Critique Intel 1K Build

[sanjiwatsuki]

1k Intel Build
Case: Centurion 5 $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
CPU: E8400 3.0ghz $190 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
GPU: ASUS Radeon 4850 $190 - $30 MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253
GPU2: ASUS Radeon 4850 $310 combo with motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253
MB: ASUS P5Q P45 $310 combo with GPU2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299
Hard Drive: HITACHI 320GB $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145213
PSU: Corsarir 650W $110 - $20MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
RAM: mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $90 - $25 MIR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141366
DVD: $30
Subtotal: $1016 - $75 MIR

This is the best bang for the buck gaming system I can find. Thoughts?

 

[anthonyc77]

hmmm what about a radeon 4870 for only $10 more?

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

hmmm what about a radeon 4870 for only $10 more?

Well, I like the combo deal with the motherboard. It'd be really hard to fit a 4870 CF on this budget, either way. For the price, a 4850 CF is near unrivaled. There isn't much gain from 4850 CF to 4870 CF, anyway. Not worth the cost.

 

[anthonyc77]

ahhh good point, i do like tht combo deal, im looking into it for my new system.

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

Yeah, 4850 Crossfire is pretty solid right now. It seems to rival, or beat, the GTX280 in many tasks.

 

[dmoz]

Looks good. I actually just put together something very similar except with the ASUS P5Q Deluxe and the same video card and processor. It's pretty solid so far. If you wanted to tweak it you could probably find RAM with better timings, and 4GB is a little overkill for most people. But that MIR is nice.

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

I've been doing a little bit of research and many people are questioning the Tweaktown 16x vs. 8x article. It just doesn't make sense, as evidenced by Tom's Hardware and http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2008/05/28/asus-p5q-deluxe-intel-p45-has-arrived/13 .

All in all, I'd swaying back and forth between P45 and X48.

 

[licid24]

DFI x38 is 185.00
gigabyte x48 is 225.00

why bother with a p45 that could hurt your CF if the x38 & x48 is so cheap

 

[one-shot]

Sounds like a solid system. I wish i would have waited 2 weeks and got the e8400 instead of my e6750, but there isn't too much of a difference. Nice board too, better X48 than messing with a new P45. Good luck

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

DFI x38 is 185.00
gigabyte x48 is 225.00

why bother with a p45 that could hurt your CF if the x38 & x48 is so cheap

Because the P45 motherboard costs something like $110 after combo. Theoretically, nothing should saturate the X8 lane, barring a 9800GX2 or a GTX280, right now.