Got the Parts. Need opinions.

[Coldkilla]

This was just taken from my spreadsheet. The total I plan on spending totals on the bottom. No more. Please ignore the slight price differences. They have changed I can promise you that.


DVD DRIVES (2) $33.99 + $33.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827106055

CASE: $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811112025

FANS/HEATSINKS: $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835118223

HARD DRIVE(S) $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136012

MEMORY $179.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145168

MOTHERBOARD $176.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131045

POWER PROTECTION $11.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16812120802

PROCESSOR $968.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115011

VIDEO CARD: $500
eVGA 8800GTX 768MB - Friend. Brand New.

Total: About $2,200.
Is this the best route? I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

 

[ethugholla]

Looks good.

A few concerns:

1. Do you have a PSU? If not, Corsair 620HX PSU.

2. I would personally recommend dropping that 1000 dollar processor and going for a Q6600. Why? Do a comparison using Tom's Hardware VGA charts (http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html). You'll notice a small difference in performance.

3. If you follow #2, then after going for a Q6600, which can be had for less than 300 dollars, I would use the rest of the money (the remaining 700) for:

1 or 2 more harddrives. Seems as if one HDD won't be enough. Particularly if you plan on running on 150 GB.
A P35 chipset mobo--more likely going to have a longer longevity than a P965 board.
4 GB of memory. As many processes as you want, open.

After all that, you'll probably still have a lot of money to spend. Consider a sound card? I don't know, put it towards a hybrid car.

4. Your current heatsink is good and all, but I'm dying to know how well the Thermalright Ultima 90 performs. Give that a shot instead.

 

[Corporate Thug]

1. why not Sata optical drives?

2. Tuniq Tower can be had for less and cools better

3. 150 GB is gonna be enough?

4. Good mobo, I would consider the Abit QuadGT and the Asus P35 boards as well.

5. CPU is a complete waste of money. But a Q6600 and save your self a butload of cash.

 

[Coldkilla]

First off, thanks for the suggestions! I now wont be wasting money on that processor!

Second: the TH link doesn't work man.

Third: I forgot to mention that I have a 400GB hard drive already pre-loaded with my operating system and whatnot. I don't need to purchase another unless I'm going for something bigger than 150GB on 10,000RPM.

I'll check into the mobo suggestions, and the case/tower suggestion soon. Any more suggestions? If not I will be purchasing August 13th.

 

[MarcVenice]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145034

get that, times 2 = 4gb of ram for only a weee bit more then the 2x1gb dominator memory would cost. Whilst the zalman is a pretty good cooler the Thermalright Ultra-120 * extreme * for 5-10$ more is a FAR better cooler. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835109140 Have to buy a seperate fan with it though, but that's not going to break your budget. If you want a decent, quiet, easy to install cooler for a little less money, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186134

You could also save some money on the videocard, go with a 8800gts 320mb or so, and use evga's stepup program in 3 months, to either get a cheaper 8800gtx, or perhaps the 9800 if it comes out in the next 3 months. That's prolly what I would do, but I'm a little cheap

 

[drakore]

Change that mobo... get the Abit IP35-E.. it is a really good deal on newegg right now if you use the Paypal20 code... it should be about 65$ AR. That mobo would beat out the one you selected.

Don't bother with the 8800GTX... the new nVidia cards are supposedly 3 times faster. They will be a lot cooler aswell.

Yes getting the Q6600 would be a much better choice.

 

[xitshsif]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
Third: I forgot to mention that I have a 400GB hard drive already pre-loaded with my operating system and whatnot. I don't need to purchase another unless I'm going for something bigger than 150GB on 10,000RPM.

I hope you're not planning on dropping this "pre-loaded" hard drive into your new system and expecting it to work as-is. Of course the drive will work with the new system, but you will have to reinstall windows.

 

[MarcVenice]

Xitshsif is right, installed OS-es don't take kindly to new mobo's. I've actually no idea why they don't, but they don't, so make sure you've got an OS you can install.

 

[xitshsif]

Supposedly it can be done. Link

To me though, it'd just be asking for more trouble than it's worth. Anyway, with a brand new system, don't you want it to feel brand new?

 

[Coldkilla]

I've got years of audio collections, pictures, games, all copied to this hdd. Unless I get an external.

I'm going to recreate this list soon. I hope to purchase this new computer by the 13th. -- Hope

 

[Aznguy1872]

If you do plan to get an Abit IP35 board, u should really look into the Abit IP35 Pro, The E version just looks too cheap for me. Plus the Abit IP35 board has better cooling, more features (even though you probably wont use them all), just looks alot better. For some reason I feel like Im going cheap if I get the E version.

 

[ethugholla]

Hm, seems like you won't be needing the TH link anyways, seeing as you've made up your mind.

I honestly would still add another HD... I think. The WD 150gb Raptor can be had for 150 right now, using that newegg deal.... And that is quite a deal.

Since you're going to be saving all that money by not buying that expensive processor, it would definitely benefit you to get 4gb of ram.

Here's a snippet of the upcoming Anandtech P35 mobo roundup...

The under $150 boards fall into this rating -
1. Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P (our favorite board right now for the money)
2. MSI P35 Neo2-FR (P08 BIOS brought the board alive)
2. Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
2.5 ASUS P5K (latest BIOS might get this to a two)
3. abit IP35 (still a couple of bugs left to work out)
4. Foxconn P35A (should be a rebate on it so it will go under $125, at that point, nice choice)

The under $125 boards fall into this rating -
1. Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
2. abit IP35-E (not a big fan of the PCI GigE, no reason for it)
2.5 Biostar TP35D2-A7 (last BIOS really fixed a lot of issues)
3. ASUS P5K SE
4. Intel DP35DPM (do not plan on real overclocking, great stock board)


There you have it.