Thinking of building another PC

[Mr Buckshot]

I'm giving my computer to my dad's workplace later this year, sans monitor/keyboard/mouse/speaker, so I got the green light from my parents to build a whole new one. Budget: $2000 Canadian.

As much as I'd love to buy off Newegg, it is actually a little cheaper to buy in Canada (no international shipping), so I decided to visit NCIX, which can ship to an outlet in Richmond for ch33p.

http://pc.ncix.com/pcbuilder/ is where I customized this computer.

Case (with included 500W CPU and 120 mm fan): http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=24294

CPU (Core 2 Duo E6600): http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=19144

RAM (2GB DDR2):
http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=18581

Hard drive (dual 160 GB 7200rpms)
http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=26182

Motherboard (help me out with this one, I also need integrated sound):
http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=23407

DVD drive:
http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=23433

Video card (320 MB Geforce 8800 GTS):
http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?noheader=1&sku=23203

Total price: $1164 Canadian I don't know if Newegg can configure this for less (the website is down atm), but this isn't a bad price at all.

Also, for an extra $25, Newegg can assemble the entire PC for me and test it before shipping it out. I'm not sure whether I should pay for this since it's convenient but I do miss out on the experience of assembling it myself.

As for the OS, the reason why I left it out is because I have a free Windows XP Home Ed SP2 at home, which I will install on one hard drive. On the other hard drive, I will install my reusable copy of Windows 2000, then select the Windows Vista upgrade for only $100 or less.

[Hotrod]

Cool, I see that you still have around 800$ more to spend. I would recommend upgrading to a better video card than the one you're thinking of (not that the one you're getting is bad, just that it's something that would be worth the extra money). Maybe you could also consider getting a bigger hard drive. All in all, you're getting quite a good computer for that price.

[Syuusuke]

Wanna spend your leftover for your asian pal? =D

Newegg is and has been up for me (I was browsing for RAM and ink)

For your PSU, maybe get at least 600W

[Mr Buckshot]

Apparently the shipping rate to go to Canada has gone up (my dad paid nearly $100 extra to ship a 24" monitor to his office). I can't mail Newegg parts to my dad's PO box in Washington state because the customs will just charge us again when we cross over. You can't really hide the parts inside your clothes or your travel bag like you can do with video games (my dad sometimes smuggles DVD movies from Fry's Electronics by throwing away the cases and packing the discs inside those plastic sleeve things).

If I still lived in the U.S., I'd go with Newegg all the way.

I saw that 320 MB Geforce 8800 GTS on Newegg for only $279 USD, but the price will rise over $300 to ship over. In many cases, NCIX's price will still be higher, but it's usually by no more than $20. And I'm willing to pay the extra since I can get high-speed domestic shipping.

I might change the PSU to 600W, but I don't run SLI/Crossfire or more than 2 hard drives. My current rig has 500W which is overkill for its specs.

[Cortexian]

Don't bother with newegg, if your in Canada, go with Memory Express (http://www.memoryexpress.com)! They have an online customizer here:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/index.php?PageTag=&page=file&memx_menu=SystemQuote_1.php&SID=

I bought my PC from them for a little more then your current total (I also bought mine with an 8800 GTX when they first came out though).

[Mr Buckshot]

I need help with motherboards - I have no idea which brand is the best or which is fastest and so on. I need the necessary slots, of course, but I also want integrated sound (I don't care about sound - if it's loud and clear, I like it) and if possible, integrated video (for troubleshooting).

[Syuusuke]

I'd go for 3-4 Gb of RAM, I remember that 4 GB could cause some problems in some programs, but I sure in hell know that 3gb of RAM won't. Besides, there's nothing wrong with having an odd number RAM. =P

For your motherboard, do your really need integrated sound? Why not buy a PCI sound card? Why you hatin on non-integrated sound? =)

And what about helping your asian pally?

[edit]oh I get why you want Int. sound

K: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=21335&vpn=AB9%20PRO&manufacture=ABit

[Mr Buckshot]

Holy shit, 10 SATA ports? I don't need that many, lol.

Sure, I'll give you $2000 HK.

[Syuusuke]

Oh I didn't even see that.

Hmm..

[Random]

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068)
$49.99
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136074)
$74.99 EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130038)
$299.99 Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115029)
$211.99 EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813188019)
$159.99 OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341001)
$109.99 Pioneer 18X DVD±R DVD Burner Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model DVR-112D - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827129007)
$29.99
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146565)
$109.99

Subtotal: $1,046.92
Tax: $0.00 s
Pirate Shipping: $33.52
Amount Paid: $1,080.44

Thats my computer as of now :D

[Darkness]

Shop around at Directron.com. (http://www.directron.com) for boards try MSI/ Asus/ Evga. I'd recommend a 4gb board because a 32bit Os wont see more than about 3/4 gbs of ram. Also If you can hold out for awhile get an 9XX series card

[Pooky]

Must be nice to have an ass full of money to throw around on things like that

[Random]

Must be nice to have an ass full of money to throw around on things like that

$1000 dollars is not that much, its less then half of what I made this summer.

