If I build it, will it run?

[StevieRay]

That is the question...so after mucho reading I found a few items that I like for my first build. I want to run games on this and use it for work. I use databases, internet, and heavy email for work (from home) and want this machine to be the gamer/worker. They are the same arent they?

I need some help for sure. I have a list I put together below and am open to any and all suggestions. I need RAM suggestions and would appreciate any gaps filled in that I left out...as I am sure I did.

I am working toward a budget of $1200. I have a 22 in LCD already with 5ms and a G7, a G5, and 3 keyboards....speaker recommendations might help a bit.

Thank you all in advance. I did and am still learning a lot from the build diabloplayer75 did recently.

Here it goes:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131276
ASUS P5E3 PREMIUM/WIFI-AP @n LGA 775 DDR3 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128331
GIGABYTE GA-X48-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail


Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory <- any less expensive? Can I/should I DDR2?
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130349
EVGA 512-P3-N877-AR GeForce 9800 GTX SSC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr800wespsu.aspx BFG ES-800 PSU - Can not find on New Egg

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006CORSAIR
CMPSU-750TX ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021Antec<- deactivated on New Egg?
Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148136
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148298Seagate
Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

[screwballl]

E8400, good choice.
evga 8800GT, good choice.
the nvidia 9X00s are still a bit overpriced right now so unless you expect to be playing super high end games like Crysis or better, stick with the 8800GT... thats my opinion and others may say otherwise.
Power supplies are a matter of personal preference but either PSU should do very well, I myself prefer Corsair, but again thats my opinion.
Cases are more a "case" of preference, I would prefer the Antec900 for my usage, yours may vary.
Seagate 7200.10, good choices, I have a 320GB which is quiet and cool, and faster than my WD 500GB. As for capacity, go with what you think you will need. I use the 320GB for the OS and programs and use the 500GB for backup and storage. Then the 120GB for extras, like benchmarks, playing with a different OS, whatever.

[Panda Man]

Originally Posted by StevieRay

That is the question...so after mucho reading I found a few items that I like for my first build. I want to run games on this and use it for work. I use databases, internet, and heavy email for work (from home) and want this machine to be the gamer/worker. They are the same arent they?

I need some help for sure. I have a list I put together below and am open to any and all suggestions. I need RAM suggestions and would appreciate any gaps filled in that I left out...as I am sure I did.

I am working toward a budget of $1200. I have a 22 in LCD already with 5ms and a G7, a G5, and 3 keyboards....speaker recommendations might help a bit.

Thank you all in advance. I did and am still learning a lot from the build diabloplayer75 did recently.

Here it goes:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130349

http://www.bfgtech.com/bfgr800wespsu.aspx

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148136

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148298

StevieRay

You're at the right place for help!

I'd go with:

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX ATX12V

Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC (The nine hundred has been deactivated at the egg anyways :P I love mine but I had to mod it first to love it, cabling was a nightmare in it at first. If you can find it somehwere else though like ZZF, it's still a good case)

Everything else depends on budget/use. If you're going to gaming heavily and your budget allows for it, go with the 9800GTX. My other recommendations:

Motherboard: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

RAM: Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1200 (PC2 9600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory


If your budget allows it of course. The Hard disk is up to you, choose what you need, they're both good Now this build so far with my recommendations has gone over your budget by about $50 (with the 500GB hard disk, about $80 over if you get the 750GB). If you can't stretch that, get the 8800GT, it's still a very good card. I think that's everything hardware wise except the speakers.

Remember not to freak out since this is your first build, just drop by here if you ever need anymore help

EDIT - Optical Drive!

Newegg.com - Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners

[StevieRay]

Wow, fast, thanks screwball and Panda! I should add that I have a xp pro and vista ultimate 64 already in hand!

I am leaning toward the CM case...

And I dont have any opticals picked out I just realized...

[Panda Man]

Originally Posted by StevieRay

Wow, fast, thanks screwball and Panda! I should add that I have a xp pro and vista ultimate 64 already in hand!

I am leaning toward the CM case...

And I dont have any opticals picked out I just realized...

I was thinking about that, glad you have them already :D

I addressed that in my edit in my last post

MOAR EDITS - To address your other edit in your first post, I'd go with DDR2. DDR3 is still pretty expensive for mainstream IMO, and you have a mainstream budget so...

[screwballl]

Opticals are also a place for personal preference. I have had bad luck with Sony hardware of any type, especially their optical drives. I prefer Samsung and Plextor or some of the more mainstream brands. Of course if I get 1 year out of an optical drive then it is worth what I paid for it. That seems to be the most replaced part in my household. I have a HP 740i that I paid $80 for at WalMart 2 years ago and it still works good... although starting to "click" on some discs so I expect its life is coming close to the end.

and Panda, awesome find on the mobo, I didin't realize that Gigabyte had an energy efficient version of the X38 out...

[gvblake22]

I've gotten three Samsung DVD burners (two SATA and one PATA) and they've all been great.

[screwballl]

if you build it, they will come (the UPS/FedEx guys)

[theburan]

I've been having really good luck with the asus sata optical drives.

[StevieRay]

OK, how about this RAM...nice price?

Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $175

or

Newegg.com - OCZ Gold Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
OCZ Gold Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $139