Gsky

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...Number=5364345

Grand Total after everything(Tax, Shipping, Rebates) stands now at $1018

I previously had this case+PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811121002 but was told it wasn't wise to go with the stock PSU:

All my cables should be there right?

Any suggestions to keep it closer to the $1000 range while not sacrificing too much would be appreciated.

PC eye

$39 for a 500w supply? Cheapo supply for sure! Any good 500w model will start off at like $60-$70 while garbage is sold for $40 or less unless you catch a good clearance sale with a mial in rebate attached.

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Users Fight to Save Windows XP!

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oscaryu1

Drop the sound card...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ec%2borion

Not a bad deal. Powers my rig fine.

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Gsky

My bad last time I built a rig was 4+ years ago so I'm a bit out of date on PSUs. I swapped out that PSU for this one which costs $60($40 with rebate) and has good ratings: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153052

and went with the Audigy SE card instead for 20 bucks cheaper. I saw something about Vista making the x-fi features nearly obsolete, but maybe that was just hot air. Either way I want something better than onboard but don't want to spend more money on x-fi if there is little noticeable difference.

Hovering at around $1018 now. I think I'm pretty set(ordering tonight) unless anybody else has anything to chime in with.

PC eye

Far better choice on the supply. I run the X-Fi XtremeGamer and can even run the Audio models on Vista as well as XP without problems once you have the correct drivers that is. The new cards now are packaged with two software disks one for XP and the other for Vista. While support is still there for some older models the X-Fi is working out.

__________________
Users Fight to Save Windows XP!

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4646547

Microsoft Not Ruling Out XP Extension

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4716159

daisymtc

HDD: Some ppl comment WD is not good... I personally use Seagate instead.

Thermal compound: Arctic cooling Mx-2 is better than AS5

DVD burner: Why not going for SATA interface?

RAM: Why not going for CL4?

Soundcard: not sure if it worth to go for a lower end sound card...

twitchtwice

I use the Realtek HD onboard sound for my 5.1 gaming headset it and works amazing, i never screw with dropping an extra 60 on a soundcard. Id rather put the 60 towards a better gpu or psu

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CPU: C2D e8400 @ 3.6 HSF: Arctic Freezer 7
MOBO: Gigabyte P35-DS3L
RAM: 4GB Corsair XMS2
GPU: XFX GeForce G92 8800 GTS
HDD: WD Raptor 150GB
PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700W
CASE: Antech 900
OS: Win XP x64
MON: Samsung 932BW
All this for CS:S? Why not :)

PC eye

Some people simply want others to believe WD is bad since they know someone who runs that particular brand.

Here I've found them just as reliable as Seagate and other makes over the years. ("gee? some more WD primaries?" "egads! more WD!" )

__________________
Users Fight to Save Windows XP!

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4646547

Microsoft Not Ruling Out XP Extension

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4716159

oscaryu1

HDD: I strongly disagree. I've had more Seagates fail on me than WD's. I still have a 1996 version of their Caviar series... runs fine.

TP: Agreed...

SC: Motherboards already carry a pretty good one. My $70 motherboard had 7 channel sound if I'm not mistaken.

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PC eye

I've been using WD drives along with other people doing the same for too long and the only WD that failed was one that saw someone neglect to clean a case seeing high temps. Try pulling a blanket of dust off of a board! That will kill any drive fast!

Surprisingly the one Seagate that was foobar was seen in an old Packard Bell being a 1.2gb on a 95 machine that must have been a bad drive to begin with since the system had only been recently bought. I took a WD 1.4gb drive I had onhand and threw that in. Believe or not that drive is still running if and when you go to fire the old PB system up.

With AS-5 you have to use up whatever is in the tube once opened since that does have a tendency to get dried up rather quickly when left lying around. If you are not working on more then one system buy the small tubes since good application won't see the rest wasted.

__________________
Users Fight to Save Windows XP!

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4646547

Microsoft Not Ruling Out XP Extension

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=4716159