The (new) Official PC building thread!

I plan on building a new PC within the next few months....
so i was wondering what you guys could recommend as a good 64bit multimedia PC setup for me within a $2,500 price range.. with this processor: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700
Mostly for viewing & editing lots of photos and video & Flash and using VM-Ware-Worstion..NO Games though..!!!
Plan on learning 3D Animation later-on down the road..
Plan on using Vista for my OS
2Gigs RAM to start with
500GB HDD
Clueless on graphics cards though-->???
wireless keyboard with touchpad integrated into it
Prefeably an ASUS MOBO..


or can anyone else have better solutions or suggestions..??

 

If your going to go with Vista then you will need a DX10 video card. Right now there is the 8800GTS and 8800GTX from Nvidia. In a month or 2 ATI should be releasing there DX10 cards.

 

Heres what my new PC looks like so far:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

Mobo: ASUS P5W DH Deluxe/WIFI-AP Intel 975X ATX Intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025

PSU: XCLIO Greatpower X14S4P4 640W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189008

Case: AeroCool Black Computer Case With Side Panel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811196011

GPU: ATI Radeon X1600 Pro (already bought for $99)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7634795&st=X1600+Pro&type=product&id=1130987444322

Monitor: Westinghouse 22" Widescreen Flat-Panel TFT-LCD
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7802577&st=22"&type=product&id=1142292834310

HDD: Two WD Caviar SE 160GB EIDE (alright own for a good year)
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=66

Memory: I have no idea, would love some advise on this.

CD/DVDR+RW: I have no idea, would love some advise on this.

I've been waiting to build my self a new computer for over a year now and within this month I'll have the money to put it all together. But I need some advise to make sure I'm not getting screwed by buying something not worth while. I understand my GPU is on the weak side but I'm not big on games....yet. I see in the up coming year expanding my system to include a SATA 1,000 RPM drive or two and maybe an upgrade in my GPU or trying the whole Crossfire thing because it wouldn't cost that much to try it out.

Oh yeah, I plan on OCing for the first time. So if you got any advise like what to do/not to do and any extra stuff I should buy please let me know. Thanks for all the help.

 

This is one of the drives that I have: LITEON LH-18A1P does a good job and has all the benefits of a LITEON.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106042

This is the other one that I have but unfortunately they are out for now. This is a great drive and many people have them here at aD.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106014

I have comtemplated the Pioneer 111D but haven't clicked to buy yet. lol. My buddy has one on the way so I will definitely let all know how it writes and such.

I also have a BENQ DW-1650 and a BENQ DW-1655 but they are difficult to find now, but are great drives too.

Good luck wading through all this.

btw I think the cpu you have chosen is dang nice, I have AMD right now but that Intel duo-core looks really GOOD.

LOL on the GPU, I still have the ATi Raedon 9250 4X AGP. Man I really need to step up and get something better.

........c

 

@shuboy00

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129021

eVGA 8800GTS 640MB Video Card $399.99 rebate $369.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130071

OCZ GameXStream OCZ850GXSSLI 850Watts P/S $214.99 rebate $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817341003

OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $245.99 rebate $213.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820227139

EVGA 122-CK-NF68-AR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813188009

ZALMAN 9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835118019

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail $318.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003R

Or This Processor if this is to much $:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail $190.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

You should add second video card if you are going for 4 monitors...this does not include shipping...should be tax free for you in Texas...

$1,613.94 with $87.00 in rebates...you can save an additional $128.00 if you go with the E6300 CPU...if you can afford the E6600 it's worth it...
This does not include HD or DVD/Drive...
Best you can buy for around $1,500.00
You can probably save a little by shopping around...

 

@Lp531

Thanks Bro! I will view them all now and shop around to see if i can find a better price for what you drew up for me!

Appreciate it!

 

Was playing vanguard and my computer crashed. (first the screen got all messed up with colored horizontal lines all over) This has happened before and generaly jsut restart and its all good. This time the computer wont start. Everything turns on ecept the screen just stays black. Is the video card fried? I had just ordered a new 7950GT anyway but wanna make sure this is gonna take care of it.

 

to all, views or thoughts on this case- Im ready to by now, but thought I would run this by ya... and yes I need 5 bays- please also look at my sig. will this work, it has less fans compared to what I have now but it is a bigger case and should move the air better then what I have.

http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-armor-case-black.html

 

herrick,
Thats a BADA$$ case. Man you got 2 HDD and 4 Opticals to go into that bad boy and SLi to boot. I'm like cincyrob now, got computer envy!!

