I've been doing some research over the last week or so and I've decided for the most part what I want. I just want to ask some of the experts here if these are good choices or if there are any compatibility issues. Also, I've never built a computer before. The most I've ever done was replace the chipset fan. It only could be unhooked from the back, so I had to take everything apart and put it back together. Thankfully it worked so I gained a little confidence that maybe I could build a new one.
Here's a rough sketch of what I want:
- gaming pc that will play the newest games at the highest settings
- 24" monitor so I can play most games at 1920x1200
- full tower
- would like to OC the cpu and maybe the video card
- most I can spend is around $2,400, would like to keep it closer to $2,000 if possible
- 64-bit OS so I can put 4 gigs in
After doing a little research and newegg browsing I came up with these items, if you think I should change anything let me know:
Hardware
Monitor: Westinghouse 24" 8ms HDMI Widescreen LCD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824255001
Is this a good monitor? It had good reviews on newegg and seems reasonably priced.
Price: $410
Case: Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133021
Is this case good for what I need? Any extra fans or stuff should buy for it?
Price: $155
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit Ultimate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116215
Price: $180
Motherboard: EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024
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Price: $260
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
Dont' really want a Quad-core yet as not many games really utilize it. Was reading some of the OC posts and seems like a good processor, now If I can only find one...
Price: $250
Main Hard Drive: Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011
I know the Barracuda is almost as good, but the Raptor performs very well in one particular game I play called Vanguard because of how big the art asset files are.
Price: $175
Storage HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB 7200 RPM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140
Price: $80
Memory: I want 4gb, a 2 sticks of 2gb for dual channel. Not sure which RAM is the best and compatible with this motherboard though. Any suggestions?
Price: $??
Video Card: Would like to get a Nvidia 9800 series card..their supposed to be released within the next couple of weeks right? What is the difference between the 9800X2 the 9800GTX and the 9800GTS? I read the GTX cards are better for the 1920x1200 resolution, so should I get that? Would the E8400 be a bottleneck for any of these cards?
Price: $??
Heatsink : What kind of heatsink will I need for OCing the E8400? And that will fit perfectly on my motherboard? Was reading the reviews of some of the heatsinks on newegg and one of the Zalman's for example has an issue with the 780i motherboard where a transistor is in the way where one of the pins is supposed to go.
Price: $??
Thermal Paste: Not sure which one to get, there a preferred one?
Price: $??
CD Drive: LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black http://www.ocforums.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=8
Price: $24
Floppy: SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103203
Price: $7
Power Supply: How big of a power supply will I need for this sytem? And what are the good brands?
Price: $??
Am I missing anything? Also, what kinds of tools will I need to build this? I only have 1 or 2 screwdrivers I think so should I buy something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899261002 ? And how easy is it really to build a computer like this...I'm afraid i'll plug something in the wrong socket and fry everything. Oh, and sorry for the Christmas colors but it looked clunky w/o it.
Here's a rough sketch of what I want:
- gaming pc that will play the newest games at the highest settings
- 24" monitor so I can play most games at 1920x1200
- full tower
- would like to OC the cpu and maybe the video card
- most I can spend is around $2,400, would like to keep it closer to $2,000 if possible
- 64-bit OS so I can put 4 gigs in
After doing a little research and newegg browsing I came up with these items, if you think I should change anything let me know:
Hardware
Monitor: Westinghouse 24" 8ms HDMI Widescreen LCD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824255001
Is this a good monitor? It had good reviews on newegg and seems reasonably priced.
Price: $410
Case: Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133021
Is this case good for what I need? Any extra fans or stuff should buy for it?
Price: $155
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit Ultimate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116215
Price: $180
Motherboard: EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024
l
Price: $260
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
Dont' really want a Quad-core yet as not many games really utilize it. Was reading some of the OC posts and seems like a good processor, now If I can only find one...
Price: $250
Main Hard Drive: Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011
I know the Barracuda is almost as good, but the Raptor performs very well in one particular game I play called Vanguard because of how big the art asset files are.
Price: $175
Storage HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB 7200 RPM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140
Price: $80
Memory: I want 4gb, a 2 sticks of 2gb for dual channel. Not sure which RAM is the best and compatible with this motherboard though. Any suggestions?
Price: $??
Video Card: Would like to get a Nvidia 9800 series card..their supposed to be released within the next couple of weeks right? What is the difference between the 9800X2 the 9800GTX and the 9800GTS? I read the GTX cards are better for the 1920x1200 resolution, so should I get that? Would the E8400 be a bottleneck for any of these cards?
Price: $??
Heatsink : What kind of heatsink will I need for OCing the E8400? And that will fit perfectly on my motherboard? Was reading the reviews of some of the heatsinks on newegg and one of the Zalman's for example has an issue with the 780i motherboard where a transistor is in the way where one of the pins is supposed to go.
Price: $??
Thermal Paste: Not sure which one to get, there a preferred one?
Price: $??
CD Drive: LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black http://www.ocforums.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=8
Price: $24
Floppy: SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103203
Price: $7
Power Supply: How big of a power supply will I need for this sytem? And what are the good brands?
Price: $??
Am I missing anything? Also, what kinds of tools will I need to build this? I only have 1 or 2 screwdrivers I think so should I buy something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899261002 ? And how easy is it really to build a computer like this...I'm afraid i'll plug something in the wrong socket and fry everything. Oh, and sorry for the Christmas colors but it looked clunky w/o it.
