EggXpert

My last computer recently died and I need a new computer for school(I do a lot of processor intensive tasks: ai, ea, numerically intensive computing) and work.  I generally run linux, but would like to dual-boot windows for a few games(bioshock, half-life2, etc) and want it to be able to handle some games like spore when they are released.

 
So here is my publicly shared wish list: http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=6028872

I'm not sure what to look for in ram besides a brand name that I've heard of.  Same goes for the power supply(I used to cheap out and get the free ones in the junky cases). 

Any suggestions, or comments on if any parts don't work together would be greatly appreciated.  It has been a few years since I've built a computer.

Also if you have any suggestions on ways to trim the price down I'm all ears.

 

Are you going Vista? If not, consider the 7950GT, and I guess the X1950XT is out because you need nvidia for Linux right?

Hi,

Like Sidicas said, if your going to be running Linux, then Nvidia is the way to go... which you have picked... But, the motherboard you picked is really a Crossfire board. The P35 chipset can run a single Nvidia card, but cannot run two, and the motherboard you picked out has two PCI-E x16 slots for a Crossfire set-up.

You asked if you can trim the price some.... Then I would suggest that if you still want a P35 chipset motherboard, then just go with a board that only has a single PCI-E slot, since you'll be useing Nvidia, and you can save about $50. Maybe Something along these lines....

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $129.99

Or if you want the Option to run two Nvidia cards in SLI in the future, then I would suggest looking into a 680i chipset motherboard.It is the best SLI option out right now becuase it will run both cards at the full 16X each. Maybe something like this...

EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $159.99 ($149.99 after rebate)

As for the ram you chose, its fine.. after the rebate its a nice price. But, if your looking to trim wherever you can, then you can also look into one of these sets.. they have nice timings, a large voltage spread, and cheaper price before and after the rebate.

GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail  $84.99 ($54.99 after rebate)

GeIL Esoteria Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $92.99 ($57.99 after rebate)

The last thing I wanted to talk to you about is your power supply...Rosewill's are not that good, and I would like to see you buy one that you can sleep easy knowing you have a good, stable power supply running your new PC. Unfortunitly in this area you have to spend more instead of triming down. With power supplies, you truely get what you pay for.. and this is one area you dont want to cheap out on.

If you decide to buy a single slot PCI-E motherboard and are only going to run one 8800GTS, then I would suggest this OCZ unit.. the 600w StealthXStream has more then enough power to handle your system up top, and this comes at not that bad of a price.

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL, FCC - Retail $89.99 ($77.99 after rebate)

Or, if you buy a dual PCI-E slot 680i motherboard so you can run a dual card 8800GTS SLI set-up in the future, then you can go with the OCZ GameXStream 700w unit. This unit is Nvidia Certified to be able to run two 8800GTS's in a fully loaded system.

OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V - Retail $139.99 ($109.99 after rebate)

There are some suggestions, I hope they help you out!

Wasper

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If you want to trime costs... get a cheaper mobo. The ABit Pro P35 mobo is my favorite. I agree that it is a waist that it has two video slots, but I don't think many people consider using two video cards with this mobo, and the fact that you choose a 8800 GTS, confirms that fact.

I am also not crazy about your PSU...

But here is one way to trim a few bucks... http://www.directron.com/ninjaplusrevb.html

Check out this memory... http://shop4.outpost.com/product/5283407

Here is a EVGA video card.. I think it overclocks better ... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130038

You can shave a few bucks and get a differnt case.... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137&Tpk=Cooler%2bMaster%2bRC-690 and get a better PSU, Clubit has the Corsair 620 for only $110. So, this will not save you money, but I would definately go cheaper on a case and get a better PSU.

Mwave has the ABit P35 on sale for $100.00 after MIR, it is not as good as yours, but it is still pretty good and still has RAID.

Lastly, if you are willing to pay $309 for a video card, then maybe you will pay alittle more for a 640 meg 8800 GTS... http://www.buy.com/prod/evga-geforce-8800gts-640mb-pci-express-x16-video-card/q/loc/101/203444496.html and here is a link to get off $15 off $200... http://www.buy.com/retail/coupon.asp?prid=88301879&adid=17662rel=nofollow . I know I probably didn't save you much... sorry. And here it is practacally the same price at the egg... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130071

Thanks for the suggestions so far.  The price has trimmed a bit.

Here is what I have now:http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=6049272

 Any further suggestions?

Yeah, ditch the Zalman HSF. The Tuniq Tower 120 does a much better job of cooling the CPU than the Zalman CNPS 9700 and it's $10 cheaper:

Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $50

 Also, I wouldn't bother with an SLI capable mobo. It's simply not cost effective. You see, usually there'll be a single video card that can perform roughly the same or better than two cards in SLI and will be significantly cheaper. For example two 8800GTX for about $1000 in SLI is equal in performance to an 8800 Ultra for $600 roughly.

Now you're probably thinking "I'll just buy one GTS/GTX now and another later. That'll give me a serious performance boost." That's a waste of money. At most you'll see a 20 to 30% increase when you buy that second GTS/GTX. Most likely by the time you buy that second GTS/GTX, it'll either be A) no longer be available for sale by most retail outlets, B) be outperformed by a newer card for the same or cheaper price, or C) all of the above.

Also, SLI is a good option if there is no single card available that offers the performance a person wants. Right now there is no single card that can beat two 8800 Ultra in SLI. However that may change when Nvidia's new G92 cards come out.

So I recommend getting the DS3R that Wasper recommended earlier

dangman4ever:

Yeah, ditch the Zalman HSF. The Tuniq Tower 120 does a much better job of cooling the CPU than the Zalman CNPS 9700 and it's $10 cheaper:

Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $50

 Also, I wouldn't bother with an SLI capable mobo. It's simply not cost effective. You see, usually there'll be a single video card that can perform roughly the same or better than two cards in SLI and will be significantly cheaper. For example two 8800GTX for about $1000 in SLI is equal in performance to an 8800 Ultra for $600 roughly.

Now you're probably thinking "I'll just buy one GTS/GTX now and another later. That'll give me a serious performance boost." That's a waste of money. At most you'll see a 20 to 30% increase when you buy that second GTS/GTX. Most likely by the time you buy that second GTS/GTX, it'll either be A) no longer be available for sale by most retail outlets, B) be outperformed by a newer card for the same or cheaper price, or C) all of the above.

Also, SLI is a good option if there is no single card available that offers the performance a person wants. Right now there is no single card that can beat two 8800 Ultra in SLI. However that may change when Nvidia's new G92 cards come out.

So I recommend getting the DS3R that Wasper recommended earlier

WOW, I am in complete an total agreement!!! I would get a phat heatsink that uses a 120mm fan (just ensures extra quiet and extra big).

And I am against SLI and Xfire for exactly those reasons.... My take on this is, one GTX beat two GTS, and one Ultra beats two GTX. So, if you really need SLI, you shuld be spending like $1,600.00 just for the cards alone!!! And then my question is, what type of monitor do you have, this is a complete waist of money even when considering a 30" LCD Screan. But this is not my complete arguement..... It seems that many P35 mobos overclock higher then a 680i mobo can, so if you have a single GPU, the P35 mobo has more potential to become a faster computer. My favorite P35 mobo is the ABit Pro P35, it is considered one of the better overclockers. But even the lowest level ABit P35 - E board which sells for $88 after MIR, has no extras (no raid or esata), but can still overclock pretty good.