new build needing crtitique

[bregy6]

here is what i plan on getting:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM
Antec P182 Gun Metal Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Extreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

or

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

will add another set later
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
680i is cheaper, pros/cons of it over 780i
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

i want two hard drives one for storage one faster one for programs
Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

BFG Tech BFGR88768GTXOCE GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

will probaly sli once bulk of rig is paid for
BenQ FP241VW Silver-Black 24" 6ms GTG DVI HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with Tilt Adjustment and 1:1 Pixel Mapping 500 cd/m2 1000:1 - Retail

read good things about the benq

ASUS Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T OEM - OEM

SONY White 20X DVD+R 12X DVD+RW 12X 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 P-ATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM - Retail

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM





need suggestions on power supply, mouse,keyboard and speakers 2.1 is fine. comments on headphones too.

motherboard bundle should have all cables i need right?
am i forgeting anything? cpu cooling is TRUE 120 not sure what fan yate loon . i am a **** and will do a mild oc 3 to 3.4Ghz not unrealistic right? want this to last 3-5 years as long i keep voltages at acceptable levels that won't be a problem right?

big jump for me. this is what i have now:
intel pentium 4 2.8ghz
ram 512mb ddr333
intregrated graphics i865p
15 inch lcd
got it in FALL 03 upgrade time huh?
budget is 2500 but can go to 3000 if needed

[screwballl]

ok...
good choice on the CPU
The P182 is a good case but for the newer quad cores and 8800 video cards, you would be better off with something like the Antec 900 simply because of the cooling.
Either memory is good but make sure the memory type (DDR2/DDR3) matches the board you get.
As for hard drives, the Raptors are overpriced and do not offer enough of a benefit. For a few dollars more, you are better off getting 3x 500GB Seagate 7200.10 drives, and run 2 of the drives in RAID 0 for better performance than the single Raptor.
For the LCD, that does look like a decent unit but the 16ms response time seems a bit low for the price nowadays. Look for a setup with at least 8ms and lower is better. With that 16ms, you can expect ghosting with fast paced games. A quick jump over to Newegg showed me this unit: Gateway FHD2400.

As for the disc drives, get one that is SATA and keep the airflow going in your case. The Sony you mentioned is not SATA.

[Yellowhello]

Skip the nVidia motherboard and go with an Intel P35 or X38 based motherboard. 680i and 780i have been nothing but trouble from what I've heard. Unless you need SLI, which would not be very beneficial to you since you are only getting a 24" monitor. And the motherboard will come with all the needed cables.

Also, you should probably stay away from the P182 case for a high end system like that. Forum member One4yu2c has had very bad experiences with the case. See this post. Something like the Antec 900 or Thermaltake Armor would be excellent choices.

This is pretty minor, but you should probably get HDD's with 32MB cache. They are a bit faster than the 16MB cache variety.

BFG is a great company (I own a BFG card myself), but be sure to register your card within 30 days of purchase to get the full lifetime warranty. Also, BFG will not let you put aftermarket coolers of their cards without voiding the warranty, but EVGA and XFX will. So you may want to get the EVGA or XFX variety of the 8800GTX instead.

As for the PSU, PC Power and Cooling, Corsair, Silverstone, and Antec are all great companies. The Corsair 620W HX PSU is great from what I've heard. Try to get a higher wattage PSU (maybe in the 600-800W range) from a brand name company. Also look at the amp rating on the 12V rail. Make sure it has enough amps for your 8800GTX.

Speakers, the only 2.1 system I will recommend is the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's. Best speakers I've ever had, and as they say, it has "phat bass".

[[Dr. V]]

That line/generation of BENQ monitors are amazing, awesome choice there. I think it's better than the Gateway and definitely better than an Acer, or even the Samsung 24b line.

The thing with the 8800GTX is yeah they're cheap now, but I mean something good should be coming soon with DX10.1 and some more compatibility. Honestly, if you see yourself SLI-ing 2 of them, which will cost you 600+ before tax, might as well go straight into a 9800GX2 for $599.99 - still BFG because I love them. That's up to you though.

Stick with the OCZ kit for RAM if not Crucial Ballistix. For motherboard, YH makes good points. Where the heck is your PSU? Go for an Ennermax Liberty, or a high end Corsair HX series - either way go modular, it's the best. As much as I love my GameXStream, the cables are a horrible nightmare, and I wish I went ModXStream.

[bregy6]

ok ill skip the raptor and get 7200 with 32mb. from what i read raid 0 isn't that big of a boost. i thought i was going to need sli with a 24 inch. i was leaning toward the gtx for the bandwidth it makes a difference at high resolution with filters on, but you have a point about the price. i like the quiet features of the p182. how about the cooler master cosmos? aren't modular psus less efficient than solid ones? what about mice and keyboard? prefer optical mouse.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by bregy6

i thought i was going to need sli with a 24 inch.

You really only need it for the huge 30in. panels AFAIK.

Originally Posted by bregy6

like the quiet features of the p182. how about the cooler master cosmos?

that is one bad ass case, go for it!

Originally Posted by bregy6

aren't modular psus less efficient than solid ones?

Maybe in the past, but now a days modular is the way to go because of cable management.

Originally Posted by bregy6

what about mice and keyboard? prefer optical mouse.

Basically personal preference. I love my OCZ Equalizer mouse.

[[Dr. V]]

A perfect guide for you to read would be my "PSU Knowledge Guide/Article".

You should prefer a LASER mouse with that video card which gives away the fact that you'll be doing something graphic intensive. In any case, the P182 is an awesome case, go for it. With an 8800GTX, you don't need SLI, it will do great. Although SLI would improve it noticeably (doesn't mean by a whole lot), it definitely isn't necessary.

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by bregy6

i like the quiet features of the p182. how about the cooler master cosmos?

If you have an arm and a leg to spare, consider the P190 in place of the P182. It retains the sound dampening qualities of its little brother, while significantly upping the cooling ante and providing some much needed elbow room. Comes with dual-link power supplies (1200W total), which helps drive the price up to nose bleed territory.

Antec P190 + 1200 Case Review

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by [Dr. V]

A perfect guide for you to read would be my "PSU Knowledge Guide/Article".

You should prefer a LASER mouse with that video card which gives away the fact that you'll be doing something graphic intensive. In any case, the P182 is an awesome case, go for it. With an 8800GTX, you don't need SLI, it will do great. Although SLI would improve it noticeably (doesn't mean by a whole lot), it definitely isn't necessary.

Considering the technological advance of some optical sensors, there's very little reason as why you would buy a laser mouse. Infact, most laser mouse malfunction speed (speed at which the laser starts to malfunction/skip) is lower, thus easier to reach than with good quality optical sensor based mouse.
For serious gaming, in my opinion, a wired mouse is a necessity. Never caught with a dead battery, and you can't beat the latency either. ;)

Here's a test of the mouse I'm currently using.
ESR - Razer DeathAdder Review
It ranks other popular gaming mouses too.

[bregy6]

what about tim. aren't there several brands better than as5 now right? i was looking at mx2. when is the 45nm quads coming out. im shopping around for this build. is it a good idea to get parts from different places, ram here, cpu here, etc. or would that be a headache for shipping or rmas?