1st build! Oh em Gee

[Chicomagiko]

So... my 1st complete build ever. Here are the parts


Mobo:
EVGA 680i SE Video

CPU:
E6850

Video:
2x 8800GT

Ram:
4GB Supertalent

Hard Drive:
Some 500gig hd I'm cannibalizing off an older comp.

Optical drive:
Sony DVD-RW drive from an older comp

Power Supply:
CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX

Case:
CM Stacker 830

Case fans:
5x Scythe SY1225SL12SH

CPU Cooler:
Zalman 9500A

Some of the parts I bought others were given to me by associates. Anyways, I've never built a complete computer before(I always get assigned to replace certain parts or setup software) So this is a 1st for me. Any tips you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: For OS, I've decided to setup a dual boot system with WinXP64 on one partition and Vista Ultimate64 on the other. I may eventually set up multiple OS's as I familiarize myself with dual boot systems.

[Mala]

for ram: I would go with 2x2gig sticks for a couple reasons.

One is the memory controller will have less load this way which (if you go the route of overclocking) will allow for an easier overclock.

Another reason is that there will be room for upgrading (aka another 2x2 kit for 8gigs total) instead of having to buy 2 kits and scrapping your 4x1gig sticks.

Also, if you go with these (I have a pair on the way) they look cool as balls, overclock well, and have tight timings (in regards to what you can find in a 2*2gig pack).

Oh, and it costs about the same.

Edit: Also, i advise replacing the north bridge / south bridge cooling, the passive cooling is pretty shitty on the evga 680i boards and a $10 southbridge replacement drops temperatures 20C. (Need to replace NB too since they are connected tho, may i suggest the HR-05 + a fan).
Reason for the replacement is this board is known to crap out with stock cooling if you overclock at all, and if the NB goes it can take your ram with it.

EditEdit: I have the 680i A1 revision board, looks like you are getting the SE one. No visible differences that i can see (same NB/SB cooling as mine) so i would still suggest the aftermarket cooling solution.

[sekaran]

Get an E8400, not a E6850.

[Fallso]

for two 8800 GTs you need atleast 800w PSU, 620 won't cut it Q_Q

[Shuemue]

Get an E8400, not a E6850.

If they're bothering to SLI they may as well get the E8500

[Chicomagiko]

On a budget here and the psu is used constantly at the office for most of our SLI rigs. The Reaper Ram looks tasty but I'd have to wait til my taxes come in to buy them. I'm not even sure if the 680i SE can use the 45nm chips. if it can, then I'll just get it when my taxes get in. Thanks for the tips!

[Fallso]

Ah well, no matter then. Just make sure you don't overclock anything or you'll be getting nasty crashes like I had 'cause of not having a big enough PSU, haha

[Reality]

for two 8800 GTs you need atleast 800w PSU, 620 won't cut it Q_Q

nah, that corsair 620 is sick, review here: http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.h ... RodXNpYXN0

Also on the box we see a plethora of certifications from various safety authorities and NVIDIA’s “SLI Certification.” A quick check of SLIzone shows that NVIDIA has certified this unit only for SLI 7900GTX, which I must admit I find odd given that Corsair has been seen running 8800 series cards in SLI on the HX620W at various press events. What the issue is here with at least 8800GTS SLI certification I can't say for sure given the paper specs we see on the box below.

it will handle SLI'd 8800 GTs no problem.

[levish]

imo drop the two 8800gt's and get one 8800gts 512mb and save yourself some headaches

also those fans will be VERY LOUD
what?
I SAID THEY'LL BE VERY LOUD
what?
nevermind

[Cephius]

imo drop the two 8800gt's and get one 8800gts 512mb and save yourself some headaches

also those fans will be VERY LOUD
what?
I SAID THEY'LL BE VERY LOUD
what?
nevermind

Not getting on your case or anything, but is fan noise really that much of an issue for people? I mean I have my fans blasting and I hardly hear them because either the TV is on, I'm listening to music, or I'm playing a game. I never hear them. I guess it's an issue for people who sleep in the same room as their computer, but I never understood the "fans are way to loud" argument.

[Mala]

Noise is a problem for me due to the fact that I sleep in the same room as my pc, so i like to keep the noise to a minimum level while still having good cooling. The evga 680i boards can handle the E8xxx chips (45nm) as long as they are updated to the P32 bios. Some reports say that the board can update the bios with an E8xxx chip in it, but some say to get it to post for the first time to flash you need a compatible chip.

GPU wise, i have an 8800gtx with the fan speed set to 100% all the time, and it barely makes any noise. It is wonderful, although i hear GT & GTS overheat / are very loud

[Kinto]

My left ear died when I had 6 fans in my stacker 830...big big warning that'll save you the trouble...don't get 5.

The joys of trying to record with a studio mic and having it pick up the fans even in the next room!

[Chicomagiko]

Just finished building it earlier today. Now i just gotta run it through prime 95 and see whats next. Also, i use noise-canceling headphones so the fans aren't an issue. Though my flatmates may say otherwise

edit: took these with a FlipShot while building and totally forgot i had them

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...0310081842.jpg


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...0310081841.jpg


Some cables have been re routed to make things look nicer and (also, to help reduce obstruction of air flow). That Zalman was a motherfucker to get in since the clips are pretty big(had to use a dremel to grind them down some).

[Chicomagiko]

Not even 2 years and i find myself looking for upgrades since Dragon Age might require better specs. what should go first, the vid card or the proc?

also, lol necro

[fishstix]

Personally, if I was going to definitely buy the game regardless, I would see how it performs first. It's really hard to judge from seeing the developer-posted min/req specs. Like Aion's specs are horribly lower than what they should be, unless NCsoft recommends people to play at 15fps. If it'll support SLI, then your system should be good enough imo.

If you want to max out your graphics settings though, I probably would upgrade the video card first

[Chicomagiko]

Good point. Thanks

[Olo401]

Hang on hang on.. he said up front some of the parts were given to him. I'm guessing that's the case with the CPU since they haven't made that particular one in a while. It's still one of the better C2Ds out there.

On the power supply problem, I did some calculating and came up with average normal use wattage of 320W and a peak of 380W. Newegg's calculator is pegged higher (because it's designed for selling product and it doesn't get as specific as the others), but it gave me 750W. Let's split the difference and call it 600, so that PSU should be fine for the time being.

Edit: If you're planning to upgrade the video card, get the single best card you can afford. SLI really is not necessary. As far as recommendations, I'll say either the new Radeon 5850 or the GeForce GTX275.