Newbies 1st Comp Build Need Suggestions!

yodi1980

July 13, 2008 12:03:13 AM

After 2 failed HP's in less than a year each and 1 still working but outdated Dell 8400 im finally going to attempt my first comp build.Im still wet behind the ears but have done some reserch i want to future proof it for the next 3 years atleast and my budget overall is $900.00usd Im Going AMD/Ati with crossfire in the next few months so the power supply will be upgraded later. Here's what i have so far.

Mobo $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU#1:AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HD960ZWCGDBOX - Retai l $214.00
or
CPU#2:AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Black Edition Processor ADO5000DSWOF - 2.60GHz, 1MB Cache, 1000MHz (2000 MT/s) FSB, Brisbane, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket AM2 (940) $69.00

RAM:G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail $0.00 Combo With CPU1

HDD:Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $59.99

DvD Burner:ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T - Retail $34.99

Case#1 with PSU added in the cost: http://us-dc2-order.store.yahoo.net/ymix/MetaController... $115.95
or
Case#2: http://us-dc2-order.store.yahoo.net/cgi-bin/wg-order?ys... $131.99

VGU#1:VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card $189.00 before rebate. but with CPU#1 it is $309.98
or
Here is VGU#1 with other deals: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCombos.aspx?Item=N...
or
VGU#2: Deals with VGU#2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCombos.aspx?Item=N...
or
VGU#3 Deals http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCombos.aspx?Item=N...

PSU: Ordering with Cases

Display#1: Acer AL2216WBD 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor (Refurbished) - Ultra-fast 5ms, WSXGA+ 1680x1050, DVI, VGA, Black, VESA 100mm $179.99

Display#2: 19" Westinghouse L1951NW DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - B DVI,VGA 1440 x 900 $143.00

Cooling: Not sure just want a big bang for my buck not experinced in it yet all suggestions are welcomed.

Note: Going to install Vista Ultimate 64 bit and May overclock just a little in the future but not to extreme though.

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stickmans88

July 13, 2008 12:13:22 AM

Don't get the Phenom 9600. Get a 9750 or up. The b2 stepping of the phenom really suck, I know cause i have one. The overclock cape is 2.8 GHZ at 1.55 volts.

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johnrb1

July 13, 2008 12:30:40 AM

I just ordered the Phenom 9850 for $205.00, with an ASUS M3A32-MVP DELUXE AM2+ for $189.00 (saw cheaper mobo's, not sure if I should have gone with one, recommendations?). I've always built AMD on ASUS boards, and they have always turned out fantastic, just stable and that's all I need. I feel like if you've put one system together, then you can put mostly any one together. Only problems I ever encounter are with power supplies not being powerful enough, or too powerful, and maybe room/size space considering the size of the tower and the room for your wires/cables getting in the way of things... but it's not so bad to solve. Good luck.

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yodi1980

July 13, 2008 6:37:49 AM

y is the 9600 not such a good choice it can be overclocked right?

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groo

July 13, 2008 3:55:40 PM

2 ways to OC.
1. increase the system speed or FSB of the computer. any CPU can be OC'd by this.
2. change multiplyer. this is a relativly new method to OC, mainly for AMD's BE processors.

even though the 9600 can change multiplyers, the b2 stepping realy hurts OC potential.

9x50 phenoms don't have the b2 limitations, as they are b3 chips, so pretty much any of them has more OC potential via the 1st method of OCing than the 9600. the 9850 and 9950 also have unlocked multipliers. your mobo may not suport the 9950 as its a 140watt chip

you might be better off getting the 5800+ from newegg for $100 and a good aftermarket cooler. that will let you upgrade in the future when hopefully AMD is doing a better job. its VGU deal 3, bottom of first page.

another thing about these 4850s. they are all identical, as in made in the same plant with different stickers aplied, so feal free to mix and match. get your 4850/cpu deal, and pick up a free game with the second. or if your into free games, I think you can get rainbow6 with the CPU, so you can get 2 free games, and a some other piddly savings on something else.

I don't know what PSU you are getting, but for crossfire you should get 650 watts or more. if yo get an 80+ rated efficiency, its probably a decent PSU. a cheap crap PSU is not suggested by any means

you cant use 2 monitors with crossfire! you will need the 3rd vidcard and a 790fx mobo if you want crossfire and 2 monitors