The 14th BDay Build

[jabagawee]

Okay, lemme see. As you can tell, my 14th is this Saturday. I'm really sure I'm not going to get a computer for my birthday, but hey. A kid can dream. I've saved up quite a bit of cash (Thank God for Chinese New Year) to the tune of $1000. I can convince my dad to pitch in another thousand. Here's my old build:

Dell Dimension 5150
Pentium 4 6x0 (3 GHz)
BTX Form Factor
Integrated Sound
Sony 16x DVD-RW DL Drive (upgraded from original)
Generic Dell DVD-ROM Drive
1.25 GHz RAM (same speed as the mobo)
Sapphire X1950 Pro
80GB Generic HDD
400GB Seagate 7200.10 (upgraded)

As you can tell, I'm a bit spoiled about my sound. The Dell, with its BTX design, is super quiet. The side is ripped off because I could never find a long enough SATA cable when I put in the Seagate. With the side off, heat is low and fans spin down. Then again, there's that dust problem. When I make the new computer, probably sometime in spring (thanks to a remodeling), I want the same quiet but with better components.

Here is my new build:

C2D E6420
EVGA 122-CK-NF66-T1
Cosair XMS2 DDR2-800 2GB
Foxconn 8800GTS OC
Seagate 80GB 7200.10 SATA
Lite-On SHM-165H6S
Antec P182
Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Seasonic S12 650W
Logitech G15 and G5

I have no clue about the motherboard, so I need a better recomendation. The CPU and GPU will probably change by springtime, but that's the price range I'm in. I can skimp on the hard drive because I plan to have a NAS or WHS (Windows Home Server) by spring for all my media. The DVD drive selection was based on reviews at extremetech.com. I'm getting the P182 for all the raves about it. I want a cheaper PSU, does anyone know a cheaper but just as efficient one? The mouse and keyboard can change, once someone tells me of a good one. I'm not a mad gamer; I have a life. (no offense to those I may have offended :P) Is the fan quiet? I don't want a loud computer. Any suggestions?

The grand total comes out to be $1300.


Then I add Windows Vista Ultimate and a Gateway 24" HD Widescreen.
$2167

[Panda Man]

eVGA is a very good brand, and the 650i chipset is good chipset, stick with it Looks like a beast to me, but I wouldn't use Foxconn for the video card. I'd go with eVGA of BFG.

Newegg.com - EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

Everything else looks great, good luck!

[Tyreal]

Originally Posted by jabagawee

Here is my new build:

C2D E6420
EVGA 122-CK-NF66-T1
Cosair XMS2 DDR2-800 2GB
Foxconn 8800GTS OC
Seagate 80GB 7200.10 SATA
Lite-On SHM-165H6S
Antec P182
Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Seasonic S12 650W
Logitech G15 and G5

The grand total comes out to be $1300.


Then I add Windows Vista Ultimate and a Gateway 24" HD Widescreen.
$2167

Which version of GTS is that? 320mb or 640?
If you aren't a "mad gamer" then don't bother with the G15. Just wasted money. Seagate 80gb? If you aren't a mad gamer you must be a mad music/video person (esp. considering you are 14). The Seagate 320gb is so cheap right now, it's worth the extra money.

[[Dr. V]]

whoa whoa whoa

80GB hard drive?

you have a 400GB in ur old computer...unless you're reusing that one lol.

with a budget similar to yours, id grab a E6600, the ECS 680i board (if u can find it), and a raptor 150GB with that 400GB from ur old system, or a new 320GB if u want SATA.

[Hitman]

To echo what everyone else is saying. 80gigs is not enough. I wouldn't put anything smaller then a 200gb in any computer. Most computers I would put in a 320gb HD. Price wise 320GB is the best bang for buck.

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380215A 80GB 7200 RPM 2MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

80GB HD is $42 so for $38 more you get 240GB more.

[gvblake22]

Is there any particular reason why you want Vista Ultimate? Is there anything else from your original computer you are willing to reuse or is this a totally new build from scratch? And finally, is your budget $1000 or $2000 since you seem to be listing both...

[wtcnbrwndo4u]

IMO Vista Ultimate is useless... You use none of the extra features... Most people at least. I know I don't.

[qazwsx]

Originally Posted by jabagawee

Is the fan quiet? I don't want a loud computer. Any suggestions?

Yeah I own that cooler and its quiet, it says in the instuctions on it to put the target temp on the cpu on 65* but I wouldnt, seems high

[Pete]

Wheres the Thermaltake at??? J/P

80Gigs is not enough. My second 300GB drive is already full of... videos... Nas device is a good idea if you use BT alot. Get a device where you can manage BT downloads with so you dont need your computer on all the time. Those NAS Devices sure get pricey though. I would not get the netgear SC101T for it is pretty much useless. Might as well get a DAS storage than that thing. Not many two bay NAS out there that can handle media stuff.

[jabagawee]

80GB for OS and apps? the old 400GB for media. Also, I have that NAS or WHS I'm expecting. The Foxconn will be 320MB, though I may go to EVGA. I don't want all my media on a drive and have it crash...so it's all gonna be on the NAS. Old computer will probably be a spare, with Ubuntu Feisty Fawn to browse the web. If no DX10 games come out that are enticing, I'll stick with my X1950 Pro. I need quiet though, any idea what could make it quieter? Also, I need to get a cheaper PSU. No way am I getting a 650W. I'm sure I won't use SLI or Crossfire. i want something with high efficiency and extreme quiet.

NAS = FreeNAS probably
WHS = some old comp loaded with 320GBs

EDIT: Now I just read that there is new DDR3 about to be released. By spring, it should be mainstream... There's gonna be a price premium though.. Whaddya y'all think?