Final Computer Parts List: Opinions Wanted

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

I'm thinking about getting this case: it comes with 450w PSU, which is recommended by the graphics card I've chosen (thanks Jmac for the recommendations, I just can't afford to get the 7600 cards, I looked at a bunch). Now, will giving exactly 450w be sufficient? Or do I NEED to go higher?
Antec Sonata II

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155

I'm also looking at this firewire/usb add-on. Is there a way I can use this to take advantage of the front usb/1394 ports on the front of the Antec case?

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16815106004

you dont need a extra card to use existing ports. you plug them into the motherboard and they work.

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

Thanks for providing the link. I'm not sure of all the "xtreme" and everything else. The cards I've chosen up to this point have just been ones that were ranked well and were somewhat cheap for 256mb cards. I'm taking your advice and going with the one you linked to. Could you please explain my benefits if I use a 256mb card over 128mb. I know one has more memory, but will that truly effect my use, since I'm not gaming?

Here are 2 different builds. I was really hoping to stay under $800 total. I'm truely thinking that I could get away with a 128mb video card, but I'm not certain. I wouldn't mind upgrading some parts later on when I get extra money, but at the same time, I'd rather get everything I need now.

Let me know what you guys think. You'll have to unzip it to get the excel file. Note there are 2 sheets in the file, labeled Build #1 or Build #2.

Computer Build.zip

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

jmac what vid card should i go for in the 150 price range? the 6600 gt?

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

look for a 7600 you can prob find one on pricewatch for that price

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

look for a 7600 you can prob find one on pricewatch for that price

r u talking about the 7600 GT or just the 7600? it outperforms the 6600GT?

 

[noob with an RS 10+ year member]

Well, if you're doing video editing, the amount of memory shouldn't make a huge difference. Most of the work is going to be done by your CPU although some will be done by the GPU, so having a fast GPU will help. If you get into 3D Modelling, the upgraded memory will definitely help, especially when you get into really complex models. For gaming, I'd venture to say that 256 MB is overkill, but practically all new cards are 256 MB anyways, unless you get something really cheap (and not worth buying).
For a 128 MB card, you'd be looking at a 6600GT, which right now is going for $100, about the same price as the considerably faster 7600GS. So you're not really saving any money by going with a 128 MB card, unless you go with a much slower card (i.e. regular 6600 or 6200), which I wouldn't advise.

so don't buy the 6600GT anymore, just buy the 7600 series right? how much faster is the 7600GT over the 7600GS?

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

both are faster then they 6600 series and in all honesty if you are asking "how much faster the GT and GS difference is the chances are youd never see a difference.

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

Never see a difference ? The 7600GT is clocked ~50% higher in both core and memory compared to the 7600GS ... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif
Of course, you're also paying ~50% more, too //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif ($110 vs $160)

As i said someone whos asking that question most likely isnt going to see the difference because they are most likely never going to use either card to thier limit.

I run the 7900 512 2 of them in SLI, but to a notice end user like this person seems i would say that the difference in the speed of the 2 we both commented on they would not see.

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

now that you bring it up...has he even said what he wants out of it?

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

For those of you who can't/won't download attachment, here is the list (although the excel file is ten times easier to read)

Build #1

ITEM BRAND MODEL

CASE Antec II w/450w PSU SONATA II

PSU Included w/Case

MoBO Gigabyte GA-945P (775) GA-945P-S3

4x 240pin DDR2 667/533/400

No video

Line in/out/mic

4 USB

24 pin

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1066MHz FSB LGA 775 BX80557E6300

HDD WD 250gb 7200 SATA WD2500KS

RAM Kingston 1gb 240pin DDR2 SDRAM 667 (5300) KVR667D2N5/1G

OPTICAL 01 Lite-On 16X DVD+/-R Burner SHW-160P6S-04

SOUND CARD On-board

VIDEO CARD XFX GeForce 6800 Xtreme 256 MB PVT42EUDE3

SOUND CARD On-board

USB/FIREWIRE Zonet Combo Card ZUC2400

PCI SOUND CHANNEL Inland 5.1 PCI 58019

Total after MIR's: $709.99

Build #2

ITEM BRAND MODEL

CASE Antec II w/450w PSU SONATA II

PSU Included w/Case

MoBO Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T GA-965P-DS3

4x 240pin DDR2 800/667/533 memory

No video

6 audio ports

4 USB

24 pin

CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1066MHz FSB LGA 775 BX80557E6300

CPU & MoBO COMBO -$25

HDD WD 250gb 7200 SATA WD2500KS

RAM Corsair 1gb 240-pin DDR2 667 VS1GB667D2

OPTICAL 01 Lite-On 16X DVD+/-R Burner SHW-160P6S-04

OPTICAL 02 Lite-On 16X DVD+/-R Burner SHW-160P6S-04

SOUND CAR On-board

VIDEO CARD Gigabyte Geforce 7600GS 256mb GDDR2 GV-NX76G256D-RH

SOUND CARD On-board

CARD READER ???

USB/FIREWIRE Zonet Combo Card ZUC2400

PCI SOUND CHANNEL On-board

Total after MIR's: $764.99

Whew. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

you need 2 dvd burners?

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

now that you bring it up...has he even said what he wants out of it?

I said in another post about replacing just the parts that were burnt up, when I thought I could do that. I'll restate again, though.

I plan on not playing games. I am a heavy multi-tasker. Burn dvds, rip dvds, video editing, photo editing, office products, light cad work (heavier later), avid downloader, that about does it. Thing is, I do all of the before-mentioned at the same time sometimes. ADHD > me. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

you need 2 dvd burners?

Don't need, but the price difference for a dvd-rom & burner is about $15. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

That may be taken off though. Like I said earlier, if I can somehow re-use my original HDD & optical drives, I'm sending the new ones back.

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

For the card reader, do I need to get a PCMCIA or USB interface card reader?

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

yea not playing games dont waste the money on GT vid card. maybe spend that extra money towards ram/processor for your multitasking. 2gb ram ftw i run Gskill and Crucial Ballistix