Gui7arFreak

Budget - $500-600

This will be my first attempt at building a PC, and I don't really know the exact process is going to be once I get all of the parts together, but I'm sure I can figure it out. I liked Blue's previous post about the rig he wants to build, and liked some of the suggestions in their, so I'm going with a couple of those products :P

Motherboard - Gigabyte ATX intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359

Processor - Intel Core Duo E8400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

Ram - 4GB DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146785

Case - Undecided
PSU - Undecided
DVD-R - Undecided
HDD - Undecided (though I do have a 200gig SATA already, but can surely use another)


And the video card is not counted in the budget, because my dad is getting me a 9800GT for christmas, so I'll need a PSU that can handle that. I'm considering getting a gaming mouse like a sidewinder or something considering the budget, as well as a keyboard.

Any good suggestions for the 'undecided' stuff would be awesome! I'm shopping around but having trouble deciding.

Gui7arFreak

[PSU]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817165004

This is a power supply I'm looking at, should be good enough to run a 9800GT and a couple other things.

[Case]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068

I liked the way this case looks and the reviews said the airflow was pretty nice.

[HDD]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136319

I also don't know exactly what OEM means, does this mean I can't use it with a normal SATA connection? I'm going to google it when I'm not at work (which I am right now lol, gotta go soon).

Net Jockey

The power supply unit in today's modern computer assumes a role probably more critical than any other single component in your system.

A poor PSU can also cause other components to fail in your computer.

The right Brand names = Quality
Some approved Brand names follow...

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

Unless you are into some serious gaming a 650 watt or higher will take care of your needs.

If you are a serious gamer a 750 Watt, or a little higher will be all that you would need.

wrench97

Good choices on the MB, CPU, and Case
Have you picked a video card?
OEM in the case of the hard drive means minimal packaging and no software or cables ships with it, it will work fine with a Sata connection.

Try this for Ram> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145214

And one of these to power a 9800GT > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703005

Gui7arFreak

Okay I'll go with this powersupply. Might go to 750w or something when I make the deal but I think this one will be enough for a 9800GT, 2x7200rpm HDDs, 4gigsDDR2, and a DVDR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171023

And this ram (nice rebate btw!!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145214

[DVD+-R/CDRW]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151173

Edit: Total is around $592. After rebates around $550 which isn't bad. Any other good deals anyone knows of to knock the price down without substituting it for quality would be awesome! But so far I appreciate the help.

wrench97

That is a decent DVD burner.

Gui7arFreak

In terms of an OS, I have Windows Vista Home Basic :/
As well as XP SP3, I think...What should I do in this case? Will home basic run alright or should I shell out more cash for another?

wrench97

Either will work With Home basic you loose Aero Glass and media center functions but sill get the more secure core.

Gui7arFreak

Sounds alright. Would it be a good idea to take advantage of say, Windows Vista 64-bit OS?

wrench97

While it is getting better there are still some driver issues and compatibility with older hardware like printers and scanners so check for 64 bit drivers for any printers, scanners special keyboards before you should decide to go 64. It's coming but I don't see the need to jump just yet it's not a large improvement like 16 to 32 bit was.

Gui7arFreak

RIght, I will stick with my 32-bit OS right now, I'll wait to upgrade when the new semester comes up and my refund check breaks through :)

Gui7arFreak

One more question, the Core Duo comes with a CPU fan in the box right? With thermal paste and everything? Also what is the deal with this Arctic Silver stuff I've seen peeps purchasing with this processor and would it be worth it to grab some?

wrench97

Yes Intel boxed cpu's come with a fan and heat sink, it will have a thermal pad on it you can use the pad or remove it and apply Arctic Silver which is good for lowering the temps from 3-5 degrees. I like the Arctic Silver myself> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

Gui7arFreak

I'm considering going with this corsair PSU. Though nearly every PSU, even quality ones with 5/5 eggs still had a few DOA and a couple RMAs due to dead PSU's after 6 months to a year. I'm guessing that you can't get around this, sometimes electronics fail and thats what a warranty is for right? All in all the corsair seemed like a worthwhile product, they were all over their reviews in Newegg offering direct support. I just don't wanna get a PSU that will die in a year or fry up my investment.

[Corsair PSU]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004

wrench97

The main reason you see a PSU failing on these units is from using one that is too small like the 550w for the 9800GT I would not go below the 650TX for $2 it's not worth it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

Gui7arFreak

That is exactly what I was lookin at after I made my last post, and the PSU i'm going with. So do I pretty much have to okay to go ahead and throw this thing together? Check out all the components, I think it will be a decent gaming rig.

Btw I am intimidated by the Arctic Silver, I read the instructions and understand it thoroughly, but I still don't feel confident in taking off the thermal pad and using the proper amount of arctic silver. I know its not that much of a process but I've never even built a computer before by myself so its a little overwhelming, I don't wanna screw anything up. Although I do plan to overclock eventually, will the arctic silver's 5 degree difference be a big deal when it comes to overclocking?

wrench97

I think in that case I would build it with the stock heat sink and thermal pad and later on change out the heat sink for a Zalman 9700 or Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7 and add the paste and overclock then. After doing the build and having it run you should feel more confident about doing it.

Gui7arFreak

I've considered going with this gigabyte motherboard instead of the first.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358

about a $16 difference and there is another PCI express x16. I'm guessing this for SLI if I wanted to double up on the video card in the future?

wrench97

No Intel boards only do ATI Xfire up until the new X58 which can do both, and that is only a second slot at x8 speed, and is the only difference in the two boards.