Help on new E8500 gaming build

[tylenardo]

It is my fist build and Im just looking for any comments the gurus over at the TH forums might have. I am planing on possibly adding another vid card for xfire in the future but for now am just starting with one. I was wondering what you guys thought about the SAPPHIRE 100243TXSR Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
vs the SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card . Is the 4870 really worth the extra $50? Also any advice on cooling would be appreciated since I have heard the stock heat sinks suck on the e8500. Am I forgetting anything? Any help is appreciated.

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This is my build as of tonight:

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

LITE-ON Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model iHDS118-04

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: tomorrow

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, some photoshop

BUDGET: trying to keep it under $1000

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com

BRAND PREFERENCES: no preferences just looking for the best bang for the buck

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: I will be using varying resolutions because I use a 22'' acer monitor and a projector on a 100'' screen

Thanks

 

[xthekidx]

I would go for this GPU, the 4870 you were looking at was the toxic version, which is not worth the price IMO, but this one is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810
Or if you like to play at high AA, then you should get this one, it is the 1gb Toxic version, which is worth the price since its only $5 more than the regular 1gb:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102815

I would opt for this drive instead, its faster and bigger, same price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074&Tpk=wd3200aaks

Your other choices look good, however by my calculation you are way under 1k and you could definitely get some better parts, starting with the case. I would suggest this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
or if you wanted a really nice one:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0288150

 

[xthekidx]

I would also get this cooler to allow for the potential of overclocking:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
with this backplate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019
and thermal interface material:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

 

[Proximon]

xthekidx has nailed it. I agree in all ways.

I own the P5Q-E, and can't fault anyone for buying one. Mine is perfect.

However, the Gigabyte UD3P is always less and gets even better reviews:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

Finally, you'll want a cooler so you can overclock that CPU a bit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

 

[xthekidx]

Finally, you'll want a cooler so you can overclock that CPU a bit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Maybe Proximon posted while I was posting and didn't see my post about the cooler, I'm not sure...

But the coolers we suggested are the same coolers, except the one that Proximon suggested comes with the backplate packaged with it. However if you count the MIR that comes with the regular S1283, then the route I suggested comes in at a couple dollars cheaper, and it actually cools a tad bit better because it doesn't have the nickel coating that the Dark Knight has (it is somewhat counterproductive, but makes for good marketing).

MIR can take like 6 weeks though, so maybe you don't want to deal with that in which case Proximon's suggestion is a good one.

 

[Proximon]

Ya the nickel plating does knock about 1C off the cooling I think. Of course, they have to get some more of those DKs in stock, they are out right now.

 

[Akebono 98]

Love your build--it's very similar to mine!

Excellent advice from both xthekidx and Proximon above.

I too would get a better case--I like the CM-690 myself because I have one, but the Antec 1200 does give you a little more space if you want to Crossfire later (a nice to have), though the 690 is sufficient. The Coolermaster HAF 932 is even better than the Antec if you've got extra room in your budget.

The Toxic edition has the better cooler, so that's also a nice to have, especially if you overclock the card in the future. I'd go with Sapphire 4870 1GB Toxic.

+1 on the WD SE16 320GB drive suggested by xthekidx. It's a great budget/value drive that's also pretty fast. Of course if you can swing it, the best one overall is the WD Caviar Black 640GB. It's even faster.

Between the P5Q-E and Gigabyte UD3P, sometimes it's a matter of whether you're an Asus fan or a Gigabyte fan. I'm an Asus fan, though not a fanboi.

As for cooler, I'd prefer the non-Dark Knight version because it cools a tad better. The black nickel plating costs you about 1 degree Celsius in CPU temperature. However, the Dark Knight package is convenient because the required backplate is sometimes out of stock. But if you do go with the regular cooler and can't find the Xigmatek backplate, the Thermalright LGA 775 Bolt Thru kit is exactly the same thing (which I use as well).

Good luck!

 

[Akebono 98]

Of course, given all of the enthusiasm on this thread from the three of us and the cross-postings, you might also have guessed that we all have pretty similar tastes and parts to you... Welcome to the club!