My first build (Advice needed)

Hey, I am new to putting together computers and this will be the first time I will ever be doing this. After looking at prices of building it yourself, it has given me good reason to say goodbye to retail companies for gaming rigs. lol

So, I just thought I would post what I am putting in it, and then getting your opinions on how you think everything will work together. I had some help from a friend doing this. After reading some reviews, I am thinking about changing the motherboard and probably getting a PSU with more wattage. But, I will take some of your advice, and see what you guys think.

Thanks in advance.

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Motherboard: EVGA 132-CK-NF79-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI DDR3 ATX Intel Motherboard

Graphics Card: EVGA 01G-P3-N891-AR GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB (512MB per GPU) 512-bit (256-bit per GPU) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Power Supply: Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 650W ATX12V Power Supply with Three 12V Rails

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q9300

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1600C9DHX

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Monitor: SAMSUNG 245BW Black 24" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with Height Adjustment

Sound Card: Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64Bit SP2C for System Builders - OEM

I am getting all of these parts off of NewEgg if that matters. I'm probably going to be doing this in the next month or so, so I have time to tweak if you feel its necessary on some things. lol

Thanks again.

Matt

Well I am still nervous about Vista thats why. lol

I thought eventually I could just do a dual boot if anything.

If I were you then I would stay away from Nvidia chipset and grab an Intel chipset mobo. I used to have both and in my experience, Intel chipset is much better as people report Nvidia chipset getting worse later on. Btw, you don't even need DDR3 at this time, DDR2 is way enough for now. For the video card, no comment there since it's great choice but unless you tell me you're gonna go Quad SLI, why wasting money on a mobo supports Tri-SLI?

For the CPU, I don't know if you're gonna OC it but if you do then the Q6600 is a better choice and cheaper. If I remember correctly then the Q9300 only has a x7.5 multi. vs x9 on the Q6600. So if you aim for 3.6, you need a whopping 480FSB and if you think you can push that on your mobo then I have no comment on that. But if you don't OC that much then it's still a fine choice. You might wanna consider the Q9450 as well as it has 12MB L2 cache vs 6 on the Q9300 (Q6600 has 8MB L2 cache).

If I were you then I would stay away from Nvidia chipset and grab an Intel chipset mobo. I used to have both and in my experience, Intel chipset is much better as people report Nvidia chipset getting worse later on. Btw, you don't even need DDR3 at this time, DDR2 is way enough for now. For the video card, no comment there since it's great choice but unless you tell me you're gonna go Quad SLI, why wasting money on a mobo supports Tri-SLI?

For the CPU, I don't know if you're gonna OC it but if you do then the Q6600 is a better choice and cheaper. If I remember correctly then the Q9300 only has a x7.5 multi. vs x9 on the Q6600. So if you aim for 3.6, you need a whopping 480FSB and if you think you can push that on your mobo then I have no comment on that. But if you don't OC that much then it's still a fine choice. You might wanna consider the Q9450 as well as it has 12MB L2 cache vs 6 on the Q9300 (Q6600 has 8MB L2 cache).

sstravisd

Thanks for the feedback.

Yeah, I have always had an Intel chipset and really wouldn't like to stray away from it. I've never had any problems with it, and its what I'm used to, so thats one thing I'll probably change.

I really have no interest in overclocking. I know a lot of people do it, but I just don't feel safe doing it. Its not like with this machine I will really need to anyway, all things considered.

I guess since I don't do it, I can just go to the Q6600 to save some money, and then switch to an Intel motherboard, and I should be good to go.

What about Vista/XP? I'm getting XP 64 as you can see, but do you think I should get Vista 64-bit? Like I said in my previous post, I am planning on a dual boot eventually, so I can probably live with XP64 for awhile anyway.

stick to the 9800GX2 nothing on the market can beat that card at the price range of 285$ besides the 4870x2 ia a whole different category and 270$ more if you have extra money then go for it.

Get Vista64 bit no need for that xp, I have dual boot and I don't open XP except to run a couple of Xp vs Vista Games benchmarks, don't miss the dx10,the 9800GX2 is more than capable of handling it, so why miss out even the slightest details ?

stick to the 9800GX2 nothing on the market can beat that card at the price range of 285$ besides the 4870x2 ia a whole different category and 270$ more if you have extra money then go for it.

Get Vista64 bit no need for that xp, I have dual boot and I don't open XP except to run a couple of Xp vs Vista Games benchmarks, don't miss the dx10,the 9800GX2 is more than capable of handling it, so why miss out even the slightest details ?

Games_pro

I hear ya. I just figured I'd use the XP for older games I have like Anachronox, and games that came around that time, as well as just "newer" games that don't take advantage of the DX10. But with the hardware I'm getting, I might as well put in the extra money for the Vista64.

Would you recommend a PSU with higher wattage? I think I might get one around 800-900 watts or so just to be on the safe side. I don't know.

Nice look up ABS for a 900 Watt PSU for the GX2 similar rig to mine :D I got a 8800gt and a 750i board good motherboard too half the price of the 790i boardHekynn

ABS? Whats that?

I am still considering going to an Intel board instead, but I don't know.

Just thought I'd post this fyi.
This is the page for abs power supply units at newegg.comcallofduty517

That helps. Thanks! I'll have to take a look at these. I definitely want a PSU with more power.

Oh yeah and I forgot a DVD/CD drive. LOL! One of those would be helpful. :)

Any reccomendations for one at a good price off of NewEgg?

Oh yeah and I forgot a DVD/CD drive. LOL! One of those would be helpful. :)

Any reccomendations for one at a good price off of NewEgg?

TheUberKnight

corsair's modular psu's are great take a look at this one

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 Power Supply UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Power+Supplies-_-Corsair+Memory++Inc.-_-17139007

$249

perfect reviews off of newegg, and great reviews around the web.

also this IMO is the best dvd that play blu ray cuz IMO burning to bluray doesn't make sense for most people

LG Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 4X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 5X DVD-RAM DVD-ROM: 16X Blu-ray DVD-ROM: 6X HD DVD-ROM: 3X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 24X CD-RW 4MB Cache SATA Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136133

$150