[Sk0rch]

Hello - I created this thread because I need guidance on building a gaming desktop. I don't have much experience with this - so far all my experience is replacing a video card and putting in some thermal paste.

My goal is to make a great GAMING PC for my little brother for about 600-800$ - i want to try to not go over 700 but i also want to get the most out of my money. I am using websites such as google, newegg( especially the reviews!), toms hardware, pricewatch, and tigerdirect. I won't get state of the art technology with that budget, but I still want it to last a good number of years with the latest games. I live in and will be buying from the USA.


Keep in mind that since i have never built a computer so I'm not really sure too sure what I'm doing. I figured that i would order all the parts and then just try to put it together.

So far, the parts that I think I need are:

Motherboard
Processor
Video Card
RAM
Monitor
Computer Case
Hard Drive
Keyboard
Mouse
Speakers
CD/DVD Burner

Please let me know if there is anything else I need. The fan comes with the motherboard right? Will I need some sort of external cooling also?


I have researched the priciest components so far (CPU, motherboard, video card). Please let me know what you think of my decisions and if you have recommendations. Is everything compatible with eachother? I'm trying to get the biggest bang for my buck. Based on my research, I have come to the conclusion that Intel > AMD at this current moment.


I haven't decided if I am going to overclock this (partly because I'm not sure how to). But let's just assume I will.

Processor - this is what I have researched the most so far and I am fairly confident in my choice - but let me know if you disagree.

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0Ghz 1333FSB 6MB L2

[L=http://www.futurepowerpc.com/s...E=CPIN-RE8400&REFID=PW]http://www.futurepowerpc.com/scripts/product.asp?PRDCODE=CPIN-RE8400&REFID=PW[/L]

Motherboard - I'm not very knowledgeable with the specs for motherboards, I have narrowed it down to the eight motherboards you see below (based on the reviews at newegg).

[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813188026]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026[/L]
[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131295]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131295[/L]
[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128347]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128347[/L]
[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131232]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232[/L]
[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131299]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299[/L]
[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131344]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131344[/L]
[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359[/L]
[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358[/L]

Keep in mind that I have not checked these motherboards on Pricewatch - so there may be a 5-10$ cheaper elsewhere.

As for CPU/Motherboard combos, I've looked for a good deal on one of those but what I am finding is that they offer a really great processor and a very crappy non-gaming motherboard.

Video Card - I have already purchased this one for 20$ (after rebate) and based on the reviews its pretty good for gaming - my reasoning was that since it is only 20$, worst case scenario is I will just get a better one later on incase this one isn't good enough.

EVGA 256-P2-N761-TR GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

[L=http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130394]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130394[/L]



RAM - Haven't researched this much yet - is there a certain minimum amount of RAM I need to make it compatible with my motherboard and processor? I don't want the minimum amount though - I want a good amount to ensure it is a great gaming desktop. What is the typical amount of RAM to accomplish this?

Hard Drive - Haven't researched this much yet - is there a certain minimum amount of hard drive space I need to make it compatible with my motherboard and processor? I don't want the minimum amount though - I want a good amount to ensure it is a great gaming desktop. What is the typical amount of HD space to accomplish this?

Monitor - Haven't researched this much yet.

The rest of things like the keyboard and speakers I don't think is that big of a deal, that I can do on my own but the main components is what I need help with.

Also - here a couple of combos from some users on Newegg. Haven't looked at these very carefully yet.


-EVGA 512-P3-N980-AR GeForce 9800 GT Hybrid
-GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel
-Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB
-G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
-LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model
-Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
-Rosewill RCX-Z300 92mm Ball CPU Cooler
-RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power **this box was not the best choice**
-Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit



1.This mobo Gigabyte EP45
2.Intel E8500 [email protected]/1644mhz FSB
3.GTX260(MSI)Oced 702/2406/1467 GPU(just 1)
4.DDR2 1000@822mhz 5-4-4-12 1:1 (gskill)2x2=4gb
5.X-Fi gamer's edition audio
6.(optional) Asus PhysiX card-takes load off GPU
7. 750watt 4x12v rail PS(Zalman)or better
8. Antec 300 or 900 (depending on your budget)case
9. 22"lcd or bigger with 2ms 10000:1 (LG)or samsung
10. any of the THX Logitec speakers are good! Z series


Let me know if I forgot to mention anything. I would appreciate it if you would please let me know what you think, thanks a lot.

