$2500 to spend on a new rig, help me choose!

[Wino]

Case:
PS:
Case fans:
Mobo: 680i
CPU: C2D E6600 or E6700
CPU fan:
Ram: 4GB
Vid Card: 8800GTX (brand?)
HD1 (fast system hd):
HD2 (larger storage hd):
DVD Rom:
DVDRW:
Misc: ?

Not purchasing: Sound Card (using onboard), Monitor/KB/Mouse/Speakers (reusing).

System will be a gaming rig and will be overclocked at a safe level. The CPU will be upgraded in about 18 months (probably quad core). Another 8800GTX will be added in about 18 months for SLI (or I'll buy a replacment GPU, whichever is better at the time... therefore SLI is necessary). Other than that I'm very open to all your opinions!

System budget is $2500 (ignore tax/shipping). Target purchase date: Feb 1 2007.

 

[KhoiFather]

AMD baby!!! =D

 

[happy medium]

Thermaltake Armor water cooled case

http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-armor-lcs-ve2000bws.html

2x 1 teribyte Seagate drives

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5582

20x dvd rom combo burner

I seen this somewhere?

8800gtx XXX overclocked

http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/1685_1.html

 

[Blain]

You really should use a sound card.

 

[nervegrind3r]

only $2500, wow, your cheap man

 

[sjandrewbsme]

Proc: E6600 C2D Retail @ $319
Mobo:EVGA 680i $240
Video: MSI 8800GTX 768MB RAM $540 after MIR
RAM: (2) Patriot DDR800 5-5-5-12 @ $220/ea after MIR
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9500 @ $48
Main Hard Drive: WD 150GB 10k RPM 16MB Cache Raptor OEM @ $190 after MIR
Storage Drive: WD Cavier SE 250GB SATA @ $70
Optical Drive: NEC 18X DVD+/-R @ $30
Power Supply: Enermax 550W @ $119
Case: Antec Mid Tower @ $60
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty @ $126

That brings you to $2182.

You could spend more money on a better case, RAM, or optical drive (plextor SATA is what I would recommend). But, that would be a pretty killer system - even with $318 left to spend.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: sjandrewbsme
Proc: E6700 C2D Retail @ $319
Mobo:EVGA 680i $240
Video: MSI 8800GTX 768MB RAM $540 after MIR
RAM: (2) Patriot DDR800 5-5-5-12 @ $220/ea after MIR
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9500 @ $48
Main Hard Drive: WD 150GB 10k RPM 16MB Cache Raptor OEM @ $190 after MIR
Storage Drive: WD Cavier SE 250GB SATA @ $70
Optical Drive: NEC 18X DVD+/-R @ $30
Power Supply: Enermax 550W @ $119
Case: Antec Mid Tower @ 60
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty @ $126

That brings you to $2182.

You could spend more money on a better case, RAM, or optical drive (plextor SATA is what I would recommend). But, that would be a pretty killer system - even with $318 left to spend.

I would just grab a e6300 since hes gonna upgrade to Quad core in 18 months. E6700 is a waste of money. Just overclock the e6300 it will last at least 18 months!

A 1 terebyte seagate drive will probrobly be faster then the Raptor. So you get storage and speed in one. Mabe the 750gb seagate? Plenty of storage and speed.

He also want to sli 8800gtx's in 18 months so a quality 650watt psu with at least 50 amps on 12v+ rail is better. And a quad core cpu with eat juice too right?

Another real nice case here... http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811112121 why skimp on a case with a high end system?

2 gigs of memory is more than enough for now. Right?

 

[Boyo]

Originally posted by: happy medium

Originally posted by: sjandrewbsme
Proc: E6700 C2D Retail @ $319
Mobo:EVGA 680i $240
Video: MSI 8800GTX 768MB RAM $540 after MIR
RAM: (2) Patriot DDR800 5-5-5-12 @ $220/ea after MIR
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9500 @ $48
Main Hard Drive: WD 150GB 10k RPM 16MB Cache Raptor OEM @ $190 after MIR
Storage Drive: WD Cavier SE 250GB SATA @ $70
Optical Drive: NEC 18X DVD+/-R @ $30
Power Supply: Enermax 550W @ $119
Case: Antec Mid Tower @ 60
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty @ $126

That brings you to $2182.

