Total newb.! Will these here parts work?

[itsanss]

Wow, I wish I could read good.

I thought, for some reason, that the PSU was NOT good for Crossfire/SLI. Sheesh!

Ok, with those three things changed...GPU, PSU, RAM, anything else?

Down to $2,071 now.

 

[xthekidx]

The Antec CP-850 can run 2 GTX 285 SLI just fine, 1000w is overkill for 2 GTX 285's. The I see no reason to buy that motherboard either, the P6T Deluxe V2 is almost as good, and unless you are going for a 4.5ghz OC you dont' need the rampage. The Deluxe v2 is actually better IMO if you are going to run Dual GPU's because of the spacing of the PCIEx16 slots, its too close together on the rampage IMO. The P6T deluxe v2 has 2 spaces between the PCIEx16 slots instead of one, so you get more airflow to your GPU so that it can cool better. If you put two high powered cards right up against each other they are going to get very hot.

 

[itsanss]

The Antec CP-850 can run 2 GTX 285 SLI just fine, 1000w is overkill for 2 GTX 285's. The I see no reason to buy that motherboard either, the P6T Deluxe V2 is almost as good, and unless you are going for a 4.5ghz OC you dont' need the rampage. The Deluxe v2 is actually better IMO if you are going to run Dual GPU's because of the spacing of the PCIEx16 slots, its too close together on the rampage IMO. The P6T deluxe v2 has 2 spaces between the PCIEx16 slots instead of one, so you get more airflow to your GPU so that it can cool better. If you put two high powered cards right up against each other they are going to get very hot.

Well, that motherboard has a good sound card already in it...That make a difference in your opinion of it?

Thanks again

 

[xthekidx]

The sound card is good, but honestly I think you would have trouble distinguishing it from the sound card on the Deluxe V2 unless you had a fancy 7.1 surround sound speaker system. If you really think you need a better sound card you can still buy one and add it later.

 

[itsanss]

The sound card is good, but honestly I think you would have trouble distinguishing it from the sound card on the Deluxe V2 unless you had a fancy 7.1 surround sound speaker system. If you really think you need a better sound card you can still buy one and add it later.

Being the newbie that I am, 7.1 means 7 speakers, right? I have six regular speakers and a subwoofer all hooked to my computer now. However, they all play the same sounds. It is not "true" surround sound. Would that other board make it that? Or do I need to have something besides that to make it work?

My friend, on his TV, has six speakers and a subwoofer, but he has a receiver, which has a different port for each speaker, giving each one a particular sound in relation to location of where the sound is coming. i.e. Someone shooting (in a movie) to the front left of you, front left most speaker plays the gunshot sound most loudly. Grenade goes off behind you (in a game), rear speaker plays the sound most loudly, etc.

I have two Boston Aucustic speakers and subwoofer connected to the back of my computer. On the subwoofer encolsure, there is a "Left/Right Out to Speaker" jack. I have wires from those jacks going to the "Auxillary" ports on my home stereo, which has four speakers, two large, and two small. That's the way I have my computer speakers currently wired up. Nice having "sound" all around me, but far from 'the real deal', if ya' know what I mean. Not lookin' to spend an arm and a leg for true surround, but if that other mother board'll make it work, I'll get it, or if not, the board you recommend with possibly a card that offers surround sound somehow.

Hopefully all this is making sense. lol

Thanks

 

[xthekidx]

My P6T has surround sound built in. I think the P6T Deluxe V2 has an even better audio chipset. I think it is worth saving $100 to go with the Deluxe vs the Rampage, I don't think you need it. The Audio on the P6T Deluxe V2 will probably be enough for you.

 

[itsanss]

Alright, the P6T sounds more realistic now. I read a couple in-depth reviews for uses for the Rampage II and it's basically a lot more than I need. lol

I just stumbled upon this.

http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Revolution-Surround-Sound-Card/dp/B00008DD20

That would make a true 6 speaker, 1 sub. surround sound, huh? It'll go into the P6T, won't it?

