Need opinions on a desktop I'm building.

trapar

trapar

Member
 
Honestly, your build is a waste of money. Case, mobo and RAM specifically. Base your system around your cpu. Your cpu is low to mid range. All other components should match that range. Your mobo should cost about 100$. 4GB of RAM should be 1066 and cost around 60$. If you want a high end case case get an antec 900. If you are cheap get an antec 300, its just as good if you buy some extra fans. Your PSU is over kill by at least 200w. Your video card is great.
 
This is the RAM I have, and would be good for what you're building:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145214

This would also be good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145176

There's some RAM with better timing for $13 more, but considering the rest of your set-up not necessary.

This vid card is of the same exact processor, but it's $40 cheaper and the only thing that you lose is 22MHz of core clock speed, which is nothing as far as a performance differential.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130420

Processor is good for a mid-range gaming rig, you'll be able to play anything out right now at quite high resolutions.

This PSU is light-years better than the one you have listed, all the +12V power is on a single rail so you don't have to worry about overloading the computer with too much power draw on the one rail.

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

And I agree that your motherboard is waaaay too much for the rest of the hardware, look between the 100 - 125 range.

Furthermore, I agree that the Antec 900 case is a perfect case for what you're doing as it is quite modular, quiet despite many fans, and keeps everything running nice and cool due to the excellent air flow.
 
I'd say all he really needs to change is get 1066 or 1333 ram instead. It's okay having a slightly overpowered psu, gives longer life and upgradability.

Of course if you don't plan on overclocking a lot then that motherboard is overkill.
 
True, but if he's going to get a $180 PSU, might as well pay $70 less and get a PSU that is better is pretty much every conceivable way. And, those 2 vid cards are basically identical, especially in performance, and the one I suggested is $40 cheaper.
 
Oh, sorry... :D On the E8600 processor issue, save the $100 and go with the E8400, definitely not worth that much more at all.
 
DCIScouts said:
Oh, sorry... :D On the E8600 processor issue, save the $100 and go with the E8400, definitely not worth that much more at all.
Click to expand...

Will do. :D

Ok, so far I have replaced the Cool Master with the Antec 900, the video card I put up with the one you suggested, and the psu.

But I'm still wondering if whether or not I should choose a different RAM.
 
The RAM you choose isn't terribly overpriced, but like I was discussing with bebopin64, you could probably get the same results with either of the two links I posted previously.

EDIT: Nevermind, that RAM you choose is only DDR2 800, the first one I posted should be DDR2 1066, which is going to be a much better performing RAM, and it's cheaper. Ignore the second one...

Question on the motherboard, what type of features were you looking for? SLI, eSATA, minimum number of SATA connections, etc...
 
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i'd recommend getting a gts 250 1 gig instead of the 9800gtx+. they use less power and get a lil better performance and they are around the same price.
 
^^ Very true, of the ones available I would go with this one, but I think that you are going to get pretty equal results with either choice...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130469

The other brands are not as good as EVGA.

Furthermore, the VGA charts at Tom's Hardware haven't been updated to include the GTS 250 as it wasn't out in Q3 of '08, however the new charts should be out soon, and then we can see if the similarities on paper transfer to reality, or if one is clearly better than the other. Here's the latest composite chart scores:

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/...q3-2008/Sum-of-FPS-Benchmarks-Totals,795.html
 
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I'd probably lean towards the GTS 250 as that card has almost identical hardware profiles (core clock speed, RAM bit interface, etc...), but it is going to be a newer generation of graphics chip, and has double the amount of RAM. While the performance increase won't be huge, it's enough to justify the $5 in my mind.
 
Okay so pretty much everything else is the same except the case, psu, and video card.

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131319

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145214

Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130469

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

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

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

Of course with these parts will I be able to play games such as Fallout 3, CoD4, Crysis or other games that are more current?
 
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