Building a computer, advise please

[Arden]

Hello,
I came here looking for advise on the gaming computer I plan to build during the holidays. Here is the current design:

Firstly, only talk of you know what yout talking about. Thats probably drumbum, proanti, and myself. But if you think you know what your talking about, post.


I need advice on this computer design. Any ideas?


I'm forgetting what it's called right now, but I have a wireless network and I need one of those things to let me connect to it. Does that come with the mobo?



Design:

2x eVGA 512-P2-N635-AR Geforce 7950GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card- 559.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130061

APEVIA (ASPIRE) X-Plorer ATXB8KLW-AL Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case -$59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144103

Microsoft Windows Vista- Unnanounced
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/

18" UV Sensitive Single Device Round IDE Cable - $3.49
http://www.xoxide.com/uvsesichidec.html

Dual Blue Cold Cathode Kit - $7.99
http://www.xoxide.com/bluecathode.html

BELKIN F8E093 Anti-Static Wrist Strap -$5.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16899888207

Enermax EG701AX-VE-SFMA 24Pin Power Supply / Noisetaker 600W - $127.95
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556018988.html

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - 119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131517

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

PX-755SA 16X/8X/16X ,DVD+write/dvd+rewrite/dvd-read, 16X/6X ,dvd-write/dvd-rewrite - 119.99
http://www.amazon.com/PX-755SA-DVD%2Bwrite-dvd%2Brewrite-dvd-write-dvd-rewri/dp/B000F5LZ68/sr=1-5/qid=1163562769/ref=sr_1_5/002-5608594-9966406?ie=UTF8&s=pc

AMD Opteron 175 Denmark 2.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - 240.40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103584

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $240.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145486

MITSUMI Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 digital card reader with Floppy Drive Model FA404M BLK - 18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16821104104

Here are some questions that I am hoping you could help me with:
*I don't really love my RAM, any suggestions on better memory.
*Could someone try to redesign this rig for a DDR2 setup.  Could I do this in a similar price range?
*I am interested in Intel's Quad-Core systems, maybe someone could post a similar setup for that?
*As you all know more about computers than me, are there any other suggestions that you guys have?

[.Maleficus.]

If you want a DDR2 setup and still want AMD, look into AM2. It's newer than 939 and it uses DDR2.

Similar Quad-Core setup?
Only Quad-Core processor I could find was the QX6700 which is $1,500 (USD) and that's probably close to your entire system as it currently stands.


Also, I think you're talking about a wireless router.

Hope I could help, and welcome to the forums!

[SgtM]

Hello,


Firstly, only talk of you know what yout talking about. Thats probably drumbum, proanti, and myself.

There's PLENTY of knowledge around here.

I'm forgetting what it's called right now, but I have a wireless network and I need one of those things to let me connect to it. Does that come with the mobo?

If you have the router, then you will need the wireless PCI card. They also make wireless USB adapters. No, it doesn't come with the motherboard.

[ajmilton]

erm. that motherboard doesn't run opterons as far as i can tell.

from newegg:
CPU Socket Type Socket 939
CPU Type Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64/Sempron

opterons are the right socket type, but not the right "cpu type" - it's designed for athlon/sempron

if you want to keep the SLI, you'll need to use a motherboard like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813151037

and you lose the capability for ddr2.

i'd go with this (or similar) for motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131068

switch to athlon 64 xp's or something, can use ddr2 in the am2 motherboards.

[jreffy]

Just a little backround. I recently have been building my own "ultimate gaming PC" and I spent a good month or two doing research on forums like this one before putting together my current built. You can see my components in my sig, and also a link to my case-mod as well. I don't claim to be a computer expert, but I have done a lot of research on setups and parts before putting together my own system.


First off, why build an Opteron system? Personally, the Core 2 Duo is the best thing available right now, especially when you are talking bang-for-your-buck.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400; $221.50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115004

it costs less than the Opteron and it performs better as well, especially with a small overclock. You can even step down to the E6300 ($183) and still be getting a great CPU for an even better price.

*I don't really love my RAM, any suggestions on better memory.

There really isn't a significant difference in stock performance between DDR and DDR2 memory. However, people have seen a definite improvement in DDR2 memory when overclocking. Again, you could go with your Core 2 Duo processer I suggested above (with a modest overclock), and go with DDR2 RAM like;

G. Skill (2x1GB) DDR-667 (PC2 5400) - $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231055

Of course you'd have to change your motherboard, so here's my suggestion.

