Serious Help on New Build

[QWERTZ]

Hey everbody! :)

New around here, I need some big help on choosing stuff for my new build. I'm going for a mid-range gaming PC. I already have a Dell 2007WFP, so I'll be gaming at 1680x1050 for best visual experience. I will not overclock much, just a little.
I've spend a hell lot of time searching for information on the Web. But I really need some help.

Here's what I have in mind :

- Case : I've found that the Antec SOLO, fits my needs.

- PSU : Antec NeoHE 500W or Corsair HX520W? The Corsair is more silent but much more silent? And is the 80mm on the Antec better to have than the 120mm on the Corsair?

- Motherboard : The hard part.... Intel P35 or nVidia 750i? I think it's best to choose the chipset first. PCI-E 1.0 VS 2.0, big difference?

- CPU : Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 for sure.

- Cooling : I'll use the stock for a moment, I'll change in like 3 months after the purchase.

- RAM : 2 x 2GB but then 800Mhz or 1066Mhz? Big difference in performance?

- HDD : Capacity isn't important, I want a silent one. I've heard that "less platters= better performance" True but how to know which one's are one platter. 16MB VS 32MB Cache Memory?

- GFX : nVidia 8800GT VS 9600GT VS HD 3870. Yeah I know the order 9600GT = (More or Less) HD 3870 < 8800GT but for 1680x1050 is the 9600GT enough?

- DVD-RW : There are many shades of black, is there on that matches the "black" of the SOLO? Any SATA x20 Drive I guess.

- WIFI : Linksys PCI or Abit Airpace PCI-E x1

Thanks for you help! :D

P.S : Just in case I live in Switzerland, so there are some parts that I can't get (G-Skill, Nexus,etc.) and the prices are sometimes higher that the USA. Like the 8800GT costs more than the 9600GT by like almost 100 Swiss Francs (Which is pretty much).

[MKmods]

I would pick the Corsair (larger fan generly moves more air at lower speed=less noise)
mobo, depends on if OCing is important (pci-e 1.0 VS 2.0, no difference right now but maybe in future)
Hdds, I use WD 160gig 16mb cache(almost silent)

[Retrospekt]

Case: That's a bit small. Look into an Antec 900 or the like.
PSU: 120mm fans are generally quieter than 80mm fans. Get the Corsair, or even go with an OCZ PowerSteam.
Motherboard - P35. Great boards, awesome prices. I suggest the Gigabyte P35-DS3L or DS3R.
Cpu - Have you thought about the q6600? It's 200 dollars at microcenter.
Ram- No noticable difference between 800mhz and 1066 mhz unless you overclock a lot. Pick up a set of G.Skills:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122
HDD - Just pick up a 160gig Wester Digital or Seagate drive. Both are pretty much silent. 16mb is fine.
GPU - Get a 8800gt. The prices have plummeted and it's the best card for the price.
DVDRW - Lite-On and Sony drives (In my experience) have all been solid black. No shades.


Edit: Oh crap, switzerland? Those G.Skills are at a great price. You can't find them anywhere?

[CrackerJack]

Case: That's a bit small. Look into an Antec 900 or the like.
PSU: 120mm fans are generally quieter than 80mm fans. Get the Corsair, or even go with an OCZ PowerSteam.
Motherboard - P35. Great boards, awesome prices. I suggest the Gigabyte P35-DS3L or DS3R.
Cpu - Have you thought about the q6600? It's 200 dollars at microcenter.
Ram- No noticable difference between 800mhz and 1066 mhz unless you overclock a lot. Pick up a set of G.Skills:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122
HDD - Just pick up a 160gig Wester Digital or Seagate drive. Both are pretty much silent. 16mb is fine.
GPU - Get a 8800gt. The prices have plummeted and it's the best card for the price.
DVDRW - Lite-On and Sony drives (In my experience) have all been solid black. No shades.


