First attempt at a gaming rig

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Komodo87

New Member
Hello, this is my first attempt at building a gaming rig.

Case - Sunbeam Transformer IC-TR-BA Black Steel ATX Full Tower - $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811166004

PSU - Rosewill RP500-2 ATX 2.01 500W - $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182016

Mobo - ABIT IB9 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127018

CPU - Intel Pentium D 915 Presler 2.8GHz 2 x 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 - $88
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116253

RAM - Patriot eXtreme Performance 2x1024 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM PC2 6400 - $135.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220144

HDD - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s - $124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Optical Drive - SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 18X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - $30.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151145

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100196L Radeon X1950PRO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - $164.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102075

Audio Card - ?

Monitor - Hanns-G JC-199DPB LCD Monitor - $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824254009


Newegg Subtotal - $1,024.92
Newegg Shipping - $46.49
Newegg Total - $1,071.41



Keyboard - Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard - $52.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...236&SRCCODE=PRICEGRABBER&CMP=OTC-PRICEGRABBER

Mouse - Logitech G5 Laser Mouse - $43.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...046&SRCCODE=PRICEGRABBER&CMP=OTC-PRICEGRABBER

Headset - Logitech Stereo USB Headset 250 - $24.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1530689&sku=L23-7032

Game Controller - Logitech Rumblepad 2 Gamepad - $19.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1085739&sku=L23-6374


Tigerdirect Subtotal - $141.96
Tigerdirect Shipping - $13.51
Tigerdirect Total - $155.47

Webcam - Logitech Quickcam Pro 5000 - $61.40
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...27144?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
Amazon Total - $61.40

Grand Total - $1,288.28

And I'll be migrating the PCI Wireless Card from the crapheap I'm on right now, and possibly the 500GB PATA HDD(Though I might sell it instead...)


I want a good gaming computer, but it doesn't have to be the best, maybe a max of somewhere around $1,500

I don't intend to do extremely hardcore gaming, but I also plan on not having to build a new computer from scratch for at least another 5 years.

I was thinking maybe a more powerful CPU though... maybe Core 2 Duo
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
???
Should I buy a sound Card or would I not notice the difference?

maybe I should up everything upto 1066 instead of 800 or would I not feel the difference?

I've been looking at computer parts for just about 24 hours straight... Minds turning to jelly

I guess I'll buy an OEM version of Vista Ultimate once SP1 comes out...

I'm sick of my CRT Monitor taking up my whole desktop, and I'm sick of my slow ass Compaq, lol.
 
same core two duo is much better than what you have listed there
it will also improve gaming as well :D and since your thinking about vista what about a direct x 10 card?
 
1) use core 2 duo, E6300/ E6400!!!!! Wait until price drop after 22 april.
Suggest biuilding PC around May.

2) Get 2 x 250 HDD will work faster than 1 x 500GB. And personally like Seagate than WD. If you have money, just get those with RPM10000 as your main HDD. Store all your mp3/ video/ Data in your current 500GB HD

3) You may consider direct X 10 GPU. Same wail until the end of the month to see if the new GPU release. But X1950pro is not bad anyway.

4) Most people do not recommend Rosewill PSU. You could find some suggestion in PSU101

5) Sound Card. I am currently using Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic OEM, it is pretty good. I don't see it sell on newegg, But I think it is same as X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series

6) Monitor, I suggest buying a Wide screed one. It looks a lot better!

7) Optical Drive: I personally like Pioneer/ LG instead

8) RAM: I haven't use Patriot b4, no comment on that. But I am using Corsair now, it's OK Corsair.

9) I have not use Abit M/B before. But lots of people use gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 for Core 2 Duo.

10) Don't forget to get a set of good quaility speakers as well!

11) I will not get Vista Ultimate, I think it is too expensive. I think Vista Home Premium is enough. but I doubt if microsoft release SP1 for Vista. They are planing for the new OS 3 year later.
 
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Doesn't Newegg have a policy where if you buy something and the price drops within 90 days you can get the difference refunded to you or something?
 
Komodo87 said:
Doesn't Newegg have a policy where if you buy something and the price drops within 90 days you can get the difference refunded to you or something?
Click to expand...
I highly doubt that, since with technology the prices change every week, or even every few days.
 
