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New PC Compatability

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
HI everyone,
So Im gonna try and build my own computer for the first time. I've selected all of the components but I just need a double check that Im not missing anything and that everything is compatible.

::EVGA 01G-P3-N959-TR GeForce 9500 GT Video Card - 1GB DDR2, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Support, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, VGA Support

::Creative Labs 70SB104000000 Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card - PCIe

::Microsoft Digital Media Keyboard 3000 - USB, Hot Keys, Media Center Controls(2.35 lbs)

::OCZ OCZ850GXSSLI GameXStream Power Supply - 850 Watt, ATX, 120mm Fan, SATA-Ready, SLI-Ready, Active PFC, Refurbished(5.75 lbs)

Corsair Core i7 Dominator 6GB PC12800 DDR3 RAM - Tri Channel, 1600MHz, 6144MB (3 x 2048MB), DHX(1.15 lbs)

Lite-On IHAS424-98 Internal DVD Writer - DVD+R 24X, DVD-R 24X, DVD+RW 8X, DVD-RW 6X, Lightscribe(2.1 lbs)

Western Digital WD5000AAKS Caviar Blue Hard Drive - 500GB, 7200rpm, 16MB, SATA-300, OEM(1.55 lbs)

EVGA X58 SLI Motherboard - LGA 1366, Intel X58, SATA, SLI Ready, CrossFireX Ready, Triple Channel DDR3 support, RAID, Hyperthreading support(4.45 lbs)

Intel Core i7 930 Processor BX80601930 - 2.80GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 4.8GT/s QPI, HyperThreading, Quad Core, Bloomfield, LGA 1366, Retail, Fan(1.55 lbs)

NZXT Guardian 921 Case

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited April 2010
    Why the severely underpowered graphics card, is the only thing I'd have to ask... At least I'm assuming you're intending for this to be a gaming machine given that you've posted it here. :)

    It's quite strange to see a 9500 in there given the rest of what you've put together. If you were planning to put 2 of them in SLI I'd still say it's a bit of a waste of money since the 9500 is a rather mediocre card on its own (it's a budget card not really meant for serious gaming) - I'd say 2 x 9800 would be a better buy if you're going the SLI route, they're almost as old, but because they're high-end gaming cards they will age better.

    Otherwise for a single card I'd say get one of the 200 series, maybe wait just a bit for retailers to drop the prices with the new 400 series just being released last month. With the 200 series getting anything under 250GTS will end you up in the budget card section, so for best perfromance I recommend a 260GTX or higher. Or ofcourse you can get an ATI high-4800 or 5700/5800 series card, the 5000 series has the advantage that its DX11 compatible, although they'll be a bit pricier because of this.

    Given the rest of what you've picked (which is all fairly high end stuff) your game performance will be almost completely dependant your graphics card, so just spend what you're comfortable with, but definitely don't skimp on it. :)

    Something you could save some money on would be the Power Supply - for a non-SLI machine you really don't need an 850W power supply, so unless you're keeping your options open you could easily downgrade a notch there and still be above and beyond the needs of your system. :)

    Other than that everything looks compatible to me and should last you for quite a while.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited April 2010
    If I may chime in, if the issue on picking up a GeForce 9500 is cost, getting a decent single video card is more important than running SLI on two lesser cards. You can always replace the single card with SLI paired cards to the setup later, especially when better cards come down the pike in subsequent years.

    Otherwise looks fine. Personally I'd skip on X-Fi... on-board audio supports 5.1 sound out of the box these days, especially on gaming-oriented motherboards. Unless you use webcam/microphone a lot and like the effects offered for that use, it's redundant if all you do is play audio.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited April 2010
    thanks for the advice!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited April 2010
    While the fan deliverd with an i7 is decent the 930 really comes to shine when you overclock it (and the EVGA motherboard is designed for OC so it would be a shame not to do it). So I would suggest another heatsink/fan. (Brands like Thermaltake and Zalman have good ones).
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