Gigabyte GA-8N-SLI; $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128316

I also notice you're going super-hardcore with your SLI setup. However, with the release of the G8800 (i think that's the name) DirectX10 cards, and you also mentioning that you're going to be running Vista, I would also suggest buying a single video card, and waiting for the release of Dx10 and Dx10 games.

I suggest this because in about a year people are projecting the release of a lot of Dx10 games. In order to take advantage of the Dx10 games, you'll need a Dx10 card. Since you are building a gaming machine I would assume you'd want to upgrade. So why not save the extra money you are spending for only a small increase in performance? Yes, SLI sounds great, but much like dual-core systems, most games haven't been coded to take advantage of dual video cards. You aren't getting a real significant increase in your FPS to warrant the extra 500$ for SLI. Save that money, go with a single card, and upgrade to a Dx10 in a year.

Just my suggestions, take em or leave em for what you think they are worth.

[Timoi]

I would personally go with jreffy's suggestions... and recommend that you go along those lines. The motherboard is a very nice card with very reasonable capabilities (no quad core but the price skyrockets when you get quad core ready boards...) from a very reliable brand at a very low price considering. On the video card, WAIT!!!! If you have a choice, ALWAYS go with the newest technology. ESPECIALLY if there is very little difference in pricing... I'm killing myself now because I went AGP8x on a computer that I build not this last summer that just passed but the one before. Now one of my IDE ports (the one I use for CD-roms) got fried and I can't find a reasonable replacement since I DEFINITELY do not want to change this video card and I can't find a motherboard with reasonable capabilities that runs AGP8x anymore... I have found a way to bypass the problem but it just isn't as good as having everything actually working in your computer...

[Arden]

Thanks guys, sorry about the knowledge thing, I posted this on a non-computer forum for advice, and just copy and pasted. I should've proofread. Thanks so much guys, i'll post an updated system in a few hours for more advice (-;

Edit: I think I have a router. I need something to connect to it, like the card in a notebook.

[Silenced_Coyote]

The first thing I noticed was your video card choice. Jreffy already stated it so I won't repeat it.

I personally would wait later for Vista. It is a very expensive OS and so far only 2 games (Alan Wake and Crysis) will be taking advantage of DX10.

Do you really want to pay that much for a Plextor just because it has the SATA interface?

By the way, TigerDirect.com has the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 for $1099 (way cheaper than Newegg).

I'm not sure about this, but I think some Asus motherboards come with a wireless reciever.

If you do decided to go with Intel, get the Core 2 Duo E6300 instead of the E6400. They got the same cache and all of them overclock very well. I personally think the E6400 and E6700 are pointless because of that fact.

[Arden]

The core 2 duo is more than i expected, and i really can't afford it, so oh well. I don't really know what this dx10 is, could someone explain. If it is really coming out soon, I guess I should get a "temporary graphics card."

This is my current setup:

2x eVGA 512-P2-N635-AR Geforce 7950GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card- 559.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130061

APEVIA (ASPIRE) X-Plorer ATXB8KLW-AL Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case -$59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144103

Microsoft Windows Vista- Unnanounced
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/

18" UV Sensitive Single Device Round IDE Cable - $3.49
http://www.xoxide.com/uvsesichidec.html

Dual Blue Cold Cathode Kit - $7.99
http://www.xoxide.com/bluecathode.html

BELKIN F8E093 Anti-Static Wrist Strap -$5.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16899888207

Enermax EG701AX-VE-SFMA 24Pin Power Supply / Noisetaker 600W - $127.95
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556018988.html

GIGABYTE GA-8N-SLI Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - $83.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128316

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

PX-755SA 16X/8X/16X ,DVD+write/dvd+rewrite/dvd-read, 16X/6X ,dvd-write/dvd-rewrite - 119.99
http://www.amazon.com/PX-755SA-DVD%2...6?ie=UTF8&s=pc

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - $221.50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115004

MITSUMI Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 digital card reader with Floppy Drive Model FA404M BLK - 18.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821104104

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231090

TY for the suggestions.

[jdbnsn]

DX10 is supposed be the next big thing in Gfx cards, but if you're on a budget I'd hold off. They are likely to be real expensive and you can still get cutting edge out of what's available now. Plus, a funny thing happens when "cutting edge" stuff comes out. The people who camp out to buy it sell their gear off cheap to pay for it. You'll do yourself a solid by waiting a while and using PCIe, but if price is no object...