Thinking about buying this.

What do you all think? All info/input welcomed since I have not placed the order yet. What should I change, if anything?

-=*The Case I will Be Using*=-

And now, the specs! *note: all the important specs are highighted

• CAS: Raidmax Sagitta II Mid-Tower 420W Gaming Case w/ Side-Panel Window (Black Color)
• CASUPGRADE: 12in COLD CATHODE NEON LIGHT (BLUE COLOR)
• CS_FAN: Extra Case Cooling Fan [+3] (3 x Fans)
  
• CPU: AMD Athlon™ X2 6000+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
• CD: (Special Price) LG 20X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER (BLACK COLOR)
• CD2: (Special Price) LG 20X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER (BLACK COLOR)
• CABLE: None
• FLASHMEDIA: None
  
• FAN: CoolerMaster Liquid CPU Cooling System (Superior Cooling Performance + Extreme Silent at 20dBA)
• FLOPPY: NONE
• FREEBIE_OS: None
  
• HDD: Extreme Performance (RAID-0) with 2 Identical Hard Drives (320GB (160GBx2) SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)
• HDD2: NONE
• IEEE_CARD: NONE
• KEYBOARD: Logitech Deluxe 104 PS/2 Keyboard (Black Color)
• MOUSE: NONE
• MODEM: NONE
  
• MOTHERBOARD: Asus M2N SLI NVIDIA nForce 560 SLI MCP Chipset DDR2/800 SATA RAID PCI-Express MBoard w/GbLAN,IEEE1394,USB2.0,&7.1Audio
  
• MEMORY: (Req.DDR2 MainBoard)4GB (4x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair or Major Brand)
• MONITOR: NONE
• MONITOR2: NONE
• NETWORK: ONBOARD 10/100 NETWORK CARD
  
• OS: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition w/ Service Pack 2
• PRO_WIRING: Professional Wiring for All WIRINGs Inside The System Chasis with High Performance Thermal Compound on CPU
• PRINTER: None
• PRINTER_CABLE: None
  
• POWERSUPPLY: 750 Watts Power Supplies (Apevia Warlock Series)
• SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS 24/7 LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
• SOUND: ESS 3D WAVETABLE SOUND PCI
• SPEAKERS: Logitech S120 2.0 Stereo Speaker Set (BLACK COLOR)
• TEMP: NONE (AS SHOWN)
• TVRC: None
• USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
• UPS: None
• USBHD: NONE
  
• VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB 16X PCI Express (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA)
• VIDEO2: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB 16X PCI Express (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA)
• VIDEOCAMERA: NONE
• WNC: PCI Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps Network Interface Card

-=*The Mother Board*=-

Welp, if any additional info is needed, just drop a post on this thread asking for it. I will be more than happy to supply it.

As for the keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, ect, I chose the cheepest options because I already have my own equiptment already waiting, and, I will need a spare of all the accessories for the computer I am on now for when I do get my new PC.

Altogether, the computer will cost me $1,301.00 USD (and then an additional $65 USD for the shipping). I am limiting myself to roughly $1,500 USD, so, I do not wish to exceed this number.

If it matters, I am buying this off of www.cyberpowerpc.com. So, again, suggestions/comments are welcome.


p.s.
----
also, i have 2 question (that may be considered as stupid >.<)

question 1) do i have to select "professional wiring" in order for them to wire my rig for me? basicly... will they still wire it for me even if I do [b]not[b] select the "proffessional wiring" option?

question 2) is "professional wiring" worth the money to purchace (assuming they still wire my PC even without selecting this option)? they charge $19 USD for this feature.

~LeNa~

whatever you do don't use.. ibuypower.com that is where i got my system... and had the mounting bracket for the fan break, which then the fan slammed into the video cards *broke them*, bounced back onto the motherboard *damaged that* and somehow messed up one of the hard drives.. but is ok.. they are gonna do me a FAVOR and replace them as long as they don't think they were damaged on the way back to them.. if they think that happened then my warranty on my entire pc is null and void...
/rant and sarcasim

Eh, It's alright for some of the modern games.. but I don't see why they put water-cooling on that particular chip, I have it, it's alright but doesn't need water-cooling (Unless you are going to over clock it, why the hell would you over clock that chip of all anyways?)

