Need help with my new system

[mattdavies_03]

What do you think of the system I'm planning on getting? Any recommendations?

Q6600 Quad core 775pin CPU - $226 @ MSY - Thinking of getting an 8400
NZXT Hush Case - $125 @ PC Case Gear
Antec NeoPower PSU 650W - $169 @ PC Case Gear
ASUS P5K Pro Motherboard - $145 @ MSY
4GB Kit DDR2 800 Kingston-HyperX RAM - $105 @MSY
512MB Asus 8800GT Graphics Card - $222 @ MSY
Seagate SATA HDD 500GB - $104 @ MSY
22" 2ms Asus VW222U Monitor - $268 @ MSY
x2 Pioneer 215BK DVD-RW DL - $66 @ MSY

Total $1430 ($70 under budget)

Thanks guys

 

[KB #24]

Good System. Decent Price As well.

Just A Few Things To Remember Before Purchasing Your Comp.

Make a budget. Think about how much money you are willing to pay for a computer.

What purpose will it serve. If it is for basic applications like word processing, then look for a cheap model. If you want to play games, you'll need something with a fast processor, lots of RAM, a large hard drive, and good sound and graphics cards.

Where will it be used. If you need to take it all over the place, you'll need a laptop. If you intend to leave it in the office or at home on the desk, then buy a desktop.

Who is going to use it? If it's for an office and you have to share it, you might need one with more memory and XP Professional. If you will be the only one using it, and mostly for playing games, then XP Home Edition will serve you well.

Choose an operating system. For stability and cost, Linux and BSD are free. For compatibility and gaming try XP Home. For multimedia consider a Mac with OS X. For eye candy consider Vista.

Research. Scan the Internet, and become more knowledgeable. Compare prices, and whether the computer can be upgraded as needed. Then you are ready to order, either online, or in a computer store.

 

[Suspense]

What do you think of the system I'm planning on getting? Any recommendations?

Q6600 Quad core 775pin CPU - $226 @ MSY - Thinking of getting an 8400
NZXT Hush Case - $125 @ PC Case Gear
Antec NeoPower PSU 650W - $169 @ PC Case Gear
ASUS P5K Pro Motherboard - $145 @ MSY
4GB Kit DDR2 800 Kingston-HyperX RAM - $105 @MSY
512MB Asus 8800GT Graphics Card - $222 @ MSY
Seagate SATA HDD 500GB - $104 @ MSY
22" 2ms Asus VW222U Monitor - $268 @ MSY
x2 Pioneer 215BK DVD-RW DL - $66 @ MSY

Total $1430 ($70 under budget)

Thanks guys

I don't really know much myself, but I'm looking at getting a similar system (similar price too) and I've got a couple of questions for you:

1. What made you choose the Q6600 Quad core over the Dual Core E8400? I keep hearing that Quad Core isn't worth it for the next 2-3 years and Dual core is the best up until then. However, my mate reckons that if I am building a system from scratch, I should go the Q6600....

2. What made you decide on the NZXT Hush Case? I'm trying to decide between this and an Antec P182...

I'm also probably going to get the Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD4850, which I've heard very good things about. Currently at around $220-230, I'm not sure if they are going to come down any more though...

Cheers.

 

[JasRulz63]

Personally, I'd take the Q6600 for applications that are multithreaded, mainly video editing/rendering, animation etc. other than that, I'd take the E8400. The E8400 is faster (3.0hz v 2.4Ghz if I remember correctly), and unless you find a rare multithreaded program to use, it'll be faster. Even a year ago, people were saying quad-core would be future proofing, but a year later, there really isn't many more applications that are mutlithreaded.

Also, HD4850 performs better than the 8800GT for a similar price. Review here. Definitely something to look in to.

The only other thing I'd change personally is the RAM, doesn't make a difference, I just have a personal preference of G.Skill over Kingston (same price at MSY). You'll be fine with either one.

I love the case too, looks good and performs great from what I've seen and read.

 

[Magnum]

I'd go the quad core, but only if you overclock it. I have mine running at 3.6Ghz (from 2.4GHz) and it would outpace any E8500 (even when they are overclocked).. if you do plan to overclock though, I'd recommend an nForce mobo such as the 780i because most other boards have a FSB hole around 3GHz.

Also for the video card, look at the new ATI Radeon HD 4850's ... they have great bang for buck.

Also, check out the RC-690 case. Best value case I've seen anywhere. But the Hush is ok too, especially if you want quiet...

Also I'd only get 2Gb Ram and use XP.

