worth building?

junk218 · 05-06-2008, 09:36 PM

hello all, first time poster and would appreciate some info. I have been a gamer for about 7 years now, and i am looking to make a damn fine computer, but stores are damn expensive, and i don't know enough to build my own (i might but i don't want the hassle of it not working), so i am going to (hopefully) have some small company build me one. so i figured i'd post on here and see what you all think. things to change, add, subtract, etc.

1. Budget: 2000-2500
2. Brands:don't care
3. Multitasking: music/games mostly
4. Gaming: oh yeah
5. Calculations: nah, too dumb to do this
6. Overclocking: don't know much about it but maybe give it a shot
7. Storage: more is better to me, movies, music, etc
8. Legacy Support: no
9. Operating System: vista 64 from what i've read, not smart enough for linux
10. Case: want a medium size, but cool (temp wise)
11. Accessories: no
12. Recycled Components: no
13. Monitor: going to get this separate, looking at a 24"
14. Stores: no
15. Location: US

this is what i have so far, in the "build it yourself" place i have found.

Motherboard: ASUS P5K-VM 775 Motherboard 4DDR2-800 PCIe 2PCI 4SATA2 2IDE VIDEO
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 LGA775 Quad-Core (2.4GHz / 8MB / 1066FSB)
CPU Fan: Zalman CNPS8000 Copper Base LGA775 CPU Fan
RAM Memory: 8GB 667MHz (4X-2GB) DDR2 PC5300 Dual-Channel RAM Memory
Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive
Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive
Cooling Fan: 2 x Hard Disk Drive Dual-Fan Cooler
Optical Drive: 20X Dual Layer DVD-RW Burner with Lightscribe
Optical Drive: 52X32X52 CDRW & 16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive
Card Reader: All-in-One MultiFunction Internal Media Card Reader
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB DDR3 PCI Express Video Card
Add-On Cards: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Sound Card OEM
PC Tower Case: Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BNA Aluminum Black Tower Case
Power Supply: ANTEC 1000W Quattro HEAVY LOAD Power Supply
Case Fan: 3 x Ball Bearing ATX System Cooling CASE FAN

for about 2500

thanks in advance for the info :)

Tumbleweed36 · 05-07-2008, 03:55 PM

[quote=junk218;1471808]

Motherboard: ASUS P5K-VM 775 Motherboard 4DDR2-800 PCIe 2PCI 4SATA2 2IDE VIDEO

Any reason you have chosen the VM model (Micro, I think) motherboard? I would go for the ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP (full size) if this were my rig.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 LGA775 Quad-Core (2.4GHz / 8MB / 1066FSB)

I would consider using the Intel e8400 or e8500 as a better option for you with the CPU.

CPU Fan: Zalman CNPS8000 Copper Base LGA775 CPU Fan

RAM Memory: 8GB 667MHz (4X-2GB) DDR2 PC5300 Dual-Channel RAM Memory

That much memory is overkill and IMHO, you don't have a need for that much memory.

If this were mine, I would also use something like 4 gigs of Crucial Ballistix DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500), because if you put 4 gigs of that in there, it would get you all you would ever want.

Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive
Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive

Cooling Fan: 2 x Hard Disk Drive Dual-Fan Cooler

Not always necessary IMHO. Might want to try it first to see if it is needed.

Optical Drive: 20X Dual Layer DVD-RW Burner with Lightscribe

Optical Drive: 52X32X52 CDRW & 16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive

Card Reader: All-in-One MultiFunction Internal Media Card Reader

Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB DDR3 PCI Express Video Card

Add-On Cards: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Sound Card OEM

PC Tower Case: Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BNA Aluminum Black Tower Case

Nice case IMHO.

Power Supply: ANTEC 1000W Quattro HEAVY LOAD Power Supply

Case Fan: 3 x Ball Bearing ATX System Cooling CASE FAN

YOu might want to consider the Antec 3 speed 120mm fans for case cooling. YOu can then adjust their speed (and resultant noise factor) depending upon their demands to keep the rig cool.

for about 2500

thanks in advance for the info :)

Didn't get a chance to do the math on changing and the total cost, but those are some INITIAL thoughts that I have on this issue.[/QUOTE]

krisb · 05-07-2008, 09:49 PM

I like Tumbleweed36's comments. Just make sure your mobo supports your memory speed. and get at least pcs-6400 memory. i just got the Thermaltake Armor Case. it is reasonably priced and it is COOL as it is a great design

B.I.T.S. · 05-08-2008, 02:22 AM

One key factor I would also look into is will the mobo support THAT MUCH memory. Most boards today can easily handle 2-4GB but 8 I am not sure of... That might just be wasted memory for more cash.