You could spend more money on a better case, RAM, or optical drive (plextor SATA is what I would recommend). But, that would be a pretty killer system - even with $318 left to spend.

I would just grab a e6300 since hes gonna upgrade to Quad core in 18 months. E6700 is a waste of money. Just overclock the e6300 it will last at least 18 months!

A 1 terebyte seagate drive will probrobly be faster then the Raptor. So you get storage and speed in one. Mabe the 750gb seagate? Plenty of storage and speed.

He also want to sli 8800gtx's in 18 months so a quality 650watt psu with at least 50 amps on 12v+ rail is better. And a quad core cpu with eat juice too right?

Another real nice case here... http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811112121 why skimp on a case with a high end system?

2 gigs of memory is more than enough for now. Right?

I'm with him on this one. He is going to want to upgrade, so why spend the money now when you can just overclock and beat the hell out of any AMD CPU. Plus I totally agree on the case. Why skimp on a great case that's going to last you years and looks good with your rig......

 

[sjandrewbsme]

When I upgrade, I have my eye on the new Silverstone TJ09 case.

I think considering that he's alreadys spending $2500, that the extra dough for the 4MB cache would be worth it (E6600 versus E6300). After all, the remainder of his system is already overkill, so why not?

Also - the 6700 is kind of a waste - it was a typo, I linked the E6600.

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: sjandrewbsme
When I upgrade, I have my eye on the new Silverstone TJ09 case.

I think considering that he's alreadys spending $2500, that the extra dough for the 4MB cache would be worth it (E6600 versus E6300). After all, the remainder of his system is already overkill, so why not?

Also - the 6700 is kind of a waste - it was a typo, I linked the E6600.

A e6300 overclocked to 2.8 (very easy) will push any video card on the market easily. Mabe even 2 cards

see this here http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=606&p=8

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: sjandrewbsme
Proc: E6600 C2D Retail @ $319
Mobo:EVGA 680i $240
Video: MSI 8800GTX 768MB RAM $540 after MIR
RAM: (2) Patriot DDR800 5-5-5-12 @ $220/ea after MIR
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9500 @ $48
Main Hard Drive: WD 150GB 10k RPM 16MB Cache Raptor OEM @ $190 after MIR
Storage Drive: WD Cavier SE 250GB SATA @ $70
Optical Drive: NEC 18X DVD+/-R @ $30
Power Supply: Enermax 550W @ $119
Case: Antec Mid Tower @ 60
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty @ $126

That brings you to $2182.

the only thing i'd change is.. prob evga GTX, PCPC 750 Silencer, CNPS9700 or Tuniq tower, Storage drive as 7200.10 320gb or 250gb and a better quality case

 

[leglez]

wrong topic

 

[happy medium]

Final draft.....


CPU: e6300 duo................................180.00$
cooler Tuniq tower (the best) ..............54.00$
Ram: 2 gig you pick ....................400.00$( at this price get the good overclockable stuff)
board: 680i............................... 240.00$
video: 8800gtx .... . . ............ 550.00$
sound: don't want it ............... 00.00$
case: Lilan LI a10a case .............. 250.00$
Psu: pc power $ cooling 750 ............... 200.00$ (wow 60 amp rail)
optical: u choose 18x combo ............. 40.00$
hard drives: Three seagate
320gb 7200.10 for raid / backup.............. 300.00$

total $2,255.00

Plenty of money left over for windows vista cd!

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: sjandrewbsme
Proc: E6600 C2D Retail @ $319
Mobo:EVGA 680i $240
Video: MSI 8800GTX 768MB RAM $540 after MIR
RAM: (2) Patriot DDR800 5-5-5-12 @ $220/ea after MIR
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS9500 @ $48
Main Hard Drive: WD 150GB 10k RPM 16MB Cache Raptor OEM @ $190 after MIR
Storage Drive: WD Cavier SE 250GB SATA @ $70
Optical Drive: NEC 18X DVD+/-R @ $30
Power Supply: Enermax 550W @ $119
Case: Antec Mid Tower @ 60
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty @ $126

That brings you to $2182.

You could spend more money on a better case, RAM, or optical drive (plextor SATA is what I would recommend). But, that would be a pretty killer system - even with $318 left to spend.

