Please review my config for PC

[codehammer]

I have a P4 2.6GHz whose CPU has gone kaput. So I'm assembling a new box.

My usage scenarios are gaming, and browsing the net. While I used to be for only raw performance before, I have now come to appreciate quiet/silent components.

I would be using WinXP or maybe Vista most of the time, but I also intend to use this config with Linux and OpenSolaris. So if anyone knows of any of the below hardware being either compatible or non compatible with other OSes, that would be great info for me

I had hit SP road @ B'lore yesterday (1st Dec) to get prices. My budget is around 40k, but i can stretch a bit till 45k


CPU
Intel C2 Duo E6750 (2.66 GHz, 1333MHz FSB)- 7,500
Intel C2 Duo E6850 (3.0 GHz, 1333MHz FSB) - 10,600

I intend to go with E6750 as the E6850 offers only 12% more performance @ 40% increase in price


Motherboards (P35 Chipset)
MSI P35 Platinum - 8,650
MSI P35 Platinum Combo - 10,00
Asus P5KC - 9,000

I am inclined towards the plain MSI Platinum. Both MSI Combo & ASUS MB can use both, DDR2 & DDR3 RAM. But both motherboards are limited to using only 1 kind of RAM at a time. And both MB have only 2 DDR3 slots, while DDR2 are 4. So not that significant advantage.

I forgot about Gigabyte MB while asking around, so if someone can provide prices or rating for Gigabyte MB w/P35 chipset, that would be great info


VGA Card
XFX 8600GT 512MB - 6350
Zebronics 8600GT 512MB - 5350
Asus EN8600GT Silent 256MB - 8950

I like the Asus because it uses heatpipes and not fans, but its too expensive. The XFX card likely comes with a free game, but I dont think that an extra 1K is justified.

Additionally I dont think that either XFX or Zebronics are going to be particularly silent (I have a XFX 6600GT AGP card that has an irritatingly high pitched fan). The Zebronics card seems best to me as its cheaper.


RAM
Kingston 2x1GB DDR2-800 - 2700


DVD Writer
Samsung 20x SATA - 1250
ASUS 20x SATA - 1550

Asus claims on its site that the drive is quiet. If someone can back that up from actual usage, I'll go for the Asus, otherwise it'll be the Samsung. Samsung also seems to gathered rave reviews here
*www.cdrlabs.com/reviews/index.php?reviewid=306

I have a LiteON 16x IDE with me that is pretty noisy. I have seen reviews that say the 20x LiteOn is also noisy. So I'm ignoring LiteOn


SMPS
Antec Neopower Blue 650W - 6700
Corsair HX620 - 7500

Most reviews have rated the Corsair highly, but its a tad expensive. I plan to go with the Antec.

I'm not for CoolerMaster after reading the review here *techreport.com/articles.x/13271



Cabinet
Antec 900 - 7100
Cooler Master Centurion 532 - 3500

I'm truly torn between these two. The Antec is highly ventilated with 3x120mm Fans + 1 200mm Fan, has a transparent sidepanel, but is not toolless. The CoolerMaster is toolless, but it comes with only one 120mm Front fan, and has an opaque sidepanel.

I have 2 Seagate SATA HDD (400GB & 200GB) that require good cooling as they sometimes run hot enough to burn the skin. The Antec is expensive but I like it's cooling and will likely buy it.


UPS
APC 800VA - 5250
I've come to B'lore from Mumbai, and the power situation here amazes me. This is the supposed Silicon Valley of India, but we cannot get uinterrrupted power supply across 24hrs.

If anyone knows of any better UPS available in B'lore, please suggest.

 

[ravi_9793]

Wrong section dear........
Must be posted in Hardware troubleshooting.

Mine suggestion:
Intel C2 Duo E6750
XFX 8600GT 512MB

Rest are alright.

 

[dOm1naTOr]

For cabby , get Antec Super Lanboy. Around 5k nd has gr8 looks nd features.

I dun think u need such PSU's for ur system.
The Corsair HX620 can easily power 2*8800 in SLI along with 4HDD nd 2 optical drives.
Even CM 500W is more than enough for ur system. Why waste 6~7k for PSU.
Put than money into gcard nd get any of these cards:

ATI HD 3750,3850 for 11~12k
or Nvidia 8800GT 256 for 12~13k
or nvidia 8800GT 512 for 14~15k

But incase of linux, nvidia cards are better option for driver availability.

These cards has hell ore performance than 8600GT[which can't even handle todays games smoothly on medium @ 1440*900 like Crysis].

 

[Who]

well you should go with a 8800 GT if you want a high end gaming experince, but like to correct aravind_n20.

aravind_n20 @ that's totally incorrect it can handle crysis smooth enough on medium settings at that resoultion, not high settings though also 8600GT can play every game of today on high at 1440*900 except crysis, no offense just correcting.

 

[codehammer]

Thanks for the suggestions/replies guys

Power Supply
I am unable to find a good PSU that is cheap. Although Cooler Master's PSUs are cheap, their products (eXtreme Power Duo 600W and Real Power Pro 650W) have come up short during testing. As a result, I am now very wary of getting any PSUs from Cooler Master
*techreport.com/articles.x/13271/10
*www.sysopt.com/features/cases/article.php/12024_3622766_5

My power supply needs to power a plethora of drives
IDE : 1xSamsung 80GB HDD and 1xLiteOn 16 DVD Writer
SATA: 2xSeagate HDD (200 & 400) and 1xSamsung 20x DVD Writer

Over the lifetime of this machine, I anticipate to add 2 more drives, and a PCIe card requiring external power. Does 600W feel excessive?


Video
I know that 8800GT is much better but it would make my budget a bit awry. Besides DX10 games are pretty rare. The only exclusive DX10 title today is Halo 3. All other games today are either DX9 compatible or DX9 exclusive.

I think that 1.5 - 2 yrs down the line, I will upgrade my card. By that time, DX10 titles would be common, and I would get a better card for the same pricepoint.

The only major reason for me to do DX10 today is for Vista's eyecandy, and I suppose the 8600GT can fit the job.

Another factor holding me back is that I have a Samsung 17" CRT, which is capable of max 1280x1024 at an unusable refresh rate of 60Hz. I usually play my games at 1024x768 with all the eyecandy turned on (8xAF, 16xAA, Shadowing, etc), and I think 8600GT should be capable enough for this.

While browsing Gigabyte's site, I saw that their 8600GT cards have an offering with HeatPipes. Does anyone here know of their performance or prices?

 

[dOm1naTOr]

In dat case 8600GT is a gud choice.
The best out thereis Asus EN 8600GT for 7k. It has highest clocks in that price range nd no issues like heat[XFX] etc.
Its a very gud card.


Why dun try the resolution 1280*960 @ 72 Hz. Its almost as normal[fir eyes] as 85HZ. I think u have Sam 798MB monitor. It works gr8 at that res