Opinions needed on new PC

[stretch0069]

Ok...Quad core prices are down to where I like them. Time to buy a new system. Unfortunately, what this means is that the the two VP6s, which have been serving me well for the last 7 years, will have to be retired.

I know its a sad thing to do, but space is getting tight in this apartment. Something has to give. Not to mention the electric bill.

Anyway....here's the plan:

TRIPP LITE 10 ft. DVI Dual Link TMDS cable Model P560-010 - Retail
$51.96 ($12.99 each)
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black PATA Model SH-202G - OEM
$30.99
APEVIA X-ALIEN-BK/500 Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case ATX 500W dual fan w/ automatic fan speed control. Connector 20 + 4 pin Power Supply - Retail
$89.99 Have no fear.....I'm getting a better PSU
SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series SP2004C 200GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$54.99 This one is for the OS and BS data
SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD403LJ 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$339.96 ($84.99 each) starting out with these for movie storage
SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
$319.99 just because
ATI 100-435906 Radeon HD 2900XT 512MB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$449.99
Antec TPQ-850 ATX12V / EPS12V 850W Power Supply - Retail
$219.99 hey...say what you will, but i've got three Antec PSUs and they've been flawless....maybe its becasue i don't have them working at the hairy edge....... ?????
Avocent 4SVDVI10-001 SwitchView DVI 4-port KVM Switch - Retail
$229.99 Gotta update the old VGA KVM
CORSAIR XMS2 4GB(4 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Quad Kit Desktop Memory Model QUAD2X4096-6400C5DHX - Retail
$254.00
ABIT IP35 Pro LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$184.99
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 – Retail
$289.99


Any ideas???? WWYD differently???

[willawake]

Re: Opinions needed on new PC

i thought you bought a new pc not so long ago?

[hardwareguy]

Re: Opinions needed on new PC

Skip the ATI card for now, performance isn't NEAR where it should be. A Geforce 8800 GTS will give it a run for it's money or beat it in some circumstances. An 8800GTX will blow it out of the water. Did I mention the drivers are more stable on the 8800?

The P35 chipset is nice, but you can't do SLI with it. The NVIDIA 680i is my current pet chipset. The eVGA boards overclock like mad and they do have good caps.

I am currently using Seagate Barracuda ES HDDs in builds.... VERY reliable and VERY quick. My older systems have WD Caviar RE, another very nice HDD.

For DVD burners, it's hard to beat the NEC units. They have a knack for copying the uncopyable.

The NEC unit may be listed as a Sony/NEC Optiarc..... pretty much the same drive, IIRC.

Never been a fan of Apevia anything....especially those PSUs. Good thing you are swapping it out!

Hardwareguy's short list for fans: Arctic Cooling ceramic bearing, Panaflo hydrodynamic bearing, Enermax Enlobal bearing (mag-lev bearing) or Nidec ball bearing, this includes the Vantec ThermoFlow which is a rebadged Nidec.

PSU: the Antec is OK, but I'd grab a Seasonic or PCP&C.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Opinions needed on new PC

Why not by from the original vendor?

Seasonic M12-700 700W ATX 2.2

should be cheaper or equal in $$, but perhaps better caps.
And the 150w difference is probably nothing you will miss, as i only see one GFX card.
Neverthelse, i think this 700w puppy should do fine with Crossfire (but hey, iam not the expert in systems with PSU needs >500w as i haven`t seen a system sucking more then 250w peak with my own eyes).
If power is your concern may be put a fee bucks more in and go with the Seasonic X900, which is probably very similar to the Antec ones.

[hardwareguy]

Re: Opinions needed on new PC

Oh yeah... nice choice on the RAM!

[stretch0069]

Re: Opinions needed on new PC

Skip the ATI card for now, performance isn't NEAR where it should be. A Geforce 8800 GTS will give it a run for it's money or beat it in some circumstances. An 8800GTX will blow it out of the water. Did I mention the drivers are more stable on the 8800?

The P35 chipset is nice, but you can't do SLI with it. The NVIDIA 680i is my current pet chipset. The eVGA boards overclock like mad and they do have good caps.

I am currently using Seagate Barracuda ES HDDs in builds.... VERY reliable and VERY quick. My older systems have WD Caviar RE, another very nice HDD.

For DVD burners, it's hard to beat the NEC units. They have a knack for copying the uncopyable.

The NEC unit may be listed as a Sony/NEC Optiarc..... pretty much the same drive, IIRC.

Never been a fan of Apevia anything....especially those PSUs. Good thing you are swapping it out!

Hardwareguy's short list for fans: Arctic Cooling ceramic bearing, Panaflo hydrodynamic bearing, Enermax Enlobal bearing (mag-lev bearing) or Nidec ball bearing, this includes the Vantec ThermoFlow which is a rebadged Nidec.

PSU: the Antec is OK, but I'd grab a Seasonic or PCP&C.

I didn't see the 8800gtx. i'm more than a bit leary on going with nvidia. never had luck with them in the past. i'll look again. which manufacturer would you suggest???

as for SLI, i'm not interested in either multiple video card setups. one is fine for me.

i'll look into the NEC. Sony is on my shit-list right now.

Why not by from the original vendor?

Seasonic M12-700 700W ATX 2.2

on my way to look into it.....

thanks.


no Will...I haven't built a machine in about 2 years.