New Member needs advice on a system...

[snakeman99]

Just going over the specs on a new system that a local shop is going to put together for me and was wondering what you think... Here are the essentials:

Intel DG31PR Motherboard
Intel Q6600 Quad Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz, 8MB shared cache, 1066MHz FSB
2GB RAM DDR2 667MHz
Antec NSK-4400 Mid Tower Case
Viotek 600 watt power supply with 120mm fan
GeForce 8800GT, 512MB RAM
LG Super Multi DVD/CD Rewriter
LG 16x DVD
320GB Seagate SATA-II 7200 RPM, 16MB Cache
Sound Blaster Audigy
Microsoft XP Professional

Total of $1455

I'm retiring my old 2002 Alienware Area-51 (Pentium 4 at 2.66MHz 533FSB, 256MB RDRAM, ATI Radeon 9700 128MB DDR). I still play a game now and then but don't really need the anything too extreme. I just want to upgrade to a newer/faster rig.

What are your thoughts? Am I missing anything? Should I swap out any of these components for something else?

 

[DullesGuy]

For the games today, I'd consider getting a little more RAM. If Blu-ray is important to you, you might as well get that instead of a second DVD drive. Otherwise, looks good.

 

[tynopik]

> Intel DG31PR Motherboard - G31 Express + ICH7

that is G31 Express + ICH7, which is a little downlevel, why not a P35+ICH9(R)?

$67 - ABIT IP35-E - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813127031

> Intel Q6600

is it a guaranteed G0 stepping?

$272 Q6600 G0 - http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA1938452

> 2GB RAM DDR2 667MHz

$33 Corsair XMS2 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800

> Antec NSK-4400 Mid Tower Case

$94 Antek NSK4480 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...07+50001516&name=Antec

OR, upgrade to the Antec P180 with more room and HD isolation to greatly reduce noise

$134 Antec P180 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129154

> Viotek 600 watt power supply with 120mm fan

this looks like a super cheap unit and only comes with 2 SATA power connectors. i've been burned by cheap power supplies (and so have my hard drives), don't let it happen to you

$115 Corsair CMPSU-520HX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139001

there are quality ones that are cheaper that would be just fine, but that would be my personal preference for a great combination of functionality, quality and quietness

> GeForce 8800GT, 512MB RAM

$237 Foxconn 8800GT-512OC660 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814186031

> LG Super Multi DVD/CD Rewriter
> LG 16x DVD

just get the #1 recommended drive at cdfreaks (not sure why you need 2 drives anyways?)

$35 Samsung SH-S203B - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827151153

> 320GB Seagate SATA-II 7200 RPM, 16MB Cache

$85 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148140

> Sound Blaster Audigy

I'm more of an 'onboard sound is good enough' person so i can't really say anything about this

$36 Creative SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1 Channels PCI Retail - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829102002

> Microsoft XP Professional

are you sure you need pro? getting home edition saves you $50

$140 Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C OEM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116400

that totals $1114 or $1154 depending on the case

if you want the shop to build it, it may pay to buy the parts yourself and just take them there for assembly. Even if the final price isn't any cheaper, it will be much better quality

if you do nothing else, please please dump that cheapo power supply

 

[tynopik]

also it appears that the Viotek doesn't have any PCIe connectors so you would have to use an adaptor for that

if you want to be a little cheaper on the power supply, another great option would be:
$65 - Corsair CMPSU-450VX - http://www.buy.com/prod/corsai...loc/101/205466485.html

i would also point out that the '600' watt PS can only do 384 watts on the 12V line while the Corsair 450 watt PS can do 396 watts on the 12V line (and that assumes the cheapo unit can even meet its specs, which is doubtful)

 

[jkresh]

tynopik is correct, a good psu is really important (cheap ones can cause instability or even kill parts, in a best case scenario they just kill themselves and dont take the rest of your system with it). If you are going to spend $1400 on a system then getting a solid 500watt psu from a major brand (check http://www.jonnyguru.com/ for good reviews, or even anandtechs own psu reviews) is a worthwhile investment.

 

[Roguestar]

It's kind hard for me to believe no-one has noticed this yet:

Originally posted by: snakeman99
Intel Q6600

I still play a game now and then but don't really need the anything too extreme.

