Building a Computer. Help?

Okay, I'm honestly not that computer smart, so I was hoping I could turn to the gamespot community for help to build a pretty sweet gaming computer.

Here is the site I plan to buy the computer from as I can pick it up, as it is located in my hometown: http://www.memoryexpress.com/SystemConfig/

The games I plan to play on it is: Crysis, COD4, Orange box, G-mod, and soon to be released, Spore (I at least know Spore doesn't have to strong of requirements! XD).

I want this computer to last and to play some awesome games in the future. Also, I hate vista, but if I need it, let me know. Try to keep the price in the price range of $2000 with a maximum of $2500.

Thanks in advance.

This should help you understand PC building better

This is my present build. So you can get ideas.

Do you want to spend all your 2000$ or would you be happy if you could get a good pc for 1500$ ?

Do you need a monitor ? If so, what size ?

Are you ok with running 2 video cards ?

@Bosemer: Thank you! This is helping alot.

@Matrixian: If you can spend less then $2000, Excellent! Just need it to last. Ya, include a monitor. 20 inch prefurably. Also two graphics cards? Will that be needed? I'm okay with it though if it will increase the comps longevity.

@Matrixian: If you can spend less then $2000, Excellent! Just need it to last. Ya, include a monitor. 20 inch prefurably. Also two graphics cards? Will that be needed? I'm okay with it though if it will increase the comps longevity.

Axle15

For the two GPUs: get a SLi mobo and a capable PSU but just get one GPU. The day you need more performance just buy a matching one.

Motherboard: Asus P5E 235$

CPU: Intel E8400 210$

CPU cooler: Freezer 7 30$

Video card: Visiontek Radeon HD4870 305$

Hard disk: Western Digital Caviar 640 GB 95$

Power supply: Corsair 750TX 750W 105$

Memory: Corsair 2x2 GB PC2-6400 110$

Case: Antec 300 60$

Monitor: LG 22" L226 WTY-BF 265$

DVD burner: Lg Super Multi Security DVD Writer 20x20x12x SATA Black 33$

Total: 1448$

Add taxes, an OS, fans, mouse and a keyboard. You can buy another video card later, for now the HD4870 will give you plenty performance. Some people will recommend a quad core CPU, but there aren't many games that take advantage of that.

Edit: That video card is currently out of stock, but wait a few days until they receive more. It's well worth it.

I added a DVD drive and updated the total.

[QUOTE="Angry_Bosmer"]

This should help you understand PC building better

This is my present build. So you can get ideas.

friedweasel

Your guide was crap. It really needs improvement. Apart from the fact that it was written awfully I also think that you have offered incorrect advice. ' The 9600 gt is better than 8800 gt ' is just misinformed and noobish. I honestly haven't heard anyone else saying this.

If you know so much more than write your own.

You name whats wrong with it.

The 9600gt is better than a 8800gt you should see some benchmarks.

[QUOTE="friedweasel"][QUOTE="Angry_Bosmer"]

This should help you understand PC building better

This is my present build. So you can get ideas.

Angry_Bosmer

Your guide was crap. It really needs improvement. Apart from the fact that it was written awfully I also think that you have offered incorrect advice. ' The 9600 gt is better than 8800 gt ' is just misinformed and noobish. I honestly haven't heard anyone else saying this.

If you know so much more than write your own.

You name whats wrong with it.

The 9600gt is better than a 8800gt you should see some benchmarks.

I'm looking at some now and the 9600 is not coming out on top:

http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?page=vga_1

http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_2/

[QUOTE="Angry_Bosmer"][QUOTE="friedweasel"][QUOTE="Angry_Bosmer"]

This should help you understand PC building better

This is my present build. So you can get ideas.

WDT-BlackKat

Your guide was crap. It really needs improvement. Apart from the fact that it was written awfully I also think that you have offered incorrect advice. ' The 9600 gt is better than 8800 gt ' is just misinformed and noobish. I honestly haven't heard anyone else saying this.

If you know so much more than write your own.

You name whats wrong with it.

The 9600gt is better than a 8800gt you should see some benchmarks.

I'm looking at some now and the 9600 is not coming out on top:

http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?page=vga_1

http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_2/

Whatever I'll fix that now.

Okay. From total input I was given, I compiled this:

MOB:nForce 750i SLI FTW w/ DualDDR2 1066, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, 1394, PCI-E x16 SLI

CPU:Intel E8400

CPU Cooler: Freezer 7

Video Card: e-GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDTV-Out

Hard Drive 2x:250GB Barracuda 7200.10 SATA II w/ NCQ, 16MB Cache

Power supply: Corsair 750TX 750W

Memory: Corsair 2x2 GB PC2-6400

DVD burner: Lg Super Multi Security DVD Writer 20x20x12x SATA Black (no blue-ray?)

