scaling down a high end choice.

[Burton]

Hi,
Ive decided to get a new computer system, and decided to do a custom job. Im big on games and want this new system to last for a few fears so Ive chosen some high end parts. only problem is that its probably a bit too expensive and I was wondering if there was any way to lower the price (ie different parts), without compromising the power of the computer.
Again, the computer would only be used for minimal things, such as gaming, and music downloads and such, and nothing too serious.

heres what ive chosen so far:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core Processor, Socket 939, Manchester Core

ASUS NCCH-DL DUAL XEON 800 FSB NOCONA, ECC DDR400, AGP SLOT, SATA RAID

ASUS VENTO 3600 450W/ PFC/ GREEN U4/ WO1394/ 120FAN TA360

Corsair 2.0 GB TWINX-3200 (400MHz) DDR RAM, 2x CMX1024-3200 DIMMs

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platium 7.1

DOUBLE H USB2.0/Firewire COMBO PCI Card, 3x USB2.0, 2x IEEE1394

GIGABYTE GH-PDU21-MF G-PowerPro, 1700-3200RPM, 21.3-40.0dBA, BallBearing, 4-IN-1

GIGABYTE GV-RX80L512V ATI RADEON X800XL, 512MB, 256bit, PCIE, DDRIII, TVOUT

Maxtor DIAMONDMAX PLUS 10 200GB 8MB 7200RPM SATA HDD

Sony DRU800A Internal Dual Layer DVD burner, 16X DVD+R/ -R/ +RW/ -RW

As you can see. I dont know much about computers. so im not sure what else I need, and whether the parts are even compatible as such. but my main wants are

very fast CPU
2 gig ram
and a 512mg graphics card

thanks guys.

 

[Dark_Sniper*]

ok i dont understand you are wondering about the cpu with one to get. Xeon is made for servers dude they suck for gaming. You are going to want to get the AMD X2 or a Pentium D.

 

[Pepsiboy700]

ok first off i think that motheerboard is intel when your cpu is amd. I recommend personally a nvidia high end card but thats just me they make a 6800 ultra 512mb but you really dont need it. For same price about a 7800gtx would do good. GO evga just incase. Corsair is good but go ocz if possible if you might oc (overclock). I personally got patriot. the vento cases are ok i had one but i got a raidmaxx samuari case. Whats your budget. Thats the determining factor.

 

[Dark_Sniper*]

oh and that card you dont want 512mb come on what are you going to be doing its a gaming computer not a workstation, get a 6600Gt or a 6800Gt.

 

[Burton]

my ideal budget is around 2000-2500 US.

 

[damasta55r]

ASPIRE X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420W Power Supply-56
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX-376
PC Power & Cooling 510 SLI-PFC ATX12V 510W Power Supply-229
Arctic SIlver Premium Photosynthetic Silver Thermal Compound Arctic Silver 5-8
DFI LANPARTY nF4 SLI-DR Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard-198
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Platinum System Memory Model OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K-270
Seagate Barracuda 250GB Sata Hard Drive-112
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A-41
Microsoft Windows XP Home w/Service Pack 2-88 (Do you need?)
2x eVGA 256-P2-N538-AX With Battlefield 2 Bundle Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card-1058
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro Edition-130 (on sale at compusa)
THERMALRIGHT XP-120 Heatsink-69
ZALMAN CNPS7700-CU 120mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan-48
LOGISYS Computer CLK12BL 30cm Cold Cathode Kit-5
3* Thermaltake A2018 120mm 1 Ball 1 Sleeve Blue LED Light Case Cooling Fan-45

Total $2733, see what you can whittle down.

 

[Burton]

thanks damasta55r, will definetly check this out!

 

[Bilbotubbins]

The PCI express bus that supports your video card will only make use of 256 mb of ram of the video card(don't know why, read it in a good pc mag) so a 512 card is a waste unless you plan to upgrade mobo later.

Go for a 6800 gt / ultra or if you can afford it a 7800 gt / gtx

 

[realmike15]

I'm not sure what the price difference will be, but one thing you could seriously consider is going with a regular Audigy2 ZS. Those Plat. Ed. versions dont offer any better sound, so based on what your post said it wouldn't change your performance at all. The only difference between the two, is the features, the Plat. Ed. offers a front I/O hub to making connecting things easier and more suited to someone who is going to use their computer for a all in one type system (home theater/computer). So like I said, unless you need all those extra features you could definitely loose that peice for the regular Audigy2 ZS without loosing any performance.

Heres a comparison chart of them too,

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=204&product=4915&nav=3

 

[Burton]

okay guys, this is what the setup is looking like now with the changes.

CPU AMD - S939 Athlon64 4000+ 64Bit (939-pin) - San Diego Core - CPU Boxed with heatsink and fan

Memory - DDR RAM OCZ PC3200 1024MBx2 EL DC PLATINUM CL2

Motherboard AMD - DFI LanParty UT nF4 SLI-DR, DDR400, Dual (SLI) Graphics
S939 Bridge, Dual-GLAN,SATA,1394, RAID

Hard Drive - SATA Seagate Barracuda 250GB, SATA, 7200.8, 7200RPM, 8.5MS, 8mb cache, NCQ, 5YR WRTY

CD-DVD-RW Drive - LiteON Black Combo Drive SOHC-5236K, 52x32x52 CD RW, 16x
DVD ROM Drive, with software.

CD-DVD-RW Drive - Pioneer DVR-109 Black 16X DVD-R/+R, 6X DVD+R Dual Layer DVD Burner (OEM)

Graphics Card - Sparkle PCI-e GeForce 7800GTX 256MB 2DVI/VIVO

Case - Antec TX1050B Black File Server Case, 500W PSU, 10 drive bays,
Front USB, IEEE1394, Audio, ATX

Software Windows XP Home Edition (OEM)

Sound Cards - Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

if i have the extra cash available i may try an get the platinum sound card.
final suggestions?