New PC in the works. Thoughts, sudgestions?

So yeah. For xmas Im getting a new PC. Here's what I have planned already.
Take a look at it and tell me if its good or not for the price. And what I should change.

Looking for a decent gaming PC that'll last a year or two with minimal upgrades.

How ya doing, buddy?

I like most of what you picked out there.. The things I have issue with are the RAM, motherboard, and video card.

I'm not a fan of Kingston RAM by any means. We sell the stuff at the shop where I work and I've never seen so many sticks go bad. All different types and speeds. I would seriously look into getting some Corsair, even if it's another $20.

The motherboard is a little outdated and expensive. The 975X chipset is last years stuff, while newer chipsets have just arrived and for cheaper. I personally hate Asus boards, since I've found them to be unstable... A popular, well featured board is the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (rev. 2.0). The P35 chipset has native support for newer chips and faster RAM than the old 975X. Also, the GA-P35-DS3L has all solid capacitors while the Asus doesn't, thus greatly extending the life of the board. Best thing to mention is it's $100 cheaper.

And with that extra $100 you could upgrade to 2x 500GB hard drives or 4GB of RAM, too!

The video card model itself is an excellent choice.. I just hate Asus cards. I'd rather have you purchase a better brand like eVGA or XFX.

Just my 2¢

There's nowhere I can't reach.

A few things to watch for

1. CPU - Seems rather expensive. I would personally either pay the bit of extra money for the Q6600 (just had it on sale for $249cdn in a few places), or go with something in the 4000 series. But this is mostly personal preference.

2. Motherboard - As render stated, unless you are gonna crossfire (which with a 8800GT, you obviously are not), go with a P35. The GA-P35-DS3L like Render said is solid, and you can always go with the DS3R if you need more options, save yourself a $100.

3. Power Supply - I'd think about getting a better powersupply.. Aim for something over 520watts+, especially with that 8800GT and 2xHDD's and 2xDVD Roms etc.. Make sure it is a good quality one with enough +12v amps.

4. Why IDE Dvd drives? Just get the SATA drives for like $3 more.

5. RAM - Like Render said, get something better for that price. Kingston is value ram... which is good while RAM is high priced.. but right now all RAM is dirt cheap.

6. You could probably save a few bucks by building this yourself, know anyone who could do that for you?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I sorta am building it myself.. Sorta. I know a guy who knows the owners of that store so I can pretty much get a deal off everything. This is just the PC builder tool off their site.

PCInfo Computers

If you guys can go through it and make something similar and more cost efficient, please be my guest. I don't want to do wrong with this one.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

It depends how finicky you are and what you are willing to pay. Some people are willing to pay an extra $400, just to get no word of a lie, 160fps instead of 150fps, or 85fps instead of 82fps.

Do you do a lot of encoding or anything? Or just mostly games/web stuff?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Games, web stuff. I don't need top of the line, top of the line. Mainly, any decent card thats better then my crap Geforce quadro980 and I'll be happy. Something that can do pixel shader 2.1 or w/e. Games like hellgate, maybe not crysis but you get the picture. I'm okay with being a gen or two behind too.

Additional Spam:
Messing around with the options given to me, I've come to two more different types. Mostly just the CPU being switched.




What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

How much of a discount are you getting? Some of their stuff is rather outdated or overpriced (RAM and Motherboards especially)

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Garret

How much of a discount are you getting? Some of their stuff is rather outdated or overpriced (RAM and Motherboards especially)

I find the graphic card way overpriced. 299 for GT?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

If its outdated and over priced... grr.. Would it be better to just buy the things piece by piece at TigerDirect (Canada's version of NewEgg)

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Wait, this is all Canadian? Then go ncix. Much better prices. They just had the 8800GT on for $209, just as an example of the price difference.

Edit: There we go

There is a $20 MFR on the video card to bring it to $209
And a $25 MFR on the RAM.

You can also opt for the Q6600 for $264 if you want instead of the E6750, $90 more for a Quad core is worth a thought. That would take you up to about $900. so $900 + 6% GST (you don't pay PST if you don't live in BC), and shipping would bring it to about $1000. Closer to $900 if you get the E6750 dual core instead.

This all gives you a computer that is not only cheaper than your original price, but better as well (especially if you get the Q6600)

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I dont know why, but I guess im just really used to having two drives. One smaller one for the OS and programs, and another bigger one for all the music/games/ etc..etc..etc.. Made things much easier when it came time to format C and clean up windows.. didn't have to waste time backing everything up. I s'pose I can always partition the 500.. Is there a difference?

ps. im trying to work with this site, and Im picking the same things you did, and its giving me something more expensive... Do I just select the parts individually? Do I get an option later to get it built there, instead of do-it-yourself?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

If you're going for that kind of configuration, you might as well get a smaller OS/program drive (and if you're going to get a small drive, might as well get a 10k RPM) and a larger media drive (500GB).

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

My Prices are based on the special prices they have for this week. As soon as you enter NCIX.com - Canada's Premier Computer Store - Great Technology, Service and Selection., you will see a banner near the top for boxing week sales. They list all the items and their sale price there, they have different items every week.

If you want, by all means play with the hdd configuration, that completely up to you. I have a WD Raptor 74gb myself for my OS, then 2x 500GB for storage.

How ya doing, buddy?

One more question.. I got the same thing you got the screenshot of. Now, say I buy it like that. Does the thing come in pieces? Already built? What about heatsinks/fans/ all the other stuff. I just want to make sure Im getting everything I need, and not find out later that im missing something

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

It comes in pieces. Assembly is required. It's a retail CPU, so it should come with fans included.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Garret

Wait, this is all Canadian? Then go ncix. Much better prices.

DC and NCIX is owned by same person.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Kimchi

DC and NCIX is owned by same person.

I meant in comparison to typical Tiger Direct prices, which I always found to be 10-15% higher. However, Tiger Direct does have more products.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Tiger Direct has more products that are in stock and before DC or NCIX does.

TD sucks for price and shipping. Whopping 50+ dollars for shipping? 50 bucks my arse.

Yea, DC and NCIX, I found both really realiable. But DC = minimum customer support.

How ya doing, buddy?