Help with Budget PC w/ ATI 4870 X2

[pinwanger]

I have about $2500 +- $100 budget this year for computer and I am thinking about building a desktop PC for gaming then purchase a laptop for school.

So here is all I need help on...I want the most stable, fast and reliable motherboard and memory combo that will support ATI 4870 X2 yet at the cheapest price. So yeah best bang for the buck. When I say fast I don't mean overclocking because I am really not concerned with it. I haven't built a desktop system in ages so I am really not familiar with the intel chipset lineup. But here is what I got so far...

Update 1.1
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22

Please help me select the best motherboard memory that will run the above without any bottleneck or inefficiency at the cheapest price possible. Thank you very much.

 

[San Pedro]

I wouldn't go with that PSU, it doesn't have an 8 pin connector which you will want if you're going to use the 4870x2. I think the Corsair 750tx has an eight pin though.

As far as mobo, I think a gigabyte p45 motherboard would work well, especially if you don't plan on using crossfire. You should be able to get any ddr2 800 memory and be pleased, just look for reputable company with low timings and you should be all set. OCZ is what I use and they have some cheap sticks out right now.

 

[jpdykes]

Hi Pinwanger,

- Good CPU choice, if you aren't overclocking you can stick with the stock cooler.

- Change the PSU for a Corsair 750TX, good value at the moment, also well equipped, quiet and reliable.

- Go for 4Gb of DDR2-800. See what deals you can find. Try Mushkin, Geil, Corsair, OCZ.

- For motherboard pick a P45 chipset one from Asus or Gigabyte.

- HDD, seagate barracuda 7200.11 are good and speedy. You could RAID two of them for extra speed or go for a WD Velociraptor if the budget will stretch.

I don't know if you will see the full performance from the X2 variant with that processor, I'm not versed enough to tell you. Other comments people?

Hope that is useful for a start.
Jeremy

 

[ahslan]

LOL! A $2500 rig is no budget pc...just stating...not sure if you mean you will use all the funds for the desktop or split it for the desktop and the laptop...

Anyways, what monitor are you gonna be using? Us tomshardware folks like to save money where its not necessary .

 

[pinwanger]

Thanks for the quick replies, the $2500 is going to be split between Desktop and Laptop, my parents is going to pay about $2200 of it and I am willing to put up another $300 to $400. I was originally going for the Sager NP8860 Laptop which is around $2100 w/ a 9800m GT but its just too hot and too heavy for me.

Anyhow back to the topic, I will use corsair 750TX thx for the advice, for monitors I will use Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22 so the max resolution will be 1680*1050, is that too low to make 4870 X2 shine? And another question, the CPU fsb is 1333, shouldnt i get a mobo that have standard 1333 memory support? Wouldn't ddr2 800 be slowing down?

 

[jitpublisher]

No, you do not need anything over 800mhz memory. Intel processors do not benefit much from faster memory. Also, the latencies are most likely higher on the 1333mhz memory, so again, you don't really gain much at all over standard 800mhz. And, sometimes 1333mhz memory can be a real pain to get it to actually run at 1333mhz.
Stay with the tried and true will work under almost all scenerios 800mhz memory. Even if you get everything working perfectly, we are talking only a 2-3% speed increase, and the only time you would notice it is when you run a benchmark.

 

[Shadow of Dawn]

At only 1680x1050 I would get the 4870, the 4870 x2 isn't worth the extra price at that res.

 

[jpdykes]

I suspect that you aren't going to see a return for the huge investment in a X2 card at 1680x1050 even will FSAA. Probably a 4870 will do nicely. There are suggestions that an X2 will also top $500 so it may not be in the budget anyway if you need a laptop as well.

As for the memory you are into the dodgy realms of trying to work out how to match the FSB to Memory clock at a 1:1 ratio. This does not mean that you need memory clocked at 1333. Someone else may have to help here - otherwise look on the memory section of the forums.

Jeremy

 

[ahslan]

^+1 for the 4870 recommendation for the OP's monitor resolution

And smart choice not getting the super heavy gaming laptop pinwanger...I personally prefer to have a small and light laptop to take to class and use for school and have my desktop for all my gaming needs...

 

[pinwanger]

So if I downgrade 4870 X2, which type of card will be the best for 1680*1050. Nvidia GTX 280 or ATI 4870? And if I do choose to downgrade, should i also downgrade to a cheaper PSU...any suggestions? Thank you very much.

And btw Ahslan, I am planning to get Sony Vaio FW Best Buy version which is awesome, our family recently purchased 2 of those and i fell in love w/ it.

 

[jpdykes]

GTX280 is far too expensive and overkill. It rests in the same level as an X2. Go for a 4870.

I would leave the PSU be - 750TX's are good value and very versatile, so you could in future put in a more powerful card and not worry about the PSU when the games demand it.

 

[RME]

At only 1680x1050 I would get the 4870, the 4870 x2 isn't worth the extra price at that res.

Unless, he wants a card that can last about 2 years!
Then the x2 would be a better choice.
But then again, he could Crossfire the 4870 if he will ever need more horsepower...

 

[pinwanger]

So 750TX and a P45 Mobo will be able to do Crossfire 4870 in the future if i want correct?

 

[jpdykes]

Yes, the 750TX should have the juice and P45 is crossfire compatible.

Jeremy

 

[Kaldor]

P45 boards will do Xfire. However only at 8x speeds once you add the second card. Better off with an X48 which runs both cards at full speed.

 

[jpdykes]

Depends on how much benefit you will actually see from the 16x channel. There was a suggestion it was around 5% for an extra $100 - hardly seems worth it. (Sorry unable to confirm - I'll try and locate the source).

Jeremy