This is my first build, and even with doing research, I still need some questions answered.
Goal of the PC: Play high end games with high FPS. Fast load times would be nice to, but FPS takes precedent. I also plan on this PC having a long life time (~4 years), so I don't want anything that's unreliable etc.
Note1: Build is posted after questions
Note2: If I do OC this system, it only be a minor one. It is not a priority
Note3: I don't plan on adding much cooling beyond a couple fans
Questions-
1) Hard drive- What's best for loading time of game zones? One 10k rpm 16m cache Raptor ($290) or two 7.2k rpm 32 cache Barracudas in Raid ($160)? Or am I better off just using 7.2k 32m cache hard drive and using the cash on something else? I'd probably wouldn't be installing a floppy drive if I don't do a raid setup, and I hear raid setups can shorten the lifespan of your HDs. Obviously the raptor is pretty small, but 300 gb is plenty for my uses.
2) Ram- Should I go for 2x ddr2 800 with 3 latency ($240), or DDR2 1066 with 5 latency ($140)? Or is neither worth the extra cash over something more simple?
3) Motherboard- I'm going to be using an ATI card, but I don't plan on using crossfire. I'm having a hard time finding information because most bench marks with p35/45+x38/48 are using crossfire.
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CPU $190 Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
GPU $285 VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Case $120 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
MB $130 ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
RAM $140 CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
OS $110 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD - OEM
PSU $115 OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V Power Supply - Retail
CPU cooler $30 ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
HD $110 (single 7.2k) SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Subtotal: $1230
Edit: Any comments at all are encouraged =) And if anything is blatantly not worth the cash, please say so - there isn't anything wrong with building under budget.
Goal of the PC: Play high end games with high FPS. Fast load times would be nice to, but FPS takes precedent. I also plan on this PC having a long life time (~4 years), so I don't want anything that's unreliable etc.
Note1: Build is posted after questions
Note2: If I do OC this system, it only be a minor one. It is not a priority
Note3: I don't plan on adding much cooling beyond a couple fans
Questions-
1) Hard drive- What's best for loading time of game zones? One 10k rpm 16m cache Raptor ($290) or two 7.2k rpm 32 cache Barracudas in Raid ($160)? Or am I better off just using 7.2k 32m cache hard drive and using the cash on something else? I'd probably wouldn't be installing a floppy drive if I don't do a raid setup, and I hear raid setups can shorten the lifespan of your HDs. Obviously the raptor is pretty small, but 300 gb is plenty for my uses.
2) Ram- Should I go for 2x ddr2 800 with 3 latency ($240), or DDR2 1066 with 5 latency ($140)? Or is neither worth the extra cash over something more simple?
3) Motherboard- I'm going to be using an ATI card, but I don't plan on using crossfire. I'm having a hard time finding information because most bench marks with p35/45+x38/48 are using crossfire.
------
CPU $190 Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
GPU $285 VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Case $120 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
MB $130 ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
RAM $140 CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
OS $110 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD - OEM
PSU $115 OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V Power Supply - Retail
CPU cooler $30 ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
HD $110 (single 7.2k) SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Subtotal: $1230
Edit: Any comments at all are encouraged =) And if anything is blatantly not worth the cash, please say so - there isn't anything wrong with building under budget.