My future comp setup

[Suburbanelite]

I'd like some advice, since I'm relatively new to building a computer. I'm looking to spend 500-800 dollars, and I've compiled the parts that I'm going to be buying. If you guys could check this out and throw me some tips on anything I should change, that would be awesome Everything that is not in this list I have.
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wi ... le=NewComp

[Jotaru]

Edit: As my last post is pretty much invalidated since a lot of the components changed...

Go with the 8800GT - its worth it Pretty much only advice I can give... the previous list was basically my PC now, this stuff is all components I don't have experience with

[Suburbanelite]

I think my list is pretty solid, I just know that I don't want to dive head-first into this without some advice on what I'm doing.

[Jotaru]

I like how we just had like a normally 10-post+ conversation in two posts due to carefully timed edits, revisions, and re-reads. Two internets to us both :D

[Melena]

Solid system, only a couple of recommendations here.

1. Asus over Gigabyte. Gigabyte makes a pretty decent board, but the low to mid range ones I've noticed having a higher failure rate compared to a comporable Asus board. This is just personal preference though.

2. Intel Quad Core over AMD Phenom. Most of the early bench marks i've read have had the intel's beating amd pretty handily in the quad core race. Before you settle you may want to check out http://www.tomshardware.com http://www.hardocp.com and http://www.sharkyextreme.com and check out a few more reviews. If a few more bucks squeezes an extra couple % of power out for you, may be worth to make the switch.

[Blarg]

When someone says they build their own computer do they mean they order all the parts individually to customize it and the computer place then puts it all together, or the computer store ships all the parts and you have to put it all together yourself.

[Kurp]

When someone says they build their own computer do they mean they order all the parts individually to customize it and the computer place then puts it all together, or the computer store ships all the parts and you have to put it all together yourself.

Put it together yourself.

[Kurp]

I'd spend more money on the GPU and go with an 8800 GTS 512 with the G92 processor. They're a lot better than the the GTS 320 or 640mb that have G80 processors and less stream processors. Here's one that's well reviewed with a good price. MSI 8800 GTS 512 (free game too)

Also, ATI is releasing their 4000 line in June. It may be worth waiting to see how they shape up. The 4850 card is supposedly launching at $199 and should beat the 8800 GTS 512 and it will support DX 10.1 (which tbh isn't that big of a deal). You can always buy now and ebay later. If you check, there's a decent market for used GPU cards on Ebay. I bought my BFG Tech 8800 GTS 512 OC for $180 with shipping, so you can get great deals if you want to take the (small) risk.

Like Melena said, you'd probably be better off going with Intel for your motherboard and processor, unless you're fiercely loyal to AMD or something. I built a computer recently and went with the Core 2 Duo E8400 and am very happy with how it plays games. If you want a quad core, you can check out the Q6600, it's similar in price. Those two processors could be labeled the 'mainstream' ones for system builders now. Any AMD equivalent out now, like the Black series, just doesn't perform as well.

Core 2 Quad Q6600
Core 2 Duo E8400

I'm not sure of your OS, but if you're going with Vista, I'd get 4 GB of RAM, even moreso if you get the 64 bit version.

[Reality]

1. you can get the 8800 GTS 512MB @ newegg for $169 after MIR, search for ECS 8800 GTS 512MB

2. asus isn't better than gigabyte, not anymore. if anything both brands are on equal terms (i used to have a p5w-dh deluxe and had nothing but problems with it, and also used to have an asus a7n8x-x board and worked relatively well until about two months ago where it just refused to power up, regardless of what power supply I used)

the P35 gigabyte boards are *amazing* for stability and overclocking, i'm currently using the p35c-ds3r with DDR2 & DDR3 support. gigabyte boards use very high quality parts on their mid-range and higher boards (100% solid caps, etc) which allow for great stability even when overclocking (not only when overclocking)

[Kurp]

I'm using a GA-P35-DS3L, with all solid caps, and have had no problems. I had to flash the BIOS to OC the E8400, but Gigabyte has an easy program for that. Newegg seems sold out of them though, but has a replacement in GA-EP35-DS3L It's probably good, but I can't personally vouch for it.

[scrockstar]

I think that you'll get more out of a x2 core than a x4 core with the setup you have listed.
However, if you still want a x4 core get this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017
Just because the AMD one has more GHz does not mean that it is faster.

if you want to get a duo get this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

Also get this video card, it is all kinds of awesome:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318
I have 2 and I've never looked back.

Take some of the money you saved (by picking these parts over the ones you picked) and invest in a really good CPU heatsink/fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118223
Zalman makes the best air coolers on the market right now. This one is on sale for $48 right now but if you ever want to try your hand at over clocking your CPU these are worth their weight in gold. I have a Zalman 9700 and my over clocked CPU idles at 24c.

Also make sure you have a PSU that can run a 8800GT. If you don't already have one, this one is a good value:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182016

[Suburbanelite]

So here's another setup, taken from advice on this page. Originally I did want to go with Intel, but I've had AMD for so long I really didn't bother checking out Intel's products, and they do look much better. More expensive, but much higher reviews and customer satisfaction apparently.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Publ ... itle=Intel

[Chicomagiko]

Its been in my experience that msi and ecs make shitty video cards but awesome motherboards. Anyways, I'd check to see if those capacitors on th Mobo you posted wouldn't interfere with the installation of the CPU cooler you've selected. Also, a hard drive would be needed. Nice build.

[Shuemue]

Not a fan of Abit boards personally and I'd buy an E8400 over the Q6600 for gaming.

[Suburbanelite]

Its been in my experience that msi and ecs make shitty video cards but awesome motherboards. Anyways, I'd check to see if those capacitors on th Mobo you posted wouldn't interfere with the installation of the CPU cooler you've selected. Also, a hard drive would be needed. Nice build.

This is more or less an upgrade. I've got the hard drive. What do you mean about the cooler?

[Chicomagiko]

The socket 775 clips for the CPU Cooler you picked may or may not fit on certain motherboards due to the placement of the capacitors surrounding the socket on the mobo(the evga 680i boards come to mind here). The abit board you selected has capacitors on two sides of the socket. May want to have a dremel handy.

[ghostfaced]

the antec case you got in the first one is a good case but just be prepared for lots of blue light emmiting from your computer lol i first thought it wouldnt be that bad but it lights up my whole freaking room (also got a power supply thats got a huge ass blue light too which im sure doesnt help.....) at night which doesnt really bother me but it bothers friend when she stays over.... its also kinda noisy when you have all the fans hooked up but other than that its a good case heres my setup if ye wanna see it..... wish i went with a different video card and mother board..... they are nice but i had alot of troubleshooting when first setting it up..... this is my first build too D: http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wis ... er=5780025

[Melena]

Its been in my experience that msi and ecs make shitty video cards but awesome motherboards. Anyways, I'd check to see if those capacitors on th Mobo you posted wouldn't interfere with the installation of the CPU cooler you've selected. Also, a hard drive would be needed. Nice build.

Ok, as someone who unfortunately works at fry's and sometimes has to use there shitty motherboards for repair, how the fuck can you say ecs makes awsome motherboards and keep a straight face? On average, we take 3-5 different motherboards before we even get one that posts when we use them as replacement parts.

[Suburbanelite]

Shit. Well I'm not going to take a dremel to that copper or whatever the fuck that is sticking out of the heatsink. I'll see if I can find a different cooler.

[Shuemue]

Why did you pick an Abit mobo over Asus, Gigabyte or evga?