Recommendations on first build
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PZEROFGH
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www.monarchcomputer.com sometimes they have real good deals
Raidmax scorpio $50
Lite-on DVD burner $44
Intel 630 CPU $178
intel MB $103
Geil DDR2 ultra 1GB 533mhz $134
West. Digi. 160GB 7200RPM 8MB cache Sata $81
Audigy 2 zs oem $71
GE 6600GT 128MB $145
Viewsonic 19" CRT (and spare 15" at home) $176
Micro XP PRO x64 $153
Logitech cordless desktop $32
Logitech X-530 5.1 $47
TOTAL $1213 + S/H
This is a "first draft." is there anything I could downgrade or upgrade? I am deciding about a CPU fan...any recommendations? I think that I will buy hard drives as needed...
should I get a ATI X600 XT and then get 2 sets of lower quality 2x512MB sets? (gulp). At directron they have generic refurb 21" CRTs for $110. I could use the extra to upgrade something else or spend less.
Lite-on DVD burner $44
Intel 630 CPU $178
intel MB $103
Geil DDR2 ultra 1GB 533mhz $134
West. Digi. 160GB 7200RPM 8MB cache Sata $81
Audigy 2 zs oem $71
GE 6600GT 128MB $145
Viewsonic 19" CRT (and spare 15" at home) $176
Micro XP PRO x64 $153
Logitech cordless desktop $32
Logitech X-530 5.1 $47
TOTAL $1213 + S/H
This is a "first draft." is there anything I could downgrade or upgrade? I am deciding about a CPU fan...any recommendations? I think that I will buy hard drives as needed...
should I get a ATI X600 XT and then get 2 sets of lower quality 2x512MB sets? (gulp). At directron they have generic refurb 21" CRTs for $110. I could use the extra to upgrade something else or spend less.
Don't forget to put all those parts into Pricegrabber.com to see where you can get the best deal. Pricegrabber looks over a whole lot of sites that many people would overlook and it occasionally comes up with a price for a product that beats the prices of the 'big' stores (Tigerdirect, Newegg, et cetera).
If you're really set on getting an ATI card, I really can't blame you since I personally don't like nVidia much myself. But if you wanted to get an ATI card that might be worth purchasing, then the X600 and x700 line are out of the question entirely. ATI's x800 GT would be the closest comparable product to nVidia's 6600 GT and anything less than that simply isn't worth looking at for any decent performance. Trust me.
I do hate having to say this over and over again, but...really, at this point you're probably better off getting an nVidia card because ATI has really been backed into a corner for the time being. Not permanently, for the time being. If you wanted to delay your upgrade a little bit longer and see what ATI can come up with when they release their new video cards some time in the near future. I don't know exactly when that will be, but I know that I'm looking forward to seeing what they can come up with because I know they're capable of much more than the dismal performance they're putting on now.
I can't confirm this for sure, but as I was browsing around some forums a while back I came across a post where somebody claimed that the Audigy 2 is nothing more than an Audigy 1 with a few fixes. I have an Audigy 1 and the sound quality is nothing short of exceptional. It's been great for listening to music & gaming and I really haven't found any problems with it. If you wanted to save a little money there, I'd recommend looking into the Audigy 1. It's a fine piece of hardware that definitely delivers.
Other than the above, it looks like you're making a lot of smart decisions with your hardware choices. You're getting the CPU that will help you out with video manipulation and mainstream hardware that will perform well for you when you turn to gaming. Hats off to you for a job well done!
If you're really set on getting an ATI card, I really can't blame you since I personally don't like nVidia much myself. But if you wanted to get an ATI card that might be worth purchasing, then the X600 and x700 line are out of the question entirely. ATI's x800 GT would be the closest comparable product to nVidia's 6600 GT and anything less than that simply isn't worth looking at for any decent performance. Trust me.
I do hate having to say this over and over again, but...really, at this point you're probably better off getting an nVidia card because ATI has really been backed into a corner for the time being. Not permanently, for the time being. If you wanted to delay your upgrade a little bit longer and see what ATI can come up with when they release their new video cards some time in the near future. I don't know exactly when that will be, but I know that I'm looking forward to seeing what they can come up with because I know they're capable of much more than the dismal performance they're putting on now.