[Advertisements]

Alright, the CPU you picked is a good one and it is fast and recommended for games so you are all set in that catagory.

The motherboard I recommend from your selection would definitly be the EVGA one ( http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813188026 ). The reason I like this one is because its a great gaming motherboard, its stable, and when coupled with an EVGA graphics card (like the one you chose) will give you great speed, performance, and power to game.

Having a good amount of RAM is just as important to a gamer as anything else. The more RAM you have the better the game plays and the computer will perform better. Here is some RAM I recommend http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820145184. 4GB is plenty for gaming and will last you a long time.

Hard drive space is also important, and the speed of the hard drive can effect the performance of your system overall. Here is a hard drive I recommend, http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136039. It's fast, quiet, and will last a long time.

Now, I reviewed the combos below. The second combo is a good one, but the physix card is a waste of money, because the nVidia GTX 260 is designed with that basically built in so its an unnecessary part. But other than that, I would say the second combo is best for gaming.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Cheers
Anton

Edited by X IBLaCK0uT X, 14 December 2008 - 12:57 PM.

[=OSS*ROID=]

Alright, the CPU you picked is a good one and it is fast and recommended for games so you are all set in that catagory.

The motherboard I recommend from your selection would definitly be the EVGA one ( http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813188026 ). The reason I like this one is because its a great gaming motherboard, its stable, and when coupled with an EVGA graphics card (like the one you chose) will give you great speed, performance, and power to game.

Having a good amount of RAM is just as important to a gamer as anything else. The more RAM you have the better the game plays and the computer will perform better. Here is some RAM I recommend http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820145184. 4GB is plenty for gaming and will last you a long time.

Hard drive space is also important, and the speed of the hard drive can effect the performance of your system overall. Here is a hard drive I recommend, http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136039. It's fast, quiet, and will last a long time.

Now, I reviewed the combos below. The second combo is a good one, but the physix card is a waste of money, because the nVidia GTX 260 is designed with that basically built in so its an unnecessary part. But other than that, I would say the second combo is best for gaming.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Cheers
Anton

Edited by X IBLaCK0uT X, 14 December 2008 - 12:57 PM.

[Sk0rch]

Thanks for the reply!

Being new at this, deciding between all these components is pretty overwhelming. So I'm going to do it one step at a time.

Processor - e8400 - this is baically set, I'm confident that this is a good choice.

I have narrowed the motherboard down to three (although feel free to suggest something else). Why do you suggest the EVGA as opposed to the below?

The ASUS p5q Pro 115$

The ASUS p5q-e 145$

GIGABYTE UD3P 117$

(Keep in the mind that I will receive a 20$ combo discount for the Pro and a 10$ discount for the UD3P when coupled with the 8400)

I chose the UD3P over the UD3R and UD3 because of this chart:

Although that chart does confuse me. I know I need CrossFire for overclocking so I figured I'd go with the UD3P.


Can you guys give me feedback on which is the best from the three motherboards? Please let me know what your reason is for recommending also.

Is the p5q-e worth it for the 30$ price jump?

Is there any difference in the expansion slots? I see a difference in the p5qe.
I also see a difference in the max memory supported - p5q pro only supports 8GB while the other two support 16GB. But I only need 4GB of RAM right? Then this would be irrelevant.

Are there any other differences?

[=OSS*ROID=]

Why do you suggest the EVGA as opposed to the below?

The reason I suggest EVGA is because there boards are very stable and reliable and they are great for overclocking. They use quality components to make them so they last a very long time.. EVGA also has some of the best support you could ask for. I have only used EVGA motherboards and that is all I plan to use. Also, I noticed that you have bought an EVGA graphics card. EVGA graphics cards paired with an EVGA motherboard will give you awesome performance as they are optimized to work well with each other.

