FIrst Build Specs

[Wraith83]

I plan on building this within the next few months,this is my first build and I could use any suggestions.The only thing set in stone is the PSU because I already have it.
I plan to run Vista Ultimate and use it for moderate gaming,it's not a work PC at all. I do play videogames alot, but I'm primarily a console gamer(xbox 360),so I'm looking into getting a few games that aren't available on the 360 or are being released earlier for the PC.I may do a little oc'ing on the graphics card and cpu,but nothing major.
Thanks!

Case: NZXT Hush
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146035.
PSU: OCZ Game X-Stream 600w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128048
CPU: Conroe Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030
Memory: 2GB Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X2048-6400C4 DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034&Tpk=TWIN2X2048-6400C4
FDD: Sony 1.44 MB Internal Floppy Disk Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103116
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320 GB SATA 300 16 MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140
Optical Drive: Samsung DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

[Xero (1)ne]

What are you planning on using this rig for? I would personally get a better video card but I do know that for ram you can get a discount for Munshkin ram thanks to Bjorn3D!

[Miker]

Get a 7950 Graphic Card, with 512 Mem. It will be cheaper then a 8600 and better, unless you NEED DX10. And spend the money you save on a better CPU.

I have a 7950GT AGP card and a 2.8g P4 and can play any DX9 game so far at 1280x1024 maxed everything. BioShock, Portal, HL2...

For ram I would go for some Corsair XMS Ram. 1G*2 Matched set.

STAY AWAY FROM ABIT! I have a Abit AI7 and hate it. The PCI Slots are not lined up, you can't overclock at all (They give you a Windows program to overclock, and half the stuff in bios is locked). And there support is horible!

Get a Samsung DVD Burner, cheaper then a Lights-On and higher quality.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

[Wraith83]

What are you planning on using this rig for? I would personally get a better video card but I do know that for ram you can get a discount for Munshkin ram thanks to Bjorn3D!

I plan to use it for moderate gaming.I use my Xbox 360 for the most part,so it doesn't have to run the latest games on max settings,but I want them to look good. I was considering mushkin,but I can't find a compatible memory list for the mobo,and on most reviews I've read people have used Corsair to test the motherboard.

Get a 7950 Graphic Card, with 512 Mem. It will be cheaper then a 8600 and better, unless you NEED DX10. And spend the money you save on a better CPU.

I have a 7950GT AGP card and a 2.8g P4 and can play any DX9 game so far at 1280x1024 maxed everything. BioShock, Portal, HL2...

For ram I would go for some Corsair XMS Ram. 1G*2 Matched set.

STAY AWAY FROM ABIT! I have a Abit AI7 and hate it. The PCI Slots are not lined up, you can't overclock at all (They give you a Windows program to overclock, and half the stuff in bios is locked). And there support is horible!

Get a Samsung DVD Burner, cheaper then a Lights-On and higher quality.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

Well I'd like to be able to play the newest games,won't they require DX10 in the future? I don't want to have to upgrade too soon.

All the reviews I've read about the IP35 say it's a great board,another one I was considering is the MSI P35 Platinum.

[tyle6]

If you do plan on doing some gaming on this in the future then DX10 is a good idea. I noticed you were looking at the 2600 not the Nvidia 8600. I cant say much on this card, I haven't really read anything on it. but it will support the DX10. If you can afford it the E6750 is a nice proccesor. I used it my last build for a friend and the higher multi is nice for the OCing. I like the hard drive. cant go wrong with a seagate! as for the optical im in love with my new ASUS sata DVD-ram Drive. but hey, an optical is an optical in my eyes. But this ASUS is god-damned quit my man. The memory loooks good but i have got to praise mushkin! Personaly i am not a big fan of Abit but i have not heard of or had a bad expiernce myself.
That NZXT hush looks alright. not to pricey either.
I think this case might offer some better cooling at a low price aswell though
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=antec%2b900

ALL in ALL looks like a pretty nice build my friend!

