Critique my $2,200 Build

[Vin0134]

Bump. Any other comments/suggestions?

 

[Vin0134]

Ok here is my updated specs:

Case- Cooler Master Praetorian Black
PSU- Fortron FSP550 550W
Mobo- EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra
CPU- AMD X2 4400+
Cooling - Thermalright XP-90
GPU- eVGA 7800 GTX w/ BF2
Storage -Maxtor Diamondmax 10 250GB Sata
RAM- OCZ Value 2x1GB
Optical- NEC ND-3540A IDE
Soundcard- Creative X-Fi Music
Headphones -Sennheiser HD212 Pro
XP Home OEM


Have
Monitor- JUST ORDERED A 2405 FPW.
Keyboard/Mouse: Dell Multimedia Keyboard and Logitech MX518
Speakers: Dell 2.1 Set, will be getting Z-530s soon

No thermal paste or floppy drive.

So now my new question is the 7800GTX capable of gaming at 1920x1200 on the 2405 in HL2, BF2, Far Cry, Halo, Doom 3, F.E.A.R., Lost Coast?

 

[K0ldFuz1on]

I would also consider the Antec P180 case, already comes with 3 120mm fans, and has a mount for one more 120, and a video card shroud that can hold an 80.

 

[monster64]

Originally posted by: Vin0134
Ok here is my updated specs:

Case- Cooler Master Praetorian Black
PSU- Fortron FSP550 550W
Mobo- EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra
CPU- AMD X2 4400+
Cooling - Thermalright XP-90
GPU- eVGA 7800 GTX w/ BF2
Storage -Maxtor Diamondmax 10 250GB Sata
RAM- OCZ Value 2x1GB
Optical- NEC ND-3540A IDE
Soundcard- Creative X-Fi Music
Headphones -Sennheiser HD212 Pro
XP Home OEM


Have
Monitor- JUST ORDERED A 2405 FPW.
Keyboard/Mouse: Dell Multimedia Keyboard and Logitech MX518
Speakers: Dell 2.1 Set, will be getting Z-530s soon

No thermal paste or floppy drive.

So now my new question is the 7800GTX capable of gaming at 1920x1200 on the 2405 in HL2, BF2, Far Cry, Halo, Doom 3, F.E.A.R., Lost Coast?

If it can run BF2 at 20x15 w/ 4aa/8af pretty well, I'm sure you will be just fine.

 

[swatX]

for 10$ more i would get the X-fi.

 

[w00t]

1/ no
2/ yes
3/ buy some artic silver 5
4/ matters what case your get
5/ no, but it's good for flashing bios and sata drivers and running memtest.

 

[slash196]

I'd say get SATA drives. You'll thank me when it comes time to build.

 

[billandopus]

How much is the Nec drive?

I would also echo the recommendation for the Benq 1640. Currently, one of the lowest priced and best overall drives out there.

 

[Vin0134]

Originally posted by: bill_n_opus
How much is the Nec drive?

$41

 

[sheElf]

U need floppy drive to install windows xp unless u want to slipstream windows with sata driver first. oh yeah you need windows xp pro to make use both cores of the cpu. and i think you soundcard is too overkill, oem audigy 2 zs is sufficient enough. why do you need xp90 anyway, the bundle heat sink and cooling fan from amd are good enough to keep the cpu temp low. if you think the fan is too loud u can just replace it with the quieter one. i would prefer at least 2 hdds, keep all personal datas, backups etc away from system files/os so if something happen with you oses u dont have to worry about loosing them.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: biostud
2) Definately go for the X-fi if using headphones for gaming.

Agreed. Besides, since it looks like this system is going to last you a while, why not invest in the audio tech that'll be supported (hopefully) in future games?

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Yeah, get a floppy drive just cus they're so cheap, and they're pretty useful for installing SATA/RAID drivers, flashing your mobo, etc.

 

[Pythias]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

Originally posted by: biostud
2) Definately go for the X-fi if using headphones for gaming.

Agreed. Besides, since it looks like this system is going to last you a while, why not invest in the audio tech that'll be supported (hopefully) in future games?

Any thoughts on this?

Unfortunately for Creative, they happen to be dominating an ever-shrinking market. As CPUs have become more powerful, the capabilities of host-based audio have improved over time. While it's true that a good PCI sound card enables extra audio effects and lower CPU utilization in games, that's not a great benefit to non-gamers. On top of that, motherboard and chipset manufacturers are rapidly adding features to their products, including Dolby Master certification, clean multichannel audio and even 3D positional sound. The final straw may be Microsoft's move away from hardware accelerated audio in their upcoming Windows Vista operating system.

 

[alcoholbob]

Thought:

Get better speakers before dropping $150 to $400 on a SOUND CARD? : )

 

[xrax]

if you are spending that much spend the extra $50 to get XP pro

 

[imported_goku]

Get a 200GB seagate HDD from frys if you can, they've got incredible deals on them like $50 for a 200GB AR. It's not worth it to spend more on a 250GB drive unless you can get a killer deal, a 300GB+ is also a waste because you can't find a good deal on them.

 

[w00t]

getting sata would be good.

 

[Vin0134]

Originally posted by: sheElf
oh yeah you need windows xp pro to make use both cores of the cpu.

You are the first person I've heard that from. Is this true?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Vin0134

Originally posted by: sheElf
oh yeah you need windows xp pro to make use both cores of the cpu.

You are the first person I've heard that from. Is this true?

You need Pro to use 2 physical CPU SOCKETs. Microsoft does licensing per socket remember, not per core remember.

I would recommend a few changes:

1) XP-120 > XP-90. Even if you get the copper 90 which may cool better, you want better wingspan and a larger fan. That way you can spin slower and get the same airflow. Plus you can cool RAM and other MOSFET chips better. Oh and if you run a 92mm and 120mm fan at the same speed with one on a 90C and the other on a 120, I'm sure the XP-120 will cool just as well if not better due to more airflow.

2) I don't recommend upgrading to a 2005FPW from a 1905. The smaller display (shorter screen + more pixels) will be a difficult transition. As a first panel, the 2005FPW is great, but if you havea 19" panel already.. bleh. 2001FP will be better.

3) I recommend the DFI LanParty NF4 Ultra-D/SLI-D/SLI-DR. This is the killer board. Sure you may have some incompatibilities, but I'm running it nicely. Even if you don't want to OC or only just a bit, it's still a good board to have. You never know what youw ant to do right?

4) Forget eVGA. Get BFG 7800GTX. I'm sitting happy with my 7800GT by BFG and its an awesome card. Plus the lifetime warranty is just like eVGA.

5) Hard drive. Get SATA. If you want speed, head for something l ike the Maxtor 16gb buffers or the new WD native SATA drives or even the Hitachi T7K250. I personally have a Seagate 7200.8 because I'd rather have a quieter/more stable drive than one that gets only slightly better performance.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Originally posted by: 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.

I'm sorry but are you really being serious??

 

[Polish3d]

I would go widescreen because as you'll see, having a widescreen monitor includes your peripheral vision as well, which makes everything seem more engrossing, where when you're looking at a typical monitor, you always notice the edges...not so with a widescreen...(which I'm sure is why they exist and why theatres are widescreen)

 

[Vin0134]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I would go widescreen because as you'll see, having a widescreen monitor includes your peripheral vision as well, which makes everything seem more engrossing, where when you're looking at a typical monitor, you always notice the edges...not so with a widescreen...(which I'm sure is why they exist and why theatres are widescreen)

That's the reason I ordered a Dell 2405FPW yesterday.