For the more serious enthusiasts out there I would like a confirmation of what I have dug up.
*Old Computer, Skip if you don't care*
My old rig is dying, constant bluescreens, audio problems, stop errors, the works. Pretty sure overclocking this rig for 4 years has taken its toll. It has been running literally 24 7 for the past 4 years, and overclocked for 3 of those four years. Upgrading it is basically a waste of money, DDR I motherboard, 2 Sata I only, P4 socket yada yada, so pass on that.
*End skip*
Key points for me: cost, overclockable, performance/cost ratio basically, and finally upgradeable over the next 4 years just like my last rig.
I'm using Atic.ca, the cheapest I've found in Canada in the last 4 years. I even built the same system at TigerDirect.ca, NCIX.com, and memoryexpress and all were 100-300 dollars more expensive and they are online retailers whereas atic is not. I have spent 2 12 hour days researching every fucking thing and am a little bit burned out but here is what I've got:
Intel E6600 Core2Duo 2.4Ghz 4mb Cache blah blah [$268]
Pros: Fucking saweeeeet!!! Overclock! Price! Performance! Makes my comp look like a dead dog!
Cons: Could buy a 6300 and use the lower multiplier to overclock higher, but I am already worried about the northbridge temperature on the board below, and i want the 4mb cache to see what it can do.
ASUS P5N32-E SLI PLUS [$232.56 CA]
Pros: nvidia sli, overclocker, cost, has only features I need
Cons: significantly worried about the northbridge getting too hot
eVGA GeForce 8800GTS OC 320MB [$380.46 CA]
Pros: Cost/Peformance, buy another for SLI when crysis is out, really the better solution over ATI crossfire/cost/performance
Cons: Length, only 320mb but the 640mb is $100 more that I simply cannot afford, not sure wtf the superclocked thing is about I will overclock my cards whether they send them OC'ed or not...but ATIC has these OC'ed ones available and the normal ones are special order
Antec TruePower Trio 650W Sli etc. [$120.36 CA]
Pros: Cable length for the P180 case, quality, high effeciency (no 120/240V select), available
Cons: It's 120 bucks. I like $100+ power supplies though so it's not really a con. The cheap ones just burn out.
Crucial Ballistix 1GBx2 4-4-4-12 DDR2-800 [$186.66]
Pros: retardedly cheap, high quality, solid overclocker, verified with the mobo and SLI
Cons: could bump up to a higher level ram but the price is just not worth it
Antec P180 Case [$153.00]
Pros: Love the look, quality, sturdiness (I move my computer every 2 weeks up and down island)
Cons: Pricey, but so is every other decent case. Worried about cluttered cords and heat issues as I already know the Northbridge on the ASUS board is way hot, and I want to keep it cool. I looked at the Antec 900 and was tempted but I read so much about the quality issues and DOA fans that I decided against it. For 30 dollars more, I like the look of this P180 better. Worried about the flimsy front panel on the P180 thou.
Segate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA II 16mb Cache NCQ (whatever the fuck that is) x2 [$86 x2]
Pros: Raid here I come (never had raid before!), fucking cheap, still good quality and easy to RMA
Cons: I don't see a con for the storage/performance/price you get I am literally crapping my pants
SB Audigy something or other [$32]
Pros: I can't live with onboard sound and its cheap.
Cons: I can't afford a $100 X-fi. It's better then nothing basically.
CPU HSF: CoolerMaster HYPER 6+ [$68]
Pros: Solid overclocker, little bit more compact then the Zalman.
Cons: Expensive, Atic doesn't stock tuniq towers which are cheaper and better. Looked at the Zalman 9500AT but decided this CM looked more compact and might not fuck up the P180 case as bad. Worried that the CM may not draw air near the northbridge either thou and the giant zalman would.
Sony SATA 18xDVD/RW bullshit [$50]
Pros: it's not LG or Liteon which I hate which never work properly
Cons: for $50 I don't think I can go wrong or find cheaper for the reliability
Logitech G3 [$63]
Pros: I'm already way over budget and its the cheapest gaming mouse I can find. I'm using a microsoft optical POS right now.
Cons: Its not a razer or a g5 or a this or a that. I can't afford those.
Some random shit like a usb adapter for my camera etc [$chumpchange]
Total Price from Atic: $2036 ($245 TAX INCLUDED - GO GST AND PST).
NCIX: $2154
TigerDirect $2270
MemExpress $Didn't finish it was already way overpriced. They used to be so good too.
Need help: Keeping price even lower? I was originally targetting like 1700. I was going to go with the Asus p5w dh deluxe or whatever and get a cheaper ati card to keep the price down, but then I realized it just wasn't worth not paying 50 bucks more and getting the nvidia for way more performance. Maybe if I dropped the sli option and got a cheaper mobo, but then again thats not really worth it either.
Anyways any advice would be nice, I can't spend anymore, I'd like to spend less but the performance/price is just so nice I don't know what to hack up. I could drop the harddrives and shit, but passing on RAID seems dumb.