Got my friend's computer together tonight but gotta finish loading OS tomorrow, I need some sleep. lol.

.........c

 

@ greensman

Glad you replied I was looking for that printer epson 340...went to that link and it was gone? man I really want a printer that prints on disks-

as for that case will I be able to put the follow into it
1. 3 burner
2. 1 sound blaster x-fi fatal `1ty [ it uses a 5.25 bay for controls
3. a 5.25 fan and acc. controler

I read the spec and it stated 10 ea 5.25 bays but I see the fans? the most important thing is will I beable to use at least 5 bays

thanks for your fast relpy....tax time next the AMD optron 185 it they are still around, got to get my taxes done ASAP zoom, zoom, soon!

 

@Herrick
I like that case. I think you can find it for a better price though...Dont know about the specs you were looking for as far as bays, but im sure they can fit in there.

 

@ shuboy00

That is the cheapest so far, looked at a couple of place- Im just waiting for someone to say YEP...all of the above will fit- the specs and picture with the fans kinda confused me...

 

herrick,
I'll be honest with you, I've never worked with that case but I would assume (bad thing..lol) that the lower bays are behind the fans and shouldn't be a problem if you install HDD in the lower section. Are you gonna put a Floppy in there? In today's market it is almost obsolete but hey to each his/her own. It looks like from the pictures and from what I can find online it should meet your requirements and it looks like that is the best price as well. I know that you went to all sites and searched.

Here's a pretty good breakdown of the case and its features from Thermaltake's website.

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/product/Chassis/fulltower/armor_extreme_edition/va8004bws.html

Man good luck with this and let me know how it goes. I'm really gettin the bug now with my buddy here in town and my buddies online gettin new stuff.

.........c

 

@ greensman

Thanks brother... I Appreciate all your input...cant waite- I purchused the case and the sound blaster Fatal 1 ty sound card.

Now I need a printer that prints on disks, been looken, ai'nt had much luck- I will cry now...

 

herrick,
lmao........A big man shouldn't cry over a printer, it'll make the pics streaky and smudgy. lol.

Excited for you let me know how it's going with the new build........

.........c

 

did i hear my name??lol computer envy isnt the word for it.... i want to build a dream machine but dont have donald trumps money to do it..lol if i was smart(and i said if i was) i would have saved all my baseball cards and traded them in on a system..lol...

herrick that case is sweet. 10 bays man thats smokin... i dont need one that big just 4 would be fine for me let me do some real nice multie burning... but id say your gonna go for the gaming part of it huh?

 

@ cincyrob

Ya- Im tryen to build in three different worlds, burning, gaming, and many projects I get into at work. I really dont have the money...single, no kids and no one in my life at this time make it possable, Ive been blessed and had several ministies donate to the cause in the beginning- And my bonus checks at the end of the years helps also LOL...I dont even eat at home, my job has an kitchen that feeds hundreds of people a day. If I can get my taxes done the CPU is next [optron 185] hopfully... The rest Ill leave up to you guys to help me...this should be a nice build... not bad now but needs alittle more work... Video cards got to go also.

 

herrick,
Shoot man, send those video cards my way. lol. If you remember I'm still runnin an ATi Radeon 9250 4X AGP. They still sell them and I don't know why. Almost anything would be an upgrade for me. Thank goodness I don't do any real gaming. I have a ps2 and a GameCube for the games that I do play. lol. I use my machines for surfing and DVD stuff.

............c

I just looked at your sig herrick and if that cpu is 939 socket, send that badboy along with the video cards and I'll save a little longer on my next system. roflmao NOW. It's so funny, ones man's toss-a-way is another man's lustiness.

 

Ya- my friend has had some nice stuff...I dont do alot of my own building...He gets my hand me downs and he does most of the work, But after this build- he will start to be bumed, Im going to try and do it myself and with the help of you guys next build... I feel and have had the faith now that between the two Ill be alright.

And yes the Asus A8n32-SLI Deluxe is a 939 socket, that why I am hoping to get that Optron 185, the cooler I have on this CPU should fit the 185 also.

 

shuboy00,

I agree with Lp531, an intel core 2 duo is the way to go if you're building from the ground up. A stock E6600 will outperform an AMD opty 185 and is less money. You will need some DDR2 memory. This http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145034 is very good and highly recommended. Lifetime warranty and works well if you plan to OC. I can still run mine at 4-4-4-12 @ 838 mhz and my pc OC'ed to 3.0 ghz (2.4 ghz is stock).