suggestions for a $800.00 build

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by azianai

I'd still get the 8800GT over the 9600GT

The 9600GT is ~$170 while the 8800GT is ~$220. If he can fit the 8800GT into his budget, go for it!

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by azianai

I'd still get the 8800GT over the 9600GT

Any day of the week.

[Capper]

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard
OCZ Gold 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Memory
GIGABYTE GV-RX387512H Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit Video Card
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Mid Tower Case
Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R DVD Burner
Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 USB Ergonomics Keyboard Mouse Included



$798.92 plus a $25 rebate you could put toward an aftermarket cooler
ZEROtherm BTF90 with manual fan controller (BTF92) 92mm 2 ball UFO bearing CPU Cooler

[[Dr. V]]

Originally Posted by Capper

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard
OCZ Gold 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Memory
GIGABYTE GV-RX387512H Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit Video Card
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Mid Tower Case
Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R DVD Burner
Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 USB Ergonomics Keyboard Mouse Included



$798.92 plus a $25 rebate you could put toward an aftermarket cooler
ZEROtherm BTF90 with manual fan controller (BTF92) 92mm 2 ball UFO bearing CPU Cooler

Awesome suggestions. I do prefer LG drives, however, over any other.

[Jesta]

Originally Posted by Capper

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard
OCZ Gold 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Memory
GIGABYTE GV-RX387512H Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit Video Card
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Mid Tower Case
Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R DVD Burner
Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 USB Ergonomics Keyboard Mouse Included



$798.92 plus a $25 rebate you could put toward an aftermarket cooler
ZEROtherm BTF90 with manual fan controller (BTF92) 92mm 2 ball UFO bearing CPU Cooler

Thank you for the suggestions.

I think between the two I have decided what i will get.

And i have never put a cooler on, are they difficult? Do you just throw the thermal paste on like glue and set the fan on?

[theburan]

If you use the stock intel cooler it'll come with thermal paste already on it, so you don't really have to do much (and man, the stock cooler with the e8400's is SMALL!!!).

[Capper]

there will be directions with the thermal paste. In the case of that ZEROtherm cooler, you'll evenly spread a small amount all across the IHS (Integrated Heat Spreader). Remember, more is not better.

If you decide to use the generic cooler that comes with the CPU, the cooler has a thermal pad pre-applied to the base.

As to the big decision, please share with us what you have decided on so we can give you our final thoughts.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by [Dr. V]

Awesome suggestions. I do prefer LG drives, however, over any other.

LG drives are a joke once you've had anything NEC. :P

[Jesta]

Originally Posted by Capper

As to the big decision, please share with us what you have decided on so we can give you our final thoughts.

This is of course not final yet, i still have about 24 hours to think on it.

case - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

mobo - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail

video - EVGA 512-P3-N862-AR GeForce 9600GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail

Ram - Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804 - Retail

HD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

keyboard - Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 Black USB Ergonomics Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM

dvd rom - Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7190S - OEM

Subtotal: $694.92

I might swap the cpu out for something different, or maybe go with the 8800GT.

[Capper]

Theres nothing at all wrong with that build, nicely done.

I haven't gotten the 9600GT yet, but have been using the 3870 in my system and love it. Honestly, for $50 more (and I'd cut the cost elsewhere if need be), I'd really recommend the E8400, its a fantastic processor.