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Just want a few opinions...my first custom computer...what do you think?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by GoRedRowdies, Feb 4, 2008.

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  1. GoRedRowdies

    GoRedRowdies Member

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    I recently built myself a computer. All in all I spent around $1300 on it (including gifts, my old rig being sold, and my money) Just wanted to see what you guys think of it and what you think I can improve on without spending too much. I added the reason in parenthesis why I chose those components. Thanks :rolleyes:
    I know I got some good deals, because if you put the items separately on newegg it would cost around $1900 at least.


    Quantity Component
    4 1 GIG DDR2 6400 OCZ PLATNUM 2 REVISIONS
    (It is currently in CL5 timing but I can set bios to 4 if i really wanted to i guess, 4 gigs ram nothing to explain)

    1 CREATIVE FAITAL1TY PROFESSIONAL SERIES SOUNDCARD
    (One of the only sound cards out there i can find with XRAM, like video card ram dedicated solely to imaging, this has ram dedicated to sound)

    2 Lite-On DVD-RW DRIVE
    (Just some basics DVD-RW drives, nothing too flashy)

    3 Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB Hard Drive
    (Could run it in some form of RAID i guess, but as of now just set up as 3 individual drives)

    2 8600GT PNY E-GEFORCE OVERCLOAKED 512 MB DDR3
    (1 Gig of memory what is DDR3 without spending too much for 8800's, in SLI mode)

    1 INTEL e6750 CORE 2 DUO PROCESSOR
    (I know i can get the new e8400 for the same price as i paid for this on newegg, but as of now this is good enough for me)

    1 ANTEC 900 GAMING COMPUTER CASE
    (i love this case, the design, the room, the air flow...all superb. Only wish there were built in back holes to make the cords neater)

    1 SAPPHIRE Radeon Theatrix 650 PRO TV Tuner
    (Exactly same item as the ATI 650, i mean exactly the same, all they did was change the brand logo sticker. But i paid like 70 bucks less for this as compared to the ati)

    1 Antec Trio 650W Power Supply
    (What can i say...it does the job fine)

    1 EVGA 680i LT SLI Motherboard
    (probably should have spent more on a full 680i board, but i didnt needs 3X pci-e slots or a extra ethernet port.)

    1 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
    (No i dont like XP Pro that much, gotta stay with the updated OS)

    1 Antec 120mm Tri Cool Fan
    (For the side panel on the antec 900, stays cool)

    1 NVIDIA SLI Retention Bracket
    (To hold the sli bridge in place)

    1 Thermaltake Hardcano 12 - full version
    (Controls fan speeds and reads temperatures, nice look to it to match my case)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    So what do you guys think? :rolleyes:
     
    #1 GoRedRowdies, Feb 4, 2008
  2. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    I paid about $1600 for mine when I built it(1yr ago), although now it's much cheaper.

    RAM (4Gbs) only runs around $85 now (less after rebates). (pc6400)....I paid $210 for 2gbs last year.

    Got my case for $60 with NO rebates too. :cool:

    Code:
    My Rig
Processor: 	Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6400 @ 2.73GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 	OCZ DDR2 800 ---4096MB RAM
Hard Drive: 	120 GB x 3
Video Card: 	NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS [x2] ***SLI***
Monitor: 	2 SyncMaster 226BW(Digital) (22 inch 2ms response) [x2]
Case:  Andtec 900

    I would have gone the extra $$$ and stepped up to the 8800's, atleast the 8800gt. 8600's aren't very powerful.

    Other's systems:
    http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=134027
     
    #2 Uprising, Feb 4, 2008
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2008
  3. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    oh yeah, you have have an xfire name etc? what games do you play? (I'm assuming you game with SLI)
     
    #3 Uprising, Feb 4, 2008
  4. GoRedRowdies

    GoRedRowdies Member

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    i dont have a xfire acct, how much of a difference do i actually see with 8800 vs 8600?

