First time building a pc

[vafhudr]

I want to start modding and get in to pc hardware so i started reading how to's on this site..
but i want to build a good gaming pc and dont really want to go over $4000
so this is what i got atm plz tell me if something dont work like cpu and motherbord not compliant.
Cpu Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 $565.00 http://diycomputers.com.au/product.asp?id=6026

Graphics card eVGA 256-P2-N636-AR GeForce 7950GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card $200.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130074

Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3750640AS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $129.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148134

Motherbord ASUS Striker Extreme 680i SLI $399.00 http://www.pccasegear.com/prod4650.htm

Os Windows Vista $300.00(a guess)

Case Zalman Fatal1ty FC-ZEI Case 579 http://www.pccasegear.com/prod4417.htm

Psu antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W $300.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817371001

Ram CORSAIR 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR2 400 (PC2 3200) Server Memory - OEM $222.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145591

Cooling Zalman Reserator 2 Noiseless Water Cooling $496.00 http://www.pccasegear.com/prod4001.htm



Total Cost $3,125.00

[vafhudr]

OMG my excel stuffed up and now items are priced wrong still same total

[vafhudr]

Bump any hints tips suggestions?

[sirkillalot617]

right thought that cpu looked way to expensive right to start with if you are spending that much that cpu really more for mid range priced systems i advise buying the e6600 has more power and still won put you over 4000.

next maybe buy a dirext ten gpu such as the nvida 8800

Pc 3200 is rather sow for your ram maybe think about getting a faster type rest looks fine to me

[bartvandenberg]

for $4000 bucks you can build a much better system.. MUCH better..especially if you are talking USD. This is what i would build.

take note of hardware i choose. because a case like the one you picked is highly overpriced because its FATALity, which is WAAAYYY overrated.

Asus Striker Extreme Socket 775 nVidia nForce 680i $399

Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66 GHz (1066MHz) 4MB L2 Cache Socket 775 $629.99

XFX GeForce 8800 GTX nVidia GeForce 8800GTX Chipset (575MHz) Shader Clock 768MB (1.8GHz) X 2 for SLI $1459.98

OCZ DDR2-1000 PC2-8000 Platinum XTC 2GB (2x1024MB) $369.99

Enermax Galaxy EGA850EWL ATX/BTX 850 W (950W PEAK) $289.99

that is with 2 18X lg dual layer lightscribe dvd burners included too

ends up comin to about $3900 CAD which is $3,312.56 USD. then just add your hd and case. which i suggest running a couple smaller hd is raid 0, and gettin a smaller case, and maybe building your own wc, but you'll have to research that yourself.

basically the hardware you choose is fine, but a core 2 duo 6400 isnt anything that special, and the ram your picked is very measely. your video card is also lacking. wanna save about 600 bucks, dont go sli, and still get double the power of the card you picked. anyway.. hope i could help a bit.

[Silenced_Coyote]

Intel will unveil its Core 2 Quad 6600 CPU at CES. It is expected to cost around $531.
I don't know why you picked server memory. Go with at least DDR2-800, preferably from Corsair or OCZ. Higher than 800 if you are willing to spend more.

I would have to agree with the others about the case you picked. I personally don't like it and I don't like the price either. I might consider it if it was free. If you want to spend a lot of money on a case, then go with Lian-Li or Silverstone. But there is nothing wrong with buying a case from Antec.

I would recommend getting either a 8800GTS or a GTX. Since these are DirectX 10 cards, seeing as you want Vista, and that you want this to be a gaming PC. Alan Wake and Crysis will look spectacular!

By the way, do you need to buy a monitor?

[vafhudr]

I got an ok monitor and i will look in to what parts you talk of and repost the info soon

[vafhudr]

I got an ok monitor and i will look in to what parts you talk of and repost the info soon
Ok you have a point the case is a bit expancive so i went for one that matches my g15:


Cpu intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66 GHz (1066MHz) 4MB L2 Cache Socket $750.00
http://www.shopbot.com.au/p-19722-425031.html

Graphics card XFX GeForce 8800 GTX nVidia GeForce 8800GTX Chipset (575MHz) Shader Clock 768MB (1.8GHz) X 2 for SLI
$1,000.00 http://www.nintek.com.au/x/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=8367

Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3750640AS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$129.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148134

Motherbord ASUS Striker Extreme 680i SLI
$399.00
http://www.pccasegear.com/prod4650.htm
Os Windows $235.00 -

Case Raidmax Smilodon Case
$125.00
http://www.pccasegear.com/prod4219.htm

Psu antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W
$300.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817371001

Ram CORSAIR XMS2 DOMINATOR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
$315.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145168

Cooling Zalman Reserator 2 Noiseless Water Cooling
$496.00
http://www.pccasegear.com/prod4001.htm





Total Cost $3,749.00

[Silenced_Coyote]

Since you are going SLI, that power supply you picked isn't going to cut it. Pick one from this list that is certified by nVidia.
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html#certified_powersupplies

Oh, the Core 2 Duo E6700 costs $509 at Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115002

[Commando]

Holy cow. For 4 grand you should be able to launch the space shuttle.

That means I'm jealous.

I'm not a hardware ninja by any means but I know where it counts. I just want to throw this out there. I might get chewed up by the guys around here though. Your paying a huge premium to be out front of the technology curve. Specifically going with the CPU and Graphics cards you want. You could spend probably around 1/2 that on both of those things and be "up to date".

I would go with compatibility for upgradability for the future vs paying a premium right now. A big premium. That means some of that stuff will be alot less in 6 months. But I understand you've got to jump on the wagon at some point.

bartvandenberg really knows what he's talking about hardware. Some name brands don't cut the mustard in PC hardware. Zalman is dumb. If your planning on spending that on cooling, go with a Danger Den based system.

My 2 cents. I'll go back to painting now.

[.Maleficus.]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1645513&Sku=Z20-1105
Yes, you had the Reserator2, and this is the Reserator1, but it saves you LOADS of money, and I doubt there will be much difference in performance.

[bartvandenberg]

Since you are going SLI, that power supply you picked isn't going to cut it. Pick one from this list that is certified by nVidia.
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html#certified_powersupplies


not to mention, you can get a nvidia 8800gtx sli certified psu for the same amount.