Building a new gaming PC - need your help

[TheDJ08]

Hello all,

Soon I will be building a new gaming PC. It has been a while since I have built so will need your advice. My budget is $1000-$1500.

I was reading the articles and saw this build:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-graphic-performance,1959.html

It looked really good aside from the video card which I plan on getting 2x Radeon HD 4850.

Since I will be doing crossfire do I need a different power supply? If so which one is good. Also do I need to order anything additional to be able to do the crossfire?

Aside from the changes I have referenced any others you would make?

Thank you.

 

[aevm]

You need an X48 motherboard (P5E Deluxe or GA-X48-DS4 are my favorites), because the P7N won't do Crossfire at all.

The Swiftech cooler for $120 is a waste. Get a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 with the retention bracket for $27+$14 (newegg prices today).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

The WD 500GB is slow. Get WD 640GB instead (WD6400AAKS).

$110 for that FSP 600W is too much. 750TX is $110 too and it's a much more suitable PSU for HD 4850CF.

I don't buy Sony products of any type, size or color. In particular the Optiarc is not a very good burner, according to what I've read. Get a SH-S203B or SH-S203N.

The NZXT Tempest is a fantastic choice for HD 4850CF. If you want something without lights get a RC-690.

What you need for HD 4850 CF Crossfire: powerful PSU, case with really good cooling, two HD 4850 cards, motherboard with Crossfire support - preferably X48 for max speed. Yeah, you got it all.

 

[georgy]

For 1500$ you can get better...
from newegg:

Q9450 330$
gigabyte x48 ds4 225$
2x 4850 around 350$
corsair 650tx 90$
corsair xms2 dhx 2x2gb ddr800 80$
xigmatek cooler and retention bracket around 40$
For the case let's say Tempest like in the TH build 110$
artic silver 5 thermal grease 6$
dvd writer let's say 30$
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 90$

Total: 1351$ and thats a monster!

 

[njalterio]

For 1500$ you can get better...
from newegg:

Q9450 330$
gigabyte x48 ds4 225$
2x 4850 around 350$
corsair 650tx 90$
corsair xms2 dhx 2x2gb ddr800 80$
xigmatek cooler and retention bracket around 40$
For the case let's say Tempest like in the TH build 110$
artic silver 5 thermal grease 6$
dvd writer let's say 30$
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 90$

Total: 1351$ and thats a monster!

That 650 watt power supply is cutting it a little close (and definitely not enough if he is overclocking).
Take the safe route and go with aevm's suggestion of the 750 watt version.

 

[TheDJ08]

OK great - thank you guys - I will put together a new build and post it for review.

 

[TheDJ08]

For a new system such as this one do you guys recommend Vista (If so which version) or XP?

Thank you.

 

[hyperjoe]

If you already have XP sitting around, just install XP and wait on Vista. It'll save you a little money in the short run. Otherwise, go Vista Home Premium. Most say that the features on Ultimate aren't worth the extra cost.

 

[aevm]

I'm voting for Vista Home Premium 64-bit. That way you get DirectX 10 and full use of your 4 GB of RAM.

Maybe Ultimate 64-bit, if you need the extra features. Take a look here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/compare-editions/default.aspx

 

[TheDJ08]

OK thanks!

 

[TheDJ08]

Here is what it looks like right now. (I would post the newegg link but right now it is not showing as public yet.)

NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

(2X) MSI R4850-T2D512 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK - Retail

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

Total: $1319.38

Any suggestions or changes please let me know.

Also will I need to purchase any additional cables or screws since there are OEM products being purchased?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[disconnected]

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
DFI LANPARTY DK X38-T2R LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK - Retail

$1,144.91

My thoughts for you: Get the PC8500 memory, I should have. Get the 4870 and get another one in two months.

 

[aevm]

That's pretty much what I'd buy for myself these days. Very nice.