And I don't see the significance in putting 8600's in SLI, might as well just use a single 8800GT instead.

In all honesty, for that much money you could build a rig far superior than that, and I mean far but this also means that you would have to build the system by yourself. I'm just assuming that the water-cooling is tacking on a lot of extra money to that bill.

Professional wiring = better wire management (e.g keeping wires out of the way of airflow) which in turn looks nicer in the case but can also drop temperatures by letting air move about. I'd say it's worth it - unless you want to do it by yourself.

Just go with a different rig in my opinion, for that much money that rig just simply does not justify the price tag, you can get much of a better deal.

hmm... is a single 8800 just as strong as 2 8600GTS 512s??

for the cooling system, yea, i suppose i can stick to a regular fan, that should drop the price ~$60 USD.

for the wiring, alright, i see what you mean. makes sense. i will do it then. ^^

as for the price, well, i don't know how to build a CPU of my own, and, i am pretty much searching around atm for "select your own components" prebuilt PC's.

and, more important, for something to help me compare the "it's alright for some modern games" comment-- how much of a FPS would you get on GW with this system @ maxed graphics w/ all the nVidia control panel settings cranked up as well?

~LeNa~

The motherboard probably has a soundcard built in that works just fine. Save yourself 20 bucks or whatever, and drop the separate soundcard.


# CD: (Special Price) LG 20X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER (BLACK COLOR)
# CD2: (Special Price) LG 20X DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW DRIVE DUAL LAYER (BLACK COLOR)
< Why 2 drives? unless you intend to do some serious copying.


# KEYBOARD: Logitech Deluxe 104 PS/2 Keyboard (Black Color) <--i might be wrong here, but....ps2 is old. You can get a usb keyboard that can handle extra things like a display, or a built-in usb hub. Mobo may not even have a ps2....i didnt load the page with the description.

heh, good point. i'll remove one of the hard drive and also remove the add-on sound card.

as for the keyboard, i will not be using it. it will be packed with my old comp (this one) when the new one comes in. i already have the mouse, keyboard, screen, ect that i will be using. ^^



thank you so much everyone for the feedback thus far. it's really helping me out on saving money/making a more educated decision. please, keep it coming.


edit: removed second CD drive, removed additional sound card, and removed the water cooling system from pending order. overal price so far changed from $1,301.00 USD to $1,227 USD, saving me $74 USD.

~LeNa~

My computer had 2 gigs of RAM, AMD Athlon 64 6000+ @3.0ghz and one 8600GT, Guild Wars got 60 frames per second at max settings, 1280x1024 resolution.

I guess in short, yes one single 8800GT is probably better than the 8600's in SLI, the 8800GT already has double the stream processors of both of those cards combined, and if I am not mistaken the memory bandwidth on 8600's is limited to 128bit, 8800GT is 256 bit. It's just better in other words, having two 8800GT's in SLI is a bigger significance, but costs a lot more too.

However in Guild Wars even with older PC's you can still get 60 frames per second easily, some other games like Oblivion or Call of Duty 4 you will notice better performance in with a faster processor and better video card.

If you are going to buy a 3.0ghz dual core, I could advise you to go with the Intel E8400, it is far superior to any of AMD's offerings of similar speeds, but that takes a bit more of explanation as to why.

I'd say something like:

*Mobo: 750i - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188026

*Processor: E8400 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

*Graphics Card: 8800GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130319

*RAM: 2 gigs of Crucial 1066 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148070

*Hard Drive: WD Caviar 7,200RPM 500gig - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136073

*Case: Thermaltake Armor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133056

*Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower 650watt - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153034

And then all the other goodies, that is just kind of an ''Idea'' of a more decent system for the price, you can switch brands around and specifications as you wish.

hmm... that's all pretty interesting. after reading the video card part, i am wondering, what significance, if any, is there between an nVidia GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB 16X PCI Express and an nVidia GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB 16X PCI Express? on the site, there is only a $3 difference (with the 9800 being cheaper of the 2).

~LeNa~

I guess there isn't much difference. If it is, then it is small / and or insignificant.

