First build attempt... specs

Speedy · Dec 8, 2007

I'm always seeing people ask about new systems. Is there anything in the
following pieces that scream "wrong choice?"

ABIT IX38 QuadGT mobo
Q6600 processor
4Gb Corsair TWINX (DDR2-PC6400)
Ultra X3 1000-Watt p/s
XFX GeForce 8800GT 512Mb video card
CoolerMaster CM690 ATX Mid-tower
WD Caviar SE16 500Gb-drive (x2) (SATA)
Philips SPD2513 & SPD6104 DVD burners

Will also be adding CPU and chasis fans after I see the fit of the board.
Haven't decided on monitors yet, but will be getting two 22-24" LCDs.

Lord knows how many combinations there are for a system. I'll be running
XP Pro and mostly watch videos and burn DVDs. I like a nice game of
solitaire, but I don't think that would tax any system.

Friendly advice always appreciated.

FLASH

johns · Dec 8, 2007

Just my opinion on who I think are cheap vendors:

ABIT IX38 QuadGT mobo

Mobo is fine.

Q6600 processor
Fine.

4Gb Corsair TWINX (DDR2-PC6400)

Corsair has been flakey over the years. I only
trust Kingston.

Ultra X3 1000-Watt p/s

Too big. Even a 750 is too big. Drop to a 650
Antec Truepower.

XFX GeForce 8800GT 512Mb video card

XFX is a bunch of slimballs. I would not have
one of their broken refurbs on a bet. Go with
eVGA, or BFG if you expect to get a new card
instead of a repair job.

CoolerMaster CM690 ATX Mid-tower

OK. I like the Antecs better. Still OK.

WD Caviar SE16 500Gb-drive (x2) (SATA)

I've replaced dozens of broken Caviars. I don't
trust them at all.

Philips SPD2513 & SPD6104 DVD burners

Cheap junk. Go with Sony.

johns

Paul · Dec 8, 2007

Speedy said:
I'm always seeing people ask about new systems. Is there anything in the
following pieces that scream "wrong choice?"

ABIT IX38 QuadGT mobo
Q6600 processor
4Gb Corsair TWINX (DDR2-PC6400)
Ultra X3 1000-Watt p/s
XFX GeForce 8800GT 512Mb video card
CoolerMaster CM690 ATX Mid-tower
WD Caviar SE16 500Gb-drive (x2) (SATA)
Philips SPD2513 & SPD6104 DVD burners

Will also be adding CPU and chasis fans after I see the fit of the board.
Haven't decided on monitors yet, but will be getting two 22-24" LCDs.

Lord knows how many combinations there are for a system. I'll be running
XP Pro and mostly watch videos and burn DVDs. I like a nice game of
solitaire, but I don't think that would tax any system.

Friendly advice always appreciated.

FLASH

The Q6600 is 95W at stock conditions. It might draw about 150W if
it was overclocked.

The 8800GT doesn't draw as much as it predecessors. They might have
been about 130W or so. Xbitlabs couldn't get a 8800GT to run in
their power measurement motherboard, so couldn't do a measurement.
But since there is a Sparkle version of the 8800GT, that is passively
cooled, it has to be less than 130W.

So if we took 95W + 130W for a base figure, threw in 50W for
motherboard and RAM, 12W for each hard drive, 25W for one active
DVD, that is about 325W give or take. That is a long way from a
Kilowatt. Something that perhaps a good quality 500-650W power
supply could handle with ease. Especially if said unit was a
high efficiency (>80% efficiency) unit. (High efficiency means
the fan doesn't have to run as hard, to keep the unit cool.)

Since 3D gaming wasn't mentioned, you don't really need an 8800GT.
Any video card that has the ability to drive the monitors you
have in mind, should be good enough for 2D acceleration in the
desktop.

For a ref. on DVI, there are a few resolution examples in the table
here. Basically, to remain with single-link type DVI connectors, the
"clock" on the cable has to stay below 165MHz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvi

You can see here, for example, that a 30" LCD needs a dual-link DVI
connector. The 23" at 1920x1200, looks to be able to work with a
single-link connector.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?family=AppleDisplays

For Nvidia, the connector types that the GPU might support, are
listed here. The 8800GT is well equipped, but most of your
money is going into 3D capability that so far, you don't seem
to be using.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_extreme_hd_gpu.html

Paul

Speedy · Dec 9, 2007

I'm always seeing people ask about new systems. Is there anything in
the following pieces that scream "wrong choice?"

ABIT IX38 QuadGT mobo
Q6600 processor
4Gb Corsair TWINX (DDR2-PC6400)
Ultra X3 1000-Watt p/s
XFX GeForce 8800GT 512Mb video card
CoolerMaster CM690 ATX Mid-tower
WD Caviar SE16 500Gb-drive (x2) (SATA)
Philips SPD2513 & SPD6104 DVD burners

Will also be adding CPU and chasis fans after I see the fit of the
board. Haven't decided on monitors yet, but will be getting two
22-24" LCDs.

Lord knows how many combinations there are for a system. I'll be
running XP Pro and mostly watch videos and burn DVDs. I like a nice
game of solitaire, but I don't think that would tax any system.

Friendly advice always appreciated.

FLASH

Just a few responses, but made some changes

Kingston Hyper-X (DDR-PC1066) vs. Corsair
Antec True Power 650-Watt p/s vs Ultra
Seagate Barracuda 500-Gb drives vs Western Digital
eVGA GeForce 8800GT Superclocked vs XFX video
Sony and Lite-On (for LightScribe) DVD burners vs Philips

Okay, that's actually a lot of changes. Ordered all the pieces between
TigerDirect and Newegg. Also ordered 2 ViewSonic VX2240 LCD monitors. The
only downside was for the price, these monitors don't have a height
adjustment like my VG191. ...I think I'll survive.

Wish me luck on putting the pieces together, should be here in time for a
weekend project.

Paul · Dec 9, 2007

Speedy said:
Just a few responses, but made some changes

Kingston Hyper-X (DDR-PC1066) vs. Corsair
Antec True Power 650-Watt p/s vs Ultra
Seagate Barracuda 500-Gb drives vs Western Digital
eVGA GeForce 8800GT Superclocked vs XFX video
Sony and Lite-On (for LightScribe) DVD burners vs Philips

Okay, that's actually a lot of changes. Ordered all the pieces between
TigerDirect and Newegg. Also ordered 2 ViewSonic VX2240 LCD monitors. The
only downside was for the price, these monitors don't have a height
adjustment like my VG191. ...I think I'll survive.

Wish me luck on putting the pieces together, should be here in time for a
weekend project.

Antec TP3-650
+3.3 @ 24A, +5V @ 24A, +12V1 @ 19A, +12V2 @ 19A, +12V3 @ 19A, -12V @ 0.8A, +5VSB @ 3.0A

I don't think you'll have a problem with that. Unfortunately, there is no
tech info of note, in the Antec manual, so I cannot say anything more about
the unit. I did find a review on the web, but the reviewer was clueless.
One of those "it was shiny" type reviews...

Paul