New Build - Sanity Check

[TenaciousT]

All,

About 3 years back I used this forum on my first major PC build. Things went swimingly.

Basically I ended up with a machine that was highly upgradeable. As new games and apps came out all I generally needed to do was change one component to ensure that I could work at optimal settings.

Well, my video card died and I've decided to move into the PCI-E world (yay). I'm on a sub $1000 budget (mostly) and I'm prepared to upgrade over the years. Just want to make sure that this build makes sense, or if I'm missing anything big.

1. Motherboard: ASUS P5B Deluxe Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - This has 2 Pci-e 16x slots for SLI in the future and lots of space for more ram. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131045

2. Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor ? Not the fastest of the new core 2 batch, but I just can?t afford an extreme. Going with the stock coolig for now. If I choose to OC (I probably will) I?ll investigate a better cooling system. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115004

3. Ram: Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory ? I swear by Kingston. I?ve used it for a long time and I?m willing to pay extra for a brand I trust. With that said, is this a mistake? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820134066

4. Video Card: XFX PVT42GUAD7 Geforce 6800GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card ? Least sure on this one. I just can?t afford two right now. I might do a 7900 though? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150118

5. Case: NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum/Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case ? I just liked it. Seemed to be a decent price and it has a lot of fans (the noise doesn?t bother me). I like a nice big case that I can get my hands into. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146029

I already have a new PSU, HDD (sata of course), and soundcard.

Anything I?m missing? Any parts I should really consider switching?

I think my biggest concern is my choice of motherboards. I?m willing to invest more in that to give the PC a longer lifetime.

Thanks!

 

[Boyo]

Your video card is a mistake. You are going to want at the minimum if you go nVidia is a 7900 GS or a 7900GT. Other than that, looks fine to me.

 

[TenaciousT]

[sarcasm] Oh darn, I have to buy a higher end video card[/sarcasm]

Seriously though, i'll find a way to upgrade. What you say makes sense. I should buy a 7900 now and buy another later when I want to do SLI. That SLI boost should give me some additional lifetime out of the rig without going to the single "next best card" later right?

 

[dBTelos]

What PSU do you have right now?

 

[TenaciousT]

*shuffles feet* *looks at floor*

Ok ok... I have this Ultra V-series 400W psu I got on a sweet rebate a few weeks ago. I suspect I'm about to get owned for this so I'll just go ahead and say it... I should buy an Antec PSU right?

Oh, interesting! As I research this I see that some PSUs support SLI and others don't. I definately want to do SLI one day so perhaps this one: Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply . http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

 

[Gautama2]

Get a seasonic or that new corsair one.

 

[ebeattie]

Amps on the 12V for that PSU look weak dude. Id try looking for one with at LEAST 30A. Your computer will never be stable if you go cheap on the PSU. THAT particular PSU wont be up to snuff. Look for an Enermax or OCZ or if you want to spend some money look at a PC power and cooling. I know you want to keep this affordable, but there are somethings that you cannot skimp on, and a PSU is DEFINATLY not one to cheap with. Spending money here will last you well beyond a few upgrades, probably a good 4-5 years.

 

[Crassus]

my $.02:
Get a faster vid card (7900 range), and assess how many amps you're going to need on each rail, and choose your PSU acccordingly. I remember having seen calculators for this sort of thing out there on the net.

 

[YoungGun21]

AFAIK, P5B Deluxe won't do SLI...
Go with the DS3 it is cheaper.

Plus its best to get a single fast card now anyway and just keep upgrading that card every like 2 years or so.

Do not stiff on the PSU, among the other suggestions, I suggest the Enhance ENP-5150GH. Froogle it and you can get it from eWiz for under $70.

 

[KayKay]

Originally posted by: YoungGun21
AFAIK, P5B Deluxe won't do SLI...
Go with the DS3 it is cheaper.

Plus its best to get a single fast card now anyway and just keep upgrading that card every like 2 years or so.

Do not stiff on the PSU, among the other suggestions, I suggest the Enhance ENP-5150GH. Froogle it and you can get it from eWiz for under $70.

Very true on the motherboard part. P965 chipset based motherboards do not do SLI, there has been talk of Crossfire Support, but even that is 100% official

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: TenaciousT
All,

About 3 years back I used this forum on my first major PC build. Things went swimingly.

Basically I ended up with a machine that was highly upgradeable. As new games and apps came out all I generally needed to do was change one component to ensure that I could work at optimal settings.

Well, my video card died and I've decided to move into the PCI-E world (yay). I'm on a sub $1000 budget (mostly) and I'm prepared to upgrade over the years. Just want to make sure that this build makes sense, or if I'm missing anything big.

1. Motherboard: ASUS P5B Deluxe Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - This has 2 Pci-e 16x slots for SLI in the future and lots of space for more ram. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131045

2. Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor ? Not the fastest of the new core 2 batch, but I just can?t afford an extreme. Going with the stock coolig for now. If I choose to OC (I probably will) I?ll investigate a better cooling system. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115004

3. Ram: Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory ? I swear by Kingston. I?ve used it for a long time and I?m willing to pay extra for a brand I trust. With that said, is this a mistake? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820134066

4. Video Card: XFX PVT42GUAD7 Geforce 6800GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card ? Least sure on this one. I just can?t afford two right now. I might do a 7900 though? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150118

5. Case: NZXT Zero Black/Silver Aluminum/Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case ? I just liked it. Seemed to be a decent price and it has a lot of fans (the noise doesn?t bother me). I like a nice big case that I can get my hands into. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146029

I already have a new PSU, HDD (sata of course), and soundcard.

Anything I?m missing? Any parts I should really consider switching?

I think my biggest concern is my choice of motherboards. I?m willing to invest more in that to give the PC a longer lifetime.

Thanks!

You say you already have a PSU...acording to the antec site theres 17 amps on one 12v rail and there is 19 amps on the other...

I would run with the PSU you have until it dies or doesn`t die.....

Your call....

For many yars before I switched to my present brand of PSU I have always us generic PSU`s......

You will get alot of people sayung get this and get that......

Sure a new higher power PSU might be necessary..then again all us fan boi`s who tout our own particular brand will say,,,ewww an Antec get another PSU...

Its your call my friend!!


Good Luck!!

 

[akshayt]

Consider P5B Vanilla or Gigabyte 965 S3(may be it is P965 S3).

You can get oridnary non-Hyper X, 667 RAM.

Get a 1900XT 512 or atleast a 7900GTO/GT. Get a good PSU.