Case: Antec 900 Ultimate Gamer Case

Monitor: LG 22" L226 WTY-BF

Sound Card: Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio, OEM

Keyboard:Eclipse II Keyboard

Mouse: Habu™ Laser Gaming Mouse

So any suggestions? Corrections?

Get a 4870 instead of the 8800GTS.

Then you might want to change the mobo for something CrossFire. I haven't found anything good yet.

You might toss one of these on there. It's backlit blue, looks great with that case, and provids all kinds of useful information.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813999351

But most importantly you'll want to get an additional 120mm led blue fan for the side panel assuming the Antec 900 is still sold with that fan slot empty.

I would also ditch the power supply and get something modular. Possibly some extenstions as well. That's really important as you need to minimize clutter, and are already going to have a tricky time getting the power lines from the PSU to the motherboard.

Video Card: e-GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB PCI-E w/ Dual DVI, HDTV-Out

So any suggestions? Corrections?

Axle15

You picked a much slower video card, but it's your money.

So switch the case, video card and the MOB then? Motherboard: Asus P5E (has cross-fire, correct?), case: Case: Antec 300 and Video card: Visiontek Radeon HD4870? Vista or XP?Axle15

Yep, the mobo supports Crossfire.

The Antec 900 is fine too, it's more spacious than the 300. I just thought i'd save you a little money with the 300.

You can't go wrong with the HD4870.

Hmm Vista or XP ? I don't use Vista so I can't really answer that question.

You might toss one of these on there. It's backlit blue, looks great with that case, and provids all kinds of useful information.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813999351

But most importantly you'll want to get an additional 120mm led blue fan for the side panel assuming the Antec 900 is still sold with that fan slot empty.

I would also ditch the power supply and get something modular. Possibly some extenstions as well. That's really important as you need to minimize clutter, and are already going to have a tricky time getting the power lines from the PSU to the motherboard.

WDT-BlackKat

Vista or XP?Axle15

Vista, DX 10 is worth it.

[QUOTE="WDT-BlackKat"]

You might toss one of these on there. It's backlit blue, looks great with that case, and provids all kinds of useful information.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813999351

But most importantly you'll want to get an additional 120mm led blue fan for the side panel assuming the Antec 900 is still sold with that fan slot empty.

I would also ditch the power supply and get something modular. Possibly some extenstions as well. That's really important as you need to minimize clutter, and are already going to have a tricky time getting the power lines from the PSU to the motherboard.

Axle15

Modular power supplies are the current standard. Instead of having a mass of power cables coming out in one big plug you get outlets on the PSU which you only need to plug in the cables you need to. Thus reducing clutter.

Like this picture:

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/vir/frys/upfiles/product/2006091016412858008.jpg

This is very useful for any computer as it eliminates unneccessary wiring. But even more useful because in the Antec 900 you have the PSU at the bottom, the motherboards power plug goes into the top and between the two you're going to have a large video card and the cpu heatsink/fan assembly. It takes some creative wire management to get around those two large items without having a big cable bundle going right across your motherboard.

The control panel is for temperature readouts and overheating alarms, power and harddrive activity indicators, has a clock with alarms, can double as a system speaker for the motherboard and if the Antec had variable speed fans it could be used to control fan speeds as well. It doesn't really pay to use it as a fan controller for any machine though as there is only one speed you want your fans at. Full speed.

XP DX10 isnt worth it, and just dual boot Vista if DX10 is need later on

OR

but Vista and ask a friend or family member with XP to lend it to you (but non OEM copies only) so you can Dual Boot
But for dual boot you nned two HDD's (i think)
get 2x small HDD's for XP and Vista + Program files and all the utilities
1x 500 for storage of movies, games, music, whatever
1x 200-320 for installing you games on to

that what i have atleast, but only 1x for teh OSLehman

Why would you want to dual boot. Screw XP. That computer can run Vista's requirements.

my compouter can run Vista requirements but i still use XP even though my brother has Vista on his rig and i can just install Vista onto mine

i just like having a OS im used to, but i will be installing Vista soon, i have an old 160gb HDD lying around somewhere, just ognna get that and format then install Vista onto it

but if i do that do i need to setup the internet connection and stuff again for that OS??
and i also have to install games and applications again for Vista right??

The dude's getting a new PC, he can't get those problems.Angry_Bosmer

I agree. Get Vista.

Boy I may have a hard time finding xp cause of screwy ms discontinuing it but may be I'll be able to find it somewhere.

Once I do find it it could be cheaper although I dought it cause it will be hard to find.

I don't have as much money as this guy does but I do tend to build my self a pc some time soon and as soon as I have nailed down what I want and all I'll come here give you the list and see what you think of the parts that I pick out. Considering that this will be my first build.