New Computer for around 1200 bucks

[lucimansz]

Hi everyone!
I'm glad I came across this forum. I got to learn so much here within a few weeks. I'm trying to assemble a computer for myself so I need some help picking up the right parts. It'll be great if you guys can help.
I intend to game on it mostly (other than the usual movies, music and occasional p**n!) . I started off with a budget of $1000(without the monitor) but it was kinda getting tight so I moved it up a little. I build myself a gaming computer around 3 years back. So I have some knowledge, but it's mostly outdated now I guess!
Anyways here's the parts that I have picked out right now

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 - $300
I have been reading a little and looks like a 1gb 4870 gives better performance than the stock 512mb one so I picked this one up. How good is the cooler on this? Will I need extra cooling if I don't overclock it?

CPU: Intel Core2 Quad 9400 - $270
I'm still not sure if I should get dual or quad core. I want some future compatibility and I'm assuming a quad core would be better for that? Also how good is CPU this in overclocking? I won't be overclocking initially but MAYBE in the future after I get some idea of how it's done!

Motherboard: Asus P5Q http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299 - $120
I might get another 4870 in the future for Crossfire so I want a motherboard which supports that. Just want to keep my options open.

RAM:G Skill http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 -$80


PSU: COOLER MASTER RS-650 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171023 - $100

Case: Raidmax Smilodon http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156078 - $75
I'm really not sure about this case. I just picked it up cause it looks cool! If there's a better one for around the same price or few bucks more please suggest.

Hard Drive: Seagate 640GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148335

DVD Writer: Samsung 22x DVD with light scribehttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

CPU Cooler : Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 and Xigmatek retention bracket http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

I hope I did not miss out anything there. The total in my Newegg's wishlist comes up to around 1200 bucks (without shipping and rebates applied). For my monitor I'm planning Acer 24" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009125

Please let me know how this build looks and suggest recommendations if any. If I can reduce the price by changing the components without compromising a whole lot on the performance then do enlighten me!
Thanks again for all the help and information.
Cheers!!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

That's a pretty good looking build. I would change a few things, however.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041 $319.99 - This has more cache and will overclock better.

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $69.99 - The Intel chips run best with a 1:1 memory ratio. DDR2 800 RAM will still alow you to overclock the CPU to 3.4GHz without even overclocking the RAM. The fast timings and low voltage of this RAM is hard to beat.

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX TX 750W Power Supply Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx $119.99 -$20.00 MIR - Corsair PSU's are higher quality than Cooler Master.

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-nine-hundred-steel-atx-mid-tower-computer-case-900-antec-nine/q/loc/101/202997579.html $99.24 - This case is very popular due to its excellent cooling. The Antec 300 case also cools very well and can be found for about $55 if you need to cut some corners.

Good choices on everything else. The WD6400AAKS is slightly faster and $5 cheaper. Someone will chime in with a comment about the cache, but it doesn't have any impact on performance.

 

[lucimansz]

Thanks for the recommendations shortstuff_mt... I have a question with the hard drive though. Newegg shows that WD6400AAKS has cache of 16MB and the Seagate has a cache of 32MB. So wouldn't the Seagate be better performance wise ? Or am I missing something else?

 

[aevm]

+1 to everything shortstuff_mt said.

For a 24" monitor you should try to get a HD 4870 X2. It will do better than two HD 4870 1GB cards in Crossfire, especially since the P5Q Pro runs those two cards at x8 each and introduces bottlenecks. It's also only $550 or so instead of 2*$300. Of course, the disadvantage is that you have to pay for the whole thing how, instead of buying the second card later when it's somewhat cheaper.

You can cut costs a bit more with a RC-690 case
http://www.buy.com/prod/cooler-master-690-without-power-supply/q/loc/101/206177908.html
and dropping the Xigmatek products. Overclocking the Q9550 won't really do that much in games, and the Q9550 can be overclocked a bit with the stock cooler anyway.
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=770&p=5

No worries about the p**n either. Apparently it prevents prostate cancer, so you'll be very very happy about it some day.

 

[aevm]

Thanks for the recommendations shortstuff_mt... I have a question with the hard drive though. Newegg shows that WD6400AAKS has cache of 16MB and the Seagate has a cache of 32MB. So wouldn't the Seagate be better performance wise ? Or am I missing something else?

Actually, the WD6400AAKS has a slightly better average read rate than the Seagate 640MB, despite the smaller cache. Nothing you'd notice in real life, of course, like 89 MB/s vs 90 MB/s.
Edit: the Seagate has a longer warranty, 5 years vs 3 years, that's why it costs a few bucks more usually. Think of the extra $5 as insurance against the 12% chance that your $75 product will fail in year 4 or 5. Pretty fair, I guess.

 

[roadrunner197069]

Seagates quality has been real bad lately!!!! Stay away from them for a while. WD has a 32mb cach edition here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

 

[huron]

+1 Shortstuff.

Yep - the WD actually performs slightly better.

Have fun with the build

 

[lucimansz]

Thanks for all the replies. As per the recommendations, I have modified my list as follows:

CPU: Inter Core2 Quad 9550 - I'm ditching the Xigmatek cooler to make up the difference between 9400 and 9550 a little bit. Maybe I'll buy it later if I start overclocking.

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX.

RAM: G.SKILL PI Black 4GB

Case: Antec 900

Hardrive: I'm changing to WD 640Gb with 32 MB cache suggested by roadrunner197069.

Aevm, spending 550 for a video card is a little beyond my budget now so I think I'll stick with the Sapphire 4870 and maybe buy a 22" monitor instead. Thanks for the tip though.
The total for this build comes to a little more than 1200 after all rebates and instant discounts I think. So that seems reasonable. Are there any other suggestions or recommendations or does this look good to go?

Thanks for all the help again!

 

[aevm]

You're very welcome. That's a very nice build. Good luck putting it together!