PC build help

[Rory Deol]

I only have a few parts that I have settled on, and need some help
with the other components. I already have the HDD's, optical drives,
and peripherals. So...here's what I do know :

PSU/Case: Antec Sonata III (is 500W enough?)
CPU: E4500 (The other choice was E6600 but I am not an intense PC user
and can upgrade later)
GPU: 8800GT (Which model should I choose XFX, EVGA, etc.....)
Mobo: I simply have no idea, I want this build to be economical but I
don't want to be pulling my hair out in month....I would like to spend
no more than $130
TigerDirect.com has a bundle with the Intel DG31PR Motherboard and
E4500, good or bad?

RAM: just the same as the Mobo, I have no idea... I want 2GB maybe
even 1GB...but what brand and model?

Like I said nothing too intense for now. This will be for gaming at
1280x1024 max for now...in about 6 months it will hopefully be up to
1920x1080. I will be running Windows XP for now and Vista in a while.
I would like to try video editing, but nothing too intense just making
videos to send out to family overseas.

 

[Psalm Nuclei]

I only have a few parts that I have settled on, and need some help
with the other components. I already have the HDD's, optical drives,
and peripherals. So...here's what I do know :

PSU/Case: Antec Sonata III (is 500W enough?)
CPU: E4500 (The other choice was E6600 but I am not an intense PC user
and can upgrade later)
GPU: 8800GT (Which model should I choose XFX, EVGA, etc.....)
Mobo: I simply have no idea, I want this build to be economical but I
don't want to be pulling my hair out in month....I would like to spend
no more than $130
TigerDirect.com has a bundle with the Intel DG31PR Motherboard and
E4500, good or bad?

RAM: just the same as the Mobo, I have no idea... I want 2GB maybe
even 1GB...but what brand and model?

Like I said nothing too intense for now. This will be for gaming at
1280x1024 max for now...in about 6 months it will hopefully be up to
1920x1080. I will be running Windows XP for now and Vista in a while.
I would like to try video editing, but nothing too intense just making
videos to send out to family overseas.

For one 8800gt i think you will be good with the Corsair 520HX. That's
what I use and a lot of people i know from various overclocking forums
recommend it. i don't overclock and i don't have an 8800gt! lol but i
like knowing i got a decent psu for future application.

RAM: 2gb's Crucial Ballistix 8800's. Great stuff. Reliable. Great
overclockers too. 2gb's is all I need and I can play the latest and
greatest games (well i haven't played Crysis yet). If you want 4gb's
of ram you'll want Vista 64-bit since 32-bit version doesn't recognize
anything over 3gb's.

Mobo: GA-P35-DS3R. I love it. I spent $135 I think on it? It's great,
reliable, runs flawless with Vista.

CPU: E6420. Honestly. You can easily overclock it on stock HSF to
3ghz! I built 2 gaming rigs around this chip. it's great.

 

[Paul]

Mobo: GA-P35-DS3R. I love it. I spent $135 I think on it? It's great,
reliable, runs flawless with Vista.

One message here, Rory, is get a decent motherboard. Intel boards
are not all designed with overclocking and tweaking in mind. The
Gigabyte board mentioned by "Psalm", is more likely to allow some
fun later. Other boards to avoid, are some of the Asus MicroATX
boards (boards ending in -VM or -MX), as some of those lack good
adjustability as well. Even if you aren't overclocking, having
adjustments available makes setting up the computer easier.

As part of the pre-purchase preparation, you can download the user
manuals for a lot of motherboards. By looking in the BIOS section
of the manual, you can check for adjustable CPU clock, memory clock
or divider, memory timing settings (CAS and the like), Vdimm and
Vcore for voltage setting. Some of those settings help with
proper operation of enthusiast memory products. Note that for
the Gigabyte boards, the memory settings are hidden, and there is a
function key or something, which is used to make the settings
visible.

Also, read some comments about Tigerdirect, before you do business.
Not all transactions go smoothly with them.

The whole purpose of buying parts and building your own, is to get
exactly what you want. A "bundle" from Tigerdirect is likely to
include at least one component you'll regret buying later.

Paul

 

[Psalm Nuclei]

And I do want to recommend NewEgg.com for all your component
purchases. I purchased everything for both of my homebuilt pc's and I
never had any problems, everything was delivered quickly too.

 

[Fitz]

GPU: 8800GT (Which model should I choose XFX, EVGA, etc.....)

I personally like BFG- good product with excellent support (24/7),
English as a first language. Lifetime guarantee - which I have
tested...they stand behind the product.

I'd get the case I wanted w/o a power supply. Get the power supply
separate. I've used Antec, Enermax, and Corsair. So far, I like the
Corsair HX620 the best. Modular cables, long enough for any case. Three
12V rails w/18A per, total rating of 50A. Quiet. I've got it in an Antec
p180 case running 2 SATA Raptors, 1 IDE HD, 4GB RAM, an 8800 640MB GTS
OC, DVD-R, a front panel LCD (2 drive bays), 4 120mm fans, and a
bluetooth transmitter/charger (mouse, keyboard). Absolutely no problems.

Good Luck,

Fitz

 

[John Doe]

I'd get the case I wanted w/o a power supply. Get the power supply
separate. I've used Antec,

If you use Antec, why not get the power supply with the case.

 

[Fitz]

If you use Antec, why not get the power supply with the case.

