Alright. The time has come for me to finalize my build. I have stretched my Google Calendar and Micro$oft Paint skills to the utmost to better explain to you my situation.
OK? OK. Now for the build:
CPU: Conroe e6600. Although I have said before it might be released on August 7th (my last day to buy, coincidentally), I'm more convinced it's the 27th of July (the day I leave, go figure). ~$340
Motherboard: Perhaps the Gigabyte DS3?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012
More options should be available soon, but this is what I'm currently eyeing. $140
RAM: Most likely DDR2 800 (probably not 667). On this point, I'm confused. G.Skill? Patriot? OCZ? Corsair? Of course, the only reason I'll get "Intel-only eek" RAM is if I have no other option. ~$200 or cheaper is the range I'm lookin' at.
HD: Western Digital SE16 250 GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701
16 megs of cache for the same price as 8. I don't think they're any noisier than the regular ones. Any experiences? $75
Monitor: Samsung 204B.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001226
I have decided not to go widescreen, although the Viewsonic VX2025 is tempting. Again, any personal experiences would be nice. $300
GPU: eVGA GeForce 7900 GT KO.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130015
I expect this to keep hovering at around $250. I don't need no stinkin' DX10 card.
PSU: Antec Truepower II 550W: $80.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931
'Nuff said.
Sound Card: Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Music.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102188
Pretty nice at its current price. Let's take the average cost: $100.
Speakers: Logitech z-5500.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16836121120
Yes. The only problem is that no local stores sell it for a decent price, so I'm stuck with $50 shipping. $280 total.
Case: Cooler Master Praetorian 730.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119085
I've looked around, and it's a nice case. I started and ended at it. Newegg has a discount on the silver one but not the black one. Grrrr. $150.
DVD burner/reader: Samsung Dealio.
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151118
It has a lot of (positive) reviews; seems fine.
Mouse and Keyboard: I'll buy the keyboard locally, and I'm still deciding on whether getting the Logitech MX518. But I'm hesitant to shell out the cash, considering I'm fine with this Microsoft laser mouse deal with... no side buttons! *Gaspage* Either way, it's $40-$50.
Please comb through it and tell me what you think.
Gerry
OK? OK. Now for the build:
CPU: Conroe e6600. Although I have said before it might be released on August 7th (my last day to buy, coincidentally), I'm more convinced it's the 27th of July (the day I leave, go figure). ~$340
Motherboard: Perhaps the Gigabyte DS3?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012
More options should be available soon, but this is what I'm currently eyeing. $140
RAM: Most likely DDR2 800 (probably not 667). On this point, I'm confused. G.Skill? Patriot? OCZ? Corsair? Of course, the only reason I'll get "Intel-only eek" RAM is if I have no other option. ~$200 or cheaper is the range I'm lookin' at.
HD: Western Digital SE16 250 GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701
16 megs of cache for the same price as 8. I don't think they're any noisier than the regular ones. Any experiences? $75
Monitor: Samsung 204B.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001226
I have decided not to go widescreen, although the Viewsonic VX2025 is tempting. Again, any personal experiences would be nice. $300
GPU: eVGA GeForce 7900 GT KO.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130015
I expect this to keep hovering at around $250. I don't need no stinkin' DX10 card.
PSU: Antec Truepower II 550W: $80.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931
'Nuff said.
Sound Card: Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Music.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102188
Pretty nice at its current price. Let's take the average cost: $100.
Speakers: Logitech z-5500.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16836121120
Yes. The only problem is that no local stores sell it for a decent price, so I'm stuck with $50 shipping. $280 total.
Case: Cooler Master Praetorian 730.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119085
I've looked around, and it's a nice case. I started and ended at it. Newegg has a discount on the silver one but not the black one. Grrrr. $150.
DVD burner/reader: Samsung Dealio.
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151118
It has a lot of (positive) reviews; seems fine.
Mouse and Keyboard: I'll buy the keyboard locally, and I'm still deciding on whether getting the Logitech MX518. But I'm hesitant to shell out the cash, considering I'm fine with this Microsoft laser mouse deal with... no side buttons! *Gaspage* Either way, it's $40-$50.
Please comb through it and tell me what you think.
Gerry