Change the Q6600 to OEM, not retail. That saves you $20 and apparently you get a better CPU too (with a lower VID, i.e. overclocks better).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115018
You lose the stock cooler this way, but it's garbage anyway compared to the Xigmatek and you can only use one cooler.

The Burner and HDD come OEM i.e. without SATA cables, but the motherboard comes with those cables. No worries there.

I'm assuming the Tempest comes with the screws you need for a few HDD/burner drives. If not, you may have to go shopping for screws indeed. Wait and see.

 

[aevm]

Get the 4870 and get another one in two months.

Good point. Since the budget is up to $1500, there's room to upgrade the 4850 to 4870. This is a gaming PC, and the GPU is the most important part, so yeah, good idea.


Edit: oops, I didn't notice you wanted both cards right away. OK, instead of 2*$165 you'd need 2*$285 for two Sapphire HD 4870 cards.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102748

The total goes from 1319.38 to 1319 -20 (because of the CPU change) + 240 = $1540. Is that acceptable?

 

[TheDJ08]

OK guys - thanks.

Aevm - $1540 might be workable- depends on the shipping cost - but if it is that much better for the video cards - probably worth it!

One question about doing crossfire with the video cards. I have never done this so new to me. How do the video cards connect and which one do I put the monitor on?

Also for the CPU OEM - I changed that - the cooler then is in place of the heatsink that comes w/ the retail of the processor?

Do I need some sort of extra cable to connect them?

OK I will re-work this and then re-post.

 

[TheDJ08]

OK here is the updated build!

NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

(2X) SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M - OEM

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR10664GK - Retail

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

Total: $1519.38

How do we look now?

 

[aevm]

Wow... Now tell us where you live and what time you're away from home

Look here, there's a Crossfire connector:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...on=SAPPHIRE+Radeon+HD+4870+100243L+Video+Card

Yes, the Xigmatek is installed on top of the CPU, just like the stock cooler. If you buy retail you have to throw away the stock cooler before you can install a better one.

Cables: Here's a 245BW monitor, just as an example. As you can see, it has a single DVI port. It also comes with a single DVI cable anyway. Use the DVI cable to connect one card to the monitor. If that doesn't do it try the other. Sorry, I have no idea which one, go ahead and experiment...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...Widescreen+LCD+Monitor+with+Height+Adjustment

 

[TheDJ08]

aevm - OK excellent! It looks like I will have everything I need - should be a few weeks before I make the purchase.

I appreciate all the help - this is an excellent forum w/ great advice. I will let you know when its all set up and my thoughts ;p

 

[TheDJ08]

Here is the newegg link:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=8344692

 

[TheDJ08]

Question:

I am going to be purchasing a new monitor as well - looking at this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824014173

It has an HDMI hookup and the video cards have an adapter for HDMI - how does this work with PC's? Is HDMI only used for movies on your PC?

That will bring the total to around $2000 - so I upped the budget a little, but that is OK ;p - now that's it - no more ;p

 

[TheDJ08]

Aevm -

The motherboard is of course out of stock and I was just going to order the parts!

Any other motherboard I can get that is just as good and will work with what I have? Or any other place I can snag this one?

Thanks

 

[TheDJ08]

Well I guess false alarm as they have put it back in stock - think its time to purchase ;p

 

[thepowerofdonuts]

I'd switch to the Cooler Master RC-690

 

[TheDJ08]

Question on DVI -

The monitor has a DVI-D Input and the Video card has DVI-I ports. Does the cable that comes w/ the monitor go from DVI-D to DVI-I?

Also - the video card has an HDMI adapter - should I use the HDMI instead of DVI or is there not much of a difference?

 

[Wanker79]

DVI-D monitor to a DVI-I card is fine. I panicked the first time I read that too, but wikipedia saved the day again!

 

[TheDJ08]

DVI-D monitor to a DVI-I card is fine. I panicked the first time I read that too, but wikipedia saved the day again!

Ahh I should of looked at Wikipedia! - Thanks for the help.