*Old Computer, Skip if you don't care*
My old rig is dying, constant bluescreens, audio problems, stop errors, the works. Pretty sure overclocking this rig for 4 years has taken its toll. It has been running literally 24 7 for the past 4 years, and overclocked for 3 of those four years. Upgrading it is basically a waste of money, DDR I motherboard, 2 Sata I only, P4 socket yada yada, so pass on that.
*End skip*
Key points for me: cost, overclockable, performance/cost ratio basically, and finally upgradeable over the next 4 years just like my last rig.
I'm using Atic.ca, the cheapest I've found in Canada in the last 4 years. I even built the same system at TigerDirect.ca, NCIX.com, and memoryexpress and all were 100-300 dollars more expensive and they are online retailers whereas atic is not. I have spent 2 12 hour days researching every fucking thing and am a little bit burned out but here is what I've got:
Intel E6600 Core2Duo 2.4Ghz 4mb Cache blah blah [$268]
Pros: Fucking saweeeeet!!! Overclock! Price! Performance! Makes my comp look like a dead dog!
Cons: Could buy a 6300 and use the lower multiplier to overclock higher, but I am already worried about the northbridge temperature on the board below, and i want the 4mb cache to see what it can do.
ASUS P5N32-E SLI PLUS [$232.56 CA]
Pros: nvidia sli, overclocker, cost, has only features I need
Cons: significantly worried about the northbridge getting too hot
eVGA GeForce 8800GTS OC 320MB [$380.46 CA]
Pros: Cost/Peformance, buy another for SLI when crysis is out, really the better solution over ATI crossfire/cost/performance
Cons: Length, only 320mb but the 640mb is $100 more that I simply cannot afford, not sure wtf the superclocked thing is about I will overclock my cards whether they send them OC'ed or not...but ATIC has these OC'ed ones available and the normal ones are special order
Antec TruePower Trio 650W Sli etc. [$120.36 CA]
Pros: Cable length for the P180 case, quality, high effeciency (no 120/240V select), available
Cons: It's 120 bucks. I like $100+ power supplies though so it's not really a con. The cheap ones just burn out.
Crucial Ballistix 1GBx2 4-4-4-12 DDR2-800 [$186.66]
Pros: retardedly cheap, high quality, solid overclocker, verified with the mobo and SLI
Cons: could bump up to a higher level ram but the price is just not worth it
Antec P180 Case [$153.00]
Pros: Love the look, quality, sturdiness (I move my computer every 2 weeks up and down island)
Cons: Pricey, but so is every other decent case. Worried about cluttered cords and heat issues as I already know the Northbridge on the ASUS board is way hot, and I want to keep it cool. I looked at the Antec 900 and was tempted but I read so much about the quality issues and DOA fans that I decided against it. For 30 dollars more, I like the look of this P180 better. Worried about the flimsy front panel on the P180 thou.
Segate Barracuda 250GB 7200RPM SATA II 16mb Cache NCQ (whatever the fuck that is) x2 [$86 x2]
Pros: Raid here I come (never had raid before!), fucking cheap, still good quality and easy to RMA
Cons: I don't see a con for the storage/performance/price you get I am literally crapping my pants
SB Audigy something or other [$32]
Pros: I can't live with onboard sound and its cheap.
Cons: I can't afford a $100 X-fi. It's better then nothing basically.
CPU HSF: CoolerMaster HYPER 6+ [$68]
Pros: Solid overclocker, little bit more compact then the Zalman.
Cons: Expensive, Atic doesn't stock tuniq towers which are cheaper and better. Looked at the Zalman 9500AT but decided this CM looked more compact and might not fuck up the P180 case as bad. Worried that the CM may not draw air near the northbridge either thou and the giant zalman would.
Sony SATA 18xDVD/RW bullshit [$50]
Pros: it's not LG or Liteon which I hate which never work properly
Cons: for $50 I don't think I can go wrong or find cheaper for the reliability
Logitech G3 [$63]
Pros: I'm already way over budget and its the cheapest gaming mouse I can find. I'm using a microsoft optical POS right now.
Cons: Its not a razer or a g5 or a this or a that. I can't afford those.
Some random shit like a usb adapter for my camera etc [$chumpchange]
Total Price from Atic: $2036 ($245 TAX INCLUDED - GO GST AND PST).
NCIX: $2154
TigerDirect $2270
MemExpress $Didn't finish it was already way overpriced. They used to be so good too.
Need help: Keeping price even lower? I was originally targetting like 1700. I was going to go with the Asus p5w dh deluxe or whatever and get a cheaper ati card to keep the price down, but then I realized it just wasn't worth not paying 50 bucks more and getting the nvidia for way more performance. Maybe if I dropped the sli option and got a cheaper mobo, but then again thats not really worth it either.
Anyways any advice would be nice, I can't spend anymore, I'd like to spend less but the performance/price is just so nice I don't know what to hack up. I could drop the harddrives and shit, but passing on RAID seems dumb.