A fistful of build questions

[mantra002]

Hey guys, I was just putting together parts for a new system build, and quickly realized I've fallen out of touch with the current generation of... well everything really.

So, I pretty much put together a list of stuff that seemed to be highly rated on newegg, and then I figured I'd run it by a group who knew what was what:

• Antec 900 Black Steel ATX Case (No room for a 3.5 floppy anymore? How sad)
• Samsung F1 1TB
• 2x Asus 20x DVD+-R
• Antec NeoPower 650 650W (Is this enough?)
• Zotac ZT-X26E3KB-FCP GeForce GTX 260
• Corsair XMS2 DHX 8GB
• ASUS P5N-D nForce 750i (I could not find much info on this one)
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
• Vista 64-bit

As much as I would hate to get vista (although I've heard it's much better than before), I'm thinking the 64-bit support is going to be a plus (and a requirement for the ram really). I was wondering if going the 64-bit route is advised for gaming? I don't really play many older games (16-bit older), and those that are, are old enough to run in DOSBOX which does work right? If 64-bit is crap I can always scrap the extra ram and invest (squander) the money in some other, better part.

Well, that was quite a few questions, any answers would be highly appreciated. Also if any components that y'all think are utter crap are on my list, let me know what's better. I'm not looking to spend much more than I already have here (about $1600), but plus minus 10% is certainly in the budget. I would value any and all advice on this.

Thank you all in advance.

[BarbaricSoul]

I would get this psu over your antec.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006
Dont get me wrong, antec are decent, but corsair is the best right now, and your getting 100 more watts for only $10 more

as for your motherboard choice, I run a 750i chipset board and I'm very happy with the chipset. Asus are making some of the best motherboards today, I'd say you've made a good choice.

Vista sp1 32 bit runs just as good as XP does nowadays, and 64 bit vista even better, no need to worry.

Everything else looks good to me.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by BarbaricSoul

I would get this psu over your antec.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006
Dont get me wrong, antec are decent, but corsair is the best right now, and your getting 100 more watts for only $10 more

as for your motherboard choice, I run a 750i chipset board and I'm very happy with the chipset. Asus are making some of the best motherboards today, I'd say you've made a good choice.

Vista sp1 32 bit runs just as good as XP does nowadays, and 64 bit vista even better, no need to worry.

Everything else looks good to me.

Agreed, however the 650W version would be more than enough should he want to save a few $.................

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

As for the rest of the build........any reason for 8gb? 4Gb is enough if you want to save some money, in fact, use the saving to get a decent motherboard, DO NOT get a 650i.....if you want an NVidia chipset board because you might go SLi in the future then go for at least 750i.....plus the 650i boards are poor at overclocking Quads and have some compatibility issues with Yorkfield quads, try this one instead...................

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813130159R

If SLi is not a priority, and you were just going for that board as it;s cheap, consider instead a cheapish Intel P45 chipset board instead like this...................

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299

Just a few suggestions!

[Hayder_Master]

well come to TPU
with gtx 260 need more size if psu try 800w
i see 4G of ram is enough
why you try 2x500g hd to got more speed with raid
good chose

Wow, nice specs for a first build!

Like others have recommended, id swap the PSU out for a Corsair equivalent - something like the HX620 or a toughpower series - anything around 600W - 800W will do the job fine.

Also, and i hate to say this, but i would NOT recommend the antec 900. Purely because its a nightmare for cable management and its poorly laid out. I ended up modding mine but have since sold it because i just disliked it so much. A better case thats cheaper, and seems to be all the rave around TPU at the minute (and i might get one myself) is the CoolerMaster CM690. Excellent case, id recommend that over the 900 in a heartbeat!

[BarbaricSoul]

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

Agreed, however the 650W version would be more than enough should he want to save a few $.................

agreed

[BarbaricSoul]

Originally Posted by hayder.master

well come to TPU
with gtx 260 need more size if psu try 800w

huh, he doesn't need 800 watts for a gtx260 unless he goes SLI, 600 would be plenty

[JrRacinFan]

Also may want to get this instead mantra:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130398

Saving you a $20 spot and getting you FarCry2.

Also, the Antec 300 is pretty nice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042

^ antec 300's are awesome, used one for a build a month or so ago. Excellent little cases. Id still recommend the CM690 though!

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by hayder.master

well come to TPU
with gtx 260 need more size if psu try 800w
i see 4G of ram is enough
why you try 2x500g hd to got more speed with raid
good chose

I have run two GTX260's off a 750W PSU no problem, a GTX260 coupled with a quad will require a minimum 500W PSU.

[Grimskull]

get a corsair HX620 PSU... they are brillant PSU's. I put opne in my new build this weekend, used them for other peoples and have had zero problems!! They are modular and great for cable managment!

[linyanti]

I am looking at your budget and it seems large enough to get an excellent system. You have a great one listed and the suggestions have been terrific.

Here are just some thoughts:

I do not recommend RAID 0 for anyone who is worried about the data on their computer. RAID 0 is tricky. If you go that way then definitely get a third hard drive for your music, photos, etc and use the first two that are RAID 0 only for the OS and games.

Wait three weeks until the x58 and new cpu's ship. The current offerings will plummet in price.

Get the Vista 64 Ultimate. The ultimate gives you a bunch of options that you do not know you are missing until you try to do something particular. I am not talking about dreamscene, etc. It has to do with network and native dvd support and some other things.

