Advice on building a computer

[Saraph]

I realize I'm going over my $900 budget. Oh wells, happens.

 For anyone just entering this topic, I've decided on a few parts based on suggestions here. I still need a few parts though to complete my system and still need help and advice on which way I should go. So far these are the components I've picked out.

1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

ENCORE ENLWI-N IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE 802.11n Draft 2.0 PCI 2.3 Wireless Adapter Up to 300Mbps Data Rates 64/128-bits WEP Encryption WPA, WPA2 WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833180052

LITE-ON Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106269

EVGA 132-YW-E179-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188040

$199.99 Case
$119.99 HDD
$189.99 Processor
$24.99 Wi-Fi Card
$27.99 DVD+/-RW Drive
$249.99 Motherboard - $30.00
$119.99 PSU - $40.00

So far - $932.93
- Rebates = $862.93

Needed:

Video Card (Nvidia)
RAM (DDR3) (Pending approval)
PSU (Pending approval)
Cooling

After all is said and done, I will need help on OC'ing the processor and perhaps the GPU. So keep that in mind when suggesting cooling units. I won't be going overboard on the OC'ing, just slight tweaks to get a little more power.

Possible Parts:

PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

OCZ ReaperX HPC 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227276

[loganbyers07]

I'm allowing a $900 budget to build myself a computer since my tax return this year is very very nice. Thing is, I'm so out of touch. What can I possibly get for that amount of money? I can tell you what I would like and maybe someone can help me from there.

Nvidia GPU (SLi capable)
Pentium Quad Core (Is quad pentium the best, or AMD?)
DDR3 capable motherboard, also capable of SLi
4GB RAM
100GB Main HDD, 300GB Slave (That enough for PC games these days?)
As many USB slots as I can get, I'd like 8-10

That's all that has been on my mind lately. I'd like a black case, but it really doesn't have to be super fancy and transform like some cases I've seen. Just look nice. I will want some blue lights in it, but not necessary. I think I would choose my cooling option based on how much money I have left.

Can $900 give me this, or am I asking too much? I appreciate any help, thank you all very much!

you can get everything listed on here and more for $900.
I will build you a list and you can tell me what you think.

Power Supply
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3247717&sku=P227-1001

Video Card
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4037153&sku=P450-9824

Hard Drive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4131881&sku=TSD-1000AS2

Processor And Ram
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3970768&sku=Q6700-4GB

Case
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3433320&sku=ULT40142

Motherboard
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4008497&sku=I69-2172

[treemty]

hey logan, you forgot a mobo

[loganbyers07]

hey logan, you forgot a mobo

ha, whops my bad. Forgot to copy over the link. It has been edited

[PsychoticWolf]

Saraph  is asking for Nvidia's (SLi). and you put up a Intel Crossfire ready mobo.. I will take a look later one for items in your Price range.

[Saraph]

Revised:

Nvidia SLi 9800 Series
10,000RPM Main HDD, 7,200RPM Slave HDD
7.1 Surround Sound Sound Card
Intel Quad Core
4GB RAM
SLi Motherboard/Intel Quad Core Motherboard
1,000W PSU (Or close to it)
DVD +/- RW Drive

I'm getting a deal on a 22" monitor, but if anyone has suggestions please let me know. Also, I'm not too savvy with cooling and such, so any suggestions with that set-up would be much appreciated!

God... with all that I still have to get a mouse and keyboard, speakers... and a desk! I just want this PC to last me for a while. The one I'm on right now is from 1999.

[vladstir]

When i built my gaming computer, I bought my computer broken from a company called dealtree. They auction off broken computers on ebay. These computers usually have a non working motherboard. All you have to do is swap in a gaming motherboard (overclockable, sli etc) and you can have a gaming computer for a low price. currently i have a Gateway GM5478. It has a quad core q6600 2.4ghz processor. 4 gigs of ddr2 667 ram, geforce 8500 gt video card and a 500gb harddrive and i only paid about $360.

[Saraph]

I appreciate the advice vladstir, but I'm really itching to build my own set-up. I'm not expecting this to be cheap, but I do have a set price range due to the other expenses I have with building this. My parents will probably put in for the desk, everything else I have to pay for. I think my main concern is getting all the components right and making sure they are all compatible.

[Tec_]

if i were you i would look at bare bones kits. they provide the case mobo, and depending on witch one you get cpu, ram, psu ect... they can be helpfull if you have never built a computer befor

[Saraph]

if i were you i would look at bare bones kits. they provide the case mobo, and depending on witch one you get cpu, ram, psu ect... they can be helpfull if you have never built a computer befor

Oh, I did, and am very tempted. But I need this experience. I've switched out parts, made repairs, all sorts of things to computers. I'm just really out of touch since I've been in the telecommunications field for the past year. If I don't build it, I'll just feel like I'm selling myself short.

[PsychoticWolf]

Alright some Brands to take alook at.
Gigabyte
ASUSTek
RoseWill
EVGA
BFGtech
AMD (My choice of Processors)
Corsair

[PspKicks316]

Didn't really read everything, but logan you put up a crossfire mobo and he wants SLI. You also chose DDR2 RAM and that motherboard only supports DDR3.

...

[loganbyers07]

Didn't really read everything, but logan you put up a crossfire mobo and he wants SLI. You also chose DDR2 RAM and that motherboard only supports DDR3.

