Building My Birthday Present

TotalMark · 03-29-2008, 03:43 AM

For my birthday my parents are letting me build a PC, this machine will be used primarily for gaming, so keep that in mind while looking at my parts list...

I read the customer reviews of each of these items from Tiger Direct, and I've done research into the reviews of the components at other websites.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor BX80562Q6600 - Retail (Are the cooling units that come with retail processors any good?)

EVGA nforce 780i SLI Motherboard

Corsair DHX XMS2 Dominator Dual Channel 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800Mhz Memory

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB Hard Drive - 7200, 16MB, Serial ATA-300, OEM

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT Video Card 512MB DDR3

LITE-ON DH-20A4H-08 E-IDE Burner with Lightscribe Technology (RETAIL) - 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±RW

Ultra Grid ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, Audio Ports and Ultra XVS-Series 700-Watt Power Supply

Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP2 OEM Version

See any problems? Faults? Better stuff I could get?

0siris85 · 03-29-2008, 07:00 AM

Hiya,

The power supplies that come with cases are almost always crap. I would recommend you get a case that does not come with a power supply and pick one up yourself. Here is a very nice power supply rundown posted by Tumbleweed. I would recommend you read that and choose one from that list.

Also, I don't recommend that you buy an OEM hard drive. They usually come with very short, or no warranty at all. So once it goes, you need to start shopping again.

The stock heatsink and fan on the Q6600's is sufficient. If you plan on overclocking I would probably pick up a different heatsink and fan.

Other than that you have a pretty solid build there

Good Luck

2pistolpacker · 03-29-2008, 01:32 PM

Hi TotalMark, it looks like a nice system, except for the power supply. This OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W is the best bang for the buck in it's power/price range. I agree, if you plan to overclock at all you'll want to go with an aftermarket cooler. The stock one will work for now though. Mike

bearsaj99 · 03-29-2008, 02:57 PM

Hey Total Mark I like your build. You will need a new power supply. If you were just going with the case because of its power supply I have a few case suggestions for you. Or just look around www.xoxide.com. They give you nice suggestions for power supplies or look for the recommended brands.

Any Xoxide Cases<------- These are all cheap and have nice quality. They look cool too!
The Chemning 301 <------------ It is mostly tool free, looks cool, cheap and has sliding external drive assembly.
Sunbeam Transformer Case - Black<---------- A Full ATX case, cheap, totally tool free, and cool looking with its free CCFL light include.

TotalMark · 03-29-2008, 07:57 PM

Thanks all, I was really unsure about the case. It looks like I was right about consulting experts.

I will be going for the OCZ. I also picked up a 320GB SATA WD Caviar from Circuit City today, comes with a three year warranty.

I've read some reviews for the Thermaltake Black Armor Armor Series VA8000. I know it's pricey, but is this a good case?

I also have another question about 64-bit versions of Windows XP, are these better for my Quad Core processor, or should I wait until Vista is better?

**emosun** · 03-30-2008, 06:45 AM

You should actually wait on the 64bit till windows 7 comes out a skip vista all together , its really not worth the headache. lol . Unless your going for more then 3gb of ram , then you'll need 64 bit. And yes the armor is a nice case.

TotalMark · 03-30-2008, 02:32 PM

After I posted that I saw some pictures of Magical's "Big Nasty" using that case... so I guess I answered that question.

I'm thinking about more than the 2 gigs listed here, so I might give that 64-bit XP a try.

TotalMark · 03-30-2008, 09:07 PM

Okay one more question.

Since this machine has never been plugged in, where to I connect my anti-static wristband?

I've never build a machine before, just installed parts (RAM, Video Cards, HDDs, Optical Drives).

**emosun** · 03-30-2008, 10:34 PM

You attach one end to your wrist and the other to like a radiator or other large metal object.

TotalMark · 03-30-2008, 11:17 PM

Okay, so it can be any grounded metal object... I gotcha.

2pistolpacker · 03-31-2008, 11:14 AM

Since this is your first build, count the screw holes in the motherboard and verify that you have a standoff in the case for each one, no more, no less. It's better to check before you install the motherboard, everything else you can see with the board mounted. Mike

TotalMark · 04-04-2008, 09:33 PM

Well, I've ordered the parts and they should be here by next week.

03-29-2008, 03:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
TotalMark Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP2, Mac OS 10.4.11	Building My Birthday Present For my birthday my parents are letting me build a PC, this machine will be used primarily for gaming, so keep that in mind while looking at my parts list... I read the customer reviews of each of these items from Tiger Direct, and I've done research into the reviews of the components at other websites. Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor BX80562Q6600 - Retail (Are the cooling units that come with retail processors any good?) EVGA nforce 780i SLI Motherboard Corsair DHX XMS2 Dominator Dual Channel 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800Mhz Memory Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB Hard Drive - 7200, 16MB, Serial ATA-300, OEM EVGA GeForce 8800 GT Video Card 512MB DDR3 LITE-ON DH-20A4H-08 E-IDE Burner with Lightscribe Technology (RETAIL) - 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±RW Ultra Grid ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, Audio Ports and Ultra XVS-Series 700-Watt Power Supply Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP2 OEM Version See any problems? Faults? Better stuff I could get?

