Pre-final build - opinions welcome/desired

[wstcoaster07]

Ok, so here is the final list of parts I have compiled for a new computer I will be building for a friend. I will begin with the desired use and then on to the parts:

Use: Will OC to 3.2-3.4 using a 400-425fsb & 8x mult w/air cooling
The system will be used for gaming such as FSX, & new DX10 games on a 1680x1050 resolution

Parts:
CPU: E6600 (oc to 3.2-3.4)
Memory: Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800MHz C4 LINK
PSU: Enermax Liberty 620W (enough?)LINK
GPU: HIS X1950 PRO LINK
**Will upgrade to the new DX10 this May(probably the R600)**
MB: Asus P5B Deluxe w/WiFi (good for oc?)
Heatsink: Zalman 9700
HD: WD 150GB Raptor +2*250GB 7200RPM (backup)

So, what do you think? Any major changes need to be made? Any better suggestions?? Thanks in advance

 

[cutthroat]

You're going to overclock I recommend the OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU.

 

[akhilles]

http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/buildyourown2.html

Enermax Liberty 620W is Crossfire certified for x1950 meaning it can power TWO x1950's at the same time.

Good thing you talked your friend into getting a Raptor. He'll see the difference.

 

[wstcoaster07]

Yea, the thing it he isn't planning on doing a CF set up with the 1950. the 1950 is purely to hold him over until the DX10 ati card in march/apr. So the question is if the PSU is powerful enough for the supposed 250W that the ati card will require.

Yea, the raptor was a given. I sadly only got a 74 GB one back in sept cause the 150 was running over 300bucks at the time.

 

[wstcoaster07]

You're going to overclock I recommend the OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU.

That was our initial choice but then bummed out major when we realized it was not modular

 

[cutthroat]

I have a modular PSU now, no biggie though cause I use all the cables anyway, modular was a waste of my money.

 

[wstcoaster07]

You used up all your cables? How many different things are you running off them? My own build has 2 Hd's, 1 DVD and 1 graphics and I still have I think 6 cables not even used that are not plugged in.

Oh yea. What is the general consensus on SATA DVD drives? I am thinking of this one:

LINK

 

[deusex]

I would not throw away more than 200$ on a DX9 card that I won't use in the future, or even sell on ebay for a very low price.

Instead, eVGA has a 90 day step-up program, which you can get a 7600/7900 right now, and upgrade to a g80 in three months.

 

[wstcoaster07]

Yea that's a good point I did not consider. However, he would like a card that he can still play FSX on fairly high settings with decent fps. What do you think about the 7950GT KO 512MB from evga for 260 on newegg? Yea, sucks to still spend 260 when you know you will change it out soon but then again with step-up are you really losing 260?

 

[deusex]

That's the point of Step-Up-

Ex. Your friend buys a 7950GT KO for $260. After 2 1/2 months (I would play it safe and do it a week or two before), he can then upgrade to the g80 when it becomes cheaper (either the 8800GTS 640 or the 320MB.) He only has to pay the difference between the 7950 GT and the 8800GTS. If the 8800GTS cost $320 at that time, then he pays only 60$ more - gives back 7950, and receives 8800.

 

[NamelessMC]

Yea that's a good point I did not consider. However, he would like a card that he can still play FSX on fairly high settings with decent fps. What do you think about the 7950GT KO 512MB from evga for 260 on newegg? Yea, sucks to still spend 260 when you know you will change it out soon but then again with step-up are you really losing 260?

Okay, firstly FSX is more CPU-dependent than GPU-dependent. Secondly, he'll eat a huge amount of money if he tries to sell the X1950 when he wants to upgrade to DX10. Where-as if he buys an EVGA card, he will get 100% of his money back toward an upgrade.

I'm not saying ATI's R600 won't be better than the 8800GTS/GTX, but I definitely know Nvidia will release something to answer it. Most likely a cooler running, less stability problems 8850GT or 8900GT. He could upgrade to it for only the price difference, getting 100% of his money he spent on the 7950 Toward the upgrade. The thing is, he should definitely not over-clock or abuse the card, as EVGA is known to refuse trade-ins when the card has over-clock abuse or mistreatment evidence.

With the step-up program, you get the full amount you paid for your card (Minus taxes/shipping of course) and you just have to give them everything the card came with.

If I were you, I wouldn't get the 512MB version, as with the 7950GT's there's no noticeable performance difference between the 256MB version and the 512MB version.

 

[wstcoaster07]

Okay, firstly FSX is more CPU-dependent than GPU-dependent.

Do you play fsx? have you tried playing it on a 512 card vs a 256 card? I hate to completely disagree with you but I can not go with you saying that the diff between a 512 and a 256 card in fsx is not noticeable. The amount of data needed to process such as image overlays and such, you clearly benefit from an increase in graphics memory.

Sorry, just my 2 cents

 

[cutthroat]

The amount of data needed to process such as image overlays and such, you clearly benefit from an increase in graphics memory.

Absolutely, the gfx memory will make a difference with FSX. The textures are massive, if you want them to look good anyway.

You used up all your cables? How many different things are you running off them? My own build has 2 Hd's, 1 DVD and 1 graphics and I still have I think 6 cables not even used that are not plugged in.

I have a lot of HDD's, there actually weren't enough SATA cables so I had to use the converters with the aux. Some cables are only partially used, but the remaining connectors don't reach. I actually have one empty plug cause there are two for the PCI-E and I don't run SLI. Anyway i still have a mess of cables, never been good at organizing them.