Building my own computer

[Shamrock1989]

Hey rangers, I was thinking about taking the next step and building my own computer. I am hoping you guys can help me out, I don't know much about computers. I am planning on making a gaming rig. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. As of right now I only have about a $1,200 budget.



Unfortunately I need to buy a monitor.

[Acoustic-Fury]

Hey rangers, I was thinking about taking the next step and building my own computer. I am hoping you guys can help me out, I don't know much about computers. I am planning on making a gaming rig. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. As of right now I only have about a $1,200 budget.



Unfortunately I need to buy a monitor.

Shamrock...you can get a kickass setup for that price including a monitor.

You can start looking around through this thread...this is going to be my next build when I get the cash (total was close to 900 without the monitor.

http://buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=129293

[Shamrock1989]

APEVIA MX-PLEASURE-NW-BK Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case ATX 500W dual fan w/ automatic fan speed control Power Supply - Retail $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144135


Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive $151.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136012R


POWERCOLOR AX3870512MD4-PH Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131077


Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio 70SB104000000 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card - Retail $65.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102017

[Shamrock1989]

OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Micron D7 Chip Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $105.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227181


ASUS P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131182


Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail $274.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028


SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151155

[Shamrock1989]

My friend tried to help me out with this. $1179 is the total. That's without a monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers. Any suggestions?

[Merc]

First get this CPU instead. It is cheaper and much much faster. I just got one and am running it at 4200MHz on water and have had it above 4600MHz. Absolutely incredible chip. I got mine for $200 with Google checkout special but that seems to be over. Still, it is only $223.

E8400 Intel Core 2 Duo (45nm Wolfdale core) 3.0GHz, 6MB Cache. http://www.tankguys.com/product_info.php?products_id=1788?osCsid=50aa82175 bcedf3c156765d87e7971a5

Lose the Raptor and get two 80Gb Western Digitals SATA 3.0s, at $43 each, and run them in RAID 0. Just as fast and only $86.

Just saved you $120

The 8800Gt is a much faster card than the 3870 and at $230 it is cheaper. No, you can't run Crossfire on it but that XFX will overclock like a mofo. Get it, wou won't be disappointed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106

Savings now $140

I am using DDR2 PC26400 RAM from Team Group called Team Xtreem. Yes it is only DDr2 800 but it has all Micron D9 chips and will overclock to 1200 at 2.2v as long as you have a fan blowing on it. You won't want to run it that fast all the time, just clock it down to 1066, but it is only $49.99 after a $40 rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313005

savings now $205

I have the same motherboard and it is great.

Here is a 22" monitor for $215 after a $30 mail in rebate. It is made by ChiMei. these guys make panels for all the big boys and have recently started making their own monitors. I have one of these and it is kick ass. No dead Pixels, no smearing, good controls etc. The stand is sturdy but not adjustable but what do you want for $215.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824252008

Lose the case and PSU. I guarantee you are asking for trouble if you use that PSU with this high end gear.

Get this PSU for $110. It ain't cheap but the best money you will ever spend. Plus it has free shipping right now. It is a PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 and is a rock solid piece of gear that will last for years. Please get a good power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005&Tpk=silencer%2b610


Lian Li PC-7B all aluminum case. You can get a window for it later if you want or go to Performance PC and get one with a window. It is an entry level Lian Li but probably the best bang for the buck you will get. Best of all it is only $90 and has free shipping right now. I like all aluminum as they are very light, incredibly durable and act like one big heatsink.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112099&Tpk=lian%2bli%2bpc7b

Don't forget Windows XP. Just get the Home edition, It is only $90 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056

So you are looking at $1294 if you lose the soundblaster. You can live with onboard sound for awhile IMHO.

You can get a cheaper case.

