Critique my $2,200 Build

[Vin0134]

I've been doing a lot of research over the past few weeks and this is the system I have come up with:

Case- Cooler Master Praetorian Black
PSU- Seasonic S12-600 (SLi Certified)
Mobo- Asus A8N-SLI Premium
CPU- AMD X2 3800+ (4400+ if I can afford it)
Cooling - Thermalright XP-90
GPU- eVGA 7800 GTX KO Edition
Storage -Maxtor Diamondmax 10 250GB IDE
RAM- OCZ Platinum 2x1GB
Optical- NEC ND-3540A IDE
Soundcard- Audigy 2 ZS Gamer Edition
Headphones -Sennheiser HD212 Pro
XP Home

Reusing:
Monitor- Dell 1905FP (will get 2005FPW when price is low)
Keyboard/Mouse: Dell Multimedia Keyboard and Logitech MX518
Speakers: Dell 2.1 Set

Questions:
1) Do you see any compatibility issues or other problems?
2) Should I pay another $10 for X-Fi? I like the Audigy 2 Gamer Edition because it comes with Halo. Besides, I don't even have a decent speaker set that would take advantage of it, I will use headphones.
3) Do I need thermal paste or compound, or does it come with the CPU?
4) Does the case come with fans? Or do I have to buy them seperately?
5) Do I need a floppy drive?

Primary Use:
1)Internet Browsing, Using Microsoft Office, etc.
2)Gaming
3)Music

Thanks in advance, -Vin

 

[Anubis]

personally i woudl get more then 1 smaller HDD, like dual 160s or so, but thats just me

1) no
2) no
3) yes get some Artic Silver 5 - its like 5$ at newegg

 

[Azarx]

nice build though why spend so much on the video card like the ko edition when it doesnt even give you that much improvement over a normal 7800gtx spend the 100 on a better processor

 

[CraKaJaX]

definetly don't need an x-fi for 2.1 speakers. that's just blowing your money on nothing. other then that it looks good, and get the artic silver like anubis said.

 

[Vin0134]

Edited first post with a new question.

 

[Lonyo]

From my experience, Coolermaster cases do come with fans.
However, apparently that case isn't great in terms of actual cooling (or maybe it was earlier models), so you may want to look into that.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
From my experience, Coolermaster cases do come with fans.
However, apparently that case isn't great in terms of actual cooling (or maybe it was earlier models), so you may want to look into that.

It dose come with 4 80mm fans, two exhaust and two intake, which should be roughly as effective as two 120s.

 

[mooglekit]

I would definitely go with a couple of smaller drives, likely 160s, simply for the ability to either do a basic raid setup or at least have some separation between important sets of data, a bit of redundancy never hurt...never know when that drive might fail. By the way, personally I've had terrible experiences with Maxtor drives, but most were heat related issues, so as long as the case is adequately cooled, I wouldn't be concerned.

1) no
2) no, not with 2.1
3) yes, just like Anubis said
4) Probably depends who you buy it from, but the descriptions I've read sound like they are NOT included.

Nice system no matter what way you look at it.

 

[biostud]

2) Definately go for the X-fi if using headphones for gaming.

 

[aatf510]

Definately get the X-fi if it's only $10! At least you would get much better resale value.

Also, I doubt you need to spend that much on a 600w PSU. If you have to go Seasonic, getting 450w+ would be far more than enough for SLI configs.

 

[Genx87]

You monitor is limited to 1280x1024. I would get a 7800GT and spend a little more and get XP professional.

 

[Vin0134]

I'm getting a 2005FPW, so I want a 7800GTX to run it. Also, all hard drives should be SATA correct?

 

[kleinwl]

I would keep the 250GB HDD... since I like lots of room...but I would make it SATA for the nice small cables (they are about the same price).

Xi-F is a big plus for headphones... so I would definitely do that (maybe even the platinum series for the front plug in).

The OCZ Platinium is prob overkill... OCZ value is only $200 for 2x1GB and works well.