05-06-2008, 09:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
junk218 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp	worth building? hello all, first time poster and would appreciate some info. I have been a gamer for about 7 years now, and i am looking to make a damn fine computer, but stores are damn expensive, and i don't know enough to build my own (i might but i don't want the hassle of it not working), so i am going to (hopefully) have some small company build me one. so i figured i'd post on here and see what you all think. things to change, add, subtract, etc. 1. Budget: 2000-2500 2. Brands:don't care 3. Multitasking: music/games mostly 4. Gaming: oh yeah 5. Calculations: nah, too dumb to do this 6. Overclocking: don't know much about it but maybe give it a shot 7. Storage: more is better to me, movies, music, etc 8. Legacy Support: no 9. Operating System: vista 64 from what i've read, not smart enough for linux 10. Case: want a medium size, but cool (temp wise) 11. Accessories: no 12. Recycled Components: no 13. Monitor: going to get this separate, looking at a 24" 14. Stores: no 15. Location: US this is what i have so far, in the "build it yourself" place i have found. Motherboard: ASUS P5K-VM 775 Motherboard 4DDR2-800 PCIe 2PCI 4SATA2 2IDE VIDEO CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 LGA775 Quad-Core (2.4GHz / 8MB / 1066FSB) CPU Fan: Zalman CNPS8000 Copper Base LGA775 CPU Fan RAM Memory: 8GB 667MHz (4X-2GB) DDR2 PC5300 Dual-Channel RAM Memory Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive Cooling Fan: 2 x Hard Disk Drive Dual-Fan Cooler Optical Drive: 20X Dual Layer DVD-RW Burner with Lightscribe Optical Drive: 52X32X52 CDRW & 16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive Card Reader: All-in-One MultiFunction Internal Media Card Reader Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB DDR3 PCI Express Video Card Add-On Cards: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Sound Card OEM PC Tower Case: Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BNA Aluminum Black Tower Case Power Supply: ANTEC 1000W Quattro HEAVY LOAD Power Supply Case Fan: 3 x Ball Bearing ATX System Cooling CASE FAN for about 2500 thanks in advance for the info :) Last edited by junk218 : 05-06-2008 at 09:59 PM.

05-07-2008, 03:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 12,820 OS: XP Professional	Re: worth building? [quote=junk218;1471808] Motherboard: ASUS P5K-VM 775 Motherboard 4DDR2-800 PCIe 2PCI 4SATA2 2IDE VIDEO Any reason you have chosen the VM model (Micro, I think) motherboard? I would go for the ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP (full size) if this were my rig. CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 LGA775 Quad-Core (2.4GHz / 8MB / 1066FSB) I would consider using the Intel e8400 or e8500 as a better option for you with the CPU. CPU Fan: Zalman CNPS8000 Copper Base LGA775 CPU Fan RAM Memory: 8GB 667MHz (4X-2GB) DDR2 PC5300 Dual-Channel RAM Memory That much memory is overkill and IMHO, you don't have a need for that much memory. If this were mine, I would also use something like 4 gigs of Crucial Ballistix DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500), because if you put 4 gigs of that in there, it would get you all you would ever want. Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM SATA2 Hard Disk Drive Cooling Fan: 2 x Hard Disk Drive Dual-Fan Cooler Not always necessary IMHO. Might want to try it first to see if it is needed. Optical Drive: 20X Dual Layer DVD-RW Burner with Lightscribe Optical Drive: 52X32X52 CDRW & 16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive Card Reader: All-in-One MultiFunction Internal Media Card Reader Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800GTX 768MB DDR3 PCI Express Video Card Add-On Cards: Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Sound Card OEM PC Tower Case: Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BNA Aluminum Black Tower Case Nice case IMHO. Power Supply: ANTEC 1000W Quattro HEAVY LOAD Power Supply Case Fan: 3 x Ball Bearing ATX System Cooling CASE FAN YOu might want to consider the Antec 3 speed 120mm fans for case cooling. YOu can then adjust their speed (and resultant noise factor) depending upon their demands to keep the rig cool. for about 2500 thanks in advance for the info :) Didn't get a chance to do the math on changing and the total cost, but those are some INITIAL thoughts that I have on this issue.[/QUOTE] __________________ ----------

05-07-2008, 09:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
krisb Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 38 OS: Vista Home Premium 64 My System	Re: worth building? I like Tumbleweed36's comments. Just make sure your mobo supports your memory speed. and get at least pcs-6400 memory. i just got the Thermaltake Armor Case. it is reasonably priced and it is COOL as it is a great design

05-08-2008, 02:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
B.I.T.S. Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 8 OS: OS X Leopard	Re: worth building? One key factor I would also look into is will the mobo support THAT MUCH memory. Most boards today can easily handle 2-4GB but 8 I am not sure of... That might just be wasted memory for more cash.