Maybe in simple terms, the 9800GTX can be compared to an 8800GTS in terms of performance and price, because the 9800GTX is almost literally an 8800GTS but it has higher core clocks, and if you over clock the 8800GTS then it is up to par pretty much. Oh, and the 512mb 8800GTS uses the G92 core, instead of the old G80 core the other 8800's use. And I think the 9800GTX also uses the G92 core as well.. so pretty much the same thing.

EDIT: Yeah it does seem that the 9800GTX does in fact use the G92 core as well, so I guess you are paying more for higher stock core clocks, whoop-de-doo. The real highlight of the 9 series was the 9800GX2 anyway, and the new GTX 260 and GTX 280 cards are coming out this month, couple more weeks probably.

ah. i read something about one of the 9xxx series being vista only. would that happen to be the 9800 GTX? or the GX2?

i am going through newegg, and, i think i am going to buy the 9800GTX (only 1, for now) as if seems to be a wiser choice if going from a 7 series. so, the question of "is it a vista only video card" is what i need to know before i make a decision on this particular upgrade.


edit: would the notorious 12'' 9800GTX fit in a case with the dimensions of 19.5 x 8 x 17.5 (LxWxH)?

edit 2: if you had to choose, would you recommend an

~LeNa~

Not Vista only that I know of, god knows why it would be. It is a DirectX 10 video card, and only Vista can use Dx10.

However, that does not matter, the card does not have to run on Dx10 to function properly, it runs on 9.0 just fine. My 8800 works on Vista and XP without a hitch as well (It's a Dx10 card too).

But if you are planning to only upgrade your card, make sure that your current power supply can fully power the 9800GTX. 450watts minimum, would help if you had 500+ to give it some breathing room, and of course enough amps.. blah blah blah.

Mind you.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883227070 much better and nearly the same price as what you originally posted.

EDIT: Ahh wait.. that system in the link uses a Micro-ATX (Fail-ATX) imo. It's basically just a smaller motherboard than your standard one and has limited Buses and no option for SLI, etc, but it still works good none the less.

yea, i am going for a 750w power supply-- no worries there. as for the link you posted, yes, that PC has some pretty sexy specs. but, would it be possible for them to change the case to the one i listed towards the top? i am 'very' fond of that case i chose and it would be awesome if they could do that.

~LeNa~

Well, in response to your former post's edits; The 9800GTX will fit in pretty much all Mid/Full tower ATX cases, you shouldn't have to worry. Full ATX is nicer in the sense that it has better airflow and can lower temps, but I use a Mid-Tower because I liked this case in particular.

The Phenom, I think is just a quad core with a busted core, thus it's a triple core. Not sure on that exact model - but one of them was just that.

Since it appears that model is 2.1Ghz, I would probably just say go with the Dual Core Athlon 6000+ @ 3.0Ghz, probably a better shot.

Now as for the case, I don't think it's possible to have them change the case on a pre-built like that unless it is one where they specify that you have the ''choice'' of choosing a case, so you might have to find means which will allow you to arrange that with the company who is building your PC. I doubt newegg would do anything about that though, they just sell the stuff.

ah. i see. i was doing quite a bit of reading/searching through newegg, and, from the looks of it the 9800GTX is going to cost me about $340 (on cyberpowerpc.com), whereas on newegg i can get it for $299.99. O.0 having said that, i think i will just leave the video card out on my purchase and get it through the cheaper site (newegg).

also, i think i might choose a new case, despite me loving the sagitta 2. the new case i am looking at is 'very' generous in the space available (with the measurements shooting to 22.25 x 8.25 x 21.5). the case is an Apevia X-Jupiter Full Tower Gaming Server w/ Temp Display and Fan Control

~LeNa~

Up to you, just make sure you're happy with what you buy, read lots of reviews if you are doubtful, sometimes reviews have changed my thoughts on items (good and bad).

I have also ordered a lot from Newegg, they are reliable and usually fast.

Why that stunted sound card when the mobo has 7.1 built in?

ok the 560 mobo isn't very cutting edge. I think they are up to 780a now...

anyways give this a try.

http://www.stealthmachines.com/

get a 780a mobo or an intel mobo with dual core E8200

and 2 8600's in sli isn't really good, try a 8800 or a 9600 card.

Its not even close, 1 8800 will consistently beat 2 8600s, and then you will not need to deal with the quircks of SLI.