Need Second Opinion on new build

[matt546]

So I'm helping my friend built a new computer. I haven't done hardware research in ages, but I think I did fairly well.

List: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=6424245&WishListTitle=Matt%27s

Still doing GPU Fan Research, Not sure what works with 4850 yet, apparently Zalman VF1000 works though.

Can someone go over that list and tell me if its good to go or if you would recommend anything different or if there are conflicts.

Thanks

 

[aevm]

I'd get 2x2GB RAM instead of 2x1GB, and E8400 instead of E6850, and a WD6400AAKS instead of the WD1600AAJS. It would cost your friend $100 or $200 more in total, but it's totally worth it.

Get a Silencer 750W instead of the 620HX and save $40 in the process. It's not modular, but it's more powerful and it's top quality.

The mouse costs more than I'd spend on a mouse, and the speakers a lot less than I spent on mine. But I don't really know much about these areas, so don't mind me.

The rest are all great choices.

Cooler - get a Xigmatek HDT-S1283. It's almost as good as the TRUE/SFF21F combo and costs 50% less.

GPU cooler - no idea. It's a bit early to tell which after-market coolers work best on the HD 4850. Maybe you should just wait a couple of months for that.

 

[matt546]

Thanks. Ive changed the CPU, Ram, Mobo, and HDD. Saved alot of money in the process too.

I was told I dont need 620watts for this build, what you recommend I need?

 

[gamecrazychris]

Get a P45 so you can go crossfire later on. (I think the p35 does crossfire but not very well)

 

[dagger]

Get a P45 so you can go crossfire later on. (I think the p35 does crossfire but not very well)

P45 is no good for crossfire.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1472/7/page_7_benchmarks_crysis/index.html

 

[matt546]

We aren't going to setup crossfire, no need. Performance/$ doesnt justify the gaming need for just a 22" monitor. Now if we were using a 24"+ at 1920x1200 then maybe. So the P35 will be fine.

 

[aevm]

OK, without Crossfire, you don't really need 620W. Still, just because a PSU is rated as able to deliver 620W it doesn't mean it will actually consume 620W, I hope you're aware of that. Your bills depend mostly on what the CPU and GPU consume, not the size of the PSU. A bigger PSU doesn't mean paying more for electricity. It may in fact lower your bills, if it has a better efficiency than some smaller PSU.

Anyway, some ideas below. Prices are after rebate and shipping at newegg. You may get better prices at www.buy.com, shop around. They're all good. The Silencer has the most awards of these 4, I think.

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W, $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

$99.99, Corsair 650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx

$95, GameXStream 700W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002

$100.24, Corsair 550VX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004&Tpk=550vx

 

[dirtmountain]

Not sure about the Zalman VGA fan, it may not be compatible. I'd also seriously consider the P43/45 if only for the PCIe2.0. Early review of the ASUS boards http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3309

 

[dirtmountain]

BTW if you do use the Zalman fan and it does fit, please post a review about it here and at newegg !

 

[aevm]

P45 is no good for crossfire.
http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1472/7/page_7_benchmarks_crysis/index.html

LOL, I wouldn't go that far. Yes, at 2560x1600 and compared to X48, P45 is no good. But, at 1920x1200 or lower, the difference is not that bad IMO. Yes, X48 is better, but P45 actually competes pretty well, I'd say, considering it's $100 cheaper.

 

[matt546]

We wont be using crossfire, so really no need for X48. Also, every where I look there isnt really much a difference between PCIe 1.x and 2.0. Plus, any motherboard with P43/45 is about 100$ more than P35. Price/Performance wise I dont think its such a good investment.

Any decently priced P43/45 motherboards that I've overlooked?

 

[dagger]

LOL, I wouldn't go that far. Yes, at 2560x1600 and compared to X48, P45 is no good. But, at 1920x1200 or lower, the difference is not that bad IMO. Yes, X48 is better, but P45 actually competes pretty well, I'd say, considering it's $100 cheaper.

I wouldn't think so. It's the same $400 worth of cards, for much less performance. The 4870 would be even more bottlenecked. Besides, the cheapest p45 board may start at $100, but they don't support cf, even at 8x. The ones that do are more expensive, so the price difference is less than $100. And cheaper x38 runs at the same pcie2.0x16 on both slots.

Anyway, you should really get p45 and not p43. P43 runs at 1333mhz fsb natively, instead of 1600mhz. I'm sure it can oc to 1600mhz just fine, but it's still not a good sign. Not worth the $20 difference.