[toostrike]

Hi Everyone! I am a first time builder,and a new member to your forum.I am ready to pull the trigger on my first rig.

After reading the sticky about bench testing your system,I was intrigued on what other knowledge Tech Support Forums had to offer.


Budget- 1000.00 dollars for the best gaming case I can build.I will also be doing alot of video encoding,and multi-tasking.Can go a little higher,but I would like to stay on budget.

I have some concerns and questions,but here is my build so far........


OS - XP Pro 32bit It's all about playing a wide range of games.New and old.Already purchased and waiting for a home.

Case - Antec 900 I bought this a few months ago.I'm drooling over the Antec 1200,but I'm still happy with this purchase.


Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036 $190.00


Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148274 $119.00

One TB!I'm already considering (2) at this price.


ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299 $114.00

EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339 &150.00

This card is the best bang for your buck now a days. Some people underestimate what this card can do so they go for 280s and 4870x2s. Those are really over kill unless your favorite game is Crysis/warhead/Farcry2. This can burn all the main stream games. CSS, COD4, TF2, you name it,easily at max settings.

I also read this card is very long,and I'm sure it will be a squeeze into a Antec 900.I have not purchased this card yet,so it's not written in stone.


PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009 $135.00 with a 35 dollar mail in rebate

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retai
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 $120.00 with a 20 dollar mail in rebate


I am still deciding on which power supply to get out of the two listed above.Either way I have some flexibility to add some hardware,and still have the power.The Corsair seemed to be hit or miss.I hear alot more about DOA Corsairs then Pc Power and Cooling.



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156 $35.00
ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail

Not bad For 35.00 dollars

Asus DRW-2014L1T DVD burner gives you 20X speed and impressive features so you get results, not coasters! Asus brings you smooth, reliable performance, every time. FlextraSpeed recognizes your destination media and sets the write speed for best recording quality. Using the drive's 2 MB buffer, FlextraLink prevents buffer under-run, so instead of bad disc "coasters," you get usable media, every time.

The Asus AVRS (Auto Vibration Reducing System) reduces vibration and noise by adjusting the balance of the disc and spindle as it operates, whether the drive is mounted horizontally or vertically. These Asus’ technologies make minimal demand on your system resources so your PC is ready for other work during the recording process. Your time and blank discs are too valuable to waste!




*Need Help with ram.I heard Asus is very picky about ram would like to get 4 gigs even though xp it will only recognize 3.3 gigs.

*Need a good gaming monitor without breaking the bank 22" -24"

 

[stressfreesoul]

*Need Help with ram.I heard Asus is very picky about ram would like to get 4 gigs even though xp it will only recognize 3.3 gigs.

It may only see 3.25/3.3Gb, but you might as well install 4Gb, especially if you can get a 4Gb package deal cheap.
Look at this for a price. Im waiting on delivery now. Go to the manufacturer webpage for the motherboard you are going to buy. Under documentation, there will bew a PDF or the like with the QVL (Qualified Vendors List).
This list will tell you what is compatible. Crucial and Kingston are usually the best to go for.

 

[toostrike]

On a side note I might run virtual pc and load XP pro 64 bit OS.Is this a advantage or dis-advantage when it comes to my needs concerning gaming.Remember,I want to run new and old games.I'm not talking stone age,but games that are 2-3 years old.

Thanks stressfreesoul. The more opinions the better.I want to do this right.I here these Asus are very picky about ram.

 

[stressfreesoul]

Which Asus? All of them, or the one you are considering? My P5NE-SLI takes almost anything, I havent read much on P5Q Pro being a hassle with RAM...???
IMHO its always best to go with one from the QVL anyway, saves having to send em back later...

 

[Wrench97]

For Ram it's best to use a configuration utility on the Ram manufacturers web site that way if you have a problem they will support the ram they tested for the board.
www.crucial.com
www.corsair.com

 

[toostrike]

I am ordering parts tomorrow,and still need some advice.

20 to 22" monitor that will not break the bank.

I am putting this board and psu in a Antec 900.
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below)


Any concerns that I need to know about?

Thanks.......

 

[linderman]

your system will work very nicely as specified !



enjoy



BTW: as for DOA corsairs .............. I think you also have to factor in the fact they out sell the PC Power & Cooling by about 30:1

the PC Power & Cooling is an awesome choice though ............... and the Corsair was selected as the best power supply for 2008 ....... thats two years in a row !!

 

[toostrike]

your system will work very nicely as specified !



enjoy



BTW: as for DOA corsairs .............. I think you also have to factor in the fact they out sell the PC Power & Cooling by about 30:1

the PC Power & Cooling is an awesome choice though ............... and the Corsair was selected as the best power supply for 2008 ....... thats two years in a row !!

Thanks...Food for thought.

I have the monitor picked out.Good or bad choice?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005116

I was going to order parts today,but I delayed the order.As I mentioned,I'm using a ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard with a Antec 900.I have been researching possible problems and tips using this motherboard.Some of these potential problems have nothing to do with the mobo,but rather the case connections.

Antec 900

All the fans have a 4 pin molex connector,so I can't use the motherboard to hook up these connections.I also read the front panel wiring is short,so I might need adapters.Hey,I'm a first time builder,so this research can be somewhat daunting.I must take psu into consideration.Another important variable.Any tips using this case are appreciated!

 

[stressfreesoul]

That looks to be a nice monitor.

 

[linderman]

thats a decent monitor for the price

as for the antec 900 I havent seen too many problems other than some say the psu wiring is too short on some models .............. but I know they are not too short on the corsair 750-TX and toughpower 750-TX both are good as I have built systems with those psu's and the antec 900

have a look at the antec 1200 ????????

antec 300 is very popular also

as for case fans ........ I prefer to run them off molex plugs myself ....... then I can control the fans speeds on demand ............ one of my favorite case fans is the thermaltake smart fan-2 they come in 80mm / 92mm & 120mm

 

[toostrike]

Thank-you linderman.Very informative.I love that Antec 1200.To bad I already made a case purchase.I will definitely keep that in mind on future builds.