Building a new PC...good parts?

[rmanaudio]

Im looking to build a new rig...looking to pickup the following at infonec (seems to be the cheapest place to buy parts):

CPU: Intel E8400 $177 (Infonec)
MOBO: Asus P5Q-Deluxe $199 (Infonec)
Memory: OCZ DDR2 8000 Platinum XTC DC 2GB $60 (Infonec)
Video Card: EVGA 512 8800GT $169 (Infonec)

Any parts I can improve? I wanna stay in the $700 range! Any place that sells it cheaper?

Thanks.

[willy]

Is that 2GB of RAM for $60 ??

Here's a 2 x 2GB set for $70 AR ... http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=017033&cid=RAM.346.307

Judging by the choice of RAM, I think you are planning to overclock the E8400 ... in that case, you may want to leave some budget for a aftermarket CPU cooler.

And this ATI 4850 seems like a better choice for $169 AR ... http://www.infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=410418

[rmanaudio]

Is that 2GB of RAM for $60 ??

Here's a 2 x 2GB set for $70 AR ... http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=017033&cid=RAM.346.307

Judging by the choice of RAM, I think you are planning to overclock the E8400 ... in that case, you may want to leave some budget for a aftermarket CPU cooler.

And this ATI 4850 seems like a better choice for $169 AR ... http://www.infonec.com/site/main.php?module=detail&id=410418

Im not planning to overclock...not yet...just want a rig for gaming that is best bang for buck!

What would be the best RAM and speed for me?

[willy]

Im not planning to overclock...not yet...just want a rig for gaming that is best bang for buck!

What would be the best RAM and speed for me?
The 4GB set that I mentioned above is very good value ... but if you have no plan to overclock, any DDR2-800 will do. Actually, even DDR2-667 will do the job. But DDR2-800 doesn't cost much more than -667, I would go for DDR2-800. It also gives you some overclocking headroom in case you need it ...

[aplayaz2000]

Willy you ever try Muskin ram? I hear their good.

800MHz of 2GB OCZ Rev 2. doesn't seem that fast for me.


Yeah go with the 4850, kicks 88GT and 98GTX.

[rmanaudio]

OK...thanks guys....what is a good cheap CPU cooler that I could pickup for OC???

Also...is the Coolmaster 330 case good for the price?

And...with a Enermax 600W PSU be good enough for this new rig?

Thanks.

[aplayaz2000]

Well rman, stick with the cooler master 690, it has cable management support.

Also get any PSU that has modular support, Corsair 520W (etc. anything).

[CH40Z_008]

you can buy the ASUS EXTREME N8800GT G HTDP/512MB/PCI-E VIDEO CARD - EN8800GT/G/HTDP512MA (http://www.pcvonline.com/productDetails.aspx?id=6490) @ PCVILLAGE for 119$ AR ---->$149.95-30$MIR, though not as good as the NCIX deal for 99$ a couple of weeks ago

[Majoram]

I've seen the HD4850 for as low as $169 and I believe it's much better than the 8800GT.

[silentio]

Stick with the intel cooler, but remove the pink thermal stuff and buy the mx-2 thermal paste.

The intel cooler actually is fairly silent, and will allow some overclocking. Why spend money on a heatsink if you dont even plan to overclock right now?

[rmanaudio]

THanks guys....so here is what Im going to pickup:

CPU: Intel E8400 $177 (Infonec)

MOBO: Asus P5Q-Deluxe $199 (Infonec)

Memory: OCZ DDR2 4GB D/C Kit PN - OCZ2P10004GK $105 (Infonec) Mail in rebate -$30

Video Card: ASUS Radeon HD4850 512bm $199 (Infonec) Mail in rebate -$30

Case: Coolmaster RC-330 $43 (Infonec)

PSU: Keeping my Enermax 600W

HDD: Keeping my 2X36GB Raptors

CDR: Keeping my LG DL BR Burner

Cooling: Keep it stock?

So anything else I should get or change? This is above my budget but I want to go best bang for buck!

[willy]

Hmmm ... Over-budget ... Have you tried to compare the difference between P5Q-Dlx and P5Q ? It can save you $50 right there ...

[rmanaudio]

Hmmm ... Over-budget ... Have you tried to compare the difference between P5Q-Dlx and P5Q ? It can save you $50 right there ...

I have compared it...and I would like the extras like 16phase and better cooling...also SSD...also people are saying the deluxe is worth the extra $50. I guess I could save a $100 by going with non deluxe and a 8800GT...but is it worth it?

