Confused regarding custom made PC vs. build it yourself!

[idahosurge]

Now I am confused, I was looking on the web for guides in how to build your own computer and ran across www.cyberpowerpc.com and just to satisfy my curiousity I went and designed a custom built PC, then I went to Newegg and priced the parts individually, well the custom built CyberPowerPC is $2,661.00 and the parts from Newegg are $3,089.85 and this does not include everything that is in the CyberPowerPC.

One thing that CyberPowerPC does not tell you is who makes the HD's, but that can not account for $400. 

Anyway the CyberPowerPC includes:

1- Motherboard, Asus P6T Deluxe V2 Intel X58 Chipset SLI/CrossFireX SAS Triple-Channel DDR3/1600 SATA w/eSATA
1- i7-960 3.2 GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366 CP
3- 2GBx3 (6GB total) Corsair Dominator PC1333 DDR3 PC3 10666 Triple Channel Memory
1- EVGA Nvidia GeForce GTX295 1.7GB 16X PCIe
1- HD, 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7,200 RPM (does not name manufacturer)
1- HD, 1TB (1TBx1) SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7,200 RPM (does not name manufacturer)
1 - Lite-On IHOS 104 4X Blu-Ray Player
1 - Lite-On DVD R/RW + CD-R/RW
1- Power Supply, Xion SuperNova AXP-10000R14HE (1000W)
1 - Case - AZZA Solano 1000 Full-tower Advance Cooling Case w/Dual 230mm Fan + Extra 3 Fans
1- CoolerMaster Thermal Fusion 400 Extreme Thermal Compound
1- Fan, Asetek Liquid CPU cooling System
1- Sound, High Definition on-board 7.1 audio
1- USB 2.0 ports (does not say how many)
1- Onboard Gigbit LAN Network
1- Professional Wiring for All system chassis wiring
1- Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Keybord & Mouse Combo
1- Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Edition
1- MS Office 2007 Professional
1- $45 fee to overclock by 10%
1- 3 year limited warranty w/lifetime tech support

I was willing to spend up to $2,500 for the parts and build it myself, for $2,660, a 3 year warranty, lifetime support and to have someone overclock it by 10% before I even get it sounds like a much better deal than to pay Newegg $400 more and have to put all the stuff together myself.

I would like an opinion though, any opinions will be welcomed.

Rod

[NickN]

You can build a i7 950 system for clocking for about 2 grand

i7 950

P6T Deluxe v2, make sure it has BIOS 504 installled

Clocking heatsink; Thermalright 120 Extreme 1366 or Sythe Mugen 2 - get a faster fan for them.. 2000-2400RPM PMW 4in 120mm fan. I use OCZ freeze for thermal compound

3x2GB (6GB) DDR3 1600 6-7-6-18 timing (Mushkin is about ready to release new versions of this) GeIL also has this memory timing spec

1HDD for the OS and installed software.. if you already have a 750GB thats all you need for that and it can be partitioned and put backups on another partition of that drive

1 HDD for FSX and installed addons

[idahosurge]

As always Nick, Thanks!!

Rod

[Plugpennyshadow]

(The Bad Penny madly scribbling Nick's hardware list before Dell/Gateway, etc. file suit and get the post pulled!)

Nice parts list there Nick.  Looks like my Christmas present to myself.

Cant go wrong with a Nick recommended system...

[Slotback]

If only I were rich.

(or not poor).

[idahosurge]

Hi Nick,

Newegg does not have the ram with the timing that you recommend, do you have another recommendation or is there someplace besides Newegg and Tiger Direct that you can purchase most of this stuff?

How can I know that the Asus P6T Deluxe V2 comes with BIOS 504 installed when I am buying this from Newegg or some simular site?

Rod

[idahosurge]

Hi Nick,

One more question, regarding the 300GB Velociraptor, I already have close to 135GB on my FSX dedicated HD, you recommended at one time that for optumium performance the HD should only be half full so I would be at that point already.

I also recall that you said that some FSX addons do not need to be on the FSX drive since they are data only or something like that.

So would having the necessary FSX programs on one Velociraptor and the none essential FSX programs on a third drive or the primary drive work?

I have UTX, GEXn, FEX, MegaSceneryX, MegaSceneryEarth, FTX, FSGenesis, SceneryTech, addon freeware airports & scenery and plan on getting more FTX when they start releasing scenery for the US.  What would need to go on the primary FSX drive and what could go on the OS drive or even a third drive?  If I go with a third drive should it be another Velociraptor or would a Segate SATA work just as well?

Regards,

Rod

[NickN]

the 300 will be fine.. 136GB is not going to be a problem

max would be about 170-180GB

memory:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820226050

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231272

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820226052

[idahosurge]

Thanks Nick,

170 to 180 still only leaves a 30 to 40 cushion and I am going to want to add some FTX when they start releasing the US so I think that I want to put FSX on the Velociraptor and then use a 3rd HD to off load some of the FSX stuff.  Out of UTX, GEXn, FEX, FTX, MegaSceneryX/Earth, FSGenesis and SceneryTech what can I put on the 3rd HD and would a Segate Barracuda @ 7,200 RPM work for this as well as a 2nd Velocirapotor, there is a $300 price difference between the two.

Regards,

Rod

[NickN]

GEX/FEX/REX are just database's of textures.. you select and SEND those textures to FSX.

You do not need to install those to the FSX drive.. they can go anywhere and will find FSX though the registry when selections are made

UTX must be installed into FSX where it wants to by default

I have no idea about FTX

Photoscenery can be installed to a 3rd drive dedicated to photoscenery and then the FSX scenery library pointed to that drive/directory. It depends on how much photoscenery you have. Some people have many hundreds of gigs of PS. Those who use large amounts of PS are better served with a 1TB drive dedicated to serving those files than shoving them on the FSX drive.

[SubZer0]

FTX installs into the FSX drive and takes up a good bit of space, but it's incredible scenery. I have the 150gb Velociraptor with all of FTX, UTX USA/Canada, GEXn, FS Genesis mesh, and still have about 75gb left. That will start going down when FTX US arrives, so I would recommend the 300gb velociraptor...

Believe me.. things start to add up

[idahosurge]

Hi Nick,

Would it make sense to spend the extra money to get a GTX285 with 2GB of memory rather than 1GB if I can find one?

Would a 1GB with higher clock speeds be better than a 2GB with slower clock speeds?

Rod

[NickN]

no.. it wouldnt

[idahosurge]

Thanks Nick!

Rod

[NickN]

Rod..