Highteck

This will be my first time building a pc , and quite frankly, a little nervous of my abilities. I will be doing extensive reseach on the subject. In the mean time I need any and all input on the the hardware.

As for the questionare:

Budget: 1,500


Brands: AMD/Nvidia for the cpu/gpu. Rest are open for discussion.


Multitasking: I run 2 monitors with vent and perhaps my guilds website up. Along with whatever game I am playing.


Gaming: I am a WoW player for now but would like to be able to play any game that comes up in the future that interests me. MMO, FPS, sports mainly. Doesn't have to be the highest settings. Just respectable frame rates.


Calculations: No calculations or media encoding?


Overclocking: Another item for research. If possible I will. Nothing extreme.


Storage: Enough for the os, my games and perhaps a music library.


Legacy Support: No.

Operating System: Vista


Case: Anything but a micro.

Accessories: I own a G15 and G7


Recycled Components: No. My current computer is 5+ years old.

Monitor: I own a 22" widescreen and 19" flat


Stores: Open to all options as long as they are reputable. Familar with Newegg.


Location: Florida, USA


This is what I have come up with so far:

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
My current desk that has the tower in the center and aligned
with the desktop. The I/O usb and audio inputs are perfect. I can not use one with a front door.

ASUS M3N-HT DELUXE/MEMPIPE AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard -
Would like the option to upgrade cpu when prices are more reasonable.

AMD Phenom 8750 Toliman 2.4GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Triple-Core Processor
Under the impression that current OS's don't utilize the 4th core. So what the point in paying for it.

2 X PNY VCG96512GXPB GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video
Will be sli.

2 X Mushkin 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory
They have heatspreaders but not sure about their speed.

Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive
Enough to hold a cpl of games. I am not the type that keeps every game on my computer even if I no longer play it.

ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T
Would like to burn some music though.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card
Have never had a sound card before. Is it worth it? Will it fit with sli cards?

ABS Tagan BZ Series BZ700 700W ATX12V / EPS12V Patent Piperock Modular Power Supply
Is it enough power?

Thermaltake CL-P0296 92mm CPU Cooler
I don't want any heat issues.

This will cost 1,400 from Newegg. If competitors are cheaper, I have yet to find it. Any thoughts if this system will last for 2+ years before it gets outdated by newer games. Or even if it is all compatible. Please help a fellow gamer before he hits the checkout button and regrets it.

Blue_Gene

Seems pretty good to me. Also check out the samsung dvd burners. They perform pretty well and another brand is the liteon burners, they are good too.

zero9046

I would almost suggest getting an 8800GT (stock, no oc'd versions or anything) over the 9600. The 8800 has more pixel pipelines or whatever you want to call them, and from what I've read it out performs the 9600. It also isn't that much more expensive on newegg. Still under 200 I believe.

Highteck

Thanks for the advise so far. I'm still up in the air on the 9800 vs 8800 debate though. So articles I read shows 9800 outperforms then the next day a read another and its the opposite. Please keep it coming though. I apperciate it.

zero9046

please clarify. your first post included that you were looking at the 9600, not the 9800.

Highteck

You are right. 9600 is what I listed and wanted to state. Now its a mute point. Further research has shown me that I can't duel monitor sli. So now some new questions.I will go with a single card setup. What Nvidia the best bang for the buck. I am lost with all the GS GT GTX GX2 ULTRA suffixes. $500 max for the card. And since it will be one card will I still need 700w psu?

zero9046

you might as well stick with a psu that can handle 2 cards, because i'm sure nvidia will eventually get their act together and make duel monitors with sli a reality. it really also depends on what you'd like to do other than WoW. I am mainly a WoW player and use a plain jane 8800GT and couldn't be happier with it. If you want more power than that, I'd probably suggest jumping to the 9800GX2 because it has 2 gpu chips, but still acts as one card.

Tumbleweed36

If I were spending this type of money on a computer, there is no way I would put a Tagen power supply in there.

My suggestion is that you stay with 650 to 750 watt power supply (bigger is better in a power supply) and use only one of the following units:'

Seasonic - any model
Corsair - any model
Thermaltake - "Toughpower" series only
Coolermaster - "Real Power Pro" series only
PC Power & Cooling - any model
Silverstone - any model

That is my opinion.

Do-it

I have an 8800 video card and it has dual monitor. Sounds to me like you have plenty of power for the Buck, just make sure everything is compatable with each other component, and remember AMD is not compatable with XP3, so if you use XP, 2 will work, but 3 won't on an AMD processor that is!

Highteck

Zero: I have got the fps bug since I last played BF2 a couple of years ago. So might try the new Rainbow six or CoD. I'm using a 6600GT right now. So I know its not good enough.

Tumble: I do understand that psu and mobo are the most important pieces in any build, but don't know what is what since previous machines were pre built mass market ones. I will look into those.

DO-it: I plan on going Vista 64

Tumbleweed36

Just so you know that all 750 watt power supplies ARE NOT created equally. You can get a good brand name 550 watt power supply that will blow away a cheapo or low quality brand name 750 power supply. Look for one that is high quality, regardless of what you do. I think you would be wiser to skimp someplace else and not in the power supply. Just thought I would pass that along. Have a great evening.

Highteck

Ok this is what I have come up with:

PNY XLR8 VCG98GTXXPB-OC GeForce 9800 GTX Overclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI (725MHz/2320MHz memory clock)


CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V
(5year warrenty)
this brings the build down to 1,370 which leave enough for buying the OS