Advice on a new build

[Gnobulix]

yeah, well, I think I should go for newer technology. They probably slashed the price on the 9800GX2 because they're going to shift to 45 nm or something like that. Anyway, a dual GPU produces lots of heat and noise I'm not sure I want. Playing with a 22'' screen, I don't need that much power.

[oupavoc]

if your going to go Sli NCIX.com has the Evga 9800GX2 for $300, 2 of those would be a killer system better then getting a 260GTX or a 280GTX. But if your going CF 2X 4870 or a 4870X2. The 4870 is a better performer then the 260GTX.

[Dashock]

Gnobulix these are the top of the line kits of Mushkin also comes with the new vapor technology coolers

First up is the Mushkin Ascent Redline 8000 1000mhz ddr2 kit yes its red

NCIX.com - Buy Mushkin Ascent PC2-8000 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1000 CL5-5-5-12 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit - 996623 In Canada.

Price match this at TD direct which is selling it for 132.03 so with the 30 dollar rebate its gonna come out to a cold 102.03 i know pretty sweet deal eh

Buy Mushkin Ascent PC2-8000 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1000 CL5-5-5-12 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit

Thats the kit i bought anyways there a kit above that

Mushkin Ascent 8500 1066mhz ddr2 kit this kit is black

NCIX.com - Buy Mushkin Ascent PC2-8500 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1066 CL5-5-5-15 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit - 996619 In Canada.

this ones is 139.99 i dont know if theres someone else selling this kit so you can price match it but id pick the 8000 kit for 40 dollars less just my 2 cents.

wait i found a place to price match man this is a better deal then i got you gotta love me

Buy Mushkin Ascent PC2-8500 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1066 CL5-5-5-15 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit
Price match it at td direct for 128.65 now thats a steal. I dont think thats gonna last long.

[Tazer-[X]]

Get an X-48 class mobo, seriously. Or.. well, jsut get a X-48 mobo.

[Gnobulix]

Thanks for the memory advice dashock. I'll try to buy one of those kits. I was looking at the Ascent PC2-8500 kit yesterday on NCIX but it seems they are out of stock. is there really a big difference in performance between the redlines PC2-8000 and the ascent Pc2-8500?

If I can save money somewhere in that setup, i could buy a nicer screen like the samsung t220.

tazer-[X]: what would be the advantage of getting a x-48 mobo if I don't plan to go crossfire? I think that a dual card setup would be total overkill if I plan to play with a 22'' screen. Maybe if I wanted to go for a 30'', but it is not the case.

In terms of video card, I still plan to get the evga gtx260. It performs approximately similar to the 4870 but there is a deal at NCIX that gives free shipping for the entire order if I buy it. That alone could save me like 150 $. since I live in Montreal.

[Dashock]

Just make sure to get the Ascent 8000 as only the Ascent line comes with the new style of cooling other then the extra 66mhz im not sure but i got the 8000kit myself.

Btw Gnobulix Ncix has the Ascent 8500 4gb in stock so just price match it with td direct and save the 2 dollars you would have instead of buying the 8000 kit. It should not matter that td direct has it on back order just price match with Ncix.

[Gnobulix]

Since I can't live without a computer for much longer , I bought this configuration this morning:

• EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 260 Superclocked 602MHZ 896MB 2.052GHZ GDDR3
• Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
  
• Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
  
• Mushkin Ascent PC2-8500 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1066

• Western Digital Caviar SE16 640GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB Hard Drive

• Corsair CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX Triple 12V 50A 24PIN ATX Modular Power Supply
• Samsung SH-S223F Black SATA DVD+RW 22X8X16 DVD-RW 22X6X16 16X/12X DL INT DVD Writer OEM
• Lian Li Armorsuit PC-P60 Black Aluminum EATX Case
• OCZ Vendetta 2 Triple Heatpipe CPU Heatsink AM2 LGA775 S939 S940 S754 120MM Fan 800-1500RPM 20-32DBA

• Noctua NF-P12-1300 120MM Ultra Quiet Cooling Fan Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound Paste

• Samsung T220 22IN Widescreen LCD Monitor 1680X1050 2MS 20000:1 VGA DVI-D HDCP

With windows vista home premium 64 bit, heavy duty box, installation and testing, all the shipping insurance possible, and a little bit of price match (the samsung t220 is only 299$ at bestbuy/futureshop), it cost me 2012 $ at NCIX.

With the money saved on the shipping and DDR3, I decided to get a little bit of luxury with the T220 and the Lian-li PC-P60. I would have gone with the P80 but could not find it at ncix.

Of course, it is not an ultra-mega kickass system with dual 4870X2s but I just don't think it is worth it to spend so much on a system for playing games at 1680X1050. I can always upgrade my video card next year if new better technology comes along.

Thanks all for your advice again!

[Kayen]

Congrats on the purchase, looks like a very solid build.

Though it's not an ultra-mega kickass system, it's a mega kickass system compared to what i just put together :P.

[Dashock]

Gnobulix wise decision and im glad i could save yea a pretty penny i just got my ascent redline kit it came with the black cooler instead of red i guess they ran outta red ones lol

[Dwayne]

Originally Posted by Gnobulix

Finally, considering the case, I've picked the Antec 900 because it seemed a nice gaming case. I thought that with a 200 mm fan, it would be silent (bigger fans don,t need to turn at such high speeds). Maybe I should go for the Antec P182 as I've read that the 900 had problems with cable management. I curently use a P180 and I like it a lot except for its weight and size. Any other suggestions?

I have an Antec 900 and it is not too bad with the 2 holes. But for better management it really needs another larger hole where the cables come out of the PSU. You can do it yourself, it should not be too hard. I didn't make the hole and I still have a fairly clean cable installation.

The Antec 1200 is a monster, you may consider that if you really like the gaming cases. I don't think you can go far wrong with the P180 series either though.

Dwayne