03-29-2008, 07:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
0siris85 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 153 OS: Windows XP Home SP2	Re: Building My Birthday Present Hiya, The power supplies that come with cases are almost always crap. I would recommend you get a case that does not come with a power supply and pick one up yourself. Here is a very nice power supply rundown posted by Tumbleweed. I would recommend you read that and choose one from that list. Also, I don't recommend that you buy an OEM hard drive. They usually come with very short, or no warranty at all. So once it goes, you need to start shopping again. The stock heatsink and fan on the Q6600's is sufficient. If you plan on overclocking I would probably pick up a different heatsink and fan. Other than that you have a pretty solid build there Good Luck Last edited by 0siris85; 03-29-2008 at 07:03 AM.

03-29-2008, 01:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
2pistolpacker Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lenexa, Ks Posts: 1,038 OS: Win XP Pro My System	Re: Building My Birthday Present Hi TotalMark, it looks like a nice system, except for the power supply. This OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W is the best bang for the buck in it's power/price range. I agree, if you plan to overclock at all you'll want to go with an aftermarket cooler. The stock one will work for now though. Mike __________________ Speak kindly to me, beloved master. Revel in my unconditional love, and give me every minute that you can spare, for my time with you is short. --Your faithful dog Last edited by 2pistolpacker; 03-29-2008 at 01:34 PM.

03-29-2008, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
bearsaj99 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 40 OS: Windows XP SP 2	Re: Building My Birthday Present Hey Total Mark I like your build. You will need a new power supply. If you were just going with the case because of its power supply I have a few case suggestions for you. Or just look around www.xoxide.com. They give you nice suggestions for power supplies or look for the recommended brands. Any Xoxide Cases<------- These are all cheap and have nice quality. They look cool too! The Chemning 301 <------------ It is mostly tool free, looks cool, cheap and has sliding external drive assembly. Sunbeam Transformer Case - Black<---------- A Full ATX case, cheap, totally tool free, and cool looking with its free CCFL light include. Last edited by bearsaj99; 03-29-2008 at 02:59 PM.

03-29-2008, 07:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
TotalMark Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP2, Mac OS 10.4.11	Re: Building My Birthday Present Thanks all, I was really unsure about the case. It looks like I was right about consulting experts. I will be going for the OCZ. I also picked up a 320GB SATA WD Caviar from Circuit City today, comes with a three year warranty. I've read some reviews for the Thermaltake Black Armor Armor Series VA8000. I know it's pricey, but is this a good case? I also have another question about 64-bit versions of Windows XP, are these better for my Quad Core processor, or should I wait until Vista is better?

03-30-2008, 06:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,921 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Building My Birthday Present You should actually wait on the 64bit till windows 7 comes out a skip vista all together , its really not worth the headache. lol . Unless your going for more then 3gb of ram , then you'll need 64 bit. And yes the armor is a nice case. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

03-30-2008, 02:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
TotalMark Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP2, Mac OS 10.4.11	Re: Building My Birthday Present After I posted that I saw some pictures of Magical's "Big Nasty" using that case... so I guess I answered that question. I'm thinking about more than the 2 gigs listed here, so I might give that 64-bit XP a try. Last edited by TotalMark; 03-30-2008 at 02:34 PM.

03-30-2008, 09:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
TotalMark Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP2, Mac OS 10.4.11	Re: Building My Birthday Present Okay one more question. Since this machine has never been plugged in, where to I connect my anti-static wristband? I've never build a machine before, just installed parts (RAM, Video Cards, HDDs, Optical Drives).

03-30-2008, 10:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,921 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Building My Birthday Present You attach one end to your wrist and the other to like a radiator or other large metal object. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

03-30-2008, 11:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
TotalMark Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP2, Mac OS 10.4.11	Re: Building My Birthday Present Okay, so it can be any grounded metal object... I gotcha.

03-31-2008, 11:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
2pistolpacker Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lenexa, Ks Posts: 1,038 OS: Win XP Pro My System	Re: Building My Birthday Present Since this is your first build, count the screw holes in the motherboard and verify that you have a standoff in the case for each one, no more, no less. It's better to check before you install the motherboard, everything else you can see with the board mounted. Mike __________________ Speak kindly to me, beloved master. Revel in my unconditional love, and give me every minute that you can spare, for my time with you is short. --Your faithful dog

04-04-2008, 09:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
TotalMark Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP2, Mac OS 10.4.11	Re: Building My Birthday Present Well, I've ordered the parts and they should be here by next week.