DCAWD.com

using Ars Technica's "Hot Rod" specs:

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
2GB PC6400 DDR2-800 SDRAM
PNY Geforce 8800GT
Western Digital Caviar SE16 750GB
DVD±/CD-RW: Samsung SH-S203B
Corsair VX450 450W ATX12V 2.2 PSU
Antec Solo case

$1163

thoughts?

maybe bump up the power supply to a 500 or 550.

other than that, hell yeah. the 8800gt is the steal of the year. almost the same performance as my 8800gtx at half the price!

You'll need at the very least a 500w PSU. Beyond that I see no problems.

EDIT Tigerdirect has the KFA2 8800GT for $250. I'm going to hold off on rebuilding my car stereo and pick up two of these before they sell out..

fwiw gabe, that screamin' fast rig that sits whirrrrring 24/7 in my room was config'ed and bought through ibuypower.com and was slightly more expensive than the ars one, with a few better hardware specs (E6850 dual core 3.0, 550 watt ps, 12 in 1 media reader, 4gb of the same ddr2-800 ram *and yes, i know 32-bit operating systems can't see more than @ 3.25 gigs or so*).

Depending on price, take a look at some of the AMD stuff. The Nvidia 590 chipset is a beast. I have the Gigabyte MS59SLI-S5 and love it.

+1 on larger power supply. Other than that, it looks like a good set up.

--Alan

Grr... It's a MIR though and it only applies to one card. I really want to be able to crank up BioShock but I'm starting to talk myself out of this purchase.

I know they use the same chip set, but is the KFA2 really equivalent to the PNY? that price I could almost justify 2.

I'll up the PSU to an Antec 550.

I have a media reader already, one of the parts I'll scavenge from my existing rig. but I'm going to check out ibuypower.com just to shop.

thanks for the advice all, I appreciate it. I think you guys just cost me $1100...

Mr Kleen wrote:I know they use the same chip set, but is the KFA2 really equivalent to the PNY? that price I could almost justify 2.

From the reviews I'm reading, if you're going to get the KFA2 you'd do better getting two of them. The video processing is on par with the more expensive cards however the fan is not enough to keep it cool when you're maxing out games like Fear, BioShock, and Crysis.

But I see no complaint from people running two cards.
To buy or not to buy. Or just run out and get a PS3 for the same price? Auuuugh!

buy them, both of you, then come play tf2 with me

^^Can't, you're always on password locked servers.

Libra Monkee wrote:^^Can't, you're always on password locked servers.

the first rule of TF2 Club...

Libra Monkee wrote:^^Can't, you're always on password locked servers.

that's only when i have a match. i'll probably be whoring a 24/7 dustbowl server at some point this evening.

So are you building your new PC or holding off for now?

--Alan

parts starting arriving last Friday.

What were the final specs?

Mr Kleen wrote:parts starting arriving last Friday.

I love when the parts starting arriving, too

Are you still going w/ the same specs as in the first post or did anything change (aside from the power supply)?

the only change was the PSU. I did some more shopping and saved a few more dollars.
this is my first new PC in 5 years! I'm excited to get this USB 2 everybody is talking about....

Mr Kleen wrote:the only change was the PSU. I did some more shopping and saved a few more dollars.
this is my first new PC in 5 years! I'm excited to get this USB 2 everybody is talking about....

That's code for "We're never going to see Mr. Kleen IRL for a loooong time now."

Mr Kleen wrote:the only change was the PSU. I did some more shopping and saved a few more dollars.
this is my first new PC in 5 years! I'm excited to get this USB 2 everybody is talking about....

Sweet! USB 2 rocks! Yeah, I have been using other peoples pc's since 2000. I sort of got a new 2003 HP media $3k (cost when it was purchased new by wife's cousin who gave it to us in exchange for my old 2000 dell laptop which he gave to his sister which then the fan crapped out on and he gave it back ) laptop but it is basically my wife and son's pc. Not sure how much longer it will last...seems to get too hot and is basically a desktop replacement (to big and heavy). I am contemplating getting a new PC using my companies discount. The discount refreshes every 3 yrs and I used it last time to get my father's dell laptop for 30% less then normal cost. I am scared to get a new video card just to find out it won't work w/ all these new sweet PC games because the technology is becoming obsolete so much faster. Anyways, glad your new pc is coming together and that you finally have USB 2.0 Post some pics when it is all together. Are you getting a new monitor(s) w/ new stickarz?

Mr Kleen wrote:I'm excited to get this USB 2 everybody is talking about....

Wow grandpa! You know they have wireless usb now, right?

complacent wrote:

Mr Kleen wrote:the only change was the PSU. I did some more shopping and saved a few more dollars.
this is my first new PC in 5 years! I'm excited to get this USB 2 everybody is talking about....

That's code for "We're never going to see Mr. Kleen IRL for a loooong time now."

dude, i live with the guy, and i hardly see him.

he's lost... in the world......





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.... of warcraft.

Libra Monkee wrote:

Mr Kleen wrote:I'm excited to get this USB 2 everybody is talking about....

Wow grandpa! You know they have wireless usb now, right?

I was attempting to use humor to illustrate just how old my current PC is.

finally got around to reading this:USB 3.0 is coming