[manyoo99]

Cooling: Keep it stock?


Get this CPU cooler (assuming you can fit it in your case)...for me its the best $30 spent building my PC...

OCZ Vendetta CPU Cooler For Sockets AMD 754/755/939/AM2, Intel LGA775

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=016214&cid=FN.349

[aplayaz2000]

Stick with the intel cooler, but remove the pink thermal stuff and buy the mx-2 thermal paste.

The intel cooler actually is fairly silent, and will allow some overclocking. Why spend money on a heatsink if you dont even plan to overclock right now?Might as well buy everything at the same time, I bought MX-2 too.

Pretty good, I think I over applied tho :(

[huyla]

If you decide you have a new CPU cooler, grab any Artic Cooling CPU cooler (such as Alpine 7 Pro) will do its job + more silent than stock. Don't pay for any over-priced CPU cooles such as Zalman....

[rmanaudio]

OK...so I bought the following the built my super computer:

CPU: Intel E8400
MOBO: Asus P5Q-E
RAM: Mushkin Redline 4GB 8000
Case: MC Elite 330
PSU: Enermax 600W
HDD: 2X36 Raptors running Vista and Seagate B 500GB for backup
Video Card: Asus H4850
Cooler: OCZ Vendette 2
Thermal C: MX-2

I overclocked it stable to the following:

CPU: 4.0Ghz at 40C Idle and 57C at full load at 1.2V
Memory: 445Mhz at 5-5-5-12 with 2.1V
Video Card: GPU at 675Mhz Memory at 1050Mhz at 55C at full load.

I got a couple of 120mm fans and put one at the back and front and everything is nice and cool..also did the ATI fan trick to get the video card from 80C to 55C at full load and 44C at idle.

Got Vista loaded and COD4 plays much better at full everything on my new PC than my PS3!

I cant stop looking at how pretty all the electronics look inside my case!

Thanks guys.

[ASharp]

Looks good. Glad you're enjoying your new PC!

Pretty decent overclocks you got there. I'm not sure but, those temps might be a bit high for the E8400...nice low voltage in order to attain that speed though. Also, the Mushkin Redline set should be able to do those speeds no problem with lower voltage. Even at 500MHz, 5-5-5-12, it should only take 1.9-2.0V. I'm running mine at 2.0V at their rated timings and they're zipping around quite nicely. You can probably lower the voltage on yours and still be stable.

[kenyu28]

Good pricing, but also check out http://www.directcanada.com/

They are located in BC, $10 air shipping (Free for orders over $300) -quick shipping, done in 3days

Also ONLY PROVINCIAL TAX :O This is great for people not living in BC :cheesygri

[Desolatax]

The 4850 is an amazing card, I've got one in my rig and love it, but you NEED to get an aftermarket cooler, the one they slapped on the card is terrible! I picked up the Accellero S1 and its drop the temperature a ridiculous amount, and it's passive!

[rmanaudio]

The 4850 is an amazing card, I've got one in my rig and love it, but you NEED to get an aftermarket cooler, the one they slapped on the card is terrible! I picked up the Accellero S1 and its drop the temperature a ridiculous amount, and it's passive!

Did you try the ATI Manual fan trick? The card was running around 90C when I got it...after some reading....I made a profile under CCC and edited the XML file and set Fan speed to manaul and 50%...its running pretty low at 50% with very little noise and it idles around 50C now...30C lower...stock it is set to run at 20%...which is too low. If you set to 100% its very loud but it idles at 40C and goes to 50C at full load. With 50% fan speed the stock cooler does a good job and keeps idle at 50C and full load to around 55C max.

I was thinking about getting the S1...but why spend $30, when all you need to do is get the stock fan to do its job....i dont understand why ATI has not fixed this problem yet.

[nx6288]

I don't think another thread is necessary but can you guys give me some advice if I need to make any changes to this configuration:

CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4450E $69.99
MOBO: GA-MA78GM-S2H Rev 1.1 $89.00
RAM: OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum XTC Rev 2 2GB $19.99
Case/PSU: CoolerMaster Elite 330 w/ 350W PSU $53.00
HDD: WD 640GB $78.99

Total before taxes: $311.96

I'm not planning to OC nor do any hardcore gaming. If anything, the only game I'll probably install on this is CS and play only every now and then but I'm sure the onboard gpu can handle it.

Input please?

[kenyu28]

some of the stuff you can still go cheaper. The rebated ram @ cc is inconvenient, why not reuse or buy 2nd hand parts? (from credible members)