Thanks

 

[xthekidx]

Yes it will, but the P6T Deluxe already has 7.1 surround sound support. Try it out first before you go buy a sound card.

 

[itsanss]

What does 7.1 surround sound support mean?

I was looking at the pictures of the P6T Deluxe and did not see 7 different ports for speakers. Or does it go about 7.1 some other way?

 

[xthekidx]

read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound#7.1_Channel_Surround_.28digital_discrete:_Dolby_Digital_Plus.2C_DTS-HD.2C_Dolby_TrueHD.29

 

[itsanss]

read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound#7.1_Channel_Surround_.28digital_discrete:_Dolby_Digital_Plus.2C_DTS-HD.2C_Dolby_TrueHD.29

Heck yeah! That's what I want.

7.1 channel surround is the same as 8 channel audio. Nice! I will more than likely be satisfied with that.

One thing that still erks me is how it works...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?ISList=13-131-365-S01%2c13-131-365-S02%2c13-131-365-S03%2c13-131-365-S04%2c13-131-365-S05&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16813131365&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=ASUS%20P6T%20Deluxe%20V2%20ATX%20Intel%20Motherboard%20-%20Retail

Ain't the block on the far right, with six ports, the audio stuff?

 

[xthekidx]

Yep. More than one channel can go through a port though.

 

[itsanss]

Yep. More than one channel can go through a port though.

Ok, so there are six ports...

What would be the recommended way of wiring that up?

Also, the male end (there's a name for it...) that goes into the motherboard...Is there any possible way to take speaker wire, wire that has two seprate parts, and solder a single male end onto it to go into that port?

Or will these home stereo speakers not work at all? I may be getting ahead of myself. lol

 

[itsanss]

Ok, if front speakers go into one port, middle speakers into a port, and rear into a port, subwoofer into a port, that leaves two open ports. Perhaps auxillary and microphone?

My dad believes it to be possible to:

take a speaker wire, separate the two wires

take a male end with a few inches of wire in length, separate those two wires

then solder the four ends together.

Seems reasonable to me...?

 

[xthekidx]

I have no idea about soldering speaker wires and such...I just get speakers that are already setup to work right lol. Seems like it could be done though.

 

[itsanss]

Ah ha! So you don't know everything. lol

I may be dreaming to get my existing home stereo speakers to work. However, it'll be worth a try! I may even have a spare end off somethin' that I could try to use. I'll look into it.

So, how do you (thekid) know so much? And why do you have so much time to be able to surf the forums? lol I SINCERELY appreciate your help along with everyone else's, but especially your help.


Here is the list, once again revised (perhaps for the final time...?) :

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case $280
plus (combination deal)
Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.177160

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor $279
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365

Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme 1366 RT CPU Cooler $70
http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/thermalright-ultra-120-extreme-1366-rt.html

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

BFG Tech BFGEGTX2851024OCXE GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $385
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143172

mushkin 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226030

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

LG Black 6X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 6X BD-ROM 4MB Cache SATA $200
Internal Blu-ray Burner 6X Blu-ray Disc Burner & HD DVD-ROM Drive Model GGW-H20LK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136155

LITE-ON SK-1688U/B Black 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Keyboard (Currently have PS/2 mouse and keyboard. New motherboard only has one PS/2 slot. Was going to simply get an adapter. But, all the PS/2 - USB adapters seem to have bad reviews. Even reviews with five eggs have a complaint. This keyboard seems to be the solution.) $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823107128

Western Digital My Book Essential WDH1U10000N 1TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (This will make my second 1TB external. I will be able to match my internal and external drive size, so my back-ups will match, no worries.) $115
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136186

$2,093 (not including, rebates, shipping, taxes, etc.)

 

[xthekidx]

Its a hobby. It takes a while to build a knowledge base like I have, a lot of time reading articles and searching the web for deals.

Your build looks great. You really don't need that GPU, but if you think you will get a bigger monitor later on then keep it, especially since it doesn't seem like you are pinching pennies. Your games will be very smooth. If you wanted to save like $60 then you could get the GTX 275 which would be fine as well.