I get 1972.00$

 

[sjandrewbsme]

Hmm - I've checked several times and I still get $2182. Are you adding the $220 (RAM) twice (2 @ 2GB = 4GB total)?

 

[happy medium]

Originally posted by: sjandrewbsme
Hmm - I've checked several times and I still get $2182. Are you adding the $220 (RAM) twice (2 @ 2GB = 4GB total)?

hmmm. your right I didn't

 

[Wino]

Wow... really great advice from the folks here at AT.

I've decided on the E6600 for sure. Still trying to nail down which mobo I want. eVGA looks like the front runner but I'd really like to see the upcoming 680i roundups here, Toms Hardware, or HardOCP. Memory has me a little stumped. I've had some people recommend super expensive "overclockable" Dominator memory all the way down to cheap value RAM. And yes I do want 4GB... I've got 2GB in my old system and I want to start with more than enough up front.

Also, I know I'm asking for quite a bit but what are some examples of really good case fans and CPU coolers that are good for overclocking while also being REASONABLY quiet (yes I know the two don't go hand in hand). Or if you guys could direct me to another site that has a C2D cooler roundup that'd be great... can't seem to Google up anything worthwile.

Thanks again!

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: Wino
Wow... really great advice from the folks here at AT.

I've decided on the E6600 for sure. Still trying to nail down which mobo I want. eVGA looks like the front runner but I'd really like to see the upcoming 680i roundups here, Toms Hardware, or HardOCP. Memory has me a little stumped. I've had some people recommend super expensive "overclockable" Dominator memory all the way down to cheap value RAM. And yes I do want 4GB... I've got 2GB in my old system and I want to start with more than enough up front.

Also, I know I'm asking for quite a bit but what are some examples of really good case fans and CPU coolers that are good for overclocking while also being REASONABLY quiet (yes I know the two don't go hand in hand). Or if you guys could direct me to another site that has a C2D cooler roundup that'd be great... can't seem to Google up anything worthwile.

Thanks again!

Well the Scythe Ninja is a really good cooler, I don't know if they're still available though... and look at the P180 or the (00 from Antec for a case. P180 is a very beautiful case, very quiet. I don't know about the 900 though....

 

[sjandrewbsme]

Originally posted by: Wino
Wow... really great advice from the folks here at AT.

I've decided on the E6600 for sure. Still trying to nail down which mobo I want. eVGA looks like the front runner but I'd really like to see the upcoming 680i roundups here, Toms Hardware, or HardOCP. Memory has me a little stumped. I've had some people recommend super expensive "overclockable" Dominator memory all the way down to cheap value RAM. And yes I do want 4GB... I've got 2GB in my old system and I want to start with more than enough up front.

Also, I know I'm asking for quite a bit but what are some examples of really good case fans and CPU coolers that are good for overclocking while also being REASONABLY quiet (yes I know the two don't go hand in hand). Or if you guys could direct me to another site that has a C2D cooler roundup that'd be great... can't seem to Google up anything worthwile.

Thanks again!

HardOCP has a rather long discussion of the eVGA versus Asus Striker Extreme board. The striker board was panned upon its initial review in comparison with the eVGA. Then, the eVGA SATA problems arose (tons of BSOD's - especially with people using SATA RAID). nVidia has posted (the eVGA is an nVidia designed board) a new BIOS that fixed some of the issues - but some people still have issues. The HardOCP editor who initially raved about the eVGA board also got the SATA corruption and switched to the striker board (fixing his problem and confirming it wasn't necessarily a 680i problem but might be a nVidia reference design problem).

Since then, Asus released a new BIOS and HardOCP did a follow up review - the striker performed much much better (it was initially killed by the eVGA in the overclocking department).

The bottom line - $400 for a motherboard is...well a lot. If I were buying today, I would probably choose this one - it has the Asus name (you know they will produce BIOS updates for years and years) without all of the bells and whistles that make the eVGA much more expensive.

I will keep my eye on the boards to see that the SATA corruption progblems with the eVGA board are solved as I think it's a fine board.

As far as fans are concerned, I have heard good things about Scythe fans. If you're talking about coolers - the Zalman one I linked above is supposed to be great. It got a 10/10 from Maximum PC.

As far as RAM is concerned - you're already spending more than my first car cost, so why not get the good stuff?