Hi denizens of Toms! I haven't been here in a very long time...thanks to school, school, and, oh yes, school..
I'm currently in the process of finalizing a new bottoms-up build this week, since I'm giving my old build to relatives. The budget is under $2000, but I think I can do very well for considerably less than that. I've been planning this build for some while, as I've already purchased some parts, mostly ones that were very good deals.
I will be using this build mainly for gaming, intense graphical FPS games/RPGs/RTSs (Crysis, UT3, COD4, Gears of War, World in Conflict, Age of Conan, Company of Heroes) plus some programming/web design on the side (C++, Java, Dreamweaver, MatLab), listening to music (soundtrack, trailer music, classical, light rock), and the odd movie or two.
My budget is under $2000, but it seems like I can spend considerably less to get a very good setup. (it's my own money, after all).
I'll be dual-booting XP and Vista, and maybe Ubuntu...
One more thing, I've haven't been in the loop for a while, and only just got back to reading/looking at the hardware industry/news...so if something I say seems odd, it's probably me...so speak up!
Already Bought
Case
Antec P182
Monitor
Samsung 20” 204BW Widescreen 6ms
Power-supply
Corsair HX620W PSU
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi ExtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro Series
Speakers
Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 Surround System
CPU
My current choice: Intel Q9450
I want to spend: $200-300
How sure am I about it: Well, I'm debating between that and the Q6600, the thing is, this is pretty much a temporary solution until Nehalem, which won't be released to consumers for 8-10 months...
CPU Cooler
My Current choice: Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
I want to spend: $40-50
How sure am I about it: It's a little expensive, but likely worth it, since I will OC whichever CPU I get to 3.4-3.6GHz...How's the Ultima 90? Last time I checked, that was right behind the 120, for less and smaller size. Also, would the Thermalrights be compatible for Nehalem?
Video card
My current choice: ATI Saphire/HIS Radeon HD4870
I want to spend: $300-400
How sure am I about it: From the benchmarks, pretty sure…I'm a Nvidia guy, but this time, it would be wiser to go with ATI...I also really don't want to do SLI/CF, because of the added heat and complications, including the fact that I would have to get a nForce or CF board, which I heard will completely clash with my Creative X-Fi...
How's the 4870X2 going to be priced? I can also delay the purchase of the GPU and use my 7900GT for a few weeks, but I'd rather not...
Motherboard
My Current choice: Suggestions for Intel Mobo?
I want to spend: $200-250
How sure am I about it: Still undecided exactly which one, since I was out of the loop for a while....X38/X48? I prefer Asus/Gigabyte. Also a temporary 8-10 month mobo while waiting for Nehalem...
RAM
My Current choice: One of the Corsair Dominator DDR2 2GB or 4GB
I want to spend: ~$50-100
How sure am I about it: I'm open..prefer corsair...well, since I'm dual-booting XP and Vista...I should get 4GB...maybe 2X2GB?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197
Hard Drive
My Current choice: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 SATAII 500 GB
I want to spend: ~$80
How sure am I about it: Very sure.
This is a pretty fast drive and I can always get more storage later if I need it...
DVD-Drive
My Current choice: Sony NEC Optiarc DDU1615/B2s
I want to spend: ~$20
How sure am I about it: Very sure.
DVD Burner
My Current choice: Samsung WriteMaster SH-S203N
I want to spend: ~$30
How sure am I about it: Very sure.
Critiques Welcome!
DeusEx
I'm currently in the process of finalizing a new bottoms-up build this week, since I'm giving my old build to relatives. The budget is under $2000, but I think I can do very well for considerably less than that. I've been planning this build for some while, as I've already purchased some parts, mostly ones that were very good deals.
I will be using this build mainly for gaming, intense graphical FPS games/RPGs/RTSs (Crysis, UT3, COD4, Gears of War, World in Conflict, Age of Conan, Company of Heroes) plus some programming/web design on the side (C++, Java, Dreamweaver, MatLab), listening to music (soundtrack, trailer music, classical, light rock), and the odd movie or two.
My budget is under $2000, but it seems like I can spend considerably less to get a very good setup. (it's my own money, after all).
I'll be dual-booting XP and Vista, and maybe Ubuntu...
One more thing, I've haven't been in the loop for a while, and only just got back to reading/looking at the hardware industry/news...so if something I say seems odd, it's probably me...so speak up!
Already Bought
Case
Antec P182
Monitor
Samsung 20” 204BW Widescreen 6ms
Power-supply
Corsair HX620W PSU
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi ExtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro Series
Speakers
Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 Surround System
CPU
My current choice: Intel Q9450
I want to spend: $200-300
How sure am I about it: Well, I'm debating between that and the Q6600, the thing is, this is pretty much a temporary solution until Nehalem, which won't be released to consumers for 8-10 months...
CPU Cooler
My Current choice: Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
I want to spend: $40-50
How sure am I about it: It's a little expensive, but likely worth it, since I will OC whichever CPU I get to 3.4-3.6GHz...How's the Ultima 90? Last time I checked, that was right behind the 120, for less and smaller size. Also, would the Thermalrights be compatible for Nehalem?
Video card
My current choice: ATI Saphire/HIS Radeon HD4870
I want to spend: $300-400
How sure am I about it: From the benchmarks, pretty sure…I'm a Nvidia guy, but this time, it would be wiser to go with ATI...I also really don't want to do SLI/CF, because of the added heat and complications, including the fact that I would have to get a nForce or CF board, which I heard will completely clash with my Creative X-Fi...
How's the 4870X2 going to be priced? I can also delay the purchase of the GPU and use my 7900GT for a few weeks, but I'd rather not...
Motherboard
My Current choice: Suggestions for Intel Mobo?
I want to spend: $200-250
How sure am I about it: Still undecided exactly which one, since I was out of the loop for a while....X38/X48? I prefer Asus/Gigabyte. Also a temporary 8-10 month mobo while waiting for Nehalem...
RAM
My Current choice: One of the Corsair Dominator DDR2 2GB or 4GB
I want to spend: ~$50-100
How sure am I about it: I'm open..prefer corsair...well, since I'm dual-booting XP and Vista...I should get 4GB...maybe 2X2GB?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197
Hard Drive
My Current choice: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 SATAII 500 GB
I want to spend: ~$80
How sure am I about it: Very sure.
This is a pretty fast drive and I can always get more storage later if I need it...
DVD-Drive
My Current choice: Sony NEC Optiarc DDU1615/B2s
I want to spend: ~$20
How sure am I about it: Very sure.
DVD Burner
My Current choice: Samsung WriteMaster SH-S203N
I want to spend: ~$30
How sure am I about it: Very sure.
Critiques Welcome!
DeusEx