I know I need CrossFire for overclocking so I figured I'd go with the UD3P.

I'm confused. You said you bought an EVGA 8600GT graphics card, yet you said you will be needing crossfire. Crossfire is only on ATI graphics cards. nVidia uses SLI as there multiple card technology.

Can you guys give me feedback on which is the best from the three motherboards? Please let me know what your reason is for recommending also.

Although I have very little experience with both Asus and Gigabyte motherboards, I would go with the ASUS P5QE because it is more stable when overclocking, and it supports 16GB which you probably won't use but is still good to have .

Is there any difference in the expansion slots? I see a difference in the p5qe.

The only difference is that the P5QE has 1 PCI-E X4 which is just a long PCI-E X1. Basically, the PCI-E X4 slots support raid cards and modems and small things like that. Its more of a convenience then anything else.

I also see a difference in the max memory supported - p5q pro only supports 8GB while the other two support 16GB. But I only need 4GB of RAM right? Then this would be irrelevant.

Ya, again just another convenience.

Goodluck with everything!

Cheers
ROIDO

Edited by =OSS*ROID=, 15 December 2008 - 08:40 AM.

[kamille316]

Hi Sk0rch!

So your budget is $600-$800? and from what I've read you've already purchased the video card?

Here's my suggestion:

Antec 300 - $49.95
Asus P5Q-Pro - $129.99 ($15 Mail-in-Rebate)
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 500W - $69.99 ($20 Mail-in-Rebate)
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - $159.99
Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 - $49.99 ($30 Mail-in-Rebate)
Western Digital Caviar 500GB - $64.99
Acer X203Wbd Black 20" - $159.99
Samsung 22X DVD-drive - $24.99
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit OS - $99.99
Total - $809.87

The Asus P5Q Pro should be enough for your brother's needs, it is also very good for overclocking however you might need some experience with overclocking as I believe there are a lot of options with this board compared to a Gigabyte board.

If there are any questions about the parts I suggested, feel free to ask

Kamille

[PedroDaGR8]

One thing you missed is a power supply. Power supplies included with 95% of the computer cases border on dangerous to your hardware. The one mentioned above (the PC Power And Cooling, while more quiet than a regular PCPC, it is nowhere near silent ) is a good solid one.

Another good one is this one that OSS*ROID mentioned in another thread, a Corsair CMPSU-550W http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817139004 . 72.99 after $25 mail in rebate.

Go with either of these and you will have a nice solid PSU that you don't have to worry about killing the computer.

Edited by PedroDaGR8, 15 December 2008 - 02:28 PM.

[kamille316]

If you're gonna go with Corsair PSU, I recommend this 650W, its $2 more but it is cheaper if you take advantage of the mail in rebate.

[PedroDaGR8]

If you're gonna go with Corsair PSU, I recommend this 650W, its $2 more but it is cheaper if you take advantage of the mail in rebate.

Even BETTER find.

[Sk0rch]

OSSROID - I am likely going to sell my EVGA video card - many people have told me that it's not good enough. I am going to buy a cheaper motherboard (UD3R) in order to buy a great video card.

This is where I am at so far:

CPU - Wolfdale e8400

MOBO - GIGABYTE UD3R

Thanks for the PSU suggestions, I will look at that very soon, but now I am going to start researching video cards and then I'll get back to you guys!

[=OSS*ROID=]

Alright, goodluck with your search. If you need any questions answered or any advice, feel free to ask us

Cheers
ROIDO

[Sk0rch]

Here is where I am at so far:

CPU - e8400 WolfDale

Motherboard - GIGABYTE UD3R

Video Card - researching


I was going to shop for desktop components one at a time and although the video card is still my main priority, I am reading these NewEgg emails and there are promotional discounts that expire on the 18th, and some on the 21st. Based on what I have bought so far (CPU and motherboard) and what I am trying to accomplish, please let me know what you think of these discounts and if you recommend any product.

Please don't get the idea that I am not researching or that I am being lazy - I am simply doing this because the promotions will expire before I get to researching the products. I realize this is a lot to ask all at once but if you could even just give feedback on one of the components I'll appreciate it. Also, feel free to suggest something that is not a promotion, I am not simply going to buy it because there is a discount, I still want to get the biggest bang for my buck.

