Final Gaming Build.

[mharr7]

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

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
----------Under $800. Really don't want to spend more than $750, but will go to $800 if needed.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
----------USA. Newegg. If a cheaper reputable site, will buy from that.

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.
----------Intel only. EVGA only for GPU(due to stepup program)

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
-----------Coolermaster CM690
-----------CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX Modular PSU
-----------Samsung 22" LCD. 226BW
-----------Saitek II Keyboard
-----------Logitech gaming mouse

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
-------------Yes, alot.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
-------------Yes, looking to get E8400 to 3.6ghz +

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
-------------Sometime this summer. Perhaps end of may, but may wait until early August.



This is my mock build. Hows it look?


GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
Here

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Here


EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512MB
Here


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Here


Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM
Here


XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
Here


SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R
Here


Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Here


Subtotal: $738.92 - $30 MIR = 708.92 + shipping.


Opinions? Any weak areas or perhaps something that would be overkill?


NOTE: The WD 640gb I am buying for the speed. Looking to partition ~150gb for OS and games. I believe this will be my best bet for a speedy HD, without having to shell out the extra $ for the Raptor. Sound ok?

EDIT: Lowered my budget a bit, originally had $850 which is more than i want to spend.

 

[DSF]

Looks pretty good. If you want to take the E8400 past 3.6GHz you'll want to consider DDR2-1000. That's not really necessary in current games though. Also, since you're under budget you might go for an 8800GTS 512MB, which would be a little bit more powerful.

 

[mharr7]

Originally posted by: DSF
Looks pretty good. If you want to take the E8400 past 3.6GHz you'll want to consider DDR2-1000. That's not really necessary in current games though. Also, since you're under budget you might go for an 8800GTS 512MB, which would be a little bit more powerful.

Ive gone back and forth on that. I like the GTS, especially because of the better cooler which ofcourse doesnt pump the heat into the case.
I may still go with the GTS, but I am also thinking of getting the GT now and stepping up in what will HOPEFULLY be the GT200 within 3 months or less(from end of may).

Still not sure though.

 

[DSF]

If you're stepping up then why not the 8800GTS? You'll end up paying the difference anyway.

 

[mharr7]

Ya thats a good point. I think they just went up $20 though, ill have to wait and see.

 

[mharr7]

I guess by the silence its a pretty solid build...good, I kinda knew it was from all my research, but just wanted to get some other opinions.

 

[chinaman1472]

solid build. there's pretty much nothing wrong with it.
I also agree on the 8800GTS, but that's up in the air.

 

[semisonic9]

Depending on when you build, it may be worth it to wait for the 4xxx series cards from ATI, due out sometime this month, and see how they stack up.

However, I don't think you can really go wrong with the 8800gt or 8800gts, at this point.

~Semi

 

[Soldat]

question.....I'm looking at doing a similar build and am totally out of the loop, will that mobo recognize the e8400 out of the box?

 

[Dashel]

I just put together mine with many of the same parts. E8400, WD 640 HDD, GSkill RAM, EVGA 8800 GTS and Corsair 520 PS. Only big difference is I went with the Abit IP35 Pro mobo and ANTEC 900 case. Love mine. No regrets. You're is very solid no worries

 

[mharr7]

Originally posted by: Soldat
question.....I'm looking at doing a similar build and am totally out of the loop, will that mobo recognize the e8400 out of the box?

Good question...I would like to know too.


Thanks for the comments guys. I ended up getting the Gskill 2x2 kit of DDR2 1000 for 80 bucks shipped the other day.

 

[Urtho]

Originally posted by: mharr7

Thanks for the comments guys. I ended up getting the Gskill 2x2 kit of DDR2 1000 for 80 bucks shipped the other day.

So YOU are one of the many reasons those kits are not OOS eh? Damn you! :brokenheart:

On your build, looks good. Seems to be pretty much what everyone is recommending these days for the best bang for the buck general/gaming system. Should serve you well.

 

[mharr7]

Originally posted by: Urtho

Originally posted by: mharr7

Thanks for the comments guys. I ended up getting the Gskill 2x2 kit of DDR2 1000 for 80 bucks shipped the other day.

So YOU are one of the many reasons those kits are not OOS eh? Damn you! :brokenheart:

On your build, looks good. Seems to be pretty much what everyone is recommending these days for the best bang for the buck general/gaming system. Should serve you well.

Ohh ya

I got lucky. Was at work and decided to check the Hot Deals section. Saw it and got it right then. Came back like 2 hours later and was already OOS.
Very lucky

 

[ther00kie16]

I only have to say that Arctic Silver 5 is pretty old and there are plenty of better thermal compounds out there like the OCZ Freeze and Arctic Cooling MX-2.

 

[Beltar]

Originally posted by: mharr7

Originally posted by: Soldat
question.....I'm looking at doing a similar build and am totally out of the loop, will that mobo recognize the e8400 out of the box?

Good question...I would like to know too.


Thanks for the comments guys. I ended up getting the Gskill 2x2 kit of DDR2 1000 for 80 bucks shipped the other day.

I have the DS3L and the e8400 and it worked straight out of the box for me.

 

[mharr7]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
I only have to say that Arctic Silver 5 is pretty old and there are plenty of better thermal compounds out there like the OCZ Freeze and Arctic Cooling MX-2.

Thats one thing i havent kept an eye on at all....ill take a look at those. Havent built a comp is soo long heh...