New Build! To be completed Approx this Xmas..

[MyNameIsDan]

So I decided to replace my old computer for a midrange machine that will be used for light (time constraints ) gaming and media works.

Here are my plans so far for around $1000 or so (Canadian pricing):

Cpu: E8400 --> $189.99
Was thinking Q9300 but decided that the E8400 will be enough.

Mobo: The Gigabyte DS3L ($120) or Asus P5Q-SE ($115.99)
Not sure which, but leaning towards the P5Q.

RAM: 4gb DDR2-800 -->$70 (purchased)
Grabbed the OCZ Platinum series for $70.

Case: Antec 300 --> $69.99
PSU: ?

Graphics Card: HIS 4870 1gb --> $394 (expensive yes, after S&H)
Probably is overkill but decided to grab it because I can, and the enthusiast in me wanted it.

HDD and other components will be decided along the way.
(500gb/32mb cache for hard drive)

My question is what would be a stable PSU for this? was hoping 600W or 650W would be a safe choice...
Love to hear any opinions and such.

 

[xcess]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

 

[groo]

I bet the s775 quads will drop in price with the release of the new Intel settup.
Basicly, I'm saying don't get set on anything if you months away yet. maybe look for black friday sales.

 

[Nik_I]

those power supplies are good, but the links are useless to the OP. newegg.ca is overpriced so i would suggest you look elsewhere (it ended up being the same story as tigerdirect). DirectCanada, NCIX and Memory Express are good, cheap sites to take a look at. as far as psu's go, i would suggest this: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX12598(ME).aspx very good for the price and it's not like its bad quality. there's an even cheaper one that doesn't have the blue LED.

 

[aevm]

Something like Corsair 650TX or PC Power & Cooling 610W would do fine. Also consider the 750TX and the Silencer 750W, if the PC will have TV tuner(s) and lots of hard disks.

Check the following sites for sales from time to time:
www.ncix.com
www.memoryexpress.com
www.newegg.ca

It may be worth upgrading to GA-EP45-DR3R or P5Q Pro. They're not that much more than the DS3L or P5Q-SE and they have lots of additional features.

A good hard drive these days is the WD 640GB (WD6400AAKS). Excellent speed and price/GB. The Seagate 640GB is good too.

 

[aevm]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Newegg.com won't ship to Canada... However, there's Newegg.ca now

Edit: Nik_I has already mentioned this.

@groo: I don't think we do Black Friday in Canada. We do have Boxing Week sales though (Dec 24..31 or whatever). I usually get some really nice sales from www.FutureShop.ca and www.BestBuy.ca every year at that time.

 

[groo]

thats right, you guys already had Thankgiving.
see what jumping the gun gets you, no black friday sales...

 

[MyNameIsDan]

So I guess 650W shall serve me well!

So, any estimates on how long this machine will serve me with games?
Planning to play on 1680x1050 resolution... should last me like what, 2-3 years at best on HQ (no AA/AF)? :O

 

[Guest]

uh why are you getting a 1 GB for TWICE the cost of a normal 4870 then?

at 1680 by 1050 you'll see no benefit what so ever going from 512 to 1024 on a 4870... also paying 400 for a card that shouldn't have even been priced at 300... you got jipped if you were going to pay for that

 

[MyNameIsDan]

Well I'm obviously going to get new monitors later on, giving my siblings mine.
Plus, $400 is actually a decent price in Canada... after shipping and handling and everything...

and not sure if this is true but, the extra memory should do some just in future games where a 512 4870 might have some hiccups...
but meh, *shrug*.

 

[groo]

the 1 gig version will definatly last longer, especialy with what seams to be the trend of offloading physics to the GPU. not to mention future games will have larger texure maps and the like. usable gaming memory doubles every so often. now is about the time for 512 to start coming in handy

I wouln't get a 512 4870. if 512 is enough, get the 4850