I cannot link to the deal page because it's in my e-mail.

All the prices below are after promocode and rebate:


Video Cards:


EVGA GeForce 9800 GT PCI Express 2.0 x16 512MB GDDR3 Video Card

http://www.newegg.co...-L5C-_-14130397

89.99

------------------

EVGA GeForce 9500 GT PCI Express 2.0 x16 512MB GDDR3 Video Card

http://www.newegg.co...-L4C-_-14130383

44.99

-------------

ASUS EAH4830/HTDP/512MD3 Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
640 Stream Processors ready

http://www.newegg.co...-L2C-_-14121289

94.99

------------


MSI GeForce 8800 GTS PCI Express x16 320MB GDDR3 Video Card

http://www.newegg.co...-L8B-_-14127328

79.99

------------------------------

Power Supply - I need at least 600W right? How much of a performance increase will I saw if I do more than 600W?


Thermaltake Purepower W0121RU 600W ATX12V V2.0 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.co...-L1B-_-17153077

44.99

-----------------

Corsair 750 Watt ATX12V/ EPS12V Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.co...-L6C-_-17139006

89.99

------------------

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.co...-L1C-_-17341010

39.99

-----------------

Rosewill 630 Watt ATX12V v2.2 & EPS12V v2.91 Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.co...-L4A-_-17182149

59.99

----------------

I definitely want to buy a power supply in the next couple days because there is a 20% sale right now for all PSUs in the following link: http://www.newegg.co...CH-_-EB1A-_-PSU

Let me know which one you think is the best deal for me.


----------------------------



Monitors :

ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 5000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail

http://www.newegg.co...-L0A-_-24236050


159.99

-----------------

Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2000:1 (ACM) - Retail
High resolution 19” monitor

http://www.newegg.co...-L5B-_-24009127

129.99


------------------

SAMSUNG 2233bw High Glossy Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 20000:1(1000:1) - Retail

http://www.newegg.co...L10C-_-24001306

179.99


Basically each monitor is 10$ off with the promo code. I haven't researched monitors heavily yet but I just wanted to know if these were good deals since they will expire soon.

--------------------------


RAM

- for memory I need the 4GB RAM correct? Most of the promotions are only for 2GB RAM so I will not bother posting them.

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory

http://www.newegg.co...-L3B-_-20231209

44.99

-----------------

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.co...-L0D-_-20231166

49.99


---------------


Hard-Drives - I have no idea why the prices vary so much when the memory space is the same. The 1TB and 400 GB HDs are the same price - why is that?


Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.co...-L0B-_-22148288

59.99

--------------

Seagate Momentus 5400.6 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s Notebook Hard Drive OEM

http://www.newegg.co...-L1D-_-22148371

99.99

--------------

Western Digital Elements Portable 400GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

http://www.newegg.co...-L8D-_-22136340

99.99

------------------

Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EACS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.co...-L5D-_-22136151

99.99


--------------------


DVD Burners - I assume this includes CD drives inside them - right?


Lite-On IDE 22X DVD+/-R DVD Burner with LightScribe

http://www.newegg.co...-L1B-_-27106269

24.99

----------

Sony NEC Optiarc IDE 20X DVD+/-R DVD Burner OEM

http://www.newegg.co...-L2D-_-27118011

19.99


-------------------

Cases

http://promotions.ne...EB3A-_-Rosewill

There's a lot of cases there. The one on top looks cool.. I like the blue lights - but is it good for airflow?

Also, there are some case combo deals with CPUs here:

http://promotions.ne...3C-_-IntelAntec

The first two on that link are the ones that apply to me since I am buying the e8400 CPU.

-------------------------


Thanks a lot.

