Final Computer Building Thoughts

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Vampire_Slayer

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Sorry to post another topic about the computer im making, but that other topic has been dead for awhile so I decided to make one last thread, since I'm planning on ordering my parts any day now.(Thanks for the advice on the stuff I have decided to get)

Things I gave decided to go with:

AMD Athlon 64, 3200+, Socket 939 (Winchester Core) $190
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=1

DFI Lanparty UT NF4 Ultra-D, Socket 939 $140
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-136-152&depa=1

80 gig, WD 7200rpm HD $54
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-135-106&depa=1

Zalman cooling for my cpu and gpu, too lazy to find links....

Things I'm trying to decide:

For the video card, if I can only scratch up 200 bucks, I'm thinking about getting an eVGA 6600GT, and if i can afford another 100 bucks, I'm thinking X800XT, but I dont know what the best brand for that card is.

Still trying to decide if I should go with OCZ memory, or Corsaire XMS. Looking to spend between 150-180 bucks on 1 gig of dual ch. ddr400. Keep in mind that I am planning on Overclocking.

Is Navigator X a good case? It sounds good but I'm not getting anything without checking with you guys(wondering if the power supply is any good because I dont want to spend a load of money on a PSU)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-144-083&depa=1

If I get this case, are there any adapters that can make it so I can plug in my headphones from the front while playing games such as CS?

Things I have:

Soundblaster LIVE from my old Dell(He died*cries*)

DVD Rom drive(also from old Dell)

CD-RW(again from old Dell)

3.5" Floppy drive(last part from old Dell, promise)

Some cheap Creative speakers I found for 50-60 bucks(good sound, but it can get fuzzy, or play in only one speaker when adjusting volume using the wheel, thats why I keep it on a stable level and just change volume in windows)

Wireless Logitech MX700 mouse

Some cheap keyboard made by an underdog company that I found for 10 bucks, what a buy though, smooooooooth typing, best keyboard I think I have ever used)

What do you think? Any last minute parts I should change? Be reminded I am on a budget and I am planning on overclocking although not after I use my computer for awhile. Old post just found on page 5, dead for a week, don't like bringing up old posts.
 
Wow, only $52 now with free shipping, they keep making that Western Digital 80GB a better deal every day, good choice there. If I were you I would seriously consider getting two of them. RAID 0 is so fast...

Power supply, personally I like to have a top brand power supply like Antec of ThermalTake and that's what I would recommend but if you don't want to spend the money I honestly think that pwoer supply will do you just fine. It has 20A on the +12V which is decent, and it should provide enough power.

The case looks decent as well, should provide reasonable cooling for your needs. Although the fans it comes with are a little small. And it doesn't have a removable motherboard tray. :(

For the video card I will suggest two to you.
This one I suggest in ATI fanboy mode:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-142-036&depa=1

In NVIDIA fanboy mode:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-214&depa=1

For your RAM I would personally recommend Corsair XMS
Here is some really good RAM for you:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-450&depa=1

Processor and motherboard both look good.
And if you get the X800 XL like I linked to then the GPU cooling won't be too good so like you say, get a zalman.

For the video card cooler I would get this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-117&depa=0

And for the CPU, this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-115&depa=0

And make sure to get a tube of this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-100-007&depa=1
And put that on your CPU, your GPU, and your 8 RAM chips on your video card.

Then you would be able to overclock PLENTY.

Overall this would make a really sweet system. Expect 5000 points on 3dmark05 and more if you plan on overclocking.
:D
 
yeah i know, but there arnt very many cases that do come with a mobo tray....if i have money left over i think i will get a 2nd hd, the psu will have to do since i cant afford the best of the best, but if i can scrape up money later i might upgrade to antec. so is connect 3-d a good x800xl card? or are there better x800xl cards out there? otherwise if i find myself out of funds, 6600GT will always do. another thing i would like to know, my crt is kind of an old monitor that i got from my cuz, he says it has really good graphics(its a CTX ultra screen), and was built for gaming i think(btw this crt is really bulky and heavy, but there are some deep scratches on it that i would like to get rid of, any good scratch remover products i could get? and i would also like to paint it black, any tips on how i can do that?
 
Well if you are going to get Corsair, then get the XMS Xtra Low Latency. But beware, Corsair is not ideal for OC. So if you are going to OC down the road, dont consider it.

For OCZ, well thats better then Corsair. OCZ Platinum Rev, is great RAM. Its extremely good for OC. I have that kind, works great. I suggest OCZ over Corsair anyday. But both of these RAM types are over 190$ for a gig. All top of the line RAM will be.

I suggest getting your system built, then worry about all that extra cooling. Such as half the crap Dale posted. Get your system running first man.
 
Who makes the best X800XL pci-e card for under 300 bucks? I have heard that ATI and power connect originals make good ones. Which one is more reliable? Is the extra 100 bucks that you have to pay to get it instead of a 6600GT worth the money?
 
Vampire_Slayer, X800XL is a ATI card. Then brands like MSI or gigabyte ect, has their own version. The Sapphire ATI's are the best. So get the Sapphire X800 XL. If you CAN afford the XL, then get it. If not, the eVGA 6600 GT will work just fine.
 
Well he said he is planning on overclocking, so I would suggest either Corsair or OCZ ram for that. The Corsair with heat spreaders will OC plenty. I'm running up a little now at around 1.98 ghz on a 3000+ and I haven't loosened the timings or upped the voltage yet.

He also said he was going to get some aftermarket Zalman cooling for his CPU and GPU, that is why I suggested those Codeine.

Vampire if you can afford it, the x800 xl is quite a large step up from the 6600gt. I would just go ahead and get the cheapest one, in this case Connect3d. You don't have to worry about the brand too much because so far all the x800 xl's are pretty much the exact same except for the software bundles, retail packaging, and the cooling. So I figure if you are going to put aftermarket cooling on the video card anyway then it doesn't matter how crappy the stock cooling is since you will be replacing it anyway.
 
Ok, what advantages do saphire x800xl have other cards such the ATI original or other cards? I usually like explanations to help make decisions since so many people just name the brand they think is the best, and I want to know why they are the best?

edit: examples- are they built with a higher quality, making them more reliable? do they lack defects that may cause the instability of other cards? do they have better stock heatsink fans?
 
He is just pushing Sapphire because he favors them, that is not the kind of help you need. Sapphire is Connect3d's competitor so we have to look at them both. They are all about the same like I said, except for cooling, and software, and retail packaging. So just check around for the cheapest price.

edit: Rosewill is now cheaper than Connect3d. I would get from them.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-164-041&depa=1
 
So they are all as reliable as the next? I thought it was gonna be more like the 6600GT, with XFX being unreliable and people keep on having trouble with them.....

edit: forgot to thank you guys, especially you dale, instead of naming a brand you gave a more in depth answer(no offense to the other guy, he prob just heard great stuff about them or has had great experiences with them himself)
 
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