Need help building a gaming PC

[thecrimsonblur]

Hello all, I am building my very first PC for when I head to college this fall. I've helped others but I have never built one of my own so I can use all the help I can get. I need my PC, Xbox 360 (not elite), Wii, and possibly a future PS3 to connect to both my monitor and my sound system/headphones. I have already asked about the monitor in the LCD thread, but I would appreciate any advice posted here as well. On to the questions!

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

I will be using my PC for gaming primarily.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Between $2000 and $2500

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

I have no brand preferences.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

I have no intention of using any of my current parts. Its all from scratch.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

My PC is going to be very similar to many other gaming PCs which have already been posted. Josildo's thread details a PC which is basically identical to mine. Since I have a very unique sound/display situation, I decided to make a new thread.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

I will most likely overclock. As I said earlier, I am inexperienced, but I'd like learning something new. There is a first time for everything right?

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Very, very soon. I have been contemplating parts for too long; my first day of school starts on August 22nd!

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8500

I know the E8400 is essentially the same as the E8500 once you overclock, but I like to have the defaults slightly higher just in case I never muster up the courage to OC. I think I will OC, but $20 isn't too much of a price to pay to be sure.

Mobo - Asus P5Q
Asus P5Q-E
Asus P5Q Deluxe

I know I will get some variation of the P5Q boards but I haven't decided which one just yet. Pros and cons of each would be appreciated.

RAM - Gskill 4gb 1000

Basic 4 GB kit of RAM with some room to OC.

Video Card - Radeon HD 4870x2

Once it comes out that is. I know I am pushing it with my deadline, but if I can get it on the release date of August 12, I should be fine. I really want this card...

PSU - Corsair CMPSU 750W

I was thinking about the Antec Signature series PSU but the price really made me lean to this Corsair one instead. Unless there is something horribly wrong with it, or there is an even better option on the market, I think this is the PSU I will get.

Case - Antec 900

I love the look! I am a bit worried that everything won't fit, but the looks sold me. Can anyone tell me if I will have enough space?

DVD - Samsung Black 22X DVD-R

Not really important but I included it for price considerations. Technically I will be getting a new headset, keyboard, and mouse but I won't bother listing those--they will work into my budget though.

HDD - WD Velociraptor 300GB

I don't use up much space. Speed is key for me. All I need on this PC is games, and I doubt I can fill up more than 300 gigs with just that. I have a laptop for other things (work) so I should be fine.

Cooling - Xigmatek HDT-S1283

Everyone seems to like these.

Speakers - Logitech G51

Recommendations are welcome. Speakers aren't particularly important because I will be in a dorm room, but they are nice to have when I am at home for the summer.

Monitor - Gateway HD2201 22"

Xtknight recommended this one to me in the LCD thread (thanks again!). I like it.

OS - Vista 64 bit ultimate

Sound card - ???

Alright, I don't know what to do about my sound situation. I want to connect my speakers and headphones to my 360, Wii, and PC. Something like the Creative Decoder DDTS-100 seems ideal for connecting everything together, but since it was made in 2004, I don't know if any newer products are better than it. Again, since I am in a dorm, connecting the headset to my systems is of even greater priority than my speakers. The sound situation is by far my most uncertain aspect of the build, and any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks for reading this. I need some reassurance before I go out and buy everything. I am a newbie.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Change the monitor to this LG L227WTG-PF Black 22" 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 10000:1DCR with HDCP Support 339$ is also a 16.7m color LCD

another edit: also, i would not get a sound card with XRAM on it, i can't play UT3 without it crashing with OPEN AL On it and neither Creative nor Epic is doing anything to fix the issue

 

[thecrimsonblur]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
Change the monitor to this LG L227WTG-PF Black 22" 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 10000:1DCR with HDCP Support 339$ is also a 16.7m color LCD

another edit: also, i would not get a sound card with XRAM on it, i can't play UT3 without it crashing with OPEN AL On it and neither Creative nor Epic is doing anything to fix the issue

Thanks for the heads up on XRAM but that monitor doesn't seem to have the component inputs I need for my Wii. UT3 is one of those games that I am building this PC for so the help is greatly appreciated.

Edit: That is, unless you meant for me to get a VGA box, or one of these. I am not sure of the quality of these products, but they would allow much more options for my monitor. But then again, I don't really have a problem with the Gateway, why spend ~$40?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

the LCD suggestion was strictly for your PC but if that is a way to hook up your other consoles, cool i guess ... but that monitor is amazing at that price; 10000:1 contrast ratio!!! WOW! 16.7m colors! 2ms!!! - w00tabulous!!!

 

[thecrimsonblur]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
the LCD suggestion was strictly for your PC but if that is a way to hook up your other consoles, cool i guess ... but that monitor is amazing at that price; 10000:1 contrast ratio!!! WOW! 16.7m colors! 2ms!!! - w00tabulous!!!

Lol. Yea, it is definitely sexy. But, I'd have to buy the Wii component to VGA converter, and then share the same VGA slot with my 360. I'd have to take out the VGA cords every time I needed to switch systems .

I'll gladly take the monitor if I can find a VGA box that'd allow my consoles to play on it. If that VGA box could double up and also connect to my speakers/headset like the Creative Decoder DDTS-100 then I'd be set...

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Would a switch box work!?

 

[thecrimsonblur]

Originally posted by: BTRY B 529th FA BN
Would a switch box work!?

I guess but I haven't been able to find any decent ones.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Just shop at a store that has a good return policy. I was looking for one, went to microcenter, picked one up for 90$ then returned it

 

[thecrimsonblur]

$90? No thanks, I am already happy with the Gateway. And I don't know what those devices will do to my picture. My more serious problem is my sound! I have absolutely no idea how I will get all three devices (Wii, PC, 360) connected to both the speakers and my headphones (which I would prefer to be USB).

 

[Josildo]

I like your setup TCB.
I can't comment much in terms of what soundcard to go for but if you'll be in a dorm and prefer/be using headphones most the time I will suggest Beyerdynamic: DT234Pro, but if you prefer one with a USB port you can grab the MMX1 which is technically the same with the USB connection as the exception.

 

[thecrimsonblur]

Haha, it looks like we will be making (almost) identical PCs together.

Thanks for the suggestions on the headphones. Those are both great choices.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Looks like a solid high-end system to me.

As for the motherboard:
The Pro and -E have the advantage of two PCI-E x16 slots while the P5Q only has one. This will allow you to do a Crossfire setup. However, the slots do run slower than current gen PCI-E X16 slots when in Crossfire mode, and there is a bit of a performance loss when doing so compared to full speed PCI-E X16 slots. And since you're getting an HD4870X2, you will more than likely need a better power supply to use two HD4870X2s in a quad Crossfire setup so Crossfire won't mean anything for you right now.

But that is the biggest difference of the Pro/-E over the regular P5Q. I'd say you should go with the P5Q Pro since it's only $10 more than the P5Q and has free shipping on Newegg.

 

[thecrimsonblur]

Thanks for the advice lincoln. The Pro seems like the way to go. I have no intention of using Crossfire anytime soon so I don't mind the performance loss. And for only $10 more I will take the extra PCI-E X16 slot, even if it has no immediate benefits.

So, thats one problem solved...now how about the sound?

 

[JPB]

Why not swap out the P5Q for the P5E ? It is basically a Rampage Formula. There is a thread here about it.

The P5E is the Rampage board anyway, just with a few less features I believe.

 

[thecrimsonblur]

Can you link me to the thread? What are the advantages of the P5E to the P5Q?