[Frag Maniac]

I plan to run Vista Ultimate and use it for moderate gaming..Asking such things is a bit like a double edged sword. On the one hand you may get into gaming more than just moderately and do well to step up the video card. On the other hand by giving such advice we could steer you into something you'll regret due to how you end up spending your money and/or time.

The OS you're choosing may be an indication you are more work than entertainment oriented with your PC. We can only guess if you don't tell us though, which makes it harder to recommend something. If you are an experienced gamer, have time for it, and have played a broad range of genres in the titles you've bought, you're probably best off going for something more capable in a VGA.

I think you'll find as well most gamers will steer you toward Nvidia cards, particularly XFX, rather than ATI. I would suggest the 8800GTS 320 MB (640 MB if you play at high res), but not until Nvidia's new cards come out. By then they will be very affordable. Even at current pricing it's only about $90 more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150171 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150171)

[Miker]

I plan to use it for moderate gaming.I use my Xbox 360 for the most part,so it doesn't have to run the latest games on max settings,but I want them to look good. I was considering mushkin,but I can't find a compatible memory list for the mobo,and on most reviews I've read people have used Corsair to test the motherboard.


Well I'd like to be able to play the newest games,won't they require DX10 in the future? I don't want to have to upgrade too soon.

All the reviews I've read about the IP35 say it's a great board,another one I was considering is the MSI P35 Platinum.

Most games that are DX10 still work in DX9, you can play any game but Halo2: Vista on DX9. I personally would not buy a DX10.0 card for a year or two; wait till they get to DX10.2-10.3. With at 7950GT Card you will be able to play ANY DX9 game that is out now everything maxed at 1280x1024; and forever if you turn down AA down.

P4 2.8ghz Hyper, 1g Ram 7950GT AGP.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o81/mikerider123/css2.png
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o81/mikerider123/css.png

I really would not get a ABIT MoBo. They take about 4-8 weeks to respond to any problem, and the board itself is bad quality. One of my PCI Slots was not fully inserted into the MoBo so it is sideways and you can't even use it. They offered to repair it (6-8weeks) but would not RMA it so I decided to keep it; they would just mess it up more.

And Corsair is #1 is ram.

[Wraith83]

Asking such things is a bit like a double edged sword. On the one hand you may get into gaming more than just moderately and do well to step up the video card. On the other hand by giving such advice we could steer you into something you'll regret due to how you end up spending your money and/or time.

The OS you're choosing may be an indication you are more work than entertainment oriented with your PC. We can only guess if you don't tell us though, which makes it harder to recommend something. If you are an experienced gamer, have time for it, and have played a broad range of genres in the titles you've bought, you're probably best off going for something more capable in a VGA.

I think you'll find as well most gamers will steer you toward Nvidia cards, particularly XFX, rather than ATI. I would suggest the 8800GTS 320 MB (640 MB if you play at high res), but not until Nvidia's new cards come out. By then they will be very affordable. Even at current pricing it's only about $90 more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150171 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150171)

It's not a work PC . I do play videogames alot, but I'm primarily a console gamer(xbox 360),so I'm lookingto get some games that aren't available on the 360 or are being released earlier for the PC, etc.
Thanks!

[Wraith83]

Thanks for all the help everyone,I've updated the build in my first post. What do you think of the DS3R for the motherboard?
As far as the videocards,like I said I won't be building this for a couple of months,so I'll just wait until then,and see what my options are.

[Miker]

All looks good but I would really get the cheaper Samsung DVD Burner. High quality, same specs.

[Wraith83]

Woops, forgot about that.
Thanks for telling me.

[Miker]

I would stick with a DX9 card and XP Home for like 4-6 more months, till they make vista work better and get a more finished release of DX10.

MoBo - No problem with it but make sure it isn't one of the bad ones... with EM Fields of whatever they had wrong.