ervand

I already decided on what my system is going to be (most main parts of it), but what is keeping me away from starting buy those parts is few questions and some changes that I need your expert opinion on. I hope you will help me!


1. Budget: How much money are you willing to spend on the new build?
I am planing on spending approximately $2000 on the tower. I already got everything else (Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Audio system)

3. Multitasking: Will you be multitasking with this computer and if so, how much?
Extreme multi-tasking. I am going to have programs like 3D Studio Max and Photoshop running at the same time with heavy graphics loaded and music playing.

4. Gaming: Will you be gaming and if so, how much and how new are the games?
I am not an extreme gamer, but I will be gaming. If I could manage to run games like Crysis and Call of Duty 4 without any glitching at highest setting I will be more then satisfied, as I am only planing on playing this 2 games.

5. Calculations: Will you be doing any intense calculations or media encoding?
Yes.

6. Overclocking: Do you plan on overclocking and if so, how much?
I never overclocked, but most of the parts that I am getting were ment to be overclocked when I get them. So yes, I do plan to overclock most of the parts.

9. Operating System: Do you want Windows XP or Vista, or Linux compatibility?
Vista.

14. Stores: Do you have any online stores that you prefer to purchase from?
I'd rather it be newegg.com, but if there is a better deal from somewhere else I am down for it.

15. Location: What country do you live in?
United States, California.



I am trying to put stuff together. I've created another topic long time ago, where me and other users figured what my new system is going to be. That's how I got most parts that you see below, but I've made some changes to what I want. I don't want to come back to the old topic, as this case is different. Unlike the first time, I know what my system is going to be, I just need some suggestions on few questions, so here we go:

COOLER MASTER - COSMOS 1000 (ATX Full Tower Computer Case) - Retail
I need your help on this. See questions below.

$185 - MSI P6N Diamond LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Gonna go SLI on it.

$280 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
I am planing on overclocking this well.

$100 - 2x Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
so all together 4GBs (4x1GB). I am going for overclocking on this part too. Please don't try to convince me to go with 2GBs (2x1GB)!! I've already made my choice!

$540 - 2x EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Gonna go for SLI and overclocking if it is possible.

$175 - Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
This is going to be the main drive where the system + programs are. I need your suggestions, as it is going to have heating issues. See questions below.

$210 - 2x Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gbs Hard Drive - OEM
Gonna keep my media on one of this drives and back it up to the other one. I had bad experiences with having everything backed-up to the same hard drive and loosing everything that I have when it burned out, so I'd rather spend 100 more bucks, but feel safe!

$65 - ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
I was suggested with this CPU cooler, but I am not sure now, because I might go with water cooling. See questions below.

$5 - FC-2000 PCI Slot Case Cooler - Retail
This comes from an old topic and it was suppose to help cool my system down, but now I am not sure and I am waiting for your replies to figure if watercooling is a best way to go for me.

$120 - SILVERSTONE ST85ZF ATX12V EPS12V 850W SLI Certified Power Supply 90V ~ 264V (Auto Range) - Retail
I hope this is enough for everything that I've got.



Questions:

1.Aircooling vs. Watercooling. I need some suggestions on the case that I chose. As you can see a case has a lot of fans, but many reviewers say they have problems with overheating (especially hard-drives). Let me know your opinion about this. It is a huge case, maybe those fans are not enough for it? Should I be considering watercooling? As this case was made to be watercooled (take a look from behind, it has holes for watercooling pipes. I am also considering overclocking and that's gonna produce even more heat. I really want to go with THIS case, as I like it VERY much (even though it is a big case =/)

2. If we are going to with water cooling then I don't want to spend more then $200 on watercooling system. If you could post a link with your suggestion to newegg.com I would really apriciate it.

3. If watercooling is a way to go then should I still get those two fans (CPU fan and pci fan)?

4. What does "ATX" mean In "ATX Full Tower Computer Case?

5. I have 3 hard drives, one of them is high RPM, and a case that I am choosing is known for bad heat control (ESPECIALLY hard drives). Should I be considering getting something to cool them down? Post a link please!

6. I need help choosing DVD/CD Burners. I need two SATA burners. I don't want to spend more then $100 on them. In fact, I'd rather it be even cheaper.

7. Please help me find a good, but unexpensive Card Reader.
Features I am looking for:
- Able to read SD and M Cards (that's ALL I need I want from it)
- Able to be recognized by Vista
- Not too expensiv ($20 at max)
- Not too many wires from it, but if it the only way to go then I am down for it.

8. I need a PCI card that has usb ports in it.
Features I am looking for:
- Able to be recognized by Vista
- If it has internal usb hosts it would be good, but that's an option
- I'd rather it have 6 usb ports, but if there is a card with 4 usb ports, but with 2 internal ports - I would trade for that!

9. Tell me what you think of this for my cellphone (transfering music). Is there any other bluetooth receiver that is going to transfer files faster?

10. Is there anything else I should be looking forward to buy?



I hope to get all of my answers answered and finally get my new system!! I will really appreciate time and effort that you spend helping me! After I am going to have my system I am going to make a good donation to the forum!!

I really hope I will receive help from you!

Thanks in advance!