    I have as of now: BF2 + exp, FEAR, Stalker, nba live, madden, quake 4, w3, lost planet, ghost recon, sc
    but i plan to get more games as time passes.

    So what do you think? $1300 pretty good?
     
    #4 GoRedRowdies, Feb 4, 2008
  5. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    Not bad price wise. I take it this was built for you? Or did you make it?

    Ram: $90

    sound card: $135 ( Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series ?)

    ....I was going to price everything but got lazy. Sleepy.
     
    #5 Uprising, Feb 4, 2008
  6. GoRedRowdies

    GoRedRowdies Member

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    i built it my self for me :)

    Any small improvements you can recommend?
     
    #6 GoRedRowdies, Feb 4, 2008
  7. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    Not really, it's a nice rig. My cpu is kind of dated, but my dual 8800gts's keep it booking during Call of Duty 4 etc.
     
    #7 Uprising, Feb 4, 2008
  8. GoRedRowdies

    GoRedRowdies Member

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    difference btw 8800 and 8600?
     
    #8 GoRedRowdies, Feb 4, 2008
  9. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    #9 Uprising, Feb 4, 2008
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2008
  10. darkwarrior

    darkwarrior Member

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    listen to uprising and go with the 8800gt. if you're going SLI with the 8600s, then it's only ~$50 bucks extra.
     
    #10 darkwarrior, Feb 4, 2008
  11. JeopardE

    JeopardE Member

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    I need a new rig. :eek:

    Although, honestly I can't justify why. All I do is surf the net, check email and play music these days.
     
    #11 JeopardE, Feb 4, 2008
  12. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    should try Team Fortress 2. It's a fun game, I'm still not sick of it and I've wated way too many hours on it.

    I just build a pc for a friend, put in 4gbs (pc6400), 8800gts, E6700 cpu, antec 900, asus p5n-e sli mobo.

    Fun building these things.
     
    #12 Uprising, Feb 4, 2008
  13. FlyerFanatic

    FlyerFanatic YOU BOYS LIKE MEXICO!?! YEEEHAAWW
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    i would really like to try my hand at building my own comp sometime. my hands are pretty big, i think that might effect that though, make it a lot harder to mess around inside the case and what not
     
    #13 FlyerFanatic, Feb 4, 2008
  14. GoRedRowdies

    GoRedRowdies Member

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    i loved the experience
     
    #14 GoRedRowdies, Feb 4, 2008
  15. supafrumpy

    supafrumpy Member

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    hey quickly, I didn't read the whole thread, but I wouldn't do SLI on those 8600's. I would do a 8800 GT or GTS. About the same price and better performance. Then later when a 8800 GT or GTS is cheap do SLI.
     
    #15 supafrumpy, Feb 4, 2008
  16. LegendZ3

    LegendZ3 Member

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    I used to love building my own computer too. But last couple weeks I have been trying to upgrade my desktop, and it was really a pain in the ass this time. Both motherboard and power supply I ordered were DOA. And I have to catch up on all the latest hardware lingo. I guess I'm just getting too old for these stuff.
     
    #16 LegendZ3, Feb 4, 2008
  17. FlyerFanatic

    FlyerFanatic YOU BOYS LIKE MEXICO!?! YEEEHAAWW
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    where did you go to read how to build it?
     
    #17 FlyerFanatic, Feb 4, 2008
  18. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    There are a number of sites that have videos etc. to help you if you have absolutely NO idea on what to do on some parts. Just google them, you'll find some good ones.

    The computer parts you buy will all come with manuals, and the motherboard will have a thick manual.

    Example of a helpful site: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2231&page=2

    Videos: http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/1084_motherboards.htm
     
    #18 Uprising, Feb 5, 2008
  19. Yaozer

    Yaozer Member

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    I would've just gotten the MacBook Air.
     
    #19 Yaozer, Feb 5, 2008
  20. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Can't watch DVD's on that yet.

    Until they come out with Flash movies, it is piontless for travelers like me who like to watch movies on long trips.

    DD
     
    #20 DaDakota, Feb 5, 2008
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