[AncientToaster]

Working on my first computer build, and trying to put a parts list together.

My main concern is that it be as future-proof as possible (spending graduation present money, so hoping it'll last me through at least my sophomore or junior year of college). With that in mind, I'm thinking that I want to go SLI-ready, without actually springing for SLI yet.

I have some parts I'm pretty sure I'm going to use. Thus far this includes:

GeForce 8800GT
Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfsdale
Seagate 500GB 7200RPM

Beyond here I'm pretty uncertain.

The price needs to include OS (looking at Vista 64bit).

My primary concerns are:
1) Easy to upgrade. Ideally this means supporting a second 8800GT for SLI, as well as additional RAM in a year or two.
2) Cooling. My understanding of cooling is essentially nil, so as idiot-proof as possible is a bonus.
3) Overclockability. As I say, I anticipate being pretty cash-strapped, so the more extra juice I can squeeze out the better.

Thanks for any help! Let me know if I can provide any additional information to make this easier.

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If you are thinking of going SLI later, I would strongly suggest going with the 8800GTS 512MB (latter is cheaper with the MIR and is overclocked) as it is a dual-slot video card (having a slot for a fan) so heat is exhausted directly outside of the case (instead of inside the case if you use 8800GT). I have 8800GT (with the small fan) and the only way I can get the temperature down is to increase the fan speed and it is very very loud (sounds like a jet plane ) so I now installed a third party cooler and temperature does not go above 55C on load (I was getting 75C on load with 100% fan speed when I play COD4).

I'd also go with a Seagate 7200.11 as this one is quieter than what you have selected (that ones old technology). The list below does not have this one as its a bit expensive so I only included the one you selected before to save money.

Here's a list I made in Newegg, note that I didn't add a computer case as I don't know much that can support SLI. Also note that when you add the case that the total will be more than $1000. Also the motherboard is currently out of stock but I've heard that EVGA is a much better board than the other ones available. Maybe someone can jump in and change something to lower the total price.



Update
EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: 123-YW-E175-A1
Item #: N82E16813188026

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

Out Of Stock
ETA: 5/16/2008 8:51:23 AM
Auto notify Auto-Notify
$199.99 $199.99

Update
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 512-P3-N801-AR
Item #: N82E16814130318

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$219.99 $219.99

Update
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 Power Supply - Retail
Model #: CMPSU-550VX
Item #: N82E16817139004

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$104.99 -$5.00 Instant $99.99

Update
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
Model #: BX80570E8400
Item #: N82E16819115037

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

In Stock
$199.99 $199.99

Update
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Model #: F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
Item #: N82E16820231098

Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy

In Stock
$84.99 -$40.00 Instant $44.99

Update
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3500630AS
Item #: N82E16822148136

Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock
$79.99 $79.99

Update
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model DVR-215DBK - OEM
Model #: DVR-215DBK
Item #: N82E16827129020

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$30.99 $30.99

Update
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
Model #: 66I-00788
Item #: N82E16832116204

Return Policy: Software Return Policy

In Stock
$109.99 -$20.00 Instant $89.99

Subtotal: $965.92

Kamille

[kamille316]

If you are thinking of going SLI later, I would strongly suggest going with the 8800GTS 512MB (latter is cheaper with the MIR and is overclocked) as it is a dual-slot video card (having a slot for a fan) so heat is exhausted directly outside of the case (instead of inside the case if you use 8800GT). I have 8800GT (with the small fan) and the only way I can get the temperature down is to increase the fan speed and it is very very loud (sounds like a jet plane ) so I now installed a third party cooler and temperature does not go above 55C on load (I was getting 75C on load with 100% fan speed when I play COD4).

I'd also go with a Seagate 7200.11 as this one is quieter than what you have selected (that ones old technology). The list below does not have this one as its a bit expensive so I only included the one you selected before to save money.

Here's a list I made in Newegg, note that I didn't add a computer case as I don't know much that can support SLI. Also note that when you add the case that the total will be more than $1000. Also the motherboard is currently out of stock but I've heard that EVGA is a much better board than the other ones available. Maybe someone can jump in and change something to lower the total price.



Update
EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: 123-YW-E175-A1
Item #: N82E16813188026

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

Out Of Stock
ETA: 5/16/2008 8:51:23 AM
Auto notify Auto-Notify
$199.99 $199.99

Update
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 512-P3-N801-AR
Item #: N82E16814130318

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$219.99 $219.99

Update
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 Power Supply - Retail
Model #: CMPSU-550VX
Item #: N82E16817139004

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
Mail-in Rebate
$104.99 -$5.00 Instant $99.99

Update
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
Model #: BX80570E8400
Item #: N82E16819115037

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

In Stock
$199.99 $199.99

Update
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail
Model #: F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
Item #: N82E16820231098

Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy

In Stock
$84.99 -$40.00 Instant $44.99

Update
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3500630AS
Item #: N82E16822148136

Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

In Stock
$79.99 $79.99

Update
Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model DVR-215DBK - OEM
Model #: DVR-215DBK
Item #: N82E16827129020

Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

In Stock
$30.99 $30.99

Update
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
Model #: 66I-00788
Item #: N82E16832116204

Return Policy: Software Return Policy

In Stock
$109.99 -$20.00 Instant $89.99

Subtotal: $965.92

Kamille

[stettybet0]

In general, it is not a good idea to plan on using SLI in "a year or two". The reason is that in a year or two, there will be a single graphics card for less money which outperforms any SLIed pair of cards currently available.

It would probably be in your best interest to save yourself $100 now by getting the GA-EP35-DS3L and putting that money towards a better single graphics card, such as the GT200/G100 (official naming undetermined) which will be available this summer and provide 2-3 times the performance of an 8800GTX.

Edited by stettybet0, 12 May 2008 - 01:25 PM.