How much is the price gonna drop for the C2D?

I don't really see the point of wide-screen, from what I understand, a wide screen isn't as tall as a normal. so wouldn't that shrink or stretch the image? and they're more expensive... I don't really mind the small black bars on the top and bottom of the screen for the few ws movies i watch... doesn't ruin my day, lol.

I don't really want to spend too much more than that on the video card, graphics aren't THAT important to me...

XCLIO STABLEPOWER 500W - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189014

ABIT AW9D LGA 775 Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard - $179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127014
comes with a PCIe-x1 audio card, probably not the best but I can always buy one later

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $149
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034
Maybe I'll buy 4Gigs of these and have it on dual channel,

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - $218.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115004


Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - 69.99 x 2 = $139.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148144
(I think I'll do Windows and most programs on first drive, games on the seconds, and video and mp3 on the PATA I have...)

and I think that'll complete my system perfectly... $57 more than before, still within budget...


I really want this to be able to last aroud 6-8 years with minimal updating, I like to game but once the graphics get to a certain detail I really don't notice a difference... I'm starting to doubt the GFX card but I don't wanna spend an arm and a leg on it really, maybe I should buy two cheaper cards for sli or crossfire...

Maybe 2 - SAPPHIRE 100199L Radeon X1950GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Cards - 2x109.99=$219.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102034
would only be $40 more...


maybe I should just wait it out a bit to get a better one, I could always sell the dated one on ebay
 
Well, looks like I'm buying a 6600 in a couple of weeks...
I guess I'll buy everything else and just wait to buy the CPU, I'm just gonna check over my list once more, make sure I didn't miss any details.
I'm gonna look at some wide-screen LCDs, too.

Before I buy I'm gonna post up my final draft, being as this the first computer, and the first gaming rig I ever built, I wanna make sure I'm not making a mistake...

Thank you all for your help and advice this far
 
Here's my final draft:

Case - Sunbeam Transformer IC-TR-BA Black Steel ATX Full Tower - $75 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811166004

PSU - APEVIA ATX-AS680W-BL ATX12V / EPS12V 680W Power Supply 115/230 V CB IEC 950/ TUV EN 60950/ UL 1950/ CSA 950 - $70 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817148022

Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 (rev. 1.3) LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - $110 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128042

CPU - after price drop

RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $150 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034
(Might put 2 more gigs as well.)

2xHDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $140 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148144

Optical Drive - Sony NEC Optiarc Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - $30.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827152079

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100196L Radeon X1950PRO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - $164.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102075

Monitor - Hanns-G JC-199DPB LCD Monitor - $134.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824254009

Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2479498&sku=L23-7236

Logitech G5 Laser Mouse - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1543155&sku=L23-7046

Logitech Dual Action USB Gamepad - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1085740&sku=L23-6376

Logitech Precision PC Gaming Headset - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...27144?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000 WebCam - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...27144?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance


Although I love the look of the blue mobos... I'll be looking at my computer screen more than the mobo, this one's cheaper, and I can always sell this on ebay and get a better/nicer one if need be.
This isn't my dream case, although it is one of my favorites of what I have seen, I would rather the "V" on the front top not be there, also would've liked the audio and usb ports to be to the front but it doesn't really matter as I might not even use them. Everything else ranges from perfect to could be a lot worse.
I think the fan setup is gonna be superb, I plan to dabble with OCing just a little.

Overall, the only things I am unsure of is the video card(and possibly the mobo..), although it's probably perfect(and I love the way it looks), I don't plan to do anything with SLI or CrossFire as I don't think that makes anything cheaper.. and I also plan on waiting a while to jump on the XP Vista chair http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20070331

I would like to point out again, I don't care for the best of the best graphics, but I don't want the graphics to be crappy either, I plan to get my feet wet with OCing, and of course, this will be my first custom built computer(although I've been thinking about it for months), and I have been at this for about 3 days straight now trying to pick out the perfect parts.

Total cost $1145 minus proccessor, just waiting for the core 2 price drop now to get that

I thank you all for your help, I appreciate it very much, as it also boosted my confidence while part searching.

Any last words of advice, or suggestions?
 
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