Building first rig.

[LordKietsu]

Hi all,

I recently got it into my head that i should build my own computer, but as its my first time building one and being a bit think when it comes to hardware anyway, i seek you all for help and thought this section would be most appropriate. So far i have in mind:

Vista premium 64-bit:

Asus Maximus Extreme Intel X38

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600

BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC2 768MB GDDR3

Corsair 2GB Kit (getting 2 of these = 4gb RAM):

Antec TruePower Quattro 1000W PSU:

Samsung SH-S202N 20x DVD+RW (getting 2 of these):

Killer NIC M1: ( am unsure about this atm)

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum - Fatal1ty Champion Series 7.1 Soundcard

Western Digital Raptor - 74Gb (2 of these running in RAID (whatever that means)

Are my specs any good? Have i missed something of great importance?

Also im unsure what case to get, i would prefer something in black to go with the rest of my entertainment setup. The rigs for hardcore gaming so i guess i need something cooled rather nicely. Easy on the pc lingo please, as i say, im a bit thick with hardware

 

[Toxcity]

Very nice choices!

Have you got money to burn? Because if you haven't I would switch the 8800GTX to a 8800GT, much better performance/price ratio.

And by personal preferance I wouldn't use Vista but that is just me, totally up to you.

For a case I would consider Silverstone or Lian Li.

Oh, and the PSU is a little OTT, that system wouldn't take much more than 600watts. Other than that, it is perfecto!

 

[LordKietsu]

Oh, i read that the GFX card i chose would need 1000w

I hav'nt got money to burn but i never do things by half lol i dont mind skinting myself out aslong as i have something to show for it

 

[nunzio]

You should be able to use a 800watt PSU, and give the Black Pearl case from A+ a lookin, its a very nice case, well built.

 

[Toxcity]

Oh, i read that the GFX card i chose would need 1000w

I hav'nt got money to burn but i never do things by half lol i dont mind skinting myself out aslong as i have something to show for it

Who ever told you the 1000watt fact is a loonie.

The 8800GT is an awesome card, very impressive. It is up to you what you choose though.

nunzio, 800watt is still over powered. In my opinion. (wheres NickS with his PSU cleverness)

 

[LordKietsu]

My main fear is have i missed anything, cooling for anything? CPU? GFX Card? once ive got most my fears and ideas sorted i can start building it (and hopefully not breaking anything)

 

[Toxcity]

Are you going to be overclocking anything?

The GPU will be fine for cooling, but maybe something a bit better for the CPU?

 

[Mr. Smith]

lol - this surely isn't serious discussion - i thought this was more for 'i've just found out i've got aids and my willy is falling off' kinda talk... Speaking of which, I've just found out...

Ok, on topic. Nice choices. What size monitor? Up to 22" you should be ok with the GT but it doesn't handle 24" well... GTX is still better at high res with AA/AF on.

PSU - Nick did a big benching session with a quaddy and gtx sli all oc'd with usual periphs and it was rock solid on the corsair - 520w iirc.

 

[Brooksie]

I would hold off the X38 board until the X48 are out..

 

[Mr. Smith]

I would hold off the X38 board until the X48 are out..

X48 offers jack sheet in performance gains - there is a comparison floating around the web x38 vs x48...

 

[Ham]

Wouldn't bother spending so much on raptors either.

Priceerformance is just far too off.

Get some normal drives and RAID them. Or a SSD if your loaded

 

[LordKietsu]

Are you going to be overclocking anything?

The GPU will be fine for cooling, but maybe something a bit better for the CPU?

Id like to overclock some stuff but as im new, im kinda sketchy about blowing something up. Can you advise me on what CPU you would recommend.

What size monitor?

I have a 19" LCD (or atleast i think its an LCD, its a flatscreen whatever it is lol)

and as for the raptors, they were recommended to me by a friend, he told me theyre like lightning. originally i opted for 1 150gb raptor..

 

[Toxcity]

Id like to overclock some stuff but as im new, im kinda sketchy about blowing something up. Can you advise me on what CPU you would recommend.

and as for the raptors, they were recommended to me by a friend, he told me theyre like lightning. originally i opted for 1 150gb raptor..

I didn't mean a better CPU, what I meant was better cooling for your CPU. The CPU itself is awesome!

Someone can advice you on the heatsink, I am not "up" in the world of air cooling at the mo.

And as Hamster said I would recommend ditching the raptors.. not worth it.

lol, who recommended this stuff to you?

 

[LordKietsu]

The raptors? a friend, known him for a few years, he got them installed in his comp and another friend also took his advice and they both swear by them....now you guys tell me otherwise.....im so confused lol which driveswould you recomend

 

[Toxcity]

Sorry matey!

On here we love performance, but we don't like wasting our money on hardware that really isn't worth it.

Basically, Raptors bring such a small percentage of performance increase that it really isn't worth spending the 100s of pounds on.

Have a loook througn some shops I would go for 2 harddrives personally, set up in Raid0.

 

[Ham]

I went from a single SATA2 drive to a 150GB raptor and i reckoned it was actual slower... But im not a raid user.

They may offer a performance boost but the cost is just not justifiable IMO.

 

[LordKietsu]

Anyone(s) in particular (linkage?), im also very up on the idea of not wasting my money on bits that wont offer me a great deal more performance....the money can be spent elsewhere

EDIT: I think i might go with THIS case.

 

[LordKietsu]

*bump*

Ok so my (near) final list stands at:

Silverstone TJ07

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600

Asus Maximus Extreme Intel X38

BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC2 768MB

Vista Home Premium x64Bit

Antec TruePower Quattro 1000W PSU

Western Raptor74gb (x2)

Samsung SH-S202N (x2)

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum

Anything im missing? is there something i should swap out for something else (please provde a link.)

Mucho Gracias.

 

[Mandible]

The TJ07 is lovely, but you might consider a thermaltake armor? i personally think they are the nicest black case on the market, though others disagree. Or if its too big, an armor jr?

Check em out, and nice specs! I'm building my first rig after christmas, and so is brooksie. We should communicate as we build

 

[LordKietsu]

Just had a look at the thermaltake armours, theyre pretty nice looking

and id definatley be up to chatting about the builds, im starting mine till after xmas also