Computer build thread for the hardware geeks

[The Pastor]

This is my current proposed build.

graphics card = Palit 9600GT 512MB PCI-Express 256bits DDR3 HDMI DVI ($266.99)
cpu= e8400 ($313.88)
Ram = Apacer 4GB Dual Kit DDR2-800 PC6400 240Pin UNB PC2 6400 2GB 2 ($133.13)
mobo =Gigabyte GA-N650SLI-DS4L LGA775 NFORCE 650i SLI FSB 1333 DDR2 80 ($170ish)
PSU = Corsair 450 Watt VX Series Power Supply Unit ($120.00)
case = NZXT Lexa Blackline Blue LED Edition, (SKU: LEX-301) ($160.00)
HDD =Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm SATA (programe installs) ($147.68)
=Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm SATA (my files, music etc) ($147.68)

Running xp.

What do you think? I'm building it for games, I think it will run crysis on low res. I get the cheap vid card and PSU with the view to upgrade them when i go SLI - once a system comes out that will run crysis at at least 60fps with out costing more than 1k (i expect the next series of nvida will do it)

I don't know too much about the ram - any suggestions? 4gb will be the min, i

I chose the e8400 over the 8500 cpu because it gets very simerlar results on tomshardwares mother of all cpu chart yet is $100 cheaper. oc's to a stable 4ghz too but I wont be doing it. (but i want this water cooling thing cos it looks awesome http://www.zalman.co.kr/ENG/product/...ad.asp?idx=183)

Any way I could save a bit of $ without affecting performance? Maybe get overseas?

Cheers. I'll post up a photo when its all done.

[Disco Dan]

** Coughs "nerd" **

p/t

[shingo]

Why would you want to play crysis, that game is utter shit.

[The Pastor]

Cos ive heard so much about it and I wanna system that will run it (on low res/settings for now)

[Jeaves]

get a bigger power supply.

[The Pastor]

get a bigger power supply.

the power supply ive chosen is a very good one. Its advertised at 450w, but it outputs 570w. If you read the post I said I'd upgrade it when I go SLI.

the Corsair 450 Watt VX is really good here is a review http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/540

Edit: i re read it and it wasnt clear what I meant i'll change it now

[mister.koz]

Hey dude,

why the 80gb? keep windows on the same drive as your program files or you will get blips in performance while dx hard caches to disk for non-graphics rendering (audio clip/music/map/3d mapping/lan etc are all directx) it sounds like it would be faster if it was on different disks but it isn't.

Ram >4gb is likely a waste of time, crisis is a large game but you wont see it use more than 2gb because its heavy gfx and you would want to suffer the performance by running anything else at the same time. Also i can't remember 100% but i think the memory addressing on 32bit windows (4gb limit) on systems that have more than 4gb creates about 10% overhead for message formatting to ram and back so you will suffer perfomance issues with >4gb either that or it just wont use the higher mem so the extra ram will only look cool in procview

With hard drives, i would keep them all hitachi.

If you are looking to update the gfx cards and/or go for sli don't waste your time on a 450w psu, it will be running at 90% all day and die too quick, good thing to factor in is how much everything will use at average and add 50% i worked out my machine (which has rather allot in it) is around 550w rated, so i put an 800w psu in it.

If you can part with the extra dollars, i would also recommend going with a large case, i have a thermaltake xaser III case, its fairly old (and therefore cheap of trademe) but its got HEAPS of room and cooling and you can unplug those silly flouro's

[Steam]

You need more cc's.

Nerd.

[mister.koz]

You need more cc's.

Nerd.

You have 2 excellent points :P

[Steam]

You have 2 excellent points :P

Hey, you fit in well here already! Welcome to the madness.

PS, leave while you still can!

[mister.koz]

I am at home with crazy, all of my invisible friends agree.

[The Pastor]

Hey dude,

why the 80gb? keep windows on the same drive as your program files or you will get blips in performance while dx hard caches to disk for non-graphics rendering (audio clip/music/map/3d mapping/lan etc are all directx) it sounds like it would be faster if it was on different disks but it isn't.

Ram >4gb is likely a waste of time, crisis is a large game but you wont see it use more than 2gb because its heavy gfx and you would want to suffer the performance by running anything else at the same time. Also i can't remember 100% but i think the memory addressing on 32bit windows (4gb limit) on systems that have more than 4gb creates about 10% overhead for message formatting to ram and back so you will suffer perfomance issues with >4gb either that or it just wont use the higher mem so the extra ram will only look cool in procview

With hard drives, i would keep them all hitachi.

If you are looking to update the gfx cards and/or go for sli don't waste your time on a 450w psu, it will be running at 90% all day and die too quick, good thing to factor in is how much everything will use at average and add 50% i worked out my machine (which has rather allot in it) is around 550w rated, so i put an 800w psu in it.

If you can part with the extra dollars, i would also recommend going with a large case, i have a thermaltake xaser III case, its fairly old (and therefore cheap of trademe) but its got HEAPS of room and cooling and you can unplug those silly flouro's

I think the PSU will cope just fine, i posted up a review a few posts up. I will upgrade it to 700w+ when I go sli.

Is the case I have said a small case? I kinda like the look + price of it

The ram, I know vista like 4gb and I know xp doesn't use more than 2gb. But you're right i'll get 2gb for now (can always get more later ) Do you have any reconmendations on type and brand? I read somewhere that even the "low performance" are fine for gaming if you're not going to oc it.

The hard drives, I thought that windows liked to be on its own drive? Good point on having the same brand hdd, i didnt think about that.

Thanks for your advice _b

[Indiana_Jones]

....and you can unplug those silly flouro's

But you gotta have the neons and chrome ow!

-Indy

[The Pastor]

I might change the mobo to a Gigabyte GA-N650SLI-DS4L LGA775 NFORCE 650i SLI FSB 1333 DDR2 80 its $170ish atm, saving quite a bit of moolah

[mister.koz]

Cool about psu, typing is slow tonight.. too much programming...

Its really good to keep windows away from your big files and always keep 20% free on your windows drive (its not an exact science!) but i wouldn't seperate windows from registry based stuff like programs/games because windows is inevitably stupid

I think the case you've picked is a good size, its more the cooling and layout of the thermaltakes that i like. I've got 8 sata drives a few optical, a few cards, big psu, cables to the wazoo and still enough room for air to move, its bloody good! this one also comes with 7 super quiet high speed filtered case fans, moves air like a jumbo jet and doesn't wake up the mrs while i am on KB late at night. Price wise u could get a cheap one off trademe?

Ram is a tricky one, i bought the "not quite so cheap" ram thats a couple of steps up from the bottom, i can't remember the brand. and it does a really good job. You can go all crazy with ram, a mate of mine spend $500 or $600 on ram for 4gb, cause it was "better"... I stuck to ddr2-667 4x 1gb and its fairly quick and xp can use >2gb just doesn't do it often!

From memory intel chips really like paired ram so its more important to buy ram that has the same timings, i like the amd chips with their "hypertransport" thing making cpu to ram real fast but i gather they aren't as good for gaming...

I would also (if possible) stick to windows xp unless your games are DX10 because vista's overheads are completely stupid! my machine at work (a clone appart from the big blue case) is about 25% slower than my one at home for everything and the one at home was about 2 times faster running gentoo but then i couldn't play games.....

Its all pretty subjective in the end, you've got the right ideas just don't buy the cheapest anything, the "2 steps up from the bottom" rule serves me and my wallet well