New Computer Time! First time builder

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

2 x 8800GT in SLI will be much cheaper and get you better performance than a single 9800GTX, especially at higher resolutions.

Agreed, and you can heat your home in the winter with this setup as well!

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

New CPUs all come with high quality paste pre-applied in microdots for you.

Goes to show when the last time I mounted one myself was.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

2 x 8800GT in SLI will be much cheaper and get you better performance than a single 9800GTX, especially at higher resolutions.

Not cheaper at all, from what I can tell. And that's not accounting for increased PSU and motherboard requirements. But might be worth it. About $70-100 more.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by psicodude

Agreed, and you can heat your home in the winter with this setup as well!

I'm aware of the heat thing... but I figure it should be alright. I can always through an extra pair of fans into the P182 to bring it two 5 x 120 mm for decent air cooling. As long as it's heating the house and not my CPU!

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by SebC

I'm aware of the heat thing... but I figure it should be alright. I can always through an extra pair of fans into the P182 to bring it two 5 x 120 mm for decent air cooling. As long as it's heating the house and not my CPU!

I was just trying to be funny. The 120 mm fans really move the air well, so I wouldn't be concerned. Be careful with the XFX 8800 GT cards. My wife has the overclocked model (Alpha Dog?), and the GPU fan is locked at 100%....which is terribly loud and annoying.

[SebC]

Okay, revised edition of my system:

Case: Antec P182

Again, clean look, good cooling.

Processor: Intel Q6600

Thought long and hard about the E8400, but decided to stick with Quad. Big performance gains for programs that will use it, but not really that much slower otherwise, especially if overclocked.

CPU Cooling: Zalman CNPS9700

Added a good cooler so I can overclock. Figure if I have high end parts, might as well overclock a bit.

Motherboard: ASUS Striker II Formula

Clearly overkill, but should be good for an overclocking n00b to have the snazzier functions.
Video Card: XFX GeForce 9800 GTX 512 Mb

Decided to stick with it, even though 2 x 8800 GT is probably better. No SLi issues to sort out, lower power consumption, and maybe I'll throw in another 9800 GTX later.

Memory: OCZ 2x2Gb PC-8500 Reaper HPC

Went with better memory, not too much more expensive.

Hard Drives: 4 x Seagate 500 Gb, 32 Mb Cache

Looked closely, and this costs less than 2 x 1 TB. Plus, running 4 x 500 Gb in RAID 5 gives me 500 Gb more space than 2 x 1 TB in Raid 1!

Optical Drive: Samsung 20x DVD writer w/ Lightscribe

Rationale: Nothing fancy here, but I can always through in a Blu-Ray later if I decide it's worth it. Right now though I just want to get this thing built.

PSU: OCZ 600W

Plenty for my system. Hopefully I get the version with the quiet fan

Buying this tomorrow after the game, so that's your deadline for comments. And thanks again to everyone!

[photon]

I think processor prices are due to come down on April 20th, the Q6600 to $229 and Q6700 to $270.

[SebC]

Wow thanks photon! I'll definitely wait until tomorrow then.

Edit: woops... sorry.

[photon]

<-- Photon

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by SebC

Not cheaper at all, from what I can tell. And that's not accounting for increased PSU and motherboard requirements. But might be worth it. About $70-100 more.

Depends what you buy them for. I've seen 8800GTs in the $150 range in really good deals on ebay or with huge rebates on NCIX. My friend just bought one for $180.

9800GTXs are in the $320-$400 range

[zhulander]

Originally Posted by SebC

Okay, revised edition of my system:

CPU Cooling: Zalman CNPS9700

Added a good cooler so I can overclock. Figure if I have high end parts, might as well overclock a bit.

PSU: OCZ 600W

Plenty for my system. Hopefully I get the version with the quiet fan

Buying this tomorrow after the game, so that's your deadline for comments. And thanks again to everyone!

When paired with the right 120mm fan the thermalright ultra 120 extreme cpu cooler is the best on the market for the same price as the zalman.

I don't think you want a bottom mounted fan psu in the p182. The psu is isolated in the bottom chamber from the rest of the components for heat and noise so you won't be getting optimal airflow from the bottom mounted fan. Since you might plan on getting another GTX you might as well get a good side mount fan psu now like the antec quattro 850 or pc power & cooling silencer 750.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by zhulander

When paired with the right 120mm fan the thermalright ultra 120 extreme cpu cooler is the best on the market for the same price as the zalman.

I don't think you want a bottom mounted fan psu in the p182. The psu is isolated in the bottom chamber from the rest of the components for heat and noise so you won't be getting optimal airflow from the bottom mounted fan. Since you might plan on getting another GTX you might as well get a good side mount fan psu now like the antec quattro 850 or pc power & cooling silencer 750.

Not really too serious about the second GTX, but that's something I hadn't considered. The PSU in the bottom chamber has space above and below, with vents at the top. The fan in the mid-section of the chamber pushes air towards the PSU and then the PSU can suck up air from under it and it'll go out the top. So I don't think it's horrible, but yes a cross-fan would probably work a bit better. I'll take a look at prices.

[SebC]

No sign of the price drop yet... guess I'll wait one more day.

[photon]

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9924121-7.html

Memex and NCIX haven't updated their prices yet, though I've seen other retailers in Canada selling it for less:

http://infonec.com/site/main.php?mod...tail&id=349999
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...344&cid=CPU.84
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...505&cid=CPU.84