 

[gostk86]

you can get a better from from ebay for $750

 

[JasRulz63]

I'd go the quad core, but only if you overclock it. I have mine running at 3.6Ghz (from 2.4GHz) and it would outpace any E8500 (even when they are overclocked).. if you do plan to overclock though, I'd recommend an nForce mobo such as the 780i because most other boards have a FSB hole around 3GHz.

The E8400 Wolfdale's overclock quite well, many people have reached 3.8Ghz quite easily on stock voltages, on air.

 

[Magnum]

The E8400 Wolfdale's overclock quite well, many people have reached 3.8Ghz quite easily on stock voltages, on air.

True, but a 3.6GHz Quad like mine (on air) will beat an E8400 in almost everything.

 

[HFC082]

Quads for Vids/Image rendering...Duals for gaming.

G-skill ram from msy

chuck a couple of 1tb's in raid 0 just for good measure

 

[JasRulz63]

True, but a 3.6GHz Quad like mine (on air) will beat an E8400 in almost everything.

If the application only makes use of one or two cores, wouldn't a 3.8Ghz dual core be better than a 3.6GHz quad.

But if the OP isn't overclocking, at stock the E8400 is 0.6GHz faster, and will perform faster most of the time.

 

[Suspense]

Thanks guys. (Sorry to hijack the thread). I mainly want a system to play games like Starcraft 2 and some other new ones coming out. Here's what I have decided on (Just the case):

Case: Cooler Master RC-690 w/ 460W PSU (Are there any issues with running this system with this PSU that comes with the case?)
- $144.10 @ Centrecom
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00 GHz
- $207.00 @ MSY
Motherboard: ASUS P5K-PRO
- $145.00 @ MSY
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3
- $237.60 @ Centrecom
RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2GB x 2) 6400 DDR2 800
- $105.00 @ MSY
HDD: Samsung 750GB 7200RPM 32MB SATA 2
- $99.00 @ Centrecom
DVD Drive: Pioneer DVR-215 SATA DVD Re-Writer
- $29.99 @ Centrecom

Total Cost: $967.69

Cheap.

 

[RooBuoy]

Thanks guys. (Sorry to hijack the thread). I mainly want a system to play games like Starcraft 2 and some other new ones coming out. Here's what I have decided on (Just the case):

Case: Cooler Master RC-690 w/ 460W PSU (Are there any issues with running this system with this PSU that comes with the case?)
- $144.10 @ Centrecom
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00 GHz
- $207.00 @ MSY
Motherboard: ASUS P5K-PRO
- $145.00 @ MSY
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon HD4850 512MB DDR3
- $237.60 @ Centrecom
RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2GB x 2) 6400 DDR2 800
- $105.00 @ MSY
HDD: Samsung 750GB 7200RPM 32MB SATA 2
- $99.00 @ Centrecom
DVD Drive: Pioneer DVR-215 SATA DVD Re-Writer
- $29.99 @ Centrecom

Total Cost: $967.69

Cheap.

I'm no PSU expert, but I would probably upgrade the PSU. 450W doesn't seem like much when running some of your components. Would try get at least 500W.

Also can't believe how cheeap HDD's are becoming. I paid $99 for my 320GB Seagate not even a year ago.

 

[Magnum]

I'm no PSU expert, but I would probably upgrade the PSU. 450W doesn't seem like much when running some of your components. Would try get at least 500W.

Also can't believe how cheeap HDD's are becoming. I paid $99 for my 320GB Seagate not even a year ago.

Agreed.

 

[Magnum]

If the application only makes use of one or two cores, wouldn't a 3.8Ghz dual core be better than a 3.6GHz quad.

But if the OP isn't overclocking, at stock the E8400 is 0.6GHz faster, and will perform faster most of the time.

Agreed. It seems though in most benchmarks I've seen, a overclocked Quad is a bit faster per clock cycle than a duo.

 

[Suspense]

Cheers guys. Just went with the basic Cooler Master RC-690 and managed to nab a cheap Corsair HX-520 from ebay.

Waiting game sucks...

 

[mattdavies_03]

Update guys.

Ordered my system today.

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E8400 @ 3.0GHz
Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro
Case: Coolermaster CM 690
Power Supply: Corsair HX-620 620W Power Supply
RAM: Kingston 4GB DDR2
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA2
DVD Drive: Pioneer DVR-215BK x2
Graphics Card: Asus 8800GT 512MB
Monitor: Asus VW222U 22" Widescreen DVI LCD monitor

Should be picking it up tonight or tomorrow.

 

[JasRulz63]

Looks good, probably still woulda went ATI HD3850 as it quite easily out performs 8800GT for not too much more.