Complete My Gaming Rig

[macdawg]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136012

2 150 gig raptors in raid zero would be amazing, but expensive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136062

2 of these hard drives would give you 320 gb of storage and I think I read that with raid that two good sata 3.0 hard drives is still a little faster than a single raptor, making it the logical choice.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131028

ASUS P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

that would be the mobo I would pick.

 

[norcal313]

THanks for the insight macdawg, that mobo was actually the one I've been looking at for the last week, it dropped in price $20 since then so I will most likely get it.

As for 2 HDs in RAID, is there anything I have to do to setup RAID? I'm sure it's not as easy as hooking both up and just running the machine.

edit: Another thing, I am a bit ignorant with the hype over these fast HDs, do I really need a super fast HD for my computer if my main focus is just gaming? Will it have an impact on my gameplay at all? Or is this just a matter of being able to load a program a tad bit faster than normal?

 

[Drizo]

norcal, as for mobo, get the asus p5b deluxe non wifi version for $182
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-P5B-DX

OR... act fast on this one, the asus p5w dh for $220
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=110710
I went to the Monarchcomputer store on Wednesday and they had 1 left, so give them a call if you want that board.

or get the best, the asus p5w64ws pro for $287
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-P5W64WS
^that price for that board is a great deal

or get the abit aw9d max for $240 (out of stock though)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127011

 

[Ste]

As for 2 HDs in RAID, is there anything I have to do to setup RAID? I'm sure it's not as easy as hooking both up and just running the machine.

edit: Another thing, I am a bit ignorant with the hype over these fast HDs, do I really need a super fast HD for my computer if my main focus is just gaming? Will it have an impact on my gameplay at all? Or is this just a matter of being able to load a program a tad bit faster than normal?

Yes, refer to the boards manual on how to set up RAID.
You will also need the RAID Drivers ready when you install windows.

The basic process is this. Enable RAID through CMOS. Enter RAID Setup Utility, Select what Level RAID then Add both Drives to the Array. Then Start settings up windows, windows will request the RAID Drivers. At this screen you incert the floppy or disc they are on. You can also intergrate the Drivers into the OS using Nlite.

Raptors are not needed. Two SATA Drives w/16 MB cache's is more then enough. But if you have the money then theres no reason not to buy raptors, just make sure they have their own cooling.

Please Remember that RAID 0 IS NOT fault tolerant therefore you will need to back up important Data Often.

 

[norcal313]

Drizo, some of those boards seem like overkill for my other components. I'm really not in-the-know when it comes to computers so enlighten me as to which is the better choice for my money. Thanks for those listings, I appreciate the suggestions.

I will most likely upgrade my vid card down the road to one of the new generation cards, or I may go SLI...

 

[Drizo]

The p5w-dh deluxe is the best option if you plan on going SLI down the road, (SLI isn't officially supported, you'll have to use hacked drivers). The Abit AW9D-Max, which includes a SLI bridge (again not officially supported, but bridge doesn't require the hacked drivers), but the board has a terrible layout so if you have an SLI configuration, you won't be able to use a 3rd party sound card such as the X-fi. The board comes with a audiomax sound card which is okay, but if you plan on playing games like BF2 then you'll want to get an X-Fi, but say goodbye to those SLI plans then.

Go with the P5WDH if you're completely sure that you want to go SLI, or wait another month until DFI has the NF680 out.

 

[bonehelm]

If i were you I wouldn't even consider a 7900 series...a 7600GT can handle everything until R600 comes out.

 

[BennyV04988]

If i were you I wouldn't even consider a 7900 series...a 7600GT can handle everything until R600 comes out.

What on earth does that even mean? Does the R600 make a 7600GT perform worse??? A 7600GT cant handle everything by the way.... R600 is a long way away.

 

[TheOtis]

If i were you I wouldn't even consider a 7900 series...a 7600GT can handle everything until R600 comes out.

That's a very bold statement. And quite wrong.

 

[norcal313]

lol yall are confusing me now. I'm adamant on getting at least a 7900 series. But I'm still not sure about the hard drive issue, is gettinga primary and a secondary for storage a bad idea at all? Does it have any drawbacks?