Le Custom Build

/Manuals)
Overclock Processor: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my processor
Overclock Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Overclock Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Pre-Install Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: Acer 22 inch (Widescreen) (Black) (High-Performance Gaming Display)
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: Logitech 2.1 System (Black Edition) (Model R20) (Includes Subwoofer)
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
Support: Lifetime Toll-Free Platinum Care Technical Support

That's what I'm looking at. However, I do have some questions about how the thing will work. I'm especially concerned about power supplies, cooling, and the over all internal architecture. I'm trying to build a machine that's somewhere between $2,000-$2,500 and is very comfortable running Age of Conan and a few other high end games. If the costs have to be brought down, then there are certainly things like the hard drive size and the monitor that I'm not too concerned about, so long we are still looking at something beefy. For the most part, I think the memory and the graphics and sound cards are perfect, so it's mainly the few things I mentioned earlier that I wanna talk about.

I've heard many good things about this site, and I do appreciate whatever help you can give me. I do have a fair grasp of the basics, so again, what I'm looking for is something that is powerful on the main things, but where the other components will work well together without something getting fried because I overlooked the power requirements or the temperature levels or whatever else.

Thank you for your help,
Erich.

 

I wouldn't get the 650i case. The 450, 650i, and 750i are all basically the same price. The 650i is the smallest and probably hottest and hardest to work on. Personally, I'd go with the 750i, but I've been told by DSO guys that, strangely, the 450i is coolest, at least temp wise.

 

If you really want a RAID0 setup, I think about a pair of 250s for the RAID and a 500 for a backup and data drive. Unless you do a lot of video "work", a Terabyte is about twice as much space as you could ever need. If you do get that big sucker, ask DSO to divide it up into a couple of partitions.

 

Get Stage II cooling just on general principles.

 

It might just be throwing money away, but I'd be tempted to step up one notch on the power supply.

 

Everything looks alright. Though slight wondering about the blu ray, thats a lot of money, make sure you have a use for it before you get it. Your video card is alright for the monitor you have, though i somewhat question a 17inch..thats kinda tiny =P. But youll do perfect with that card all the way up to say a 22inch. 24 on up id say is where youd start to have to consider SLI. Just wanted to let you know about that. DS says SLi starts to have an impact around 1024x800 rez or somehwere around there, i doubt that seriously. Id actually say more around 1600x1200 is when SLI starts to have a seriously noticable impact.

 

I noticed your selection earlier has 2.1 speakers...why did you remove them in the second build? do you have a set of older ones? Im asking because im wondering the value of having a decently high end sound card (X-fi on up) if youre only gonna use 2.1. If youre using it for other things then just pure speaker sound, then id understand, but if not..id say the sound card wouldnt be needed for only a 2.1 system. 5.1 on up id say hell ya. Thats just my personal opinon of course.

 

Rest looks okay for your budget.