1 g0t 0wn3d

OK first off with 2 8800gt's in sli you need some massive case cooling http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133021

If i was going to buy watercooling i would get it off of www.dangerden.com however its not really needed unless you are doing extreme overclocking or have high house temps otherwise the zalman 9700 or 9500 will suit you

Atx is a form factor most motherboards and cases are atx

Actually if you get the armor it has a fan blowing through the hard drive case however you might want to get like 2 of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835220015 and replace the stock ones

You can get 2 of these for dvd burners http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106072

Does this have all the card supported that are needed? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820609198

The most i can find is one with 5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815105201 but the card reader has one on it?

Your link is broken

You should buy a tube of arctic silver 5

And should get some seagate drives instead on the wd they will be more quite 2 of these would be nice (note the 32mb of cache) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288

ervand

1. Is there any way I can have all the stuff that I want with the case that I wanted in a first place? I'll go for what ever it takes. I mean I REALLY want it, but I also want it to be safe for my hardware, so I am down for any suggestions you might give. tnx.

2. I never had a chance to mess with watercooling, so I am not even sure what parts I am looking for. I know that you can cool down video card, motherboard, and cpu with water cooling, but that's all I know. Can you past a link with a full watercooling system? I was thinking not more then $200

3. Broken link was this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833340002
I am thinking to get it to transfer music to my phone wireless.

4. there was two kinds of arctic silver 5 on newegg.com. this one costs $15 and the other one $5. I guess this is a higher quality http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...er+5&x=24&y=29 is it the one I should get?

5. I like the 32mb cache part, but I'll have to think on the seagate drive. I don't like seagate for several reasons:
- One of the reasons is that I already got 1 of those I was looking forward to buy.
- Another reason is that I never had any problems with WD unlike the seagate that I bough once and had it brake in a couple of days.
- Another reason is that there is no warranty on seagates. They've refused exchanging my broken drive, they told me that's my problem and that they don't do exchanges.
- unlike WD that has 3 year warranty.
- more to all, WD it does seem loud to me at all. In fact for 1 week that I had this drive I haven't even hear a sound from it o0

PS: Thanks for suggesting me dvd burners, card reader, and usb card. I am going to with those you suggested. tnx again.

1 g0t 0wn3d

The case you linked will work though you may want to get 2 of those fans i linked

http://www.dangerden.com/store/produ...&cat=65&page=1 (make sure to select lga775) the only thing is that video card water blocks are alot 0.0 http://www.dangerden.com/store/produ...&cat=48&page=1
Though you could get oneand do the top sli configured card because it gets less air or do then both on air.

I have not messed with bluetooth so i do not know=/ sorry

About that they are different sizes ether will work well

The wd will work still

ervand

1. So, I am going with this water cooling system
http://www.dangerden.com/store/produ...&cat=65&page=1
When you said lga775 did you mean this?
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4010/33628067lo5.jpg
in addition to that I am buying two of these
http://www.dangerden.com/store/produ...&cat=48&page=1
is everything right?

2. I am sorry, but I didn't get this part:
3. I am not getting thermal paste because one comes in a package, and I think I only have to put it once right? or should I get one more because it needs to get refreshed time-to-time?

1 g0t 0wn3d

if the bottom link is the waterblock is the one i linked then yes (you may want some more coolent just incase you spill some though)

I was just saying that since the water blocks cost so much you could liquid cool the top card in the sli config and leave the bottom with air since it has more room to suck in air.

ervand

Yeah, i've fixed the link just now.

1. there is a little problem. Zerex Coolant is out of stock, and High Density Polyethylene is on clearance sale after which they are gone. I am only going to be able start buying parts for new system in 1 months. what should I do?

1 g0t 0wn3d

If you buy it do they ship the coolent when it comes in? You could order and buy a bottle of this http://www.dangerden.com/store/produ...8&cat=0&page=1

ervand

You are asking me? =) I don't know, I never bought from them. I will probably go with the coolant you linked to, even if they do send me the one that comes with the package. I am more concerned with the other part that soon is going to be out of stock. I think I would have to go with another watercooling system. Maybe I should create another topic for watercooling after I am completely done with deciding what the hardware will be.

I think the best way is to go custom on every part. isn't it?

1 g0t 0wn3d

yes danger den and another that i forgot (sorry) are the best quallity (less failures) if your pump fails unless you notice right away and pull the plug you are looking at some damaged hardware


And their kits are just all the parts needed a at a 5% discount

ervand

1. The hardware is going to fail because the liquid is going to get inside or it is going to get very hot inside?

2.If it fails at night and if I still have all those fans on then I don't think it should metter right? fans are going to take care of the heat till I wake up, right?

3. and if it fail while I am by my computer I should notice right a way, right?

1 g0t 0wn3d

What i would do is since liquid coooling keeps it very cool i would set the shut down temp at like 55c that way if it hits that temp it will shut down (that is ofcource after you figure out what your max temp is overclocked


Yes there should be a loud grinding sound or likewise (normally you get like 40-50 thousand hours out of a good syatem before you even want to consider a new pump)

And it would fail from heat but as long as you have a shut down temp set (even 65-70c) you should be fine