[=OSS*ROID=]

Graphics card:
Either go with the EVGA GeForce 9800 GT or the MSI 8800GTS 320-MB. Now the reason I like the 8800GTS is because it has a 320-bit memory interface. Basically what that means is that the memory can pass through in greater amounts and in a faster pace which would ultimately lead to faster rendering. The reason I like the 9800 GT is because it has a lot of stream processors which means that the card can play more graphic intense games smoother. But overall I would have to lean toward the 9800 GT.
Verdict: http://www.newegg.co...-L5C-_-14130397

Power Supply:
I would definitly go with Corsair. They make some of the best power supplies out there. There power supplies are powerful yet they are very stable, run cool, and they last a very long time.
Verdict: http://www.newegg.co...-L6C-_-17139006

Moniter:
Samsung and Asus both make very good moniters. I would lean toward the Asus though because of the better response time, and because Samsung is better at making larger screens
Verdict: http://www.newegg.co...-L0A-_-24236050

Memory:
I would definitly go for the G-Skill DDR2 1066. Its only a few dollars more, but it does have increased performance, even if its not really noticable. It will help with games and applications that require a lot of processing power also.
Verdict: http://www.newegg.co...-L0D-_-20231166

Hard Drive:
I would go for the Seagate 500GB 7200RPM hard drive. The reason I would go for this is because it has less latency which means better performance. Basically the time that elapses between the moment when the read/write head settles over the desired data track and the moment when the first byte of the required data appears under the head. So you will get better performance and seek times.
Verdict: http://www.newegg.co...-L0B-_-22148288

DVD Burners:
I wouldn't get a lightscribe drive unless I was really going to use the lightscribe feature. However, I highly recommend the LG DVD-Burner because it is really fast and really quiet, and it's also very reliable. Unless you are getting a Blu-Ray disc drive, then this would probably be the best DVD-Burner out on the market currently.
Verdict: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827136153

Case:
I would definitly go with the case cpu combo #1. The one that has the Antec 900 case and the Intel Core 2 duo E8400. The case is very nice and very sturdy. It also has great airflow and will keep your components nice and cool. Antec has a reputation for keeping things cool.
Verdict: The first combo on http://promotions.ne...3C-_-IntelAntec

I hoped I helped. Goodluck with everything!

Cheers
ROIDO

Edited by =OSS*ROID=, 16 December 2008 - 08:40 PM.

[Sk0rch]

Okay - thanks.

I am about to purchase a video card. I will likely go with the 9800 GT over the 4830, even though they're basically the same.

However, can you give me some feedback on this comment from another forum:

i suggest the 4830, but if you plan to sli/crossfire(this means putting in another of the same card into your comp to double the power, usually the cheapest way to upgrade later on) in the future then get the 9800 however getting the 9800 means you'd have to change your motherboard IF want to sli/crossfire. However i REALLY suggest you get a Radeon 4850 or GTX 260 which is $50 more than the cards you chose but much better for todays games especially with a 22 inch screen.

Thanks.

[Sk0rch]

I am most likely going to go with the OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail.

This is only 35$ after MIR and promo discount.

However - since I am buying the e8400 - I can get the OCZ OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail for 35$ also after MIR.

I believe that I should save my combo discount with the e8400 for when I buy the CPU case, or the RAM... rather than to use it on the PSU - because 600W is all I need, right? Would 700W make a difference?

What do you think?

[Sk0rch]

Here is where I am right now:


CPU - e8400

MOBO - UD3R

Video Card - 9800GT

PSU - OCZ StealthStream 600W

RAM - GSKILL 4GB 1066

CASE - Antec 900 (comboed with the CPU)

This totals to 520$ after rebate.

What is left? I think just the monitor, hard drive, keyboard and DVD drive. I have a mouse and I get the OS for free from a student organization at school (I am getting Vista 64-bit).

The biggest thing left is the monitor and I think it is very important since that is what I'm going to be staring at. I am thinking about going with this one since it's a big 22" screen : http://www.newegg.co...Revie...&=0&=10


However, there is one thing that bothers me. One guy is saying that basically I should pay 50$ more and get the 4850 video card or the geforce 260 because the 9800 GT is not sufficient for a 22" monitor - it may not handle the detailed resolutions on high for some games - is this a valid statement? Should I be concerned about this? I was looking forward to the 22" screen but if the 9800 GT cannot handle it then I guess I will settle for the 20".

Thanks.