Please critique my choice of components for my new gaming system

[thebeatfiend]

I am not sure where to place this thread but, if it?s in the wrong place please let me know and I will move it.

Here is the PC which I designed, I have built over 15 budget PCs but have only really built 4 High end PCs, so please critique my setup, any kind of input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Following is all the components along with links. The links are for the most cheapest/reliable place which I know, so if you can tell me a better and cheaper place I would appreciate it.

If you think there are other components that will give me a better bang for the buck please let me know, majority of you guys are much more experienced then me.



Case: Lian Li PC-V2100B-PLUS
http://www.sundialmicro.com/lianli_computer_case_pcv2100bplus_1703_452.html
(No shipping cost, willcall is free unlike $5 for mwave)

CPU: E6600
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...m-details.asp?EdpNo=2280512&CatId=2397

Mobo: P5W DH Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025

Gcard: eVGA 7950 GX2
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...item-details.asp?EdpNo=2231778&CatId=0

Ram: OCZ Dual Channel EL Platinum XTC 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications...etails.asp?EdpNo=2205986&sku=O261-9006

HDD: 74GB Raptor along with an assortment HDDs with total of 2.7 TeraBytes

Heatsink: ZALMAN CNPS9500
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA22059

DVD: I already have some DL DVD Burners lying around.

PS: That?s one thing I couldn?t decide on can u guys please recommend me one that you think will be good for my setup

 

[i3igpete]

sounds good to me. although i wouldn't spring that much money for a 7950gx2, i don't know what kind of performance you're looking for. other than that everything else looks futureproof to me. but i must say i'm personally not a fan of zalman; i like my heat sinks to have some meat to them for the extra thermal capacitance. and i'd get g.skill ram but that's just my preference.

why couldn't you just plop a 7950gx2 into your current system? it looks pretty strong and all that new stuff is a nice chunk of change.

 

[scrazee]

For memory, I rather get corsair instead (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590). I've read reviews about the OCZ having problem with p5w.

 

[thebeatfiend]

Originally posted by: i3igpete
sounds good to me. although i wouldn't spring that much money for a 7950gx2, i don't know what kind of performance you're looking for. other than that everything else looks futureproof to me. but i must say i'm personally not a fan of zalman; i like my heat sinks to have some meat to them for the extra thermal capacitance. and i'd get g.skill ram but that's just my preference.

why couldn't you just plop a 7950gx2 into your current system? it looks pretty strong and all that new stuff is a nice chunk of change.

Good advice!

The system from my signature was sold a while ago I still have the monter though. I currently am actually running a 945 @ 4.3ghz with 2g of Corsair DDRII 800 along with a 7600gt and I am not really happy with it.

Anyways what heat sink and gskill ram would you recommend.

Thanks

 

[thebeatfiend]

Originally posted by: scrazee
For memory, I rather get corsair instead (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590). I've read reviews about the OCZ having problem with p5w.

Thanks for the input,

Hmm I will look further into the OCZ incompatibility with the P5W, and to be honest I have always used corsair and was very happy but I guess just wanted a change.

 

[akshayt]

1)Replace that card. Get X1950XTX
or X1900XT CF
or X1800XT 512 CF

 

[thebeatfiend]

I havent really seen any benchmarks for X1950XTX but the price is going to be around $450 so it is cheaper then the 7950 GX2. So u think that X1950XTX will give me more bang. Since I am running high res (1920x1080) I will probably buy the high end card.

 

[scrazee]

Actually 7950 GX2 performence beats the new x1950xtx, so I suggest you stick with the 7950 GX2. The X1950xtx only outperforms GX2 by a little with lower resolutions while the GX2 outperforms X1950XTX with higher resolutions. Since you're going to be running at high res, I'd say you get the GX2.

 

[thebeatfiend]

hmm

http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/2259...e_ati_radeon_x1950_vendor_supplied.png

looking at those results is confusing because they are running ATI?s Radeon X1950XT in CrossFire vs. NVIDIA?s Quad SLI.

since i am not going to be running a quad sli or crossfire because that is just way to expensive for me, i dont know if i should go by those results

 

[thebeatfiend]

Originally posted by: scrazee
Actually 7950 GX2 performence beats the new x1950xtx, so I suggest you stick with the 7950 GX2. The X1950xtx only outperforms GX2 by a little with lower resolutions while the GX2 outperforms X1950XTX with higher resolutions. Since you're going to be running at high res, I'd say you get the GX2.

thanx for the reply, if you have any links to some benchmarks that would be appreciated.

 

[i3igpete]

i personally prefer ATi cards because they're more robust when you need features, rather than just blazing speed with no options turned on. i would get a 1900xt for now, and crossfire that down the road when they get cheaper. one card isn't that much less powerful than a 1950, and those prices will drop soon anyways. so if you feel the need, the next mobo and second card should be reasonable by then. otherwise, that ram you already looks good, and a switch to new processor will be expensive if you need to switch mobos to c2d compatible s775. that 4+ ghz should be plenty strong.

as for the cooler, i've personally got a thermalright xp120. just make sure it has a lot of pipes and a lot of mass to it. that's all the advice i have as a mechanical engineer.

 

[Howard]

The 7950GX2 performs significantly better than a single X1950XTX. That said, why get one of those and a Crossfire board?

What power supply do you plan to get?

 

[thebeatfiend]

The benchmarks are a little confusing because the results across diff expert reveiws dont really agree with each other. Anyways it does seem that if not a little te 7950 does significantly out perform the x1950xtx and I would rather get a card for $520 and be able to run the games smoothly @ 1920x1080 instead of getting two x1950xtx in crossfire.

As far as PS, this is the one I am looking at http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S75EPS

Any other recommendations on the PS are welcome, remember I will have 12-15 HDDs running.

 

[thebeatfiend]

Originally posted by: i3igpete
i personally prefer ATi cards because they're more robust when you need features, rather than just blazing speed with no options turned on. i would get a 1900xt for now, and crossfire that down the road when they get cheaper. one card isn't that much less powerful than a 1950, and those prices will drop soon anyways. so if you feel the need, the next mobo and second card should be reasonable by then. otherwise, that ram you already looks good, and a switch to new processor will be expensive if you need to switch mobos to c2d compatible s775. that 4+ ghz should be plenty strong.

as for the cooler, i've personally got a thermalright xp120. just make sure it has a lot of pipes and a lot of mass to it. that's all the advice i have as a mechanical engineer.

Thanks, inputs from experts is always nice, ME was my second choice but I ended up in Biochem.

Anyways back to the topic, I have always used nVidia can you please tell me which features on ATI cards are you talking about that make it a better buy.

And another nice fellow from other board suggested one of the following three, tell me what you think

thermaltake sonic tower
http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/4in1heatpipe/cl-p0071SonicTower/cl-p0071.htm
or
scythe nija plus
http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/cpu/006/scnj1000p.html
or
noctua nh-u12
http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=1&lng=en


Any one who has used either of these and has any input please let me know.

THnx

 

[Howard]

The Ninja is the best performer of those three, though there are other HSFs that are easier to install. Nothing life-threatening, though.

 

[thebeatfiend]

thanx Howard,

Kool I will look move sythe ninja to top of my list and as far as installing I have installed dozens of heatsinks, many different types so that shouldnt really be a problem

thankx