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DirtyDrummer

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Jan 28, 2008
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Please let me know if something isn't compatible or if there is a better part I should get insetad. Going to be used for gaming (Crysis, CoH, SupCom, TF2). It should run everything at high on low resolutions (excluding Crysis) and at med/high on high resolutions (again, excluding Crysis.)

click parts for links (thanks to HamRadio for the fix)
mobo: GA-X38-DS4
CPU: E8400
RAM: 4GB Crucial Ballistix
GFX: 8800GTS (G92)
HD: 320 GB
OD: DVD/CD Combo
PSU: Corsair 750w
case: Raidmax Smilodon
OS: Vista 64bit HP OEM

$946.89 after rebates

I've been researching for MONTHS and I finally think I have it figured out. Did I mention this is supposed to be a budget build?
 
I just ordered "just" about the same build

Your links aren't working though

and I chose the Q6600 but the E8400 is great choice of course

Do you need the 750W Power Supply? the 620W from Corsair should be fine.
 
If you were doing [strike]SLI[/strike] Crossfire or RAID I could understand picking the GA-X38-DS4 motherboard.

However, given that I see only 1 GPU and 1 HD in your build, I will assume you are not doing [strike]SLI[/strike] Crossfire or RAID, in which case may I suggest the GA-P35-DS3L ?

The GA-P35-DS3L will save you $110, is very stable, very OCable, and a favorite on this forum.

Also, for your build, the Corsair 620 might be a better choice. It is on sale at buy.com for $119 after rebate (also on sale at clubit.com for $112 but they charge $9 shipping), and it is modular. The 750 is not modular. If you decide to go with the 750 to future proof things a bit, check first that it will fit in the case you select. Some of the 750W and higher PSUs are larger than the standard and you may have to do some case modifications.

The case you picked is OK. If you want the maximum amount of air cooling possible for OCing, get the Antec 900 case (also the 900 looks cool with the blue glowing fans). If you are looking for a case that combines a very good price, very good cooling, and is quiet, get the Antec P182. Silent pc's list of recommended cases ranked it 3rd and gave it a very favorable review and it is on sale at newegg.com, regularly $139, with $50 rebate it is $89, and if you use the $30 promocode of EMCACAJBH from newegg's free newsletter (you should subscribe if you don't), it is $59. The P182 does not look flashy though.

Also, I fixed your links below:
mobo: GA-X38-DS4
CPU: E8400
RAM: 4GB Crucial Ballistix <- this is 2x1GB not 4GB
GFX: 8800GTS (G92)
HD: 320 GB <- your link does not work
OD: DVD/CD Combo
PSU: Corsair 750w
case: Raidmax Smilodon
OS: Vista 64bit HP OEM

The RAM above is 2x1GB. Newegg will give you only one rebate, so if you get two sets for 4GB you will pay $39 for the first set and $64 for the second set. You might do better buying 2x2GB RAM. Crucial makes a 2x2GB Kit for $98 but I am sure someone else can link something else that is good and that is on sale cheaper.
 
Humble grasshopper begs for forgiveness and defers to the master. One day I will snatch that pebble from your hand! But not today.... /bow
 
I totally agree with the giga ds3L board.... I have one and it overclocks my e6600 to 3.4 orthos stable at 487*7 with very mild voltage increases. COULD be a lucky pick of the processor but lotso peeps have good overclocking results with this board, just the duel boot when you change the bios or when you do a cold boot will freak ya out at first but is apparently more of a p35 problem I think then a gigabyte one!
 
Get the "Retail" version of the optical drive in order to get software with it. This will include the decoder you'll need to watch movies on it.
 
I already have the Corsair 750w. I got it for $107. Cheaper than the $620w, but not modular. I'll have lots of cables to hide.

I had considered the GA-P35-DS3L, however I chose the X38 to be a little more future proof. PCIe 2.0 and support for Crossfire. Hopefully that 750w will power 2 GFX cards in Crossfire sometime later on. (I want the HD 3870 X2, but I can't justify the price right now.)

I plan to get 2 to orders of the RAM for a total of 4GB (4x1GB). Crucial will let you claim 2 rebates, so I'm not really concerned about that.

Oh the Case...I might still change my mind. I took a look at the Smilodon they had in Fry's and it didn't look that bad. I also considered the CM 690 (but I would be buying fans).

Thanks for the tip about the OEM OD. I'll get the retail version for sure.

And last of all, thank you all so very much for responding. I know you guys get LOTS of "check my build" threads and I really do appreciate you taking the time to make suggestions.
 
I agree with amd_fanboi... the GA-P35-DS3L is such a great board and so cheap you can upgrade later to an even better board (technology changes so often) when you have all the components (2 x HD 3870 X2) I want them too but way too much.
 
