First Build, Buying Soon!!

[spidy]

Alright, this could be it for me. Take a look, tell me what can be improved.

Case: Antec 300
$55
Mobo: Asus P5Q Pro
$135
PSU: Corsair 650TX
$100
CPU: Intel C2D E8500
$190
GPU: POWERCOLOR HD4870 1GB GDDR5
$300
RAM: G.SKILL PI Black 4GB
$70
HDD: Seagate 640GB SATA 32MB Cache
$80
DVD:LITE-ON 20X DVD±R
$24
CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
$32
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket
$7
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
$6

Total: $1,108.84
I will be overclocking to 3.8GHz (9.5 * 400Hz), at the very least.

Questions:
1) Should i upgrade to the P5Q E? What's the dual-LAN good for?

2) Do i need to buy more case fans right away?

3) Would 8GB RAM be overkill?

4) Will 650W really be enough to run this system w/ a 4870x2?

 

[swifty_morgan]

I'd buy fans right away if I was going to buy that case and run that card and also over clock. Why not buy an Antek 900 and get it over with ? More room and has all the fans you need.

 

[Proximon]

I wouldn't buy the P5Q-E for the dual LAN. I would buy it for the general quality and superior overclocking compared to the Pro.

Gigabyte actually has a nice overclocking line out now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358
(Nothing wrong with your PSU choice but check out the combo deal. That's also a very nice PSU, and modular.)

I realize this card doesn't SAY vapor chamber cooled, but it sure looks as if it is... I would go with this one for the price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

 

[spidy]

@swifty: that's another $50, i'm trying to minimize cost with a cheap case.

@Proximon
What's the point of dual LAN?
either way, it's worth the extra ~$15 for the P5Q E?

anything different with the gigabyte? they look pretty much the same (large heatsinks on the southside bus, northside bus, and w/e it is across the top and next to the CPU).

The reason I chose the Corsair PSU is because of the 52A +12V rail.

I should upgrade to 1033 RAM, so i can OC past 400MHz, yes?

 

[Proximon]

The point of dual LAN... Well, on a very fast broadband connection, running two separate connections to your router supposedly reduces latency in online twitch gaming. Might get you a few extra frags
If you were printing your book out on your network printer and playing WOW at the same time, it might be handy that way as well.


The more I see of this Gigabyte board the more I like it:
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/10885-gigabyte-ga-ep45-ud3p-p45-motherboard-review.html

 

[swifty_morgan]

i realize trying to cheapin up a build. I do it too. But did you figure out how much 2 new, quiet 120mm fans will cost, and on top of that you add shipping costs or tax to each fan........ adds up quick. The egg has the 900 for $99 with free shipping right now.

 

[spidy]

i can get 2 fans very cheap anywhere local, or even at best buy when i go to buy Fallout 3 and Red Alert 3, and soon enough Call of Duty: World at War.

how much more actual space is there?

 

[aevm]

Very nice build.

+1 for upgrading to Antec 900 instead of buying extra fans. Or maybe get a RC-690 for $79 from
http://www.buy.com/prod/cooler-master-690-without-power-supply/q/loc/101/206177908.html

Edit: If you're thinking of a 4870 X2 then get a 750TX (it's $20 more at newegg). BTW, P5Q Pro + HD 4870 X2 will beat P5Q Pro + two HD 4870 1GB because the P5Q Pro is based on P45 and Crossfire runs at half-speed.

Another good PSU, even better than the 750TX, but it's $12 more:
http://www.buy.com/prod/pc-power-co...ire-power-supply-ocz/q/loc/101/205811356.html

 

[Proximon]

It's quite interesting to see all three Antec cases side by side. The 300 is smaller, but adequate room. The 900 is larger and fancier and once you factor in fans and such is a good deal. The 1200 is bigger yet... downright vast.

Each case makes the same statement: "engineering first, looks second."

 

[swifty_morgan]

If you owned a 900 and got a 300 and had them side by side you'd see that the 300 is crampier, not as tall, and doesn't have the "open" area on top with a big fan in it.

Somebody mentioned another brand case. Stay away from it. The metal is thin, the front "mesh" area is thin and will bend or dent if you look at it the wrong way. It's a $40 case priced too high.

 

[slomo4sho]

Each case makes the same statement: "engineering first, looks second."

This 300 definitely doesn't put looks second:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/254158-28-antec-project

 

[spidy]

Ok, so the gigabyte motherboard that Proximon mentioned, but i'm sticking with the Corsair 750TX.

i'm still not convinced the case is worth it, but i haven't had time to look around for better cases yet. any new suggestions for a better case?

 

[spidy]

Ok, so i'm stuck on the Case and PSU.

you've all said the Antec 300 might be a bit small and might have poor airflow, so the 900 is the next step up. the 900 has a bunch of good deals that negate it's increased cost.

it's either going to be the current setup of Antec 300 + Corsair 750W for $155, or the Antec 900 and the Antec Neopower 650W for $160 (after $30 combo discount).

My only concern is the possibility to upgrade to a 4870x2 (or 5870(or x2)) in the future. A 750W PSU would be a better choice for that. The nearest the 900 can do is a deal with the antec 850W TPQ (true power quattro) for $190 (after $25MIR and $30 combo deal).

that might be the choice for me, with the Antec 900 and i wouldn't come close to using that much power for a long time. Anything wrong with the Antec TPQ series??

 

[Proximon]

What can I say? The Corsair is the better PSU but the 900 is the better case. The Neo 650W is a good PSU as well.

I would probably go with the 900. You really do need to buy two 120mm fans for the 300, and that drives the price up.

The TPQ is a good PSU. Seems like a good deal if you can afford it.

 

[spidy]

The way i see it, the 650W won't be enough power in the future, because this computer will last me for many years (3+), and the 300 might have space/airflow issues. that leaves the antec 900 for the case and either the corsair 750 or the TPQ 850, both are good. the 850 and the 900 have a combo deal for $35 off, and at that point the price difference actually benefits the 850 by $10, so it's a clear winner.

 

[Proximon]

The only problem found on the TPQ is that it's not very efficient below 200W. Since you are running a 4870 you should be fine.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=58

 

[spidy]

Yeah, i've used a power calculator before, and i think it hit around 440W, so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[spidy]

[strike]Case: Antec 300[/strike] Antec 900 $100
[strike]$55[/strike]
[strike]Mobo: Asus P5Q Pro[/strike] GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P $115
[strike]$135[/strike]
[strike]PSU: Corsair corsair 650TX[/strike] Antec TPQ 850 $90 (combo w/case)
[strike]$100[/strike]
CPU: Intel C2D E8500
$190
GPU: POWERCOLOR HD4870 1GB GDDR5
$300
RAM ram : G.SKILL PI Black 4GB
$70
HDD: Seagate 640GB SATA 32MB Cache
$80
DVD:LITE-ON 20X DVD±R
$24
CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
$32
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket
$7
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
$6
Windows Vista 64-bit
$110

Total: 1,205.88 - ($20 MIR, $25 MIR, $35 combo) $80 = $1125.88

Thanks a lot everyone, I think i've got it now!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Looks good!