Building my first desktop

S

SKWeathers

New Member
I'm new to this whole building your own computer thing, so I've come here for your expert advice. I got most of this off another forum, though its mainly a laptop sight and I can't seem to get all my questions answered.

This will primarily be a gaming desktop. I can go as high as $800 though I would prefer to keep it below $700.


--------------Motherboard------------------
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128012
109.99
--------------CPU--------------------------
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115013
117.00
--------------RAM--------------------------
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231114
94.99
--------------Hard drive-------------------
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075
49.99
--------------GPU--------------------------
BFG Tech BFGR79256GSOCE GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143070
149.99
--------------PSU--------------------------
DYNAPOWER USA EP-50X.C563-BX ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL/cUL E222785, TUV and CB EN 60950 certified - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817255010
19.99
--------------Case-------------------------
Rosewill R6422-P BK Black SGCC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147064
17.99
--------------Optical Drive----------------
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106073
36.99
--------------Mouse/Keyboard/Speakers----
ARK WO6301 Black/Silver 104 Normal Keys 18 Function Keys PS/2 Standard 3-in-1 Keyboard, Mouse and Speakers Mouse Included - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823235001
17.99
(I'll buy better later)
--------------CPU Cooler-------------------
Spire SP512S7 90mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835166037
8.99
--------------Operating System-------------
Vista Ultimate
20.00 (from my college)

Total (without monitor)=$644 not including rebates


Any problems? Am I missing anything (any extra cables and such)? Do you have any suggestions to either make it better or cheaper? I also plan on overclocking if that makes a difference.

At this point I have plenty of non dx10 games to play, and I will eventually upgrade to an 8800gts when I do need it.

Your help is greatly appreciated.
 
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I agree with the build chupacabra just posted, with the OS which is about $115 it will come out to be about $800
 
Okay so here's an updated list


GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

BFG Tech BFGR79256GSOCE GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W ATX 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CUL, TUV, CB, VDE, FIMKO, DEMKO, NEMKO, SEMKO - Retail

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM

ARK WO6301 Black/Silver 104 Normal Keys 18 Function Keys PS/2 Standard 3-in-1 Keyboard, Mouse and Speakers Mouse Included - Retail

Vista Ultimate

Total: $711 (without rebates)

A few things:
Not to question your expertise, but what makes your motherboard and optical drive better than my choices?
Do I need a CPU Cooler?
I don't need that much hard drive space so I saved a little money and dropped down to the 250GB.
I don't think I really need dx10 right now, and I was told the 7900gs performs better than the 8600gts. I will upgrade to an 8800gts later.
I can buy Vista Ultimate for $20 from my college, so the OS isn't a problem.
 
SKWeathers said:
Okay so here's an updated list


GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

BFG Tech BFGR79256GSOCE GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W ATX 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CUL, TUV, CB, VDE, FIMKO, DEMKO, NEMKO, SEMKO - Retail

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM

ARK WO6301 Black/Silver 104 Normal Keys 18 Function Keys PS/2 Standard 3-in-1 Keyboard, Mouse and Speakers Mouse Included - Retail

Vista Ultimate

Total: $711 (without rebates)

A few things:
Not to question your expertise, but what makes your motherboard and optical drive better than my choices?
Do I need a CPU Cooler?
I don't need that much hard drive space so I saved a little money and dropped down to the 250GB.
I don't think I really need dx10 right now, and I was told the 7900gs performs better than the 8600gts. I will upgrade to an 8800gts later.
I can buy Vista Ultimate for $20 from my college, so the OS isn't a problem.
Click to expand...

The P35 is a newer chipset, it would allow you to get any C2D with 1333fsb like the E6850 or the E6550, while the p965 only accepts up to 1066FSB processors like the E6320, etc, and another reason is that's 20$ more expensive than the P35 ( the reason why that p35 is cheaper is because is a lower end model, has half of the sata ports than the regular version).

For the optical drive, well both are good, but you're trying to save money not to expend more.

Now for the other questions:

cpu cooler question :

Not really, the cpu comes with the standard one

Now about the graphic card question :
Well it's true that the 7900 outperforms the 8600, but if you'd buy the 8600gts from evga you could later upgrade to a 8800gts using the step up program ( this is only within the 90 days after buying the card)
 
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Okay, I'll go with your suggestions then. That should bring me down below $700, right where I'd like to be.

About the graphics card, it will be at least into next year before I upgrade, probably February or March at the earliest (but I'll probably try to get as much out of the 7900 first), so I won't be using the step-up program.

I think that's about it. No more questions come to mind, and this setup looks good. As long as no one else has any more suggestions, I guess I'll be buying soon.

Thanks alot for the help.
 
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