The (new) Official PC building thread!

@frank
Same memory at better price...
CRUCIAL TECHNOLOGY BL2KIT12864AA1065 Ballistix 2GB PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066) DDR2 Memory Retail $96.99
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006488

The H/D I just picked-up...
Seagate 320GB Serial ATA/300 16MB Buffer ST303204N1A1AS-RK - Retail Hard Drive Kit $59.99
http://shop1.outpost.com/servlet/Zeus/template/onad/product_navigation/?site=sa:TOP_BANNER:Spot1

 

With everything set to ultra and the framerate set to unlimited I get 30 FPS. With it set to default settings it goes up to 40. Woohoo!

I was changing the setting in Options > Settings > Display.

I am getting a pair of 3870 cards soon I hope..
The Phenom 2.2 will arrive next week along with everything else. I cancelled the Tankguys.com preorder when I saw Newegg had the Phenom for less and available.

It seems to me the prices are heading up on the 3870 cards. Maybe that's just because of the temporary shortage of these and 8800 GT cards.


Edit:
Hi Lp, Too late, everything is ordered and shipped but the video cards... It s not like I'm not going to build another PC though. Thank you for your suggestions. I always find great buys minutes after clicking the "Submit" button.

 

Are you guys up yet?? lol

Lp531,
I found this deal waiting for me this morning at the EGG...

Sony 7190 for $25 delivered....



I have the 18X version of this drive with some L&D f/w and it's a great drive. You might look at the 7190 (20X version) and see what you think.

....gm

 

I seen that ad, and the Thermaltake armor case is a great deal for $60 if yer not too lazy to mail in your rebate, like me.

Also it showed everyones fav Antec 900 case for $50

 

That's an absolute steal for the Armor. In my eyes the Armor is worth more than the 900 because it's a full size tower. Plus, have you seen inside it? It's huge! Unfortunately I'm not really a fan of the style of the case (or many of Thermaltake's to be honest) but from a cooling standpoint the Armor has even more potential than the 900.

 

@Deadrum33
Both are good cases and deals...another good deal is the Enermax Chakra at ZZF...Only a $15 rebate...so...if you do not get it in...its No Big Deal...
Enermax ECA3052-B Chakra Mid Tower Case (Black) Retail
$54.99 with $15 rebate $39.99
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=270413

 

Thanks for keeping an eye open LP531!!!
I must admit though, I was already bad and ordered the TT armor tower.
Also I ordered the memory I'm sure my next mobo (thinking Penryn build) will accept
Corsair DHX for $50

 

here's some good deals at SVC. I'm contemplating on picking up the tuniq tower and a tube of AS5.

edit: that link doesn't work. anyway tuniq tower w/blue led fan $29.99. AS5 for $5.99 w/free shipping. very good prices on several cooler master cases.

 

@Deadrum33
Good buys...and you got the 4-4-4-12 timing...someone had the 5-5-5-12 versions for $35...you are better off with the ones you bought...

The only better deal that I have seen is Crucial Ballistic Tracer PC-8500 2GB for $79.99...at Buy.com...No Rebates...

I Hate Rebates...they are nothing but a scam...

 

The crucial rebates worked fine for me.

 

I thought of buying the faster 8500Mhz, but buying faster RAM hasnt really helped me with my current build (Asus A8N32-SLI-Deluxe, Opteron 185 @2.8, PC3500). I either havent been explained to properly about OC'ing memory, havent cared once I was stable with FSB multipliers, or skipped class that day.

 

From what I've heard though, that's not common. Crucial may be good with their rebates, but a lot of companies supposedly don't give a monkey's behind.

 

Hmm, maybe I just haven't had good luck. Although I didn't get my XFX rebates, because it supposedly wasn't in by time. Ok this migh take a little long to explain so I'll summarize.

