could use some input on my shopping list

[darkscorp]

after repeatedly having problems with pre-built systems that aren't adequately future-proofed, i've decided to give this a shot. i'll be using this system for a little bit of everything, including gaming, and one of my primary concerns is future upgradeability. sadly my existing computer from dell came equipped with a mobo that holds a p4@2.4, but has a MAX ram capacity of 1gig :mad: . what started as upgrading a little ram, became having to add a new mobo, and then at that point the whole thing kind of cascaded, and i realized it was time to try doing it this way. after reading alot of reviews, talking to friends, and lurking here for awhile i've come up with a tentative shopping list. any input would be greatly appreciated:

all prices are from newegg:

chip:Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail $189.99

motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $149.99 i've seen the asus p5k e p35 recomended more than a few times also, would i be better off with that? i must admit that the gigabyte board having ddr3 slots is a plus

video card: EVGA 512-P3-N802-A1 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $289.99 would i be better off looking for an 8800gts? if so, which one?

ram: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail $47.00 after MIR

case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $119.99

psu: HIPER HPU-4B580-MS ATX12V v2.2 580W Power Supply - Retail $99.99

hard drive: Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000ABYS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $129.99

optical drive: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail $39.99


finally, to round it out,

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM $89.99
Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Retail $39.99
Microsoft D58-00041 OEM White 5 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB + PS/2 Wired Optical IntelliMouse Optical 1.1 - OEM $20.99
SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM $6.99 once every blue moon i come across a floppy, and for 7 bucks, i'd rather be safe than sorry :)

lastly, i already have a decent 3-piece altec lansing speaker set and a monitor, so i'm set there.

final tally puts the whole kit at about $1225. i was kind of hoping to keep it closer to $1000, but i suppose i can live with that. what am i missing? what should i consider changing? will this all work together? i'd appreciate any advice i can get on this. thanks :)

[Jamie Nixx]

Awesome, i don't have to change a single item ;)

Motherboard is sound, no need to change it.

The 8800GT is a lot better than any GTS not to mention cheaper.

All looks good, $30 more and you could get the Corsair HX520w, but thats nitpicking really, the Hiper is a superb PSU and will power your rig nicely, i have one myself :D

I also have the Antec 900, awesome case so good shout there.

All in all looks sweet, good on ya for doing your research, it saves guys like me a lot of time suggesting different components for people :rolleyes: :D

[darkscorp]

wow! thanks for the quick reply :) as far as the hiper, i can't really defend myself, i can tell you it's because it's 60 more watts, or because it's $30 cheaper, but in the end, i was just a big sucker for the pretty blue lights :)

[Jamie Nixx]

Its a good PSU, i have the black one, it looks the best and don't argue :p ;) :D

[BoboMull]

after repeatedly having problems with pre-built systems that aren't adequately future-proofed, i've decided to give this a shot. i'll be using this system for a little bit of everything, including gaming, and one of my primary concerns is future upgradeability. sadly my existing computer from dell came equipped with a mobo that holds a p4@2.4, but has a MAX ram capacity of 1gig :mad: . what started as upgrading a little ram, became having to add a new mobo, and then at that point the whole thing kind of cascaded, and i realized it was time to try doing it this way. after reading alot of reviews, talking to friends, and lurking here for awhile i've come up with a tentative shopping list. any input would be greatly appreciated:

all prices are from newegg:

chip:Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail $189.99

motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $149.99 i've seen the asus p5k e p35 recomended more than a few times also, would i be better off with that? i must admit that the gigabyte board having ddr3 slots is a plus

video card: EVGA 512-P3-N802-A1 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $289.99 would i be better off looking for an 8800gts? if so, which one?

ram: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail $47.00 after MIR

case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $119.99

psu: HIPER HPU-4B580-MS ATX12V v2.2 580W Power Supply - Retail $99.99

hard drive: Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000ABYS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $129.99

optical drive: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail $39.99


finally, to round it out,

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack - OEM $89.99
Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Retail $39.99
Microsoft D58-00041 OEM White 5 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB + PS/2 Wired Optical IntelliMouse Optical 1.1 - OEM $20.99
SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM $6.99 once every blue moon i come across a floppy, and for 7 bucks, i'd rather be safe than sorry :)

lastly, i already have a decent 3-piece altec lansing speaker set and a monitor, so i'm set there.

final tally puts the whole kit at about $1225. i was kind of hoping to keep it closer to $1000, but i suppose i can live with that. what am i missing? what should i consider changing? will this all work together? i'd appreciate any advice i can get on this. thanks :)

I was just wondering could i use a EVGA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB SSC GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (512-P3-N806-A1) instead of

"EVGA 512-P3-N802-A1 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail"

Would it be compatible??

Appreciate any response tryin to build my first "super comp".

[Jamie Nixx]

Yes it will be fine as long as your chosen motherboard has a PCI x16 slot which most do anyway.

[BoboMull]

Thanks for the fast reply!

Well heres the Graphics Card i intend using- "EVGA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB Superclocked GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (512-P2-E802-AR)"

and heres the motherboard - "asus p5k e p35 wireless edition"

Would they be compatible? im sourcing the parts overseas as im from Ireland and i dont want to have to send umback so close to xmas u know :)

Thanks for the reply jamie!

[Jamie Nixx]

Yeah they will be fine mate, one thing i would change though is the motherboard, change it to an Asus P5K C, as this motherboard is cheaper and it supports DDR2 and DDR3 memory, its a much better motherboard.

If you can't find it, go for the Gigabyte P35C-DS3R as this is also cheap and supports DDR2 and DDR3.

The 8800GT will be fine in any of these motherboards.

[BoboMull]

Thanks jamie.

was jus wonderin do i need to buy cables such as

"Akasa Serial ATA PSU Converter" for my hard drive

or do they come suplied in the boxes?

if not could you give me a list of all thh cables il need to assemble my pc my list is relatively the same as "darkscorp"'s above me.

[The Wise Monkey]

All PSUs come with multiple adapters for both standard 4-pin molex connections as well as SATA power adpaters too. If you have lots of HDs, you might need to buy some more cables, but your PSU will definitely come with 2-3.

[BoboMull]

Thanks wise monkey (haha i like the name)

I cant seem to get the

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB Superclocked GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)

Its sold out all over the place!! does anyone know another good graphics card i could use instead or should i just wait?

[Jamie Nixx]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130303

This is in stock.