New AMD/ATI Build

[sarkastikartist]

due to fundage issues i am currently limited to an HP a1710n w/ an XFX 7900GS OC in it.. but i'm getting ready to build a new pc and wonder if im maknig a good decision or if i need to change components or what? i'm not gonna OC or looking for best performers, I just want something that will run games for a couple more years, and require minimal upgrades in the near future, maybe memory, processor or video in the future but thats about it.. just hoping things don't start moving too fast or hopefully things will slow down again.. prices and parts are quoted from Newegg.com... anyways, any advice would be greatly appreciated..

Case + Accessories
NZXT Alpha ATX Mid Tower Case w/ Window $64.99
ZALMAN ZM850-HP 850W PSU $184.99
Mobo
ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe 790FX $189.99
CPU + Accessories
Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz 125W $113.99
ZALMAN CNPS9700 110mm CPU Cooler $59.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $5.99
Video
ASUS EAH4850 Radeon HD 4850 512MB $199.99 x 2 = $379.98
Audio
8CH ASUS AI Audio 2 Realtek HD Audio Onboard $0
Memory
OCZ Reaper HPC Ed. 4GB (2 x 2GB) PC2 6400 $91.99
Drives
WD SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s HDD $94.99 x 2 = $179.98
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R w/ LightScribe SATA SH-S203N $26.99
SABRENT CRW-UINB 65-in-1 Card Reader $13.99

Total (without shipping) $1,322.87

 

[rodney_ws]

If you truly care about value, you'd be looking at Intel for your CPU and ATI for your GPU. You say you're not interested in overclocking and yet you're dropping 66 bucks on a CPU cooler to keep your CPU cool.

Anyone buying a completely new AMD rig at this point in the game is just being stubborn. An Intel E8400 (retail) can be had for the same amount as your CPU/Cooler/AS5... and at stock speeds it'll beat the AMD you're looking at... and if you OC it... well, it's just going to become more of a one-sided affair.

 

[rodney_ws]

And was your math wrong on the video cards? Or was there a rebate you didn't mention?

 

[stoner133]

Don't listen to a Intel fanboy. If your gonna crossfire two cards stick with the all AMD setup. Would also go with this board:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10007283

This board works great, first board I've seen that you could stick 4 dimms of 2 gb memory into and not have a single problem with

 

[spanner_razor]

The 4850 dual setup will be held back a ways by the cpu.

 

[sarkastikartist]

the video cards.. says 199 a piece.. 10 dollars saved.. but as far as intel goes.. i mean.. its all fine and dandy that the intel performs better but wont amd/ati work better as a team or do we need to wait a while for that to happen? plus does your intel price decrease include the pricey intel mobos? cuz not only do the processors usually cost more, so do the mobos.. just wondering.. i have no preference honestly on gpu/cpu.. although i've had bad luck in the past with nvidia though so im trying to shy away from it unless its the best bang for the buck... oh and the reason i was spending extra on the fan/ac5 compound was due to previous amd's i've had overheating.. im just taking precautions

 

[sarkastikartist]

ok.. sooo.. tell me something here.. if i go amd.. i go gigabyte mobo? if i go intel, is there a certain mobo? and also, could someone please help me understand which of these combos would perform the best with the least amount of problems in games?

MSI X48C Platinum $224.99
INTEL Core 2 Duo E8400 $189.90
Total :: $414.89

vs

GIGABYTE GA-MA790FX-DS5 Mobo $179.99
AMD Phenom X3 8750 2.40 GHz 1800 MHz AM2+ $185.00
ZALMAN CNPS9700 110mm CPU Cooler $59.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $5.99
Total :: $430.97

vs

MSI X48C Platinum $224.99
INTEL Core 2 Duo Quad Q9300 $265.90
Total :: $490.89

$16.08 cheaper for dual core intel... or $59.92 more for quad intel...

 

[WR2]

To be fair you should knock off the cost of the ZALMAN 9700 cooler to get a better picture of price performance. Or substitute a $25 cooler that that won't need extra thermal compound (AS5)
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125

For the purposes of a non-overclocking gaming maching I'd rank the performance in this order:
X48/E8400
X48/Q9300
790FX/X3 8750
For the E8400/Q9300 choice it works out similar to the performance comparison shown in this X3 8750 review:
http://techreport.com/articles.x/14606/3

What monitor size/resolution will you be using? Have a specific game in mind that you play the most?

 

[WR2]

Also for a 2x 4850 Crossfire system you only need a good PSU in the 550W-650W range.
Corsair 550VX $80 after rebate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004