My rebates were POSTMARKED(which is what it required) two days before the time was up. The lady from the rebate center tries to pull one on me by saying I didn't get it in on time. Later on she admits that it was postmarked on time but they got it later and it entered their suystem too late, even though it only mentioned POSTMARKED date on the rebate form. With all the bullshit they were trying to pull coupled with the fact that it took her on average NINETEEN days per ONE email to respond, I just gave up.

On another note Black Friday electronic deals weren't that great. Although I did buy a nice black shirt, sweater, and hoodie!

 

I have to admit, MIR are a pain in the a$$ but I am yet to get burned on any and I have sent in a bunch. I get the paperwork all done right after I place the order and as soon as I recieve the merchandise, I cut out the bar code and put it in the preprepared envelope along with the paperwork and mail it the next day.

 

I am building a pc for a buddy...he is wanting the best bang for his buck...He will never play a Game...or Encode a Movie...
This is for a Home Office PC that is on...pretty much 24/7...his concerns are Power Consumption...Noise...and being...Future Proof for upgrades...Penryn...DDR3...
This is what I came up with...his budget is $600...with some wiggle room...

PC POWER & COOLING / OCZ TECHNOLOGY S61EPS SILENCER 610 EPS12V ATX ULTRA-QUIET POWER SUPPLY
$106.99
http://www.compuplus.com/i-PC-Power...ower-Supply-1010101~.html?sid=bzudyhy432f4zbo

or this...price is almost the same...with tax and shipping...with-in $7...

CORSAIR POWERSUPPLY ATX EPS12V CMPSU-550VX VX SERIES 550W PS 2
$88.60
http://www.cesell.com/product.php?productid=141829

GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R Intel Core 2 Duo (Desktop) Socket 775 1333MHz FSB DDR3 1066MHz ATX Motherboard Retail
$133.98
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005312&prodlist=pricegrabber

Seagate 320GB Serial ATA/300 16MB Buffer ST303204N1A1AS-RK - Retail Hard Drive Kit Seagate:
FRYS.com #: 5296757
$59.99
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/52...7PUejq-Ng**.node2?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
$189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

Foxconn 8500GT-256 GeForce 8500 GT 256MB PCI Express Video Card Retail
$69.98 with $35 rebate $34.98
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=333037

or this...

MSI RX2600XT Diamond Radeon HD 2600XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR4 PCI Express x16 OC Edition HDMI HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$134.99 after $20 rebate $114.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127305

He has Memory...Crucial Ballistic PC-8500...DVD Drive...and Case...

What do you guys think?..
Were could I make an Improvement...or...save some Cash...

As shown...
$626 on the high end...with a $20 rebate...
$543 on the low end...with a $35 rebate...

Does not include Tax or shipping...

 

LP531 ,I would try to talk him into DDR2 memory instead of the pricey DDR3. he could always upgrade later when it came down in price

 

@Zoso

My sentiments exactly...I just had him buy the DDR2 memory...
The Gigabyte M/B supports...both DDR2 & DDR3...and the Penryn...that is the main reason I went with it...

I added on the HD2600XT OC...because I do not really like the 8500...it was just the cheapest...decent card...I could find...
I figured he might be able to use this PC as a whole house media server...and the HD2600...with an additional Video Capture Card and DVD Drive upgrades...would give him future HD/DVD...Blueray/DVD...and HD-VMD playback capability's...

 

That sounds like a great build from that perspective, but if he's concerned about noise you should get a fanless graphics card (I'm assuming his existing case is quiet or the whole thing is pointless)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121093
Go with the Corsair PSU too, it's much quieter.

 

Good find there sam. Where did you find the info btw? I searched for a while and got fed up with the nonsense on the game. Obviously my Google skills aren't as good as yours. hehehe.

As do I and an AMEN to that. lol. I"ve been lucky so far with respect to MIR and I hope that I continue to be. Right now I"m waiting for about 5 rebates from Cooler Master.

Like you fellas I was surprised to see the LACK of real deals from the online retailers but I found a couple at the B&M stores that I frequent.

....gm

 

Most of my performance figures come from the Tom's Hardware Guide VGA Charts.