last minute parts check & 3rd party cooler question

[dblake]

Posted a similar msg yesterday but cant find it anywhere.

Getting close to ordering but am still puzzling over cpu cooling.
Computer usage is general purpose & video editing. Vvery little gaming, no or slight overclocking.
1st time build. My proposed parts:

mobo-ga ep45-ds3r
cpu q9450 (or 9550 if the alleged price drop happens soon)
case-lian li pc-65b
ram-mushkin 4x2gb ddr2 800
graphics-gigabyte radeon hd 3780
power-corsair 650tx
3 western digital caviar sata hard drives
2 lg sata dvd burners

I've read a couple reviews saying the q9450 stock cooler is crappy so am wondering if a 3rd party cooler is necessary with no major overclocking anticipated & which one would fit with that case/mobo. Ease of installation would also be a consideration as it's my 1st build.

 

[acoz]

I would go with a 4870, i wouldnt change the cpu. Motherboard maybe a x38 or x48. Cpu cooler, i would use XIGMATEK HDT-S1283.

 

[aevm]

Change the case to this RC-690.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

It's $49 less at newegg (or $66 less if you get it from www.buy.com) and it has 120 mm fans (3 included, up to 7 if you insist). That Lian-Li comes with four 80mm fans. That's not bad but for that money you can have the RC-690 and several SFF21E fans and have a lot better cooling. Also, the RC-690 is big enough to fit any cooler and video cards you please, while with that Lian-Li I'm not sure.

Change the HD 3870 to HD 4850.

 

[dblake]

yeah the rc-690 was originally on my list but I'm infatuated with the motherboard tray on the lian li. Is that feature not that useful or easier to install with?

Also had the 4850 originally but dropped it down to the 3870 cause I'm not a gamer & figured it was too high end for my needs-overkill. Not true?

 

[aevm]

If you're not a gamer even the 3870 is probably overkill.

Well, you only use that motherboard tray once a year or so, but the fans matter every day. But never mind that. If you get the 3870 you'll be fine withe lian-li. The problem was with the HD 4850, because (a) it generates lots of heat and (b) it has that silly single-slot system that doesn't provide a vent to kick the heat right out of the case.

 

[aevm]

Maybe a GA-EP43-DS3L would be appropriate here. One PCI-E 2 slot, 6 SATA ports (so you can still add one hard disk later), and cheaper than the DS3R.

Ignore that x38/x48 comment. I'm sure the poster was thinking you're a gamer and interested in Crossfire.

Apparently a newegg reviewer got an 8800GTX in that case. If he's for real, then the HD 3870 should fit easily.

The 650TX should fit too. Another reviewer got a Thermaltake 700W in that case, and these PSUs have the same physical dimensions.

Cooler: this is getting very weird. Out of 259 reviews, only 3 mentioned the cooler, and all of them were Zalman. Anyway, since the Zalman 9700 fits, and that's a pretty big cooler, chances are a lot of other coolers would fit too.

 

[dblake]

thanks for the detailed comments aevm.
I think i'll re-examine my case & graphics card choices.
i'll search or start another thread. Need to find out the best graphics card for a non-gamer.
Still mulling over cooling needs. Maybe i'll start with stock & add later if needed.

 

[aevm]

No problem.

If you play no games at all, or just Solitaire, you could get something like HD 3450 for $26 after rebate and shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102724

Or you could spend $80 and get an HD 3850 512MB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103051
It won't handle Crysis properly, but it's a very decent card in most other games.

There's also a 9600GT for $115 at newegg, a bit more powerful than the HD 3850, but I think that's already overkill for your needs.