Buying a Desktop PC

[Shahrazad]

Hello,

 

 

 

I'd like to buy a Desktop PC by collecting my desired Components for it. I have got some of the PC Components listed that I want to buy but I also need help and advice on whether those Components are good to buy or not to have a powerful PC which will run the recent games.

 

 

 

Moreover, I need to know if those Components are compatable with each others because I don't really know.

 

 

 

CD & DVD Drivers: I want to have both because my PC games are CD & DVD Roms. However, I was wondering if there would be a driver that could run both of the CD & DVD Roms. Also, a burner maybe?

 

CPUs (Processors): Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

 

Hard Drives: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750GB

 

RAM: OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2x2048MB)

 

Video Cards: XFX GeForce 9800 GTX Video Card

 

 

 

Whatelse did I miss that would make a complete PC? I am sure I've missed some :lol:.

 

 

 

Further note: I also need a rough price for each component in Canadian currency.

 

 

 

Is it safer to buy online? Because I found a pretty good website which is http://www.tigerdirect.ca/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind Regards :

[XdomX]

You need a power supply, and do you have a motherboard?

[Kriegsmier]

Let me start by saying not sure about prices, especially canadian prices.

 

 

 

Is it safer to buy online? Because I found a pretty good website which is http://www.tigerdirect.ca/.

 

 

 

I buy everything online. Much cheaper.

 

 

 

CD & DVD Drivers: I want to have both because my PC games are CD & DVD Roms. However, I was wondering if there would be a driver that could run both of the CD & DVD Roms. Also, a burner maybe?

 

CPUs (Processors): Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

 

Hard Drives: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 750GB

 

RAM: OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2x2048MB)

 

Video Cards: XFX GeForce 9800 GTX Video Card

 

 

 

Optical Drive - Most DVD roms these days will also play CD Roms. Cheap one online i got for like $25 US. Its a DVD/CD Rom drive and burner with Lightscribe (just a fancy burning tool).

 

CPU - I run the Q6600, great chip.

 

HDD - I perfer Western Digital to Seagate, but both are good. 7200rpm is a good all around speed, 750gb is a lot of space. If you want to cut costs a little you could probably step it back to at least a 500gb.

 

RAM - I have GSkill ram, its cheap and works. People say OCZ is good stuff, but i don't like paying for the name on some of these products. I can get just as good performance going for a lesser known/used brand. Mine is PC6400 and i am running 8GB. 4GB is plenty to start.

 

Video Card - Nice choice. I went with budget and got the 8800gt, but the 9800s are good cards. Personally a fan of EVGA over XFX.

 

 

 

Stuff you are missing:

 

Power Supply - I don't mind going with a brand here, life of your computer. I'm not sure about the 9800, but check to see if there is a recommended amount of power for it. If i were you i'd look at a 600-650w power supply at least, to be on the safe side.

 

Case - Are you building it yourself? Picking out your own case? You have 2 choices here. Save money and have a boring looking computer, or spend more to have it "pimped out". Your choice doesn't make much difference as long as you get one that you can work in and fit everything in.

 

Motherboard - Another important part of the computer. For the Q6600, make sure the motherboard has a Intel CPU Socket of LGA 775 Thats important or your CPU won't fit. Also make sure it has a PCI Express slot x16 for your video card. Depending on your Optical Drive (Assuming its a SATA drive) you'll want to make sure your motherboard has SATA connections on it.

 

OS - Operating system. XP, Vista...?

 

 

 

Guessing you already have a monitor? If not expect to spend a little there. Thats pretty much all you're looking at i do believe, someone correct me if i missed anything.

 

 

 

Compatibility can be a [bleep]. Heres just a few things to make sure match:

 

RAM Sockets - DDR2 is 240pin. Make sure your motherboard has 240 pin ram sockets.

 

CPU Socket - Make sure your motherboard is a LGA 775 socket

 

SATA - Make sure motherboard is SATA compatible

 

Vista - Make sure its vista compatible. IF you go vista.

[OldJoe]

PSU - A 520-600W PSU, Corsair/Antec/Chieftec... Or some other brand, do a little bit of research if you pick a "no-name" brand.

 

CPU - If you aren't going to alot of multi-tasking, go for a dual-core, E8400 (3.0ghz, if i remember correct).

 

Optical unit - Something like this: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=SH-S203D%2fBEBE

 

Video card - ATI 4850. It's cheaper, single slot and about 10% faster than the 9800GTX.

 

Motherboard - Depending on what you want and what price class...

 

Cheap: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=CON ... 667%20R3.0

 

Middle: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=P5K%20SE

 

Expensive: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=GA-EP45-DS4

 

Just make sure it supports your RAM/CPU/SATA etc.

 

 

 

I'm too lazy to go to a Canadian store and check, but this should help somewhat.

[Kriegsmier]

PSU - A 520-600W PSU, Corsair/Antec/Chieftec... Or some other brand, do a little bit of research if you pick a "no-name" brand.

 

CPU - If you aren't going to alot of multi-tasking, go for a dual-core, E8400 (3.0ghz, if i remember correct).

 

Optical unit - Something like this: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=SH-S203D%2fBEBE

 

Video card - ATI 4850. It's cheaper, single slot and about 10% faster than the 9800GTX.

 

Motherboard - Depending on what you want and what price class...

 

Cheap: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=CON ... 667%20R3.0

 

Middle: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=P5K%20SE

 

Expensive: http://alina.se/productInfo.aspx?T2=GA-EP45-DS4

 

Just make sure it supports your RAM/CPU/SATA etc.

 

 

 

I'm too lazy to go to a Canadian store and check, but this should help somewhat.

 

 

 

Truthfully i can't understand anything on those links. Unless you speak that language i doubt it will help. ;)

[Shahrazad]

Thank you everyone for your help and advice :).

 

 

 

I guess I will have to do some research online about the prices of those components.

 

 

 

CD & DVD Drivers: I would like to know the product name since "Kriegsmier" mentioned that I could run both CD & DVD Roms with it.

 

CPUs (Processors): Which one is better for games or overall? Q6600 or E8400? They both have the same price by the way.

 

Motherboard: Which motherboard would be compatable (I want to know the product name) with CPUs (Q6600 or E8400), possibly the Hard Drive, Ram (OCZ SLI 4098MB PC6400 DDR2), Video Card (XFX GeForce 9800 GTX) and maybe the other components.

 

 

 

Which Case would fit those components inside? I don't really care about the look :lol:.

 

 

 

Do I need a CPU Cooling Fan?

 

 

 

I prefer XP as an Operating System than Vista.

[Nadril]

E8400 (the Core2duo one, not quad) is better for games. They still don't really use quad cores well.

 

 

 

Also seconding the 4850 > 9800GT here. Or maybe spend the same and get an HD4870 instead.