If any of you have seen my thread in the Gigabyte Forum "GA-P35-DS3L the Right one for Me?", you'll know I've been bouncing back and forth like a ping-pong ball trying to decide between the P35 and X38.

It's either $200 now (for the X38) and be done with it.

Or $90 now (for the P35) and at least another $200 later (to replace the P35 with the X38 in the future).
 
From what I heard about the new processors coming out near years end we all will be replacing our mobo's if we go in that direction.

So $100 now and more $$$ later is better than $200 now and more later $$$.
 
Agreed. When you upgrade again, it certainly won't be to the x38 to use the next gen of intel chips.

Save your bread.
 


Assuming that you only want to play games, the E8400 should last you a couple of years. It's already overkill for most games because the video card, RAM, or hard disks will reach their limits before the CPU reaches 100%. Based on that, I think it makes sense to get the $200 mobo now and avoid the additional $90 expense and the effort of switching mobos.

But, by the same logic, it would make sense to get the first HD 3870X2 now. Let's say the GTS costs $310 now, and you can sell it used a year from now for $150. Let's also say the HD 3870X2 costs $450 now, and you can buy a new one a year from now for $310 (just like the GTS now). Your total cost will be 310+310-150=$460, i.e. $10 more than if you buy the 3870X2 right away. Also, you may have trouble finding a buyer for the old card. Also, it means that for the year starting today you have an X38 motherboard and a powerful PSU but you're not really taking advantage of them (but you do pay more to have them, as in $110 more for the mobo and about $40 more for the PSU). You also get lower performance for this year because the GTS is weaker than the 3870X2. Plus, you invite trouble next year when switching from nVidia to ATI, you may have to reinstall Windows to avoid driver issues.

 
Ya, thats true about the 32nm (Nehalem) needing a whole new chipset.

However, I don't plan to upgrade to that right away. When Nehalem comes out (end of this year?) I plan to upgrade to the QX9650, seeing as prices should drop on it.
 


Yes, that's absolutely true. They will require a different socket with a truckload of pins, not LGA775. But, the OP wants to buy an E8400 and you're already thinking he will have to upgrade it? Come on, give him a break, that E8400 will last for years and years. Anything faster than the E8400 will be bottlenecked by hard disks before it can reach 100%, so it won't bring any real improvements over the E8400. IMO somebody who gets an E8400 (and maybe overclocks it too) won't need a CPU upgrade until SSDs are big and affordable.

Edit: DirtyDrummer, I hadn't seen your reply yet. Don't expect the QX9650 to ever drop under $1000. It's an Extreme Edition and those just disappear from the market, they don't get cheaper. Look at the QX6700, it's listed at $969 and out of stock (and guess what, nobody makes them any more so it won't get back in stock).
 
Ok then I guess I'll upgrade to the Q9450 (that's the one that's supposed to be ~$355 right?).

Hopefully by then more applications will take advantage of quad cores. If they don't, then there is no reason to upgrade.
 
If you are this concerned with performance and the FUTURE! when talking about money spent now, I'd think you'd be looking at getting two Seagate 7200.11 drives.
 
I agree whole-heartedly, I was only trying to save him money on going with the X38 as it seems from his configuration he would be fine with a GA-P35-DS3L.
 
Well, I'd like to get a 150GB 10,000RPM, but it's just not in the budget.

Is there really that much of a difference with the 7200.11 or .10? Good price to performance?
 
I would say look to today and not to tomorrow. Get the 8400 and as aevm said it will probably be everything you need for years to come and at the point you deem it is not, then at that time you see what's avaialble and take that path at that time.
 
The system looks good

1) do not get the raptors. They are a waste.
2) If you are getting that X38 motherboard then DO NOT get a nvidia gpu. Its a silly waste of money. Either a) get a 3870 (x2) if you will do crossfire. If not get the P35-DS3L or Asus P5K-e if you need more features.
3) Processor is your call. If you want to spend the little extra then do it. The only problem I see with those quads is the low muliplier = bad overclocker
 


Between 7200.11 and 7200.10. Only the 500GB size is available in both generations, so I looked at that size. The 7200.11 costs $10 more now at newegg, has a bigger cache, and claims it's "second generation perpendicular recording". That is, you pay 9% more for larger cache plus various small improvements in noise/speed/heat. I have no idea if it's worth it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288 $120, 32 MB cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148136 $110, 16 MB cache

TBH I'd get neither of them today. 6 months ago, sure, they were the sweet spot for price/performance/size. Today that belongs to the WD7500AAKS. $155 gets you 750GB and better speed. For example $330 or $360 buys you 1.5 TB from Seagate in 500GB pieces, while $310 gives you the same from WD and only occupies two slots instead of 3.
 
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