...

dang. I should have spent more time looking at that. I was in the proccess of moving my computer into my brother and I's new game room. I will find another motherboard and some different ram.

Okay well How about this

Just buy this barebones kit : http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4339352&sku=I69-2172%20D

And the 9800 gtx+ : http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4037153&sku=P450-9824

And whenever the ram becomes available again order 2 more gb of that or order it from somewhere else.

Oh and the motherboard does support SLI you just have to buy a SLI bridge.

[PspKicks316]

Oh and seraph you don't need a 1000watt psu if you're only using 1 9800. Maybe around 800-850 would be fine for you.

[Saraph]

I will eventually get dual graphics cards, which is why I wanted something SLi ready. But I see what you mean... Is the 9800 good enough by today's standards as being good enough to run games at decent frame rates?

[loganbyers07]

I will eventually get dual graphics cards, which is why I wanted something SLi ready. But I see what you mean... Is the 9800 good enough by today's standards as being good enough to run games at decent frame rates?

Well this depends on your resolution. If you are running at 2560 x 1600 resolution playing crysis maxed out then you wont get that good of frame rates. But for most games you can play maxed out at 1920 x 1200 which is 24" resolution.

[Saraph]

Well this depends on your resolution. If you are running at 2560 x 1600 resolution playing crysis maxed out then you wont get that good of frame rates. But for most games you can play maxed out at 1920 x 1200 which is 24" resolution.

Makes a lot of sense seeing as that's probably the largest monitor I'll be getting for my PC. SO yea, a really high end 9800 would do just fine.

Edit:

Are these any good? I'm pretty set on the HDD's. I guess the case is all I would need advice on, then I can move on to the other components.

Creative 70SB073A00000-8 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102028

150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136296

1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

NZXT ZERO 2 Crafted Series CS-NT-ZERO-2 Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146054

[loganbyers07]

well to start for your links press the button that looks like a globe with a little lock in front of it and paste your links into that... Just so you know, that makes it to where we can just click it!

Any ways the sound card is good but I think that unleess you are and audiophile you will be completely happy with the onboard sound. IMHO it sounds exactly the same. The hard drive is good if you need a fast boot time but you wouldn't see a visable difference in gaming. The 1 tb is fine. And for the most part if you like the case and it has good reviews then get it! Lol.

Hope this helps!

[Tec_]

like he said

you can do with out a sound card for now, upgrade it when you throw in your 2nd GPU.

any particular reason for the 2 different sised HDD's? if your only useing it as a boot drive take a look at a 32GB SSD there faster than any disk baised drive even with 10000RPM i

and unless you absolutly in love with the case i would try to stay away from NZXT unless you going towards there higher end moddels. there aluminum cases tend to be very nice, but there plastic cases tend to be garbage.

check out lian li they have some nice all aluminum cases for under 100, cooler master, silver stone, and antech also have some very nice cases

[Saraph]

well to start for your links press the button that looks like a globe with a little lock in front of it and paste your links into that... Just so you know, that makes it to where we can just click it!

Any ways the sound card is good but I think that unleess you are and audiophile you will be completely happy with the onboard sound. IMHO it sounds exactly the same. The hard drive is good if you need a fast boot time but you wouldn't see a visable difference in gaming. The 1 tb is fine. And for the most part if you like the case and it has good reviews then get it! Lol.

Hope this helps!

That's the problem, the case doesn't have any reviews on it at all. It looks great and seems to have tons of space and room for fans, but no one to tell me it's wonderful or garbage. At that price, I suspect garbage, but I guess I'll buy it because it looks sweet.

[Tec_]

i would strongly advise not buying it. but the final decision is up to you. for the same amount of money you can pick up some very nice cases.

and i just noticed your avatar. Atlantis FTW!!!

[loganbyers07]

Yea. I have the antec 900 case and absolutely love it but wish I would have waited a little while and got the antec 900 version 2. It looks sick. Maybee you should check it out.

[Tec_]

Yea. I have the antec 900 case and absolutely love it but wish I would have waited a little while and got the antec 900 version 2. It looks sick. Maybee you should check it out.

what do you mean version 2? as far as know the only thing that changed was precut holes in the mobo tray for cable routing.

could you be thinking about the 1200 or the 300?

[loganbyers07]

what do you mean version 2? as far as know the only thing that changed was precut holes in the mobo tray for cable routing.

could you be thinking about the 1200 or the 300?

Na dude. Go to the antec website and look at it. it looks sick.


http://www.antec.com/usa/productDetails.php?lan=us&id=15920

[Tec_]

ok right. thats a whole different case from the 900, it looks a lot like the 1200 but a little smaller. i like my 900 a lot better

[Saraph]

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

Thermaltake ArmorPlus(Armor+) VH6000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133056

So for the case, I've boiled it down to those two. Let me know your thoughts!

Edit: So based on your suggestions, I've dropped the other case, went with either one of those (pending reviews and suggestions here) and am sticking with the on-board sound until a later date. I can use that money for the speakers and/or the mouse and keyboard. I really appreciate all the help so far. Now I just need to get a motherboard (which is the hardest part for me).

[Tec_]

i would go with the 1200 i love that they paint the inside of the case

[PspKicks316]

eVGA 790i motherboard

[Saraph]

eVGA 790i motherboard

Wow! That's a really good motherboard! Anyone?

[psp339]

Wow! That's a really good motherboard! Anyone?

It's a good motherboard if you want to go DDR3 but with a socket 775 cpu.