New build - specs

[kuba]

Finally my old man has agreed to get a computer built, since he doesn't like Dell or HP.
Here are the specs.
He basically needs it only for 2-D stuff, surfing, ticker symbol (stocks) with dual monitors

Here's what one person recommended and it sounds pretty good.

Silverstone 750Watt Strider - Modular

nVidia nForce 680I - SLI

Zalman CNPS7000B-ALCU LED

2GB Corsair TwinX 8500C5

nVidia GeForce 7600 GT 256MB

Integrated On-Board Audio

No Raid

Western Digital 250GB 16MB Cache SATA 2

Burner DVD-ROM

for the CPU it's either

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHz (1066MHz) 4MB L2 CacheSocket 775 Processor

OR

Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66 GHz (1066MHz) 4MB L2 Cache Socket 775 Processor

The price difference between the 2 is $200 plus.
I was told to get the 6600 over the 6700.
Is there THAT big of a speed difference in the two?
Recommendations, changes to this build, thanks.

 

[3LEMENT0]

6600 is fine, even a 6400 should be good enough. I personally would get a laptop with multiple monitor output if that's all he does. If he trades stocks the mobility would be a good thing so he can monitor and update trades on the go Unless he's more comfortable doing it on his desk of course.

GL

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: kuba
Silverstone 750Watt Strider - Modular

nVidia nForce 680I - SLI

Massive overkill. No one not doing heavy 3d needs even 500W. And why get SLI?

Get a good 965 motherboard and 500W PSU (the Silverstone should do great). Also stock cooling should be fine unless you overclock.

 

[yh125d]

That 750watt PSU is WAY overkill, a good 4-500watt will do you fine.

Go for the 6600, AFAIK, the only diff between the 6600 and the 6700 is 260mHz. The 6600 can easily be o/c'ed way past 2.66gHz, some people are getting 3.4+, but thats probably more than you'd be willing to do, so a nice 0/c to 2.8 will make this pc very fast.

Good choice on the vid card, get the eVGA card, its the cheapest on newegg ($89 AR), and it has the stepup program and a lifetime warranty

 

[Roguestar]

Um, if he only needs it for "2-D stuff and stocks" then a E4300 would be more than enough for you. An E4300 and a 965P motherboard such as the Biostar or Gigabyte-S3 really will fly through anything he needs to do. And like you say if it's only 2D stuff then an X600 or 7300 [ATi/nVIDIA] would do.

I think you guys are a little too eager to recommend really good stuff, to be honest I'm thinking the E4300 is overkill because he could just do with an AM2 3800+ at this rate, really. He's not gaming or coding or rendering or ripping so what's the point in spending $$$ he isn't going to be making use of?

By the way, OP, that RAM is both overkill and bad value for money. Get some DDR2-533 value RAM, 2 Gigs if you really want to (but like I said earlier his needs aren't that demanding) though 1 would do...

To be short, you could spend less than half of what you're currently proposing and still get a PC that he'll be fine with, and be able to do what he wants with for quite a few years.

 

[Boyo]

I agree that the PSU is way overkill. A good 500W PSU should do you just fine. Also I like you video card, so keep that, but if you aren't going to go SLI, no need to get an SLI mobo. Try an Asus P5B....GO for the E6600. You can easily overclock it to a great speed.

 

[kuba]

Great thanks for the replies.
So I won't get him the SLI mobo, but my choices are from these sites

http://www.logiccomputerhouse.com/site/main.php?module=catalog&catID=106

and

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=1533&

So not being as tech savvy as most of you guys, not sure which to get.
The help is appreciated, thanks again.

One thing I wanted to ask is, does nVidia have their own dedicated video cards like ATI?
Or are they all on 3rd party manufacturers with their chipsets?
I was leaning towards the XFX video card, since I have XFX myself (6300 GS) and it's been pretty good to me.

2nd last from the bottom is what I am considering.
http://www.logiccomputerhouse.com/site/main.php?module=catalog&catID=324

 

[s44]

What about these or these?

 

[bamacre]

That's a LOT of overkill, and I wouldn't even bother OC'ing the cpu considering what he does. Stability is a higher priority.

This is what I'd go with...

Power supply
Seasonic 380W

Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 (or something Gigabyte, Asus, with a 965P chipset)

CPU
Intel C2D E6300 and use retail HSF (or perhaps the E6400)

Memory
2GB DDR2 533mhz or 667mhz

The rest is OK, easy stuff, and case is up to his preference.

 

[bssandeep]

Good Choice ..

 

[engiNURD]

Since he doesnt want Dell or HP (his best bang for buck), then go with bamacre's build. As for sites to buy from, also try:
http://ncix.com
http://canadacomputers.com

 

[kuba]

Bamacre, what does HSF mean?

Just to make sure the mobo chipset (
Intel or nvidia) won't matter in regards to the video card chipset correct?

 

[bamacre]

HSF = Heatsink/Fan

And yeah, you don't need an nvidia chipset to run an nvidia card.

 

[kuba]

Here are the specs that I have narrowed it down to.

CPU: Intel E 660 Core 2 Duo
Video Card: XFX GeForce 7600 GS 512MB DVI PCIE
Motherboard: Asus P5B P965 Sata2 w/raid
Power Supply: Enermax Liberty 400w or 500w power supply

For RAM, it's going to be either Corsair or Kingston Value RAM.
Not sure about PC5300 or 5400 - and how noticedable the difference will be.
But that's it, plus the case.
DVD burner recommendations btw? Forgot about that.

 

[Roguestar]

Am I the only person shouting at my screen that you're spending way, way too much money? If he was into Oblivion or BF2142 or FEAR then those are good suggestions but "He basically needs it only for 2-D stuff, surfing, ticker symbol (stocks) with dual monitors"...

Anyone?

 

[kuba]

I think it may be as well, but he wants the absolute best and it's his coin.
I'm gonna try and talk him into taking mine and letting me have this one.

AthlonX2 3800
Asus A8N-E
2Gigs
xfx 6800GS
500w