If you can forego overclocking to the extreme then this motherboard would be a very good fit, the Asus P5K SE. It has a P35 chipset but only 4 phase power and rudimentary cooling on the northbridge. It will overclock (and believe me, that 8400 moves up very easily) but will be limited due to Vdroop and limited chipset cooling BUT it is only $105 with free shipping. That gets you back to $1200 and most of this stuff has free shipping. Most of the complaint son that board are RAM related. The board was built for DDR2 800 and to get 1066 to run you need to know what you are doing (many Newegg reviewers don't) but the Team Xtreme is DDR2 800 so no worries. It has only one PCIe 16x slot so co dual cards in the future. It has P35 chipset, though, and that is what matters.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131189

The e8400 is a much faster CPU. There are some issues with the Thermal Diodes not reading temps at lower settings but it is not a big deal. My system reads 49c on each core till the cores finally reach 49c and then they read correctly. It is by far he best chip I have ever used.

Shipping adds up, especially on Power Supplies and cases. Both have free shipping as do most of the other components. That is pretty close and includes a 22" gaming monitor. Not bad and it will a be a great gamer.

[Acoustic-Fury]

Get this PSU for $110. It ain't cheap but the best money you will ever spend. Plus it has free shipping right now. It is a PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 and is a rock solid piece of gear that will last for years. Please get a good power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005&Tpk=silencer%2b610




I second this!

Believe me!

Nice work Merc.

[Merc]

Shamrock-
here is a case that will get you closer to your budget. I have built in Coolermaters and while not Lian Li's thay are good quality and have excellent support. This one has a little bling as well. It is $45 shipped. That saves $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

You can also go to a 19" widescreen monitor from ChiMei for $180 which saves another $35. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824252013

With the above swaps you will have a great system for under $1200 shipped. Latest gen CPU, very powerful video card, excellent chipset, Superb PSU that will be in many rigs in the future, fresh copy of windows you can use forever, 19" LCD widescreen monitor and 2GB of RAM. Get a couple of 80mm fans and a couple 62 mm fans for spot cooling things. You can use that thick double-sided tape to place them. I'd recommend some Arctic Silver 5 Thermal paste as well and a bottle of Isopprpyl alcohol *80% or better) to clean off old paste. Scavenge a keyboard and mouse and whatever speakers you wish. i use headsets so don't know much about speakers.

[dasaybz]

Merc, you love this shit don't ya?

$1200 is alot of money to spend on a PC.

[dasaybz]

If you want a gaming rig and you're spending that much money ... DEFINITELY go with the 8800GT.

[Merc]

Merc, you love this shit don't ya?

Yeah but this slso helps me stay up with the latest gear for my side business. I design one here and have a reayd referene when somene asks me to build at a certain price point.

[Merc]

E8400 Intel Core 2 Duo (45nm Wolfdale core) 3.0GHz, 6MB Cache. $223
http://www.tankguys.com/product_info.php?products_id=1788?osCsid=50aa82175 bcedf3c156765d87e7971a5

Asus P5K SE Motherbard w/ P35 chipset $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131189

2 x 1024MB (2GB) Team Xtreme DDR2 800 memory with D9 micron chips $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313005

XFX 8800GT (G92) Video Card $230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106

2 x 80Gb Western Digitals SATA 3.0s in RAID 0 $86
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106

PC P&C 610 Silencer PSU $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005&Tpk=silencer%2b610

Coolermaster Centurion 534 steel case $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106

NEC Black floppy drive (load RAID drivers) $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821152005

Samsung DVD 20x DVD burner $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151155

Windows XP Home Edition with SP2 $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056

ChiMei 19" Widescreen LCD monitor $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824252013

Total: $1,151 (add shipping for around $30)

[35Pete]

Merc, you love this shit don't ya?

$1200 is alot of money to spend on a PC.

Is my $6,000 rig too much?

[dasaybz]

Is my $6,000 rig too much?

Ya, you coulda bought a server for that much.

Shit, my file servers here at work cost about that much. HP DL380s. Nice equipment for sure.

[Shamrock1989]

I don't have 6k. It must be a sick rig.

[Merc]

I don't have 6k. It must be a sick rig.The e8400 , 2GB of DDR2 800 and an 8800GT (as in the above rig) would pretty much crush it as I think Pete is still on the A64 X2 and 7800's.

[Shamrock1989]

Anyone have any other suggestions? Maybe a completely different setup? All info is great. I am still looking around checking everything out. Pete, Nehe ?

[nehemiah]

i defer to the mercmeister general. he's a hardware guru.

either that or get a barebones system from newegg. that way you don't have to put your processor into your mobo.