Edit: Oh crap, switzerland? Those G.Skills are at a great price. You can't find them anywhere?


his right! I would rather go with ddr2 800. That's a nice deal on the memory. I don't know about intel, but amd will only run 1066mhz if use the quadcore. (Phemon) That might not be true for all boards, But it is for mine!


ASUS P5E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131219

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

are you on a budget?

[Jimmy 2004]

The Corsair HX520 works very nicely for me - that's the one that most people on this site recommended when I bought it.

[QWERTZ]

Thanks everbody for your help!

It's getting more precise what I'm going to pick!

- Case : Well the Antec 900 look nice and all, but I don't think it's silent... Over @ Silent PC Review, people recommand the SOLO, so I don't think I can go wrong with this case.

- PSU : Corsair HX520W then it is! :)

- Motherboard : OK so P35. But then I got 2 choices Abit IP-35 Pro or P5K-Premium.

- CPU : Like I said in my first post, in Switzerland, sometimes the prices aren't like the US. The Q6600 is 350 Swiss Francs and the E8400 is around 250, quite a difference... :(

- RAM : I just noticed I could get some 1066Mhz Dominators from Corsair for about the same price for 800Mhz, but it seems that it's out of stock. I'll check, because 1066 for the price of 800 can't miss that. :D

- HDD :Thought of the Western Digital 320GB 3200AAKS, heard it's shipping in Single 320GB Platters :p

- 8800 GT it is.

- A Lite-On DVD-RW SATA x20, good enough.


Note : Yeah I know sorry but Switzerland is kinda crappy for Electronics... Used to live in the USA, damn wish I could go back. In case some want to help a little, on the my local storehttp://1000ordi.ch there is an english tap on the top right. My budget is around 1300-1400 Swiss Francs.

Thanks a Bunch! :D

[MKmods]

It may be $$$ for hardware but you have the chocolate and fine watches covered..

I cant explain why but I like the Abit over the Asus.

[QWERTZ]

Yeah remember that Swatch is pretty expensive. :laugh: But yeah the chocolate, can't complain :D

- Antec SOLO

- Corsair HX520W

- ABIT IP-35 PRO or ASUS P5K-Premium? Any Feedback on the WIFI on the ASUS, Cuz I heard it's connected through USB and it's kinda buggy. The Audio is better on the ASUS, but I like ABIT's reset switch on the I/O. Hard to choose...

- Intel Core 2 Duo 8400

- Not sure yet, cuz I could get Corsair TWIN2X Dominator DDR2 1066MHz CL5 or Corsair TWIN2X DDR2 800MHz CL4 for the same price, 2GB of course. The Dominator seems unavailable for now...

- Western Digital 320GB 3200AAKS, it's a gamble, because I'm not sure to get the latest revison. (Single Platter, Better Performance)

- The Gigabyte GV-NX88T512HP, looks nice but heard it's kinda noisy...The fan is 2 pin on the card.

- LiteON LH-20A1S

Any thoughts?

[Cold Storm]

If you want a good stick of 1066, I'd go with Crucial Ballistix Tracer (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148070). They time well and if you do a little oc they are good at that.

Now with the boards. The Asus will be some what a 'future proof" board. Meaning that with bios updates you'll have what you need. While the Abit board is looking at being a good board all around. Asus is also a company that likes people that "know" what they are doing. You in a group that will help out, so there isn't anything bad there.

if your going Corsair ram, go with the higher mhz. the 1066 kit.

[QWERTZ]

Thanks, I'll pick the 1066Mhz Kit if I can find it...

So in the end it's :

- Antec SOLO

- Corsair HX520W

- ASUS P5K-Premium/WIFI

- Intel Core 2 Duo 8400

- TWIN2X Dominator DDR2 1066MHz CL5

- Western Digital 320GB 3200AAKS

- The Gigabyte GV-NX88T512HP, 8800GT 512MB OC

- LiteON LH-20A1S

Any last words? Everything is OK?

[Cold Storm]

I believe it will be a solid first build. With this making your "motors" to start on the next build and learning about the stuff you don't know about. In all a solid build!