999.243.272 $140

SATA Drive: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018887&cid=HD.443.877 $145

Power Supply: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=020580&cid=PS.808 $88

CPU Fan: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=020921&cid=FN.349 $70

Vista: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=012532&cid=SW.815 $150

Total: $1,233

In summary:
- a better quality Intel Core 2 Quad CPU
- a quality Asus 775 Intel P45 mobo
- an ATI Radeon HD 4830 512 MB DDR3 graphics card
- 4GB DDR2-800 RAM
- SATA II drive, 700W PSU, CPU fan, & Vista OS

Thoughts? Is the RAM okay? The graphics card?

Never used that graphics card.

A step up on the graphics card if you are concerned: HD4850, HD4870, or GTX260.

An oldie but a goodie that has come down in price is the Nvidia 8800GTS. Hit and miss to find, but Canada Computers has a few sometimes. About $175 these days, but well loved by gamers.

PussyHunter · Feb 5, 2009

A good aftermarket CPU cooler like the one you have will make a 10 - 15 degree difference over the one that comes with the CPU.

The ram you have selected is only 800 in speed, bump that up to 1066 or 1200 speed. If you use the 800 when your bus will support higher you are slowing it down.

Not a big fan of ATI anymore. When they were bought out they seemed to go downhill. With that motherboard you will have to stay with a crossfire card.

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