[Syuusuke]

Wow Random you paid $33.52 for hipping?

[Pooky]

$1000 dollars is not that much, its less then half of what I made this summer.

I'm sure it's not that much if you don't have to pay for a car note and gas every month :|

[Random]

I'm sure it's not that much if you don't have to pay for a car note and gas every month :|

Ah, but I do. I have a job in the school year for that.

[4RT1LL3RY]

For the processor you could get the E6750 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029) It has a faster FSB speed at 1333. Its 2.66 GHz instead of 2.4 and cost a bit less, and they overclock great. You might want to get a mobo with the P35 chipset, it has support for DDR3. Don't skimp on fans and heatsinks. Antec makes nice cases also, very easy to install mobo in, but no tray in the Sonata III. But its screwless install for most parts.

[Patrickssj6]

I'd go for 3-4 Gb of RAM, I remember that 4 GB could cause some problems in some programs, but I sure in hell know that 3gb of RAM won't. Besides, there's nothing wrong with having an odd number RAM. =P

Dumdumduuuummm....wrong.

First of all....the virtual memory for 32-bit OS goes between 2.75 - 3.5GB of RAM...so no 4GB...and secondly how do you want to configure 3GB RAM? 3 Dimms cause many problems on motherboards. :)

[Syuusuke]

Didn't know that, dumdum. =D I'm just trying to regurgitate what I remember reading.

[4RT1LL3RY]

I <3 64-bit Ubuntu. I just need to get some more memory to take advantage of it. Just hate having to go into 32-bit mode to play my games in Cedega, aka a better version of wine, aka a windows compatibility program. I get higher frame rates in Linux on most games then Windows, just need to figure out how xmod works to set up my keyboard's extra keys.

I <3 desktop cube, and all the cool effects, and being able to run XP and Vista programs.
[/linux>windows rant]
Set up your comp for dual boot with Ubuntu, its the really nice user friendly linux. It also has all the nice GFX effects to choose from.
[insert picture of "Windows sucks" written in fire in ubuntu]

[Mr Buckshot]

All right, I guess I could select the E6750...I'll re-configure my NCIX setup and get back to you later. Thanks artillery, +rep.

Of course, if anyone can think of a way to make shipping cost ultra-low, I'll happily switch to Newegg, but NCIX's prices still beat those of electronics store giants (i.e. at Futureshop I see Radeon 9250s for $100 Canadian O_O).

[343guiltymc]

All right, I guess I could select the E6750...I'll re-configure my NCIX setup and get back to you later. Thanks artillery, +rep.

Of course, if anyone can think of a way to make shipping cost ultra-low, I'll happily switch to Newegg, but NCIX's prices still beat those of electronics store giants (i.e. at Futureshop I see Radeon 9250s for $100 Canadian O_O).
Really? I live in Ontario and I see X1950 PRO go as low as 140 dollars in future shop (once).

[Mr Buckshot]

Those are simply discount sales...one time I saw a one-week offer for a Geforce 8800 GTS 320 MB for $279 Canadian (which makes it more worthwhile than Newegg! *gasp*). But even with offers, our video cards at Futureshop are usually waaaaay overpriced. I mean, they market Radeon X1300s as "top-of-the-line" cards.

[bleach]

Buckshot, when I asked for help to build a computer for someone, I suggest that you at least get a Evga 8800 GTS 640 MB graphics card.
Give me your old PC! I'm stuck with a Dell 1100 + Radeon 9250 since I don't have money right now.

[Mr Buckshot]

I know that the 640 MB version is better in the long run, but I'm running my games mostly at 1680x1050 (1280x1024 if the game doesn't support widescreen) and 256 MB of video memory is already sufficient...if need be I can lower to 1280x800 or 1440x900. Plus the 320 MB version is cheaper.

So here's what I might get:
Some motherboard with integrated sound - this is where I need help as I don't know which mobos are good and which are bad. I don't wish to spend over $100 on a mobo, and I don't need more than 1 PCI-e slot.
320 MB 8800 GTS
2 GB DDR2
Core 2 Duo E6750
Whatever full ATX case with at least a 500W PSU

[alby]

This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127031) might be a good choice for the motherboard. It is under $100 on Newegg, not sure if you can find it somewhere else.

[Mr Buckshot]

Thanks for your help guys. I'll continue to browse through the NCIX PC configurator, and I'll only place the order when I give up my current desktop to my dad's office.

I managed to find some cheap shipping solutions from Newegg, but those take too damn long to reach Canada. I don't dare to send the parts to Washington and then bring them over, because I can't hide a whole desktop computer inside the compartment for the spare tire, and I don't like to pay the border tax on goods purchased in the U.S.

Hmm...do you guys think I should pay an extra $25 for NCIX to assemble and test the PC for me? It's a great deal compared to major brands, but I do miss out on the building experience.