A new build

[Dutchsemigamer]

Hello Y'all
I am in need of a new PC, my current laptop does not satisfy my needs. With the help I've got quite far, but I'm not there yet.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

The main purpose is gaming. Mostly RPG's, RTS and FPS games. I might want to watch a video now and then, but the main purpose is gaming.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

My budget is 900-1100 euro's, that is around 1600 dollar. I'm not planning on buying from the USA though.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

I am planning on buying from my home country, The Netherlands. This would be the cheapest, I suppose.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

I do not have a brand preference, although I am almost certain to go with Intel.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

I am planning on using some of my current parts, being a 19 inch monitor, a mouse, a keyboard and a 64 bits windows XP license.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

I have read other and similar threads, but most of them buy from newegg. This is not a problem though, the parts available in America are available here too.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I might overclock, although I have no experience whatsoever.

The build:
Casing: I don't know what to get yet. Think I'll get either a P182 or a CM590. Help me pick one!

Mobo: GigaByte GA-P35-DS3L, P35 (ATX, PCI-E, Sound, LAN, SATA II)
If you can recommend a different one, go ahead.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3,00Ghz, 6Mb, 1333Mhz

VGA: XFX GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB DDR3
I'm still thinking of getting a Sapphire HD3870 instead, if anyone could give me some help on this, please do so. Also, will this card fit into a CM590 or a P182?

Kingston 4GB DDR2 (2x2GB) PC6400 800Mhz CL5 Dual Channel Kit

DVD: Samsung SHS202N/BEBN 20x (Dual Layer, Black, Lightscribe) OEM

HardDrive: Samsung Spinpoint 750GB SATA-300, 32MB, 7200rpm

PSU:Cooler Master 520W Realpower Atx 2.91
I have no clue if this one is of any quality at all.

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (Socket 775)
Heard it's good, wonder if it will fit though?

This is for a total of 798 euro's.
Also, I am thinking of getting a new monitor. Anything you guys can recommend?

 

[MarcVenice]

A fellow Dutchman on AT

What are they charging you for that setup?

The p180 is a OLD model, it has some flaws, you should ask for a p182, I've got one myself and I love it. If you use this: http://tweakers.net/pricewatch you can doublecheck prices. The p182 = 112 euro's. That's roughly what I paid for mine.

I would also want a p35 chipset, and a intel e8400. That will be cheaper but also faster. A decent p35 mobo costs 70 euro's like this one: http://www.sallandautomatisering.nl/?pid=39876&ref=2 It kind of depends on what you want though, do you need firewire? WiFi ? if so, you might need a more expensive motherboard.

e8400 = 168 euro : http://www.friesland-computers...hop_detail.php?id=2201

I'd probably buy a 8800gt or 8800gts, those offer much more value for their money. 8800gt is a bit loud though !!! So either pay roughly 150 euro's for a 8800gt, or pay a little more for a 8800gts, like this one: http://www.pchut.nl/productenv.php?id=126166 I just noticed this videocard: http://www.pchut.nl/productenv.php?id=124361 and it's a HELL of a price for a 8800gtx, it's hotter then the 'newer' videocards, but it's a BEAST.

Geheugen, 2x2gb is betaalbaar en ZEKER aan te raden, zoals dit: http://www.pchut.nl/productenv.php?id=126838 65-75 euro moet te doen zijn

HDD looks good, in fact I love the samsung 500gb I've got myself, and right now the 750gb samsung F1 is only 90 euro's, so why not? It's fast, and runs cool and quiet.

You also need a PSU, those costs roughly 65 euro's, like the corsair 550vx: http://www.cool-prices.nl/Producten/9680

I'd buy those components, and I bet it will be less than 900 euro's. You could save some money if you buy antec sonata III for example, it's 100 euro's, and comes with a good Powersupply, so that's 65 euro's saved. All you need is a 30 euro dvd burner, a mouse + keyboard and you will still be below 900 euro's.

What kind of monitor are you looking for, and how much do you want to spend?

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: Dutchsemigamer
The video card is quite a tough decision. HD3870 costs a lot less than 9800GTX, but that also means that it performs weaker.

Not that tough. What you should be getting is the 8800GTS 512mb (not the 320 or 640mb, which are older). The 9800GTX is basically just an overclocked and high-price-tagged version of that.

As for the rest, I'm not sure what prices there are like, but you should probably go with the P35-based Intel build everyone else is doing these days.

 

[Dutchsemigamer]

Ah yes, I forgot to add the price. They charge 1115 euro's for this build. I also forgot to add their power supply, that was a Recom Power Supply 600CF. How big is the advantage of 4GB Ram over 2 GB ram on a 32 bits version of Windows XP?
Also, how does the E8400 compare to the E6850? The difference is only 20 euro's, would it be worth taking the 8400 over the 6850?

s44:
I suppose you are right, but the 8800GTS 512 is about 100 euro's more than the 3870, even though the difference isn't that big. Or is it?

 

[MarcVenice]

You've got PM.

 

[Dutchsemigamer]

Updated the list.

 

[Stump1000]

I dont have much to add, but I definitely think you'll be better off going with the E8400 for a gaming setup. I think 4Gb ram and a 64bit OS would be worth the investment when spending that much money.

 

[Dutchsemigamer]

If I didn't already have a 32 bits XP licence lying next to me, I would definitely do that. But I'm already at the edge of my budget the way it is, so I'm afraid I don't have that option. 1 thing I'm considering is to get a 8800 GTS 512 over the 8800 GTX. Maybe even a 9800 GTX, even though that is quite some bucks extra.

 

[Dutchsemigamer]

Also, would it be useful to add an extra cooling device of some sort, like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (Socket 775)
I'm still thinking of changing the GFX card and getting more ram.

 

[Dashel]

Originally posted by: Dutchsemigamer
1 thing I'm considering is to get a 8800 GTS 512 over the 8800 GTX. Maybe even a 9800 GTX, even though that is quite some bucks extra.

Personally I think I'm going with the 8800 GTS 512. It should run everything I need, and I figure I'll just be upgrading it down the line anyway so go for the value. If money were no object sure I'd do the 8800/9800 GTX but I'd rather put that money somewhere else.

 

[Dutchsemigamer]

Stupid as I am, I just found out that the XP license is a 64 bits license! This leads to the following change: Corsair 2GB DDR2 (2x1GB) PC6400 800Mhz CL5 (TWIN2X2048-6400 G) | 37,5 --> Kingston 4GB DDR2 (2x2GB) PC6400 800Mhz CL5 Dual Channel Kit | 67,95

Also, I am thinking of getting a 130 euro's Sapphire HD3870 Ultimate instead, since my monitor isn't all that fancy.

 

[Dutchsemigamer]

Updated the main post! Please give me some advice ;-)
Also, to answer Dashel.
I've done quite some searching, and right now the 8800GTX is only 10 euro's more than a GTS 512, I suppose that's more than worth it, right?

 

[Dutchsemigamer]

Edited the case section.