Next Build, questions and opinions please!

[OrbitzXT]

I was originally trying to delay building a computer again until as close as possible to the release dates of Starcraft 2 and Fallout 3, but I want to get one for now. I think this link should work, its a wish list of everything I plan to buy.

The things I wanted in this system were raid, low noise, but powerful to play most games. I had a Q6600 in a number of builds but just didn't care for it. Most of the games I play don't make use of it, so it just heats up my room unnecesarily. I thought of the new 45nm dual cores, I may end up getting one if they're in stock when I go ahead and place this order. Do both the E8200 and E8400 have temp sensor issues or is it only the 8400?

The other thing I was wondering about was the PSU I picked out, I heard SilverStone was a good brand for PSUs. Incase the wishlist link doesnt work, I picked out this one. I'm going to have a single 3870 X2, along with 3 HDs to be put in Raid 0.

I didn't want to go all out with this system, I plan on doing something like that toward the end of the year with whatever goodies are out at the time. This is meant to be a respectable gaming PC to last me through the summer. Any thoughts, suggestions, issues that anyone sees?

I've been debating with myself with a few options. Either the 3870 X2, 9600 GT or maybe even a 9600 GT SLI setup. I don't really play any graphics intensive games, I like older things such as WoW, Final Fantasy XI, Warcraft 3. Occasionally I'll see a newer game I want to play. I think the last PC game to catch my eye recently in the last few months was the new Settlers game that game out. I'm also trying to be mindful of the heat this thing will put out. One of my older PCs that I've since sold had a 8800 GTX and Q6600 in it. Turning the heat on in my house could not get my room warm at all, but running Prime95 for 20 minutes or 3dMark could do the trick.

Summer will be here soon and I don't want to have to keep my AC on 24/7, which I usually have to turn it on along with the PC in the past. NYC summers can be hot and muggy, and I have a natural affinity for cold weather. If I had to compare myself to an animal it'd be a penguin, heat and I don't mix. $1450 is probably the most I want to spend, unless I wait another paycheck but I'm impatient. If I end up going with the 9600 GT I'd have more in the budget to spend elsewhere, maybe a more expensive and nicer case...or aftermarket fans so the noisy ones that come with it aren't....er, being noisy.

Its a tough decision, the market is flooded with nice products. Mid-range cards aren't what they used to be. One of the things I'm a nut for is fast hard drives, I remember the first time I build a computer with 2 HD's in raid 0, I noticed it and was wow'ed. I know putting more increases the chance of the array failing, but data isn't important to me, if I go with the 9600 I may also toss in a 4th HD.

 

[JrRacinFan]

When are you going to attempt to finish this build by?

Also, you may get more out of this power supply, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010 . I am not downing Silverstone, they are a great OEM.

The motherboard is ok, I would have though t you would include crossfire for small futureproofing. I was also thinking you would have waited to see what the P45/X48 looks like.

The amount of RAM is ok, but why not some tracers for not much more?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148070

Or go with a 2x2GB kit?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

 

[calvary1980]

Silverstone Olympia 650 and the Silverstone Decathalon 650 are virtually the same except the Decathalon is Modular and has a bigger housing with different Caps, the Olympia is actually more efficient so if you can live without Modular Cables you can save -$10 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256012

it doesn't sound like you need a 3870 X2 I would choose the 8800GS over the 9600GT they are only $109 AR, the 8800GS has more Stream Processors than the 9600GT so it will outperform in more Shader intensive games XFX honors and is really fast with Rebates.

everything else looks Ok.

if your really into 'Green' check this case out http://www.arctic-cooling.com/pc_case2.php?idx=142

- Christine

 

[OrbitzXT]

I hadn't really ever looked into the 8800GS, but I just read over some benchmarks the last 15 minutes and in most games the FPS is +/- 1 of the 9600 GT at 1920x1200 resolution. Only a few games, like Call of Juarez or Crysis play slightly better on the 9600 GT. I'll be playing at 1920x1080, so I was concerned about the 384MB RAM on the GS, but The 9600's 512MB only starts to make a difference at the ridiculously high resolution of 2560x1600. So yeah, thanks for bringing that up! Any of good suggestions? And I'd like to have this built around March 28th when I get paid.

 

[calvary1980]

what confuses me is you want a system that has minimal heat and energy output to play some older games yet you selected some of the best components? I don't think you have a clue what YOU want.

1920x is a pretty high resolution to play at, I normally play in 1400x and occasionally 1600x but that is in older engines and look at the system I had in my Specs.

some of the 9600GT run up to $200+ most Vendors are starting to include Rebates but is it really enough to justify the extra money? I don't think it is, if your going to play older games get the 8800GS or even 8800GS SLI, don't bite off more than you can chew.

- Christine

 

[OrbitzXT]

Haha I never know what I want, I tend to play older games, but on occasion I will play a new release. I like to have the power to play newer games when I see something that catches my interest. I'm sure I could easily build a PC for 400-600 to play these older games I want, but I'd rather invest more. I think of it strangely like this...

Low-End_____Low-Med_______Med_______Med-High_______High
___|____________|____________|____________|x_____y____z|

I want a computer somewhere like where I marked the X, which is what I consider these parts I picked out to be. Where I marked a Y, that'd be a new Yorkfield quadcore with a single 3870 X2 or 9800 GX2, and the Z would be an Extreme Edition processor, and 2 of the top end cards. Toward the end of the year I plan to build a "Y" system, the Z's are just something I think about when I touch myself at night. As for the resolution, I'm using 1920x1080 because its a 1080p tv. I just want to use all of the screen and have it look as nice as possible.