Antec 900 | E8400 build

[Mr. Gruntsworthy]

I'm building a new machine to upgrade from my current E4600 build.

Here's what the finished new machine will have:

UPDATED Friday, Sept. 26

PSU:
CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Duo 600W PS

Processor:
>>Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3GHz (2 CPUs) 1333MHz FSB

HSF:
>> OCZ Vendetta II

Memory:
4096MB RAM (DDR2, 800MHz) 2 x 2GB Apacer

Hard Drive:
>>1 x 160GB (SATA); >> 1 x 500GB (SATA3G)

Video Card:
Asus EN9800GT Ultimate 512 DDR3 OC PCIE2

Monitor:
19" flatscreen (i'm not in need of anything too big or fancy)

Sound Card:
>> onboard

Speakers/Headphones:
>> tall and black, worth about $30 CDN

Keyboard:
media keyboard

Mouse:
>> USB Optical

Operating System:
Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit

Motherboard:
>> Asus P5Q SE LGA775 ATX PCI-E EPU MB

Computer Case:
>> Antec 900

the parts with a '>>' next to them are already in my posession. The rest are yet to be bought, and are basically set in stone unless someone makes a better suggestion.

My budget is around $700 CDN. I prefer Intel to AMD, but that's the only real preference I have.

The machine is going to be used for moderate amounts of gaming and media-related tasks (such as video encoding and capturing), in addition to normal everyday tasks (such as web browsing, watching movies, etc).

Edit: Due to my dumbassery, I forgot to mention two things:

1) All parts need to be purchased from Bestbyte Computers - as i don't have a credit card, or otherwise can't be arsed to do online shopping (security etc). This is the biggest, best, and most cost-effective store near me that's easily travelable.

2) I'm not planning to overclock, but I may in the future. Should I choose to, i'll upgrade to an aftermarket HSF. But in the meantime, with default clock speeds, and with the Antec 900's cooling, will the stock HSF be enough?

sorry for forgetting those two things.

[Dashock]

Well what Ram are you interested in buying? You mention the speed and quantity but no manufacture.? And i see why your buying an Asus trying to fully utlize the EPU eh nice nice. I love my Asus P5q-E P45.

[Mr. Gruntsworthy]

Originally Posted by Dashock

Well what Ram are you interested in buying? You mention the speed and quantity but no manufacture.?

thanks, i edited it and added that in. but just to save you having to recheck; it's going to be 2 x 2GB sticks of Apacer.

[JD]

I'd definitely recommend a Corsair power supply. I don't think that's one of Coolermasters good ones...

Also I'd go with OCZ, Corsair, Mushkin or G.SKILL RAM instead.

Oh and perhaps an aftermarket heatsink if you plan to overclock.

[cwestwell]

I agree with the two previous posts definetly spend a little extra on Decent Ram and a good PSU. Apacer is cheap cheap and coolmaster is ok for replacement PSU's in a Dell or HP but for your own build go with a better unit that should not fail in the life of your PC and some more. My only other reccomendation is a bigger monitor the price difference beetween a 19" and a 22" is minimul. Believe me I also thought the whole I dont need anything to big and fancy a 19" Wide is lots of monitor. But then if you compare a 19" wide to a 17" standard it looks small. I went with a 24" and holy crap you will not regret the spending a little more for the extra monitor goodness. It's amazing how fast your mind will change from I dont need anything to big and fancy to holy crap how did I live without this.

[miggs78]

I was also wondering, if you are going to overclock, there is no point in EPU enabled boards, since you aren't going to use that feature anyways.

Well why not go for a 4870 instead, I recenly read a review about a 4870 beating all 9800GTX, sorry to say but the 4870 had their butts whopped and handed to them.

Other than that what ^^ Jdrom said, Corsair 650w power supply really seems to impress, OCZ's and Corsair's are good sets, I personally like to settle for Mushkin or G-Skill, and Mushkin off course since they are very good sets, you have almost full support for help from HWC users and more importantly direct help from MushkinGreg, also with any Customer service or tech issues, he should be able to help you out.

[cwestwell]

I believe hes going with the GT not the GTX the 9800GT is about $99 to $149.99 maybe the 4850 however they still cost a little more. It would certainly be worth it in the long run but that is yet another extra cost.

[miggs78]

No I realise that, what is why I wrote 4850 or 4870, in his case 4850 for sure, a little more but well spent in the long run, better video card for sure, but you are right extra cost :(

[Dashock]

Originally Posted by Mr. Gruntsworthy

thanks, i edited it and added that in. but just to save you having to recheck; it's going to be 2 x 2GB sticks of Apacer.

Hey buddy em yea id suggest like some others here have im not familiar with that brand of memory but its because i was for years building with only OCZ memory but this time i went with Mushkin and love it id suggest going with any of the big names prices are pretty cheap now a days. Plus one for Mushkin or OCZ.

Originally Posted by miggs78

I was also wondering, if you are going to overclock, there is no point in EPU enabled boards, since you aren't going to use that feature anyways.

Miggs nothing wrong with an Epu board i can overclock with the Asus program up to 3.8ghz when i want and downlock down to 1.4-1.6 when im just using azureus and folding in the background. It saves a lot of time cause i try to conserve as much electricity as i can having 3 computers and a laptop in the house. I havent found any problems with it running on both Vista and Xp. I never really used any of these budled software but i really like this asus epu package might not be for everyone. But for ease of use and daily overclock/underclock its as eassy as press of a button! :p

[Mr. Gruntsworthy]

sorry guys, my fault but i forgot to mention two things

1) All parts need to be purchased from Bestbyte Computers - as i don't have a credit card, or otherwise can't be arsed to do online shopping (security etc). This is the biggest, best, and most cost-effective store near me that's easily travelable.

2) I'm not planning to overclock, but I may in the future. Should I choose to, i'll upgrade to an aftermarket HSF. But in the meantime, with default clock speeds, and with the Antec 900's cooling, will the stock HSF be enough?

sorry for forgetting those two things.