Basically, I'm looking to build a nice but inexpensive backup computer for myself in case my laptop ever needs to be sent away for repairs.

My budget is between $500 and $1000CDN.

I already have a power supply, hard drive, and monitor.

The below list is what the prospective computer looks like so far.

Processor: Intel Pentium E2140
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=24578

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=25369

Memory: Corsair XMS2 2 x 1GB Kit
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18582

Graphics: eVGA GeForce 8800GTS
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22688

Case: NZXT Lexa Blackline
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=25332

Operating System: Windows Vista 32-bit Home Premium
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22437

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-203B
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=24649

That comes to about $924.49CDN including the taxes. Fortunately for me, the order comes with free shipping.

Now my questions:

1. Is the above set up good? Could anything be changed? Is there a way to cut costs without having too big an impact on the performance?
2. Is that optical drive good?
3. Is the power supply good enough for that setup? It is an Ultra X2 550-Watt Modular 20/24-Pin PSU.

Edit: Note that currency is Canadian.

Thanks in advance.

Also consider the Abit IP35-E, it goes for about the same price as that Gigabyte.

Holy crap, that's a fast response.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

Anything else that could be improved by the way?

Edit: By the way, I just looked up the price, and it's about $30CDN more. I think I'll have to stick with the Gigabyte.

If its just a backup computer, why do you need anything super fancy? Throw XP Home on there with a 7xxx series card. That should cut the costs.

Oh cause on Newegg.com, the Abit is acctually $10 cheaper.

Canada Adam.

CrAsHnBuRnXp said:

I would buy Windows XP Home over Vista Home Premium, but purchasing Vista gives me free shipping for the whole order and with that kind of weight, I'm looking at saving $50CDN+.

Also, the reason I got the 8600GT over the 7600GT is because the difference is barely $20 to $30CDN and I figure that's worth the extra for the better performance and DX10 capability.

What about Abit's IP35 or the IP35-E.I just ordered the IP35 and i should have it by wednesday.

a review with the gigabyte board and the IP35-E
http://www.neoseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rlid=154527

Mothow said:

Again, it's about $30 to $60CDN more for those motherboards. I've also done some reading on the three motherboards, and it looks like the Gigabyte one is the best one in terms of price and performance. It also helps that I've always had good motherboards from Gigabyte.

Mothow said:
How many motherboards do you buy in a year?

DsL.Dilbert said:
Well then if thats the case, I woudlnt change anything then.

For aesthetic purposes, I would get a different case. That's just me, though. I don't like NZXT's cases.

And on the subject of your motherboard, I have the exact same one, and I'm quite happy with it.

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26099&vpn=BX805...ture=Intel

Only $3 more for a bit more performance - why not?

Bobby Phillipps said:

I like the NZXT case. Maybe it's just me.

I've noticed that the we share the same motherboards: this one and the one in your "FrankenServer".

Kieran Blenkarne said:

I'm actually getting the Intel Pentium E2140 instead which will save me about $20. The general consensus I'm getting from the review sites is that the Pentium E2140 overclocks just as well the Pentium E2160 and Pentium E2180.


Edit: I've updated the first post. I've selected an optical drive and put together the final system. What do you guys think? The new price is basically $750CDN including taxes and shipping.

I'm not a fan of the case, but other than that its awesome.

I was actually contemplating that case when I was in the market for a new one at the beginning of the year. But I wanted a full tower.

CrAsHnBuRnXp said:

It's a nice case. It's also a lot bigger than what the picture's show or what the the title "mid-tower" suggests. My friend purchased the NZXT Lexa and it has enough space for two 8800GTX's, six hard drives, four optical drives and two floppy disc drives and comes with one 120mm fan at the front blowing in air, one at the back blowing it out, one 80mm fan at the top to bring air into the system, one on the side blowing air on to the processor area, and all the intake fans are filtered. In fact, it came as a big shock for him since he was expecting something much smaller for his desk area!

I have a new question now:

I just noticed that the 8800GTS 320MB edition card is on sale for $249.99CDN from $309.00CDN! I figure the extra $100 over the 8600GT is well worth it and so I'm just wondering, is my power supply good enough to power it?

The power rating of my PSU a little down the page on this link.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/content/334/

It has sufficient watts, but I need to know if there is enough current on the 12V rails to run the thing.

According to some searches, the 8800GTS 320MB edition requires 26A on a 12V+ rail. My power supply has one 12V rail with 17A and the other with 18A. However, I've read that if I run the video card off of one rail and the system on the other, I'll be fine. Is this true?

If you already have said PSU then get the 8800GTS and see if it works on said PSU. If you have yet to buy said PSU then buy a better one.

Btw, most likely the 8800GTS will work just fine on the PSU you have

DsL.Dilbert said:
"Rails" have nothing to do with the wires coming out of the PSU. You can't say "Oh well I'm just gonna run the GPU off this rail and everything else off of this rail"...it doesn't work like that. The components basically just take the power they need and if there's not enough for them to take then it won't work. As components are under load they use more power. So an idle GPU might use 5A and while playing a game it might use 15A.

CrAsHnBuRnXp said:
3 to 4 ..lol