New PC

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I've finally gotten around to putting together a parts list for my new PC (which will be built from scratch, and assembled by a local computer shop, since I don't have the time/skill to do it myself).

I came here to ask the expert opinion of our techies, since most people here know much more about this than I do. I'm particularly unsure about what sort of motherboard I should buy.

I'll buy all the parts from online and local stores. I'd appreciate it if somebody could suggest a reasonable price for me to pay for these.

Thanks in advance, your help is much appreciated.



Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6400 at 2.13GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 2M Cache
Memory: 2GB Corsair TWIN2X2048-5400C4 DDR2 675MHz Memory (2 X 1024MB)
Hard Drive: 500GB S-ATA II 7200
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB Xtreme Edition @560MHz
Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 24-Bit 7.1
Monitor: Viewsonic VA703B 17" 1280X1024 350:1 8ms LCD Monitor
OS: XP Home SP2 w/ original disc

[Whacker]

Are you going to OC that bad daddy? You'd be nuts not to. Right now I'm somewhat leaning towards this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121059 because I'm not going ATI (as of right now) nor do I want SLI. Make sure you buy a retail boxed Intel CPU, you get a pretty decent fan/heatsink with it and also a 3 year warranty, you will get neither with an OEM/non-retail version. Also, consider going with a 6600 Conroe instead of the 6400, it comes with 4mb L2 cache and OC's like a monster, for $40 more. Given everything I've been reading, you should easily be able to OC a 6600 up to 3.0ghz rock solid stable on stock cooling safely. Getting a new rig myself in a month or two, until then I'll just have to be jealous. Best of luck!

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Everything he said but get a better monitor. *ms is too slow and 17 inch is too small. Hey is that you Kay? I Like my 6600 much better than my 6400.

[Stuperman]

Not the greatest moniter, and a E6420 has more cache and is like $3 more (most places).

[LeftEyeNine]

Agreed with Stuperman, save one day's spending and get a 4 MB-cache 6420, which gets along well with being overclocked.

[Gandalf the White]

Why not get Vista? It would mean teh 8800GTS would run at full potential

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz / 4MB Cache / 1066MHz FSB / Conroe / Dual-Core / Socket 775 / Processor with Fan (Retail) - $332.99

Memory: Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB) - $122.96

Hard Drive: Seagate / Barracuda 7200.10 / 400GB / 7200 / 16MB / Serial ATA-300 / OEM / Hard Drive - $166.97

Graphics Card: XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra / 768MB DDR3 (or should I go to the EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS / 640MB GDDR3 which is about $350?) - $759.97

Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE (mixed reviews, is this a decent sound card to get?) - $46.99

Monitor: Hanns·G HW-191DPB 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 5ms, 700:1, WXGA+ 1440x900, DVI·D, VGA(D-sub), Black - $179.97

OS: XP Home SP2 w/ original disc

Cooling: Not sure so far.

Case/Tower: Apevia Black/Black X-Plorer ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Fan Controller, Front USB and Firewire Port (so far) - $79.99

Keyboard/Mouse: Just something cheap but durable, not too picky.

Motherboard: Not sure, really need some help. Can't be too expensive, but it has to be fairly good quality.

PhysX: Not sure if I need one at all.

What else would I need for this computer? All prices are in Canadian dollars.

[LeftEyeNine]

Um, you'll probably get a supa-mobo with a 7.1 audio codec integrated. So I'd save money for a better soundcard, instead of spending it to a Audigy SE.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Nevermind.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Um, you'll probably get a supa-mobo with a 7.1 audio codec integrated. So I'd save money for a better soundcard, instead of spending it to a Audigy SE.

Yup thats the way to go plus you can pick up alot of other extras like WiFi in your Mobo.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz / 4MB Cache / 1066MHz FSB / Conroe / Dual-Core / Socket 775 / Processor with Fan (Retail) - $332.99

Special savings on combo deal, ends 6/30
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail-$223.90

Hard Drive: Seagate / Barracuda 7200.10 / 400GB / 7200 / 16MB / Serial ATA-300 / OEM / Hard Drive - $166.97

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 400GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM


* 400GB
* 7200 RPM 8MB Cache
* SATA 3.0Gb/s
$94.99

Whats the difference?

Have you checked newegg?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Newegg only ships to America, AFAIK. It won't work for me. I need shipping to Canada or Germany.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Does anyone know of a Canadian/German site where I can get this cheaper?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Any suggestions as to what I should do regarding USB ports?

[Stuperman]

www.directcanada.com

is where I buy computer stuff, they susally have good prices. also: www.ncix.com

I'd go for the price, I don;t think a 8800ultra is a good deal, the 8800gtx or 640mb GTS should be lots of video card fo a while.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

www.directcanada.com

is where I buy computer stuff, they susally have good prices. also: www.ncix.com

I'd go for the price, I don;t think a 8800ultra is a good deal, the 8800gtx or 640mb GTS should be lots of video card fo a while.

Thanks very much, glad to have another site to check against. Good prices too, I have the feeling I'll be buying more there than anywhere else. I don't think there's much point in trying to find any more German sites - it's always more expensive. The only place I'd be able to save would be shipping.


Do I need to add my own USB ports/hardware, or will the case usually already contain them?

EDIT: Another question. Is the EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS Superclocked / 640MB GDDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / Dual DVI / HDTV compatible with the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Atx LGA775 Conroe P965 DDR2 PCI-E16 3PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 Gblan Audio motherboard? In other words, is the motherboard PCI Express?

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Most motherboards come with all that stuff. You can always add a USB hub if you need more.

In other words, is the motherboard PCI Express?
Today 15:42

Without a doubt, But with all that high end hardware i would not use that cheap Mobo.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

So, basically, any motherboard that says PCI-E(number) is compatible? Great, that helps, thanks.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I know how I sound a bit...helpless here, but I know next to nothing about motherboards.