Thanks to everyone's input and searching several forums/review sites (on this and other sites), I've finally put together a new system. This will be replacing an approximately 5-year-old system (Athlon 2000+, 1GB RAM, 6800GT added 2 yrs ago to try to breathe life).
The main uses will be gaming (I haven't been able to run many of the newer games well, if at all, like FEAR and Oblivion, but can run Source games (HL2) okay.), CD and DVD ripping and encoding and general home use for me, the wife and our two kids - although I'll probably make them use the old box instead of the pretty new one (the kids, not the wife!).
I plan on OC'ing at least to 3 GHz. If I can get close to 3.6 to keep the RAM at 1:1 with the 9 multi, great. If not, 3 GHz is still a lot better than what I have now! The PC will be in an office that is a converted attic area that has heating and cooling, but can get warmish (75-80 F) in the summer, but cool (60-65 F) in the winter. Noise is not critical, but I don't want a jet engine either.
As you look at the components, you might think some of it is overkill, but keep in mind these three things:
1) I've never built a state-of-the-art PC, always a tier or two below, especially with videocards
2) I want to try to get as much life out of the machine as possible. What might seem overkill now will be standard in a year or two, and I don't have the time/desire to constantly upgrade my box. Yes, you can't futureproof a computer, but you can delay the inevitable for as long as possible...
3) I just got my annual bonus and, while price is still an object, it's not the guiding force.
Anyway...on to the components. All vendors were compared with total shipped price. Surprisingly, Newegg didn't fare as well as I'd have thought...
Processor: Intel E6600
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80860
Mobo: ASUS P5WDH
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=247085
PSU: OCZ 700W
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=316505
HSF: Thermalright Ultra 120 (just bought)
Case: Antec P180 (already purchased)
RAM: Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4 2GB Kit DDR2-800 XMS2-6400
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85025-6
HDD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB x 2 (not in RAID)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148139
GPU: eVGA 7950GX2 (see note below)
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA47520
Sound Card: Creative X-Fi Extreme Music
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Bl...AY7A1I/ref=sr_11_1/002-7072800-8004823
DVD: Samsung SH-S182M
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151136
Media Reader: Mitsumi FA404MBLK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16821104104
Mouse: Logitech MX518
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178
Keyboard: Logitech G15
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=211159
Monitor: One of these three (still not sure yet...see note below)
Dell 2007FP
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod...spx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-4687
Dell 2007WFP
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod...spx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-4688
Samsung 215TW
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=232486
Speakers: Logitech Z-5450 (I like the wireless rear feature)
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=3808995&CartID=done&nextloc=
Printer: HP C6180 All-In-One (had very good success w/ my D135)
http://www.amazon.com/C6180-Photosmart-...-7072800-8004823?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
Notes:
GPU - I'm only buying the eVGA7950GX2 for entry to the Step-Up to G80. I know it will be a long wait until they have them available for Step-Up, but this card should be able to hold me over until then. Yes, I fully realize that this card (or G80) will be overkill for a 20-21" monitor. Again, trying to buy as much time as possible.
Monitor - I can't really decide how much I like widescreen monitors. I've looked at the 215TW at Fry's and while it would be great to have the extra width for gaming, it seems like it would bug me when using the computer for other tasks like web surfing. Still undecided on this...
HSF - ***Edit - Just found a site that has Ultra 120 in stock. Went ahead and bought with Scythe S-Flex 1600 RPM silent fan*** I don't know why, but the new Big Typhoon VX really intrigues me. Perhaps it's the additional cooling it will do for the mobo. I know it's quiet. I would also consider the Ultra 120, but no one has it. I'd also consider Scythe, but they have enough models to make my head spin...
Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to give you all as much information as possible. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to PM me.
Thanks in advance!
Indy
The main uses will be gaming (I haven't been able to run many of the newer games well, if at all, like FEAR and Oblivion, but can run Source games (HL2) okay.), CD and DVD ripping and encoding and general home use for me, the wife and our two kids - although I'll probably make them use the old box instead of the pretty new one (the kids, not the wife!).
I plan on OC'ing at least to 3 GHz. If I can get close to 3.6 to keep the RAM at 1:1 with the 9 multi, great. If not, 3 GHz is still a lot better than what I have now! The PC will be in an office that is a converted attic area that has heating and cooling, but can get warmish (75-80 F) in the summer, but cool (60-65 F) in the winter. Noise is not critical, but I don't want a jet engine either.
As you look at the components, you might think some of it is overkill, but keep in mind these three things:
1) I've never built a state-of-the-art PC, always a tier or two below, especially with videocards
2) I want to try to get as much life out of the machine as possible. What might seem overkill now will be standard in a year or two, and I don't have the time/desire to constantly upgrade my box. Yes, you can't futureproof a computer, but you can delay the inevitable for as long as possible...
3) I just got my annual bonus and, while price is still an object, it's not the guiding force.
Anyway...on to the components. All vendors were compared with total shipped price. Surprisingly, Newegg didn't fare as well as I'd have thought...
Processor: Intel E6600
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80860
Mobo: ASUS P5WDH
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=247085
PSU: OCZ 700W
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=316505
HSF: Thermalright Ultra 120 (just bought)
Case: Antec P180 (already purchased)
RAM: Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4 2GB Kit DDR2-800 XMS2-6400
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85025-6
HDD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB x 2 (not in RAID)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148139
GPU: eVGA 7950GX2 (see note below)
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA47520
Sound Card: Creative X-Fi Extreme Music
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Bl...AY7A1I/ref=sr_11_1/002-7072800-8004823
DVD: Samsung SH-S182M
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151136
Media Reader: Mitsumi FA404MBLK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16821104104
Mouse: Logitech MX518
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178
Keyboard: Logitech G15
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=211159
Monitor: One of these three (still not sure yet...see note below)
Dell 2007FP
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod...spx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-4687
Dell 2007WFP
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod...spx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-4688
Samsung 215TW
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=232486
Speakers: Logitech Z-5450 (I like the wireless rear feature)
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=3808995&CartID=done&nextloc=
Printer: HP C6180 All-In-One (had very good success w/ my D135)
http://www.amazon.com/C6180-Photosmart-...-7072800-8004823?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
Notes:
GPU - I'm only buying the eVGA7950GX2 for entry to the Step-Up to G80. I know it will be a long wait until they have them available for Step-Up, but this card should be able to hold me over until then. Yes, I fully realize that this card (or G80) will be overkill for a 20-21" monitor. Again, trying to buy as much time as possible.
Monitor - I can't really decide how much I like widescreen monitors. I've looked at the 215TW at Fry's and while it would be great to have the extra width for gaming, it seems like it would bug me when using the computer for other tasks like web surfing. Still undecided on this...
HSF - ***Edit - Just found a site that has Ultra 120 in stock. Went ahead and bought with Scythe S-Flex 1600 RPM silent fan*** I don't know why, but the new Big Typhoon VX really intrigues me. Perhaps it's the additional cooling it will do for the mobo. I know it's quiet. I would also consider the Ultra 120, but no one has it. I'd also consider Scythe, but they have enough models to make my head spin...
Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to give you all as much information as possible. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to PM me.
Thanks in advance!
Indy