New System Build

[Sonic 296]

I've decided its time to upgrade my desktop PC again. I spent most of the day deciding on the components. Your feedback is appreciated. I already have the video card and the PSU. I'm still undecided about the hard drive. Hard drives are cheap these days, a 500GB for about $150 NZ dollars. I figured I might as well get one and use my current 320GB for extra storage.

 

CASE

Cooler Master Centurion 590 ATX Mid Tower Case, Black

 

POWER SUPPLY

Silverstone Element ST50EF-Plus, 500W ATX PSU, Active PFC, Black, Retail (REUSE)

 

PROCESSOR

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00 GHz, 1333MHz FSB, Socket 775, Retail pack with fan

 

MOTHERBOARD

Asus P5QL-E Motherboard, Socket 775, 1333MHz FSB, 4xDIMM DDR2, PCIe-16, 3xPCI, 2xPCIe-1, 12xUSB2, Firewire, Audio, ATA, RAID, ATX

 

MEMORY

Corsair XMS2, TWIN2X2048-6400C4, 2x1GB, DDR2-800, PC2-6400, CL4, DIMM, EPP

 

VIDEO CARD

EVGA Geforce 9600GT

 

HARD DRIVE

Seagate Barracuda ST3500320AS Hard Disk Drive, 500GB, 7200rpm, 32768KB Cache, SATA-2

Seagate Barracuda ST3320620AS Hard Disk Drive, 320GB, 7200rpm, 16384KB Cache, SATA-2 (REUSE)

 

OPTICAL DRIVE

LG Electronics GSA-H55L DVD Writer, DVD 16R/16W/8RW, CD 48R/48W/32RW, Internal, IDE, Beige/Black, Retail, Nero Express, LightScribe

 

OPERATING SYSTEM

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, for x86 (32-bit) systems, DVD, OEM

[Luk3us 63]

Wait, nvm... I fail at reading...

Edited July 8, 2008 by Luk3us

[TheBlackOut 7]

Are any of these parts still up for debate besides the PSU and VGU? If I find a better deal for the price, etc? If so, what are the links to the stores I can use?

[Sonic 296]

As I said before, I'm not 100% sure what do with the hard drive yet, should just reuse the 320GB or add in another 500GB?

 

Never thought about the pricing, I was just looking for feedback on potential issues with the parts I've chosen etc.... The best site to use for the NZ scene would be http://www.pricespy.co.nz.

[Luk3us 63]

http://c1com.co.nz/index.php

 

Are pretty good, they have some really good deals sometimes.

[BioBen 3]

Sound card?

[Sonic 296]

I just use the onboard sound, I've never bothered with the expansion sound cards.

[BioBen 3]

speakers then?

[Sonic 296]

Already got some decent Altec Lansing speakers, a 2.1 set up with a really good sub woofer. I'll also be reusing my LCD monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse (I just got a new mouse 2 weeks ago).

[TheBlackOut 7]

As I said before, I'm not 100% sure what do with the hard drive yet, should just reuse the 320GB or add in another 500GB?

 

Never thought about the pricing, I was just looking for feedback on potential issues with the parts I've chosen etc.... The best site to use for the NZ scene would be http://www.pricespy.co.nz.

I'll look later today... trust me, there's usually some better deals that pop out at the last moment... though you picked some pretty good parts. But if you're worried about issues with the parts, I'll look at that too... though it seems at a glance you picked everything that is a-ok with one another.

 

As for the HDD, what do you do that requires that much memory? I have a 250GB internal, barely half at the moment... I have an external 320GB, somewhat full, but that's because I'm a major torrenter. I don't think you are, so what else do you need the memory for?

 

I just use the onboard sound, I've never bothered with the expansion sound cards.

Already got some decent Altec Lansing speakers, a 2.1 set up with a really good sub woofer. I'll also be reusing my LCD monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse (I just got a new mouse 2 weeks ago).

Why? I know you're probably not a big sound freak but... onboard sucks. Horribly. If you got decent speakers with a sub, you should really consider a soundcard. It will make a difference.

 

If you do consider one, I would recommend the ASUS XONAR DX. Creative seems to be getting better though since ASUS has finally gave them competition.

 

Though they still pretty much blow.

[Sonic 296]

After some more thinking I've decided to stick with my current 320GB drive, which has about 240GB free space on it right now. If need be, I easily add another HDD later on.

[F15pilotX 4]

I dunno....my sound isn't too bad with onboard TBO...but $200 for a sound card?

 

That's a bit pricey

[BioBen 3]

Compare it to a graphics card

Gamer - Graphics

Musician/audiophile/ - Sound

[TheBlackOut 7]

I dunno....my sound isn't too bad with onboard TBO...but $200 for a sound card?

 

That's a bit pricey

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&cli...amp;btnG=Search

 

180 NZD dumb dumb. Convert it.

 

And it's just 100 USD here in the States, they're just getting ripped off in Kiwi Land.

 

Compare it to a graphics card

Gamer - Graphics

Musician/audiophile/ - Sound

Errr.... if you're really into gaming, you'll deeply appreciate the sounds you hear in game as well.

 

I'm both audiophile (eh? just interested and more appreciated, but I don't go out and buy tons of gizmos) and gamer. Both blend very, very well.

[Sonic 296]

New update. Switching to the Asus P5QL-E Motherboard, instead of the Gigabyte.

[TheBlackOut 7]

I've honestly just had only an ASUS before, but it has never failed me. I've heard good things from Gigabyte though, why the switch?

[CCHyper 3]

Gigabytes are epic boards.

 

When i worked at a computer shop, i always recommended them to people, and i never got one back

[Sonic 296]

I've honestly just had only an ASUS before, but it has never failed me. I've heard good things from Gigabyte though, why the switch?

Part of it is the availability of the Gigabyte model I originally wanted. So I decided to pick another one and I liked what this Asus board has.

[Sonic 296]

Just an update on the progress of my new system build. I finally have the new parts after trying 3 different sources to track down an E8400 CPU. I'll be building on Friday.

 

UPDATE (About 12 hours later): New system assembled and working without problems, Vista installed as well.

[Luk3us 63]

So zipping along at the speed of light?

[Hans5849 0]

I designed this system for my friend. In his words "I want a Beast"

 

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWi...istTitle=Gaming

[TheBlackOut 7]

Your getting only 2GB of RAM and that video card for a "beast"? To each his own I guess....

[Hans5849 0]

The item amounts got screwed up and I must have changed it from 4GB to 2. As for the video card, I told him to get 2.