The P180 case doesn't come with a power supply (even from the Antec
website), so it wasn't like I was saving money by ordering the case and
PSU together. The reviews I had read on the Corsair put it at the top of
the list.

Fitz

 

[Psalm Nuclei]

I owned the Antec 900 and currently own the P180.

Both are quiet with all fans on low and I was overclocking so you
really don't need the fans on high unless I guess you have SLI config.

The Corsair 520 fits in both cases as I am sure the 620 will.

The only thing with the p180 is that all the cables at the bottom can
get tight because of the steel wall between PSU and motherboard area.

 

[Chris Hill]

I only have a few parts that I have settled on, and need some help
with the other components. I already have the HDD's, optical drives,
and peripherals. So...here's what I do know :

PSU/Case: Antec Sonata III (is 500W enough?)
CPU: E4500 (The other choice was E6600 but I am not an intense PC user
and can upgrade later)
GPU: 8800GT (Which model should I choose XFX, EVGA, etc.....)
Mobo: I simply have no idea, I want this build to be economical but I
don't want to be pulling my hair out in month....I would like to spend
no more than $130
TigerDirect.com has a bundle with the Intel DG31PR Motherboard and
E4500, good or bad?

I like intel boards. Not for overclockers, but good stable stuff.
I'd buy the mb cpu and ram from the same place, I prefer mwave.com
because for $10 they'll assemble and test the lot. Nothing more
disappointing than putting the thing together and finding out it won't
work and having to play detective. Fine if you're building a hundred
of them, sucks royally if you're doing a one-off.

 

[wuwen11]

I like intel boards. Not for overclockers, but good stable stuff.
I'd buy the mb cpu and ram from the same place, I prefer mwave.com
because for $10 they'll assemble and test the lot. Nothing more
disappointing than putting the thing together and finding out it won't
work and having to play detective. Fine if you're building a hundred
of them, sucks royally if you're doing a one-off.

 

[Chris Darwin]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rory Deol" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:54 AM
Subject: PC build help

I only have a few parts that I have settled on, and need some help
with the other components. I already have the HDD's, optical drives,
and peripherals. So...here's what I do know :

PSU/Case: Antec Sonata III (is 500W enough?)

sounds like just enough

CPU: E4500 (The other choice was E6600 but I am not an intense PC user
and can upgrade later)
GPU: 8800GT (Which model should I choose XFX, EVGA, etc.....)
Mobo: I simply have no idea, I want this build to be economical but I
don't want to be pulling my hair out in month....I would like to spend
no more than $130
TigerDirect.com has a bundle with the Intel DG31PR Motherboard and
E4500, good or bad?

I like Asus MB with Intel chips for homebuilt, most of them have jumperless
settings. I wouldn't worry about overclocking, you're setup should run fast
enough without it.

I'm trying an MSI for the first time and it seems to be taking longer to get
up and running. The Asus user guide is easier to read and understand also,
which is important with a homebuilt.

Consider buying local, you may pay a little more but you'll usually get
better service, at least that's true in Seattle.

RAM: just the same as the Mobo, I have no idea... I want 2GB maybe
even 1GB...but what brand and model?

I would go with 2GB in whatever brand is compatible with the MB and Vid
card. Consult those manufactures to find what's compatible.

Like I said nothing too intense for now. This will be for gaming at
1280x1024 max for now...in about 6 months it will hopefully be up to
1920x1080. I will be running Windows XP for now and Vista in a while.

I'm going to skip Vista, just like ME, it's not any better than the previous
release and it has a lot of "issues".

 

[Rory Deol]

I like Asus MB with Intel chips for homebuilt, most of them have jumperless

settings. I wouldn't worry about overclocking, you're setup should run fast
enough without it.

I'm trying an MSI for the first time and it seems to be taking longer to get
up and running. The Asus user guide is easier to read and understand also,
which is important with a homebuilt.

I should mention that this is my first build. So given that is this
going to be too much for me? or will it be more of a learning
experience?

Consider buying local, you may pay a little more but you'll usually get
better service, at least that's true in Seattle.

Buying local sounds great. But here in Iowa those retailers are few
and far between.

I'm going to skip Vista, just like ME, it's not any better than the previous
release and it has a lot of "issues".

Given how much I like XP and how poorly Vista is performing I would
love to stay with XP but I feel pressured to upgrade for DirectX 10.
Which to my understanding Vista is the only way to get true DirectX
10. It's outrageous that I may have to succumb to this marketing ploy.

 

[Ed Medlin]

I should mention that this is my first build. So given that is this
going to be too much for me? or will it be more of a learning
experience?

Since you seem to know the basics, it should be a pleasant (I hope>>>
learning experience. Any build can have some issues, if it is your 1st or
100th build. Go for it and let us know how everything is coming along.

Buying local sounds great. But here in Iowa those retailers are few
and far between.

Even if you have to drive some miles, it is good to have a working
relationship with a local shop or builder.

Given how much I like XP and how poorly Vista is performing I would
love to stay with XP but I feel pressured to upgrade for DirectX 10.
Which to my understanding Vista is the only way to get true DirectX
10. It's outrageous that I may have to succumb to this marketing ploy.

DX 10 is the least of my issues with Vista. You have several years before DX
10 becomes the defacto standard with software developers, so don't worry
about it now. Even today's DX10 video cards like the Nvidia 8x series work
great in DX 9 environments............ Much better than the 7x series.


Good luck,

Ed Medlin