Totally drop that Q6600 for something cheaper like the E8400 or even E4500.

 

[DSF]

My first thought is that you could save a lot of money by putting this together yourself. You're not getting a good deal, especially with some of the cheap parts like the power supply that others have mentioned.

My second thought, as Roguestar said, is that a Q6600 is probably unnecessary. What do you plan to use this computer for?

 

[snakeman99]

Originally posted by: DSF
My first thought is that you could save a lot of money by putting this together yourself. You're not getting a good deal, especially with some of the cheap parts like the power supply that others have mentioned.

My second thought, as Roguestar said, is that a Q6600 is probably unnecessary. What do you plan to use this computer for?

I run the usual office tasks, cruise the web, do some photo editing (thinking about getting into video) and like to play some games now and then. Most of the games are a couple of years old but I wouldn't mind trying a few of the new ones.

Another option the shop gave me was to go with th Intel E4500 Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz, 2MB cache, 800MHz FSB. This would drop the price of the system down to $1389.

On the other hand, I've always wondered if I could build my own system. Maybe this is the time to start. Sounds like I could assemble these parts for a very reasonable price.

Thanks for your advice....

 

[MarcVenice]

Just because I'm a little bored, I'm going to throw together a rig for you, that you could assemble yourself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...7031&Tpk=abit%2bip35-e motherboard, you might need something more expensive if you want e-sata / firewire.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115037 shop around for better prices, but this is plenty fast for photo/video editing and games.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231122 can't really go wrong with this ram, cheap as it is, no reason not to get 2x2gb.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...2E16811129025&Tpk=p182 awesome case, will fit all components just fine, really quiet, but provides adeqaute cooling.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822152052 quiet and cool running HD, 500gb is where you pay the least for each GB.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...E16817139004&Tpk=550vx good PSU that will last you several years, and has a bit of room for perhaps a more powerhungry videocard in the future.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150273 good videocard manufacturer, lifetime warranty, factory overclocked, 220$ AR, can hardly be beat.

Amazingly, this totals out around 850$ after rebates. You don't need a soundcard, because onboard sound is plenty good enough, even for games. All you need is a dvd-burner, and an OS, like Vista 64x, for 100$. Meaning you'd end up paying around 1000$, still a lot less then that other built, and of higher qaulity too.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

You're paying over $1400 for that?!? Build it yourself for about $500-600 less... Very nice build above, BTW.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: snakeman99
Another option the shop gave me was to go with th Intel E4500 Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz, 2MB cache, 800MHz FSB. This would drop the price of the system down to $1389.

Time to drop the chop shop and build it yourself! Be the master of your own destiny and use the list marcvenice posted above :thumbsup:.

 

[DSF]

Yep Marc's got you all set. (He's a good guy like that. ).

Check out mechbgon's sticky on putting together a computer, and there are plenty of other good guides on the internet. If you have questions post them here and people are happy to help. If you can pick up a screwdriver, you can build a computer.

 

[snakeman99]

Thanks for all the great imput. I think I'm gonna follow the list provided by MarcVenice and try to build one myself. If I get stuck during the build, I'll be back begging for more help....

Thanks Again

 

[snakeman99]

I've got a new dilemma...

I'm pretty much all set to begin my build (following the list provided by MarcVenice) when I remebered a relative-in-law that works for Intel. I thought I'd write her to see if she received any discounts. It turns out she does, but the processor that I was going to buy (E8400) isn't on the list of discounted items.

These are my choices along with her "employee" prices:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 ($273)
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 ($145)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 ($144)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 ($105)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 ($95)
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 ($80)
Intel Xeon E5320 ($147)
Intel Xeon E5310 ($122)

I'm leaning very heavily towards the Q6600 for $145. Should I go for it or stick with the Wolfdale for almost $100 more?

I was also all set to get the ABIT IP35-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard to go along with the E8400. Is it a good match with the Q6600?

Thanks...

 

[accguy9009]

Grab the Q6600.

 

[Roguestar]

Holy crap, a Q6600 for $145? Buy it. The motherboard will work fine with it, by the way.