5yrs Old's Computer (My LAN Computer)

[tecmo34]

I'm looking to reuse some old parts my from old Core2 system after my Q6600 died to build my daughter a computer and for me to use when going to LAN parties (It gets old carrying around the Antec 1200... 😀 ).

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Next two months or so

BUDGET RANGE: $500 or less

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Surfing the internet, Watching movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
Case - Thermaltake M9 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133058 ) [Case can be changed out if all other components are less than $500]
MOBO - MSI P7N SLI Platinum - Recertified after RMA ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130159&Tpk=msi%20p7n%20sli%20platinum )
GPU - EVGA 9800 GTX (SLI)
PSU - ABS Tagan 900Watt - Recertified after RMA ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817814003 )
Memory - OCZ Gold 4GB (2 X 2GB) Gold 1066 ( http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0301293 )
Cooler - Thermaltake V1 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106102&Tpk=thermaltake%20v1 )
Accessories:
Thermaltake Icage (Extra Cooling) ( http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1580897&sku=T925-2110&srkey=Thermaltake%20Icage )
Antec TriCool 120mm Blue Fan ( http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0253110 )
OS: I can install Windows XP SP3, Vista Home 32-bit or Vista Ultimate 32-bit or 64-bit

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Monitor: ???? I was looking at the Hanns·G Hi-221DPB Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail.
DVD Drive: SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
Total Cost: $432.95, including Shipping

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe (Didn't have luck with the MSI board the last time with my Q6600)

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes (SLI since alreay have the cards)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: A 22" or less Monitor (I know probably overkill for 9800 GTX in SLI but I don't want to be carrying around a great big monitor when attending LAN parties).

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This computer will be mainly used by my 5 year old daughter to play her "Fisher Price" games and Quake3 (As she calls it "Her Shoots Game" :lol: ) and when I go to a LAN party (Normally play COD4) I'll bring it.

What processor & montior should I go with?
Thanks for your feedback in advance!!

 

[xthekidx]

Your current selections look pretty good. I don't know much about that Hans G monitor, but the Asus monitors are pretty nice for the price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236053
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

 

[xthekidx]

Great case with a handle on it for carrying around, if you feel like it:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

That thermaltake case is pretty nice though, its up to you.

 

[tecmo34]

2nd Alternative: Better Case... Less CPU
Case: COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
CPU: Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Monitor: Hanns·G Hi-221DPB Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
DVD Drive: SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM
Total Cost: $457.63, including Shipping

This gives me a better LAN case but less CPU power than the E8400. Should I go better case or better CPU??? The Thermaltake M9 is a good case but doesn't have the best cable management for all the cables attached to my PSU.

 

[xthekidx]

Its really up to you. The E5200 overclocks really well if you have a motherboard that can handle it, but if you don't then it you may be disappointed by it. 4GHZ is doable on a decent board with adequate cooling.You said before your MSI board didn't respond so well, so maybe you should consider that. However, its possible that you tried to push it to a FSB that it couldn't handle which is why that happened, the E5200 can only handle a FSB around 1400 or so, but its multiplier makes for some very high speeds, so it may work well with your board even though the Q6600 did not.

 

[xthekidx]

Did a little reading up on that board, and it seems like most people had trouble going over FSB 1333, but that really should limit an overclock with the E5200. The only concern I would have is whether or not the E5200 is supported for that motherboard, as it was likely released after you bought it and most boards needed a bios update before they could support the E5200. I think you may need an older chip to be able to update the bios to the current revision.

Do you happen to know what bios revision is installed on your board, and whether or not it supports the latest CPU's?

 

[tecmo34]

The BIOS revision I had on the board before I sent it out for RMA was 1.1 and the E5200 is listed under 1.2 ( P7N SLI Platinum / P7N Zilent CPU Support). I don't know if when they processed the RMA, if they updated to the latest BIOS or not. I would hope so but at that same time I highly doubt it. Good Catch though....

I may have to use my other daughter’s CPU, which I know is support by my BIOS to update to the latest BIOS to install any of the CPU's I want. Do you need to install BIOS updates in progression... 1.2 than 1.3 or just jump to 1.3 when flashing BIOS?

 

[tecmo34]

I called MSI and the RMA division said that they update the board to the latest BIOS during the RMA process... I guess I'll hope for the best.... 😀