I can't confirm this for sure, but as I was browsing around some forums a while back I came across a post where somebody claimed that the Audigy 2 is nothing more than an Audigy 1 with a few fixes. I have an Audigy 1 and the sound quality is nothing short of exceptional. It's been great for listening to music & gaming and I really haven't found any problems with it. If you wanted to save a little money there, I'd recommend looking into the Audigy 1. It's a fine piece of hardware that definitely delivers.
Other than the above, it looks like you're making a lot of smart decisions with your hardware choices. You're getting the CPU that will help you out with video manipulation and mainstream hardware that will perform well for you when you turn to gaming. Hats off to you for a job well done!
PZEROFGH
Golden Master
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do NOT get a x600 or x700, they are OLD OLD, the 6600GT is a great card, and if you really want a ATI i say get a x800GT like stryker, if you want to spend a little more you can get an x800xl which is cheaper then a 6800GT but is about the same, maybe a little less, BUT NO SM3. anyways, nvidia is the way to go for the time being. you can get some nice corsair valueselect ram 512x2 DDR2- pc5300 for around 98 dollars
im not sure if you are going to OC but the corsair valeuselect is excellent ram.
heres the corsair valueselect, and its faster then that geil ram you have
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145568
very nice very nice
im not sure if you are going to OC but the corsair valeuselect is excellent ram.
heres the corsair valueselect, and its faster then that geil ram you have
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145568
very nice very nice
PZEROFGH
Golden Master
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i would get the 6600GT sense it has SM3 and its nvidia. but the x800GT is
here 6600GT 128mb vs x800GT 256
memory 128 bit vs 256 bit
GDDR3 vs GDDR3
pcie vs pcie
164 dollars vs 165 dollars
memory speed 1000 vs 980
core speed 475 vs 500
both use directx 9
open gl 1.5 vs open gl 2.0
if only the 6600GT has 256 bit memory interface
here 6600GT 128mb vs x800GT 256
memory 128 bit vs 256 bit
GDDR3 vs GDDR3
pcie vs pcie
164 dollars vs 165 dollars
memory speed 1000 vs 980
core speed 475 vs 500
both use directx 9
open gl 1.5 vs open gl 2.0
if only the 6600GT has 256 bit memory interface
damasta55r
In Runtime
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Get DDR2 board that will support future dual-cores. 955x chipset.
ASPIRE X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420W Power Supply-56
intel Pentium D 820 Smithfield 800MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor Model BX80551PG2800FN-246
Arctic SIlver Premium Photosynthetic Silver Thermal Compound Arctic Silver 5-8
ASUS P5WD2 Premium Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 955X ATX Intel Motherboard-199
CORSAIR XMS 2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWIN2X1024-5400C4PRO-214
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST380817AS 250GB 7200RPM Sata Hard Drve-113
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A-41
Windows XP Home Edition w/SP2-92 (Do you need?)
Rosewill RP550 ATX 550W Power Supply-57
eVGA 6600GT 128MB DDR3/PCI-E/TV-Out/Dual-DVI-169
CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition 70SB035000013 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card-81
Total $1276. 6600Gt at monarchcomputer.com is $130 so $1246.
ASPIRE X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420W Power Supply-56
intel Pentium D 820 Smithfield 800MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor Model BX80551PG2800FN-246
Arctic SIlver Premium Photosynthetic Silver Thermal Compound Arctic Silver 5-8
ASUS P5WD2 Premium Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 955X ATX Intel Motherboard-199
CORSAIR XMS 2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWIN2X1024-5400C4PRO-214
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST380817AS 250GB 7200RPM Sata Hard Drve-113
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A-41
Windows XP Home Edition w/SP2-92 (Do you need?)
Rosewill RP550 ATX 550W Power Supply-57
eVGA 6600GT 128MB DDR3/PCI-E/TV-Out/Dual-DVI-169
CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition 70SB035000013 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card-81
Total $1276. 6600Gt at monarchcomputer.com is $130 so $1246.
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