Computer Build Please Help

[jhunch]

So this is going to be the first computer that I have built. My goal is to make a computer under 800 after rebates. I also want the computer to work. Here is what I have please help me out. This computer is going to be for mainly gaming purpose.

1 Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DVR-116DBK - OEM

1 XION AXP 100 Gaming Series AXP100-001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

1 Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJB 160GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM

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

1 CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

1 Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PDC34G1333LLK - Retail

1 Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q9400 - Retail
ASUS P5Q3 LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Subtotal: $789.92
Shipping: $27.31

 

[xthekidx]

You have some work to do here. Start over. First off, what is your budget and what monitor resolution will you be gaming at?

For a gaming build, Phenom II cpu's currently offer the best bang for your buck, either the 940 BE or 720 BE would be the best options I think.

DDR3 Ram is pointless on the LGA 775 platform, and almost pointless on the AM3/AM2+ platform, just stick with DDR2, you will see no difference in performance.

You picked a slow HDD, go with a WD3200AAKS if you can afford it.

For a 4850, the 750tx is overkill. A 550vx would be enough for you to crossfire two 4850's on, so drop the 750tx.

The case you picked is going to be cramped, and it doesn't have any reviews on it that I can see so I would be warry of it. I would go for the Antec 300 instead.

 

[jhunch]

The Budget is around 800 dollars, and I'm not too worried about the resolution.

 

[jhunch]

For the resolution I would like to get 1900 x 1200 also I would like to stay away from AMD

 

[xthekidx]

Antec 300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300

Optical:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231219

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit and AMD Phenom II X3 720 Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.181307

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4850 512MB <===improved cooling so you can OC this bad boy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102833

Total comes to $797.87 after shipping and before $40 MIR.

 

[xthekidx]

The resolution of your monitor has a large effect on the GPU you need to power the monitor, more pixels means more space for the GPU to render, which means more strain on the GPU. For 19x12 res, you might want to consider something more powerful than a 4850, most games new games will be a little slow at that resolution. xfired 4850's would be good, or perhaps a 4890. Ideally for that resolution you would want a GTX 285/4850x2 or better.

 

[xthekidx]

You want to stay away from ATI, but you picked an ATI card...you mean you want to stay away from AMD? Any particular reason why?

If that is the case, then look at an E7400 or E8400 CPU on this motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

 

[jhunch]

Alright, do you know about a Intel Processor though, I have no clue about AMD. I have always had a Intel Processor and I have never had any problems with them

 

[xthekidx]

The 720 BE from AMD offers the best performance for your dollar in gaming, its about equal to the E8400 from intel in single threaded games. In multithreaded games it has the advantage because it has an extra core, and its cheaper than the comparable Intel offerings. For budget gamers its a great option. Its a Tri-core CPU. The 940 quad core does about as well as the i7 920 in gaming (and is much better than the Q9400 in gaming) and is about equal to the Q9400 in video editing and file compression ect.

 

[xthekidx]

For gaming, you really only need 2 cores right now, most games don't use more than that. So since this is a gaming build, go with an Intel dual if you don't want to get an AMD CPU (but I doubt you will have problems with an AMD CPU...they are just as good as Intel as far as production quality goes...)

 

[jhunch]

Would it be a good investment to invest into a quad core right now?

 

[xthekidx]

For gaming, I would say no. You will see more of an improvement with having faster clocked cores than having more of them. If you could pick between a dual and a quad for the same price at the same speed (like a Q9650 vs E8400) then yes the Quad is better, but quads are much more expensive, and for gaming its not worth it. On your budget, I think the 720BE or a dual would be best for you. If you really want a quad, then a PII 940 would be good.

 

[jhunch]

Alright do you have any suggestions for the motherboards for Dual Core Intel ?

 

[xthekidx]

You might consider this CPU for a quad, roughly the same price as the E8500 and can be OC'd to 3ghz or faster
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115207

For motherboards, you should get one that supports xfire, since you are looking at a 4850 and gaming at 19x12 res...I think you will want to add another later. The motherboard I suggest earlier would work fine, and is the best one for the price. You could also check out the ASUS P5Q Pro.

 

[jhunch]

alright thank you

 

[jhunch]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121257

Would this work for a video card?

 

[xthekidx]

Well it would be better than the 4850 for your resolution, but you wouldn't be able to max out every game. It depends on what games you will play. At 19x12 res you need a fairly powerful GPU to max out your games with playable framerates. I would stick with an ATI card so you can xfire later, SLI cards wont work for SLI on the P45 chipset.

 

[jhunch]

alright so use the 4850 than?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Yes, I would stick with the 4850.

I'm going to back up xthekidx's suggestions here. Picking an Intel CPU just because you've always used them is not a good reason. The Phenom II 720 is an excellent CPU for a gaming computer. I would try to put fanboyism on the shelf and just buy the components that will work best for your intended use. I'm not loyal to either manufacturer. I just buy the component that will get the job done the best for the best value. It's hard to beat the value of the AMD 720 CPU right now.

 

[xthekidx]

alright so use the 4850 than?

Well if you can afford that GTX 260 then the ATI equivalent would be a 4870 1gb:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

 

[jhunch]

Thank you for you input I did decide to try out AMD with this computer.