But, if you intend to stay with your system for a long time then you can save money sometimes by going with a build configurator like ibuypower, cyberpower or even HP. These and other companies have good reputations and you can usually get a "better" system for less money but you are much more limited in what you can get.

Before you buy a system you may want to go to those web sites and see what your machine would cost if they built it. It is close in price to doing it yourself but comes with a one hundred percent fun reduction. Out of curiosity, I went to cyberpower and your system priced out to about 1700 including Vista 64 Ultimate.

[BarbaricSoul]

Before you buy a system you may want to go to those web sites and see what your machine would cost if they built it. It is close in price to doing it yourself but comes with a one hundred percent fun reduction. Out of curiosity, I went to cyberpower and your system priced out to about 1700 including Vista 64 Ultimate.

it's alittle over $1500 with vista home prem 64 bit and the 750 watt corsair PSU I suggested.

[mantra002]

Wow! Thanks for the fast replies, I think I'm going to step up to the 750w Corsair, I'd rather have some extra room for later expansion and it's only $10 more. Also, I'll look into the cases more, that CM690 looks pretty nice.

I'm also avoiding the RAID + External Drive for media type setup, I have that on this machine and it's just been a general pain. I might look into cyberpower I guess, but I'd rather not, I quite enjoyed building my last machine, and it's still a bit cheaper.

Thanks for all your help, comments, and advice!

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by mantra002

Wow! Thanks for the fast replies, I think I'm going to step up to the 750w Corsair, I'd rather have some extra room for later expansion and it's only $10 more. Also, I'll look into the cases more, that CM690 looks pretty nice.

I'm also avoiding the RAID + External Drive for media type setup, I have that on this machine and it's just been a general pain. I might look into cyberpower I guess, but I'd rather not, I quite enjoyed building my last machine, and it's still a bit cheaper.

Thanks for all your help, comments, and advice!

Avoid the 650 boards!

[mantra002]

Is this an issue? The P5N-D is a 750i board.

[JrRacinFan]

Originally Posted by mantra002

Is this an issue? The P5N-D is a 750i board.

Don't worry the P5N-D is pretty darn good.

[Hayder_Master]

Originally Posted by BarbaricSoul

huh, he doesn't need 800 watts for a gtx260 unless he goes SLI, 600 would be plenty

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

I have run two GTX260's off a 750W PSU no problem, a GTX260 coupled with a quad will require a minimum 500W PSU.

yeh , righ im go too high 800w it much , 600w is enough ,but i don't think 500w is enough cuz i see full load of gtx260 take about 320w , and the efficiency of any psu can't go over 80% ,so from 500w you have 400w or 420w active

[BarbaricSoul]

and the efficiency of any psu can't go over 80%

no offense man, but you really ought to make sure what you post is accurate when you give advise. There are 85% effeciency power supplies on the market

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103941

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103940

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817163109

There's 3 of them

[jeebuscrp]

Originally Posted by mantra002

[LIST][*]Antec 900 Black Steel ATX Case (No room for a 3.5 floppy anymore? How sad)

Great Case I just put my new system in it and I love it. And there is room for a 3.5 I believe..it comes with a extra bay adapter that's the size of a floppy drive.

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by hayder.master

yeh , righ im go too high 800w it much , 600w is enough ,but i don't think 500w is enough cuz i see full load of gtx260 take about 320w , and the efficiency of any psu can't go over 80% ,so from 500w you have 400w or 420w active

Sorry, a GTX260 does not take 320W.....nowhere near..............

[linyanti]

Do not forget to include in your power budget all of the breezy case fans and the USB powered coffee cup warmers and beverage coolers.

[justaconsumer2]

Ati 4870x2 $373
corsair 750w (on sale tigerdirect) $79
4gb ocz ddr2 800 titanium $30
Q9450 intel $202
gigabyte GA-EP45-DS4P motherboard $134
3 1tb samsung sata3.0 hd $271
1 146gb raptor 10000rpm $120
ultra full tower case $50
30" dell 3007w refurb $515

$1289 / $1800 with monitor

after microsoft cash back via ebay

[Hayder_Master]

Originally Posted by BarbaricSoul

no offense man, but you really ought to make sure what you post is accurate when you give advise. There are 85% effeciency power supplies on the market

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103941

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103940

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817163109

There's 3 of them

you right again , im give bad accurate this time ,also im not be accurate with my self cuz my next new psu i need it is gigabyte 800w odin which is 85% effeciency , thanx for tips , sure you are not offense man i miss something and you put up

Originally Posted by Tatty_One

Sorry, a GTX260 does not take 320W.....nowhere near..............

ohh , thanx tatty , is this trust one , cuz i see too much site's testing there is no near result , and the result between 250w-up 350w i see

[Tatty_One]

Originally Posted by hayder.master

ohh , thanx tatty , is this trust one , cuz i see too much site's testing there is no near result , and the result between 250w-up 350w i see

Well the only way to answer that with DEFINATE acccuracy, as I dont have a power meter or whatever they are called is to say that the card CANNOT draw more than 300W in any case..................

2 x 6 pin PCI-E cables = Max 150W power draw
PCI-E 2.0 compliant motherboard PCI-E slot = Max 150W power draw

Now as a PCI-E 1.1 compliant motherboard can run a GTX260 and that can only produce 75W from a single PCI-E motherboard slot then with a P35 and older motherboard only 225W would be available.