Looking to build a computer but have been out of the scene...

[DaveCSparty]

Hello, looking to build my first computer in a while but have been out of the scene. Can you please critique my system and let me know if the parts work together? I'm looking to pick up a EFI-X later to install OSX on it as well. Thanks!

-SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F
-COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
-Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
-D-Link DWA-556 PCI Express Xtreme Desktop Adapter
-EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
-Thermaltake Toughpower W0128RU 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
-OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
-GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
-Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Budget?

Use?

Other then that the only thing (on a quick look through) is I might opt for a quad core, and also go with an ATI 4xxx series card (depending on budget).

 

[DaveCSparty]

Just for personal use including gaming... budget is under $1K.

I am not sure if OSX supports ATI 4xxx series... as for CPU if given the choice (same price) between a Q6600 or a E8500, which is better?

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: DaveCSparty
Just for personal use including gaming... budget is under $1K.

I am not sure if OSX supports ATI 4xxx series... as for CPU if given the choice (same price) between a Q6600 or a E8500, which is better?

for gaming, or multi-threaded apps?

and the 4xxx series would pwn that 8800, so i'd find out if osx supports them...

 

[DaveCSparty]

Not really for multi-threaded apps (not even sure what that is). The system will really be just for basic home usage, email, storage, burning dvds, and gaming.

It's been a while since I've built a computer, it's surprising to me to see that you can build a pretty good system under $1K now!

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

If you were around for the Dual core vs single core battles, for a while single cores were able to out perform dual on most games. The move to quad cores are the same. Currently most dual's will beat out most quads in raw FPS, but IMHO quad is the better option. The reason is most things are going multi-threaded (meaning that they have more then one set of instructions to process at once if the CPU can take advantage of it), and I will take 2 more cores over a few hundred mhz any day of the week. With a $1k budget I would spend it like this (as a rough guide):

$150 cpu (can get most quad phenoms here and IIRC the Q6600 would be in that range as well).
$125 mobo (should get you into the highest end chipset series which for the AMD northbridges would be the 790 series)
$100 for 4 gb of memory
$250 for an ATI 4870
$150 for a quality PSU
$75 for HD
$75 case
$40 or so for optical

and remaining money on the wifi card and shipping all said and done should be right around $1k.

I would go with a Intel quad core over the Phenom, because Intel has the better chip currently.
ATI has the better graphics and cheaper
HD's are always getting cheaper you can pick up 1 tb drives for ~$125 if you wait on a deal
The memory you should realistically be able to get for $80 or so, but that gives you some head room to work with.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: DaveCSparty
Hello, looking to build my first computer in a while but have been out of the scene. Can you please critique my system and let me know if the parts work together? I'm looking to pick up a EFI-X later to install OSX on it as well. Thanks!

-SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F
-COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
-Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
-D-Link DWA-556 PCI Express Xtreme Desktop Adapter
-EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
-Thermaltake Toughpower W0128RU 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply
-OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
-GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
-Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775

We need to know your needs.
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2090214&enterthread=y

Change the 8800GTS for an ATI 4850.
Change that overpriced, overspecced RAM for G.Skill DDR2-800 (around $80 on NewEgg).
Good motherboard but you could probably comfortably drop the DS3R down to the DS3L.
I'd get the Corsair 550VX over that thermaltake.

 

[DaveCSparty]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming, casual use (back up, photo editing, homework). Will use EFI-X to load up OSX so parts must be OSX compatible. System should be somewhat quiet as well...

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$1000

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA (NewEgg)

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.
None.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
None.

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

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Stock, unless if I were to get the Q6600 I'd want to overclock to the E8500 speeds

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Soon

Thanks guys!

 

[Roguestar]

Gaming = get an E8400. If you want, overclock it too. It'll easily beat out a slower quad core.

 

[coolpurplefan]

Originally posted by: DaveCSparty
Not really for multi-threaded apps (not even sure what that is). The system will really be just for basic home usage, email, storage, burning dvds, and gaming.

It's been a while since I've built a computer, it's surprising to me to see that you can build a pretty good system under $1K now!

lol, you could probably manage to build an acceptable one for $600.