 

[Proximon]

You can't plug speakers directly into a sound card or MB The signal has to be amplified before it reaches the speakers... unless they are very tiny.

So, you would need an amp with 7.1 input.

 

[itsanss]

You can't plug speakers directly into a sound card or MB The signal has to be amplified before it reaches the speakers... unless they are very tiny.

So, you would need an amp with 7.1 input.

You're kiddin'? That is how I have mine wired up now...

Course, it is just a single wire going in.

Board, single wire to subwoofer, to speakers, to home stereo...?

 

[Proximon]

They don't even list the wattage of the channels, but it's likely about 2W. Enough to drive a set of headphones or very small speakers, but that's it.

You say you are running a wire to your subwoofer... sure, and your subwoofer is plugged into the wall, right? There's an amp in there boosting the signal.

Before I got nice PC speakers, I used to run the signal through a bookshelf speaker system that had an aux. in. I then had that connected to a couple expensive bookshelf speakers... they were nice I thought, until I felt what a good subwoofer could do to COD.

No, the minute you hook up a set of even 10W speakers directly to your sound card or MB, you'll discover you can't get any volume... unless of course they are powered speakers.

You were wondering about the other port... usually there is an aux in and a mic in.

 

[itsanss]

They don't even list the wattage of the channels, but it's likely about 2W. Enough to drive a set of headphones or very small speakers, but that's it.

You say you are running a wire to your subwoofer... sure, and your subwoofer is plugged into the wall, right? There's an amp in there boosting the signal.

Before I got nice PC speakers, I used to run the signal through a bookshelf speaker system that had an aux. in. I then had that connected to a couple expensive bookshelf speakers... they were nice I thought, until I felt what a good subwoofer could do to COD.

No, the minute you hook up a set of even 10W speakers directly to your sound card or MB, you'll discover you can't get any volume... unless of course they are powered speakers.

You were wondering about the other port... usually there is an aux in and a mic in.

Ooohhhhh. Exactly. My speakers are hooked into the subwoofer, which is hooked into the wall, and wires from auxillary out on subwoofer to my auxillaray in on home stereo, also hooked to wall, which is where my other four speakers are hooked. Dang it!

Hmm. Well, I just need an amplifier. It's just money.

Thanks!!

Any recommendations for a good, relatively cheap, amp.?

 

[Proximon]

All I can tell you is to search for an amp with 7.1 inputs. They look kinda expensive on newegg.

 

[xthekidx]

Just buy a new pair of speakers.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121006 (you can shake a house with these)
or super nice ones:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120&Tpk=z-5500 (you could shake a neighborhood with these)

5.1 speakers are very nice and give great surround sound.

 

[itsanss]

Well, me again.

I'm currently taking Computer Hardware Level 1 course at the local technology center and am enrolled for Computer Hardware Level 2 starting a week after this course is over (in a few weeks).

Level 1 is not quite as liberal as 2 will be. I spoke with my instructor (also instructor for 2) about my plans for building a computer and he said that if I were to buy and bring in all the parts to build a computer, then I could build it in class with his guidance. Music to my ears. He's been doing the computer hardware thing for 15 years or so. Very sharp guy. I said before that my dad and I would be taking on this endeavor, but we were busy and I was hesitant on spending the coin. lol

A few months later and I'm still a little nervous spending the coin, but am ready to take the plunge to a new and much better computer.

With all the research I've done I know that ordering computer parts ain't perfect. Things arrive damaged, missing, wrong, etc. etc. So I've decided that it would be wise to start getting things together a few weeks ahead of time to make sure I have everything I'll need as it is only a six week long class. Also, because if I have all the parts to fire the computer up except for one little thing I forgot to order...I'll be pissed!!! No patience when it comes to a new toy. lol

Questions:

Is my latest revised list (eight posts up) still a good list? Any major breakthroughs I should be aware of?

Also, my dad is wondering about cables coming with everything I'm ordering. Some stuff, we know, will have fixed cables to the component, but what about some of the stuff that the cable is detachable from device and from motherboard? Does it include stuff like that?

Thanks!

 

[itsanss]

ttt