building new computer...need suggestion for RAM

[Shinjieva01]

I currently ordered the following parts for building a new computer (from various places).

Asus P5KC mobo (45nm support)
Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale CPU
EVGA 8800 GT 512MB GPU
Ultra Aluminus Mid-T Case
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB SATA Hard Drive
Ultra / X-Connect V-Series ( XVS) / 400-Watt PSU

total cost: approx $750

I would like to keep my budget around 800.

I am having a hard time deciding what RAM I should get for it. Since the mobo supports DDR3 ram, should I just get those cheap $20 DDR2 ram now and wait until the DDR3 price drops to get something more costly with better performance?

thanks.

[sickcars]

I currently ordered the following parts for building a new computer (from various places).

Asus P5KC mobo (45nm architecture)
Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale CPU
EVGA 8800 GT 512MB GPU
Ultra Aluminus Mid-T Case
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB SATA Hard Drive
Ultra / X-Connect V-Series ( XVS) / 400-Watt PSU

total cost: approx $750

I would like to keep my budget around 800.

I am having a hard time deciding what RAM I should get for it. Since the mobo supports DDR3 ram, should I just get those cheap $20 DDR2 ram now and wait until the DDR3 price drops to get something more costly with better performance?

thanks.

Hard to say what will you be using the computer for? You could buy some cheaper DDR2 ram now then get some good brand name DDR3 from OCZ fo example later on.

Also the mb is not 45nm architecture it just supports it (or should) with a Bios update. But you are using an older Chipset compared to the x38 & x48 that have been out for a bit.

[Shinjieva01]

Hard to say what will you be using the computer for? You could buy some cheaper DDR2 ram now then get some good brand name DDR3 from OCZ fo example later on.

Also the mb is not 45nm architecture it just supports it (or should) with a Bios update. But you are using an older Chipset compared to the x38 & x48 that have been out for a bit.

"supporting 45nm"...thats wut i meant to say (wrote too quickly without double checking) =p
also it runs on the P35 chipset which is fairly recent.
there were bios issues in the past but according to other forums, it seems those issues have been solved with the new recent updates.

i plan to use it for mostly gaming with 1280x1024 resolution.

[terrybear]

Don't order your parts from various plaes try to stick with 1 retailer. Usualy NCIX has all your parts & price matched down to there competitors easily. Throw in 5% tax & 1 day shipping on most of the small stuff & it still imho is better then gta/t.o prices unless ya live near markham where are the asian pc stores are a hop skip & a jump away from you.

I'd say you need to look at a better quality ps, not shure about the tower & I'd honestly look at gettin a 4 gig kit of the ocz DDR2 800 ram.

[CodecX81]

Keep in mind that if you are planning to use XP or Vista 32, 4gb won't be entirely seen/used.

Apparently Vista32 has had something rolled out that will recognize all 4gb, but its just aesthetic. it still only utilizes 2gb.


Get a nice DDR2 - 2x1GB pack of RAM and stick with XP.

+1 for NCIX pricematching.. also worth looking at directcanada.com for parts too. I'm seeing some parts there that are beating prices in other places..

I personally used directcanada for my latest upgrade.

At a glance everything looks fine. I don't know what the individual prices are so I can't say... but

HDD
WD5000AAKS 500gb is superior to the Seagate 500gb 7200.10.

I'd also pay a little extra for a little more reliable PSU
like ...PC Power & Cooling Ultra Quiet Silencer 470 ATX 470W

[Shinjieva01]

thanks for the suggestions guys. however, i have a family friend who works for a computer supplier who can get me approx 10-15% off the retail price of places like NCIX and no need to pay for shipping either =)

case and psu are NOT confirmed yet but if you have a suggestion of a good case/psu combo under 120, it would be greatly appreciated.

[willy]

case and psu are NOT confirmed yet but if you have a suggestion of a good case/psu combo under 120, it would be greatly appreciated.

Antec Sonata III ... http://canadacomputers.com/index.php...961&cid=CS.664

[theimmortal]

For the case, go for the Antec Atlas 550 (includes 550w PS) - I've always used Antec cases as they are built well for airflow and generally include superb power supplies:

LOTS of space for drives and stuff!
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=91540

A little over $120 retail, but as you said, you should be able to get a discount:
http://www.frontierpc.com/productDet...ctId=20228520C

And as for memory, are you overclocking or not? If so, then obviously go higher end (so many to choose from). Otherwise, just go with a decent amount (2GB or more) of something like Crucial, Corsair, etc. Why bother with DDR3 unless you just want to show off your benchmarks? Will it REALLY make a difference to you?

Ultimately, it's up to you what you put in there.

[Coolme]

DDR3 2gb for $85 (It's not overly expensive) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...7&promoid=1001

DDR2 is a better value for sure, but DDR3 will be the standard for Nahelm, intel's next big thing.

[Silver Bullet]

Drop the P5KC, DDR3 is pretty pointless at this point and won't give you the performance gain that its price suggests. I would go for this kit (link) OCZ PC2-6400 2x2GB kit. $72 AMIR is pretty hard to beat.

It's great your friend works at Tiger but stay far far away from the Ultra / X-Connect V-Series ( XVS) / 400-Watt PSU, pickup a name brand unit, Corsair, OCZ, Antec, etc. A 520W unit should be more than enough for your system.

Otherwise looks good.

[dmdmd]

Antec Sonata III ... http://canadacomputers.com/index.php...961&cid=CS.664

I would say go for Antec P182.

[Shinjieva01]

hey guys, thank you for all your advice. however, i know you won't be happy to hear this but I ended up buy the Ultra Aluminus case from TD.

but I have good reason. when I went to tigerdirect today to purchase the 8800GT (which was only 159.99), they had open box deals on cases and there was the Ultra case sitting right there on the table. i asked the salesperson and he told me that the case were only used for display.

of course, I took a closer inspection, and it would be hard for me to argue. there were practucally no scratches, all the accesories/manual were there neatly packaged, and even the protective sticker for the window was still intact.
only problem was a loose screw for the stand on the bottom which could easily be fixed. guess what the price was...

$18.99!!!!!! and this included everything that would be included if you bought it brand new for $85. (everything except the box of course)

anyways, being a risk taker I purchased the case. also ended up getting the ThermalTake PurePower 500W PSU btw.

today i spent the day putting together the components, and never has putting together a computer from scratch gone so smoothly for me.

here are some pictures of the build so far (about 95% complete... still have some accesories I would like to add, like a temperature reader, and still need to purchase more RAM...my friend gave me a stick of 1gig DDR2 ram from his old computer which will be used to hold the fort for now)

even with the huge ***** 120mm case fan running on full, it is UNBELIEVABLY QUIET. also, the 500W sounds like a gentle beast compared to the 300W PSU on my old P4 which sounds like a ****in lion.

[terrybear]

nice job !!

Now just get that 4 gig kit as SB sugested & your set for awhile.

btw I sugest OCZ stuff for peaple around t.o for 1 very good reason ... the rma department for canadian parts is in Markham. Besides the fact the products are great & have great warrenties on them as well

[Incendie]

OCZ Platinum Rev. B
I have them right now. They look kickass and performs like kickass =)