I recommend a EPOX board over the ASUS for OC. my EPOX 9NPA+ Ultra was easy to set up and OC very well.

The GTX is overkill on a 1905FP. The GT would be fine.

I recommend the Benq DW1640 over the NEC... but either is a great burner.

The Seasonic is also overkill (in fact it will be less efficent with a 600W unit than a 450W unit) so you may want to downsize.

You can use Artic silver 5... but the compound with the XP-90 is pretty good. You may want to investigate the new CU95000LED cooler. It is about the same price and a little better cooling.

 

[Vin0134]

Edited original post with this qustion:
Do I need a floppy drive?

 

[Turtle 1]

Have you seen the New Gigabyte 3D Aurora cases its really nice.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=810


http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=810&pageID=1631

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Vin0134
I'm getting a 2005FPW, so I want a 7800GTX to run it. Also, all hard drives should be SATA correct?

I have a 6800GT and a 2001FP. Granted I am sure the Unreal 3 engine will kill my machine, but nothing right now does.

The 7800GTX is nice but at 1600X1200 the difference between the 7800GTX and 7800GT isnt much if anything at all. I believe that KO edition is 600 bucks or so. Nice card but not sure if the premium is worth is considering your resolution restrictions.

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: Azarx
nice build though why spend so much on the video card like the ko edition when it doesnt even give you that much improvement over a normal 7800gtx spend the 100 on a better processor

I second that very strongly!!!!

the KO isn't worth it.

 

[yosuke188]

Originally posted by: Turtle 1
Have you seen the New Gigabyte 3D Aurora cases its really nice.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=810


http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=810&pageID=1631

Is it just me or do these case look not so cool? I mean what's with the bump on the front?

 

[theMan]

get an epox 9npa+ ultra instead of the asus.

 

[JLGatsby]

Question: Why would he need thermal paste? I'm told you only need thermal paste if your processor is only going to be temporary, and that for permanent use, a thermal pad would be best.

 

[Overkiller]

-You don't need a floppy drive.

-Don't get Artic Silver 5, get Artic Silver Ceramique. Much easier to clean up and it does the same thing (AS 5 MIGHT make 1 degree Celsius difference)

-I personally would get a small, fast HD (say a Raptor) and then a huge storage drive (say a Seagate 400/500GB).

Your data then is relatively safe (i did say relatively) and you can clean up your main OS/Game hard drive very easily. Nothing like de-fragging a 400 GB HD

-You don't need the KO edition. It isn't worth the extra price premium. Get the 4400+ proc. w/ the evga 7800gtx. As anand has shown the difference is pretty negligible even when o/c the gtx's due to its weird "stepping" architecture

-Drop the SLI mobo. SLI is the biggest waste EVER. By the time the other video card will be low enough in price that you will consider getting a second one it will be pointless as you will be able to upgrade to a single slot solution (i.e. 6800gt's vs. 1 7800gtx)

So basically you CAN easily get your 4400 with a few minor tweaks.

 

[alcoholbob]

Audigy 2 ZS/Xi-Fi mucho grande electronics paired with cheap Dell 2.1 speakers? O_O

OUCH.

You need a floppy drive if you ever expect to come back from a virus lol (Nothing says you have to PAY for one...you can always canabalize...assuming it's not too much work for the highness )

 

[johnnqq]

critique it? for like $1000 less you can get 70-80% of that system...

 

[Vin0134]

Ok, I'm now getting the 4400+, gonna get a cheaper 7800GTX, and I will be getting X-Fi with a good set of speakers to be bought at a later date.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Originally posted by: Vin0134
Ok, I'm now getting the 4400+, gonna get a cheaper 7800GTX, and I will be getting X-Fi with a good set of speakers to be bought at a later date.

That's good. Now just get the EPoX 9nPA+ Ultra/MSI Neo4 Platinum/DFI Lanparty Ultra-D instead of that ASUS SLI board, drop the OCZ Platinum, pick up 2x1GB OCZ Value, and replace that PATA("IDE") drive with a SATA drive, because the thin cables are so much neater. Then you'll be set.