Looking for component suggestion!

[Eric513]

Please close thread, made a new, updated one

 

[nerrawg]

Um... Have you read this sticky?: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/257075-31-guide-choosing-parts

If not I suggest you do. Look at the parts that talk about HDD's and PSU's in particular.

One way to cut costs would be to go with an AMD phenom II X3 720 BE and an AMD 790GX mobo of you're choice. 3 cores is enough for gaming. If you want 4 cores for other reasons, the AMD phenom II X4 940 BE can be had very cheap now together with some 790GX mobo combo's. Both of these CPUs will perform faster than stock 6600 at a stock speeds comparison and about the same if both are overclocked - better value either way.
Cheaper and more powerful GPUs can be had - especially if you go CF with 2 x 4830/4770/4850s, depending on how much you want to spend (listed by terms of performance). These will blow that 260 (regardless how crazy you OC it) out of the water.

 

[kevin1212]

^+1 for nerrawg

Yea, please don't go with that q6600, those days are over. There are way more valuable and efficient quad cores to be had these days, like, you said it, the phenom II X4, or even the core 2 quad Q9000 lines.

Simply put, under any budget, if you want value and efficiency, amd is the way to go, for now at least. And the phenom II X3 is truly the sweet spot.

 

[Eric513]

Alright, I'll look into those, but anyone have some suggestions for cases and fans?(Really not looking for liquid cooling)

 

[nerrawg]

Yeah, what is the price range and size that you want in case.
Also are you looking for a modded gamer style look - or something more clinical and sleek?

 

[Eric513]

Mediumish size? Whatever it takes to fit these parts. I probably wont be adding extra hard drives or anything, just minor tweaks. Looking for a good value case somewhere between 60-130. Functionality is more important than looks, so probably more on the sleek side(more of a basic case, not loaded with LED's)

 

[Eric513]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196 This look alright?

 

[nerrawg]

That is a great great case - recommend it highly, I can cough up some reviews if you want - but really that one is quality and it is easily portable as well.

 

[Eric513]

Alright thanks, if I CF and go with the Phenom II X3, what kind of fans/heatsinks will I need, if any?

 

[Eric513]

oh, and how much power will a PSU be needing?

 

[nerrawg]

Depends if you want to OC or not. If you do I recommend either a cheap arctic freezer 7 Pro or the much better and only a little more costly Xigmatek HDTS1283, which is excellent at only 37 bucks:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003&Tpk=HDTS1283

check the measurements on the motherboard and case though before you buy, just to make sure it fits. If not there is a small version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233014

It is pretty darn good as well

 

[Eric513]

Yeah, I was thinking to go with the arctic freezer, any need for extra internal fans?

 

[nerrawg]

Not unless you really want to heavy OC - in that case you can buy site directed fans to cool the chipset for example, but I don't think you will need that extreme measure. If you go CF then side intake fans can be good, but I think you will be ok without - depends on how "hardcore" you want to be

 

[Eric513]

Well, I'm not too tech savvy, so I'll probably only be minorly overclocking, any suggestions on the PSU? I can post the current setup if you want to look at that too

 

[nerrawg]

Post the current setup and I'll take a look at it if you want, that will determine the PSU

 

[Eric513]

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131331
Processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649
Video Card - 2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161279
Hard Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148316
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184
Cooler - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

 

[nerrawg]

These two around 600-650W should be good and give you extra room to spare:
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
or
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

both are excellent PSU's

You might be able to get by with a 500-550W, but you will only save like $10 anyways. Here is an example of a good 550W:
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

as you can see - its only $10 bucks less, don't really think its worth saving and taking a chance that you will need that power in the future.

Personally I have to say the PSP & C looks very good.

 

[nerrawg]

Just curious, have we gone over budget -cause that tends to happen -if so I can find places to cut

 

[Eric513]

Awesome, thanks! Does the general set up look good? Everything should work together and fit in the case? Any other accessories needed, besides a cd/dvd drive?

 

[nerrawg]

Also for the mobo - go with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

 

[nerrawg]

Better yet - this combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190734

 

[Eric513]

Nope, not over budget at all, only at $820ish with no OS

 

[nerrawg]

I would recommend this memory instead as well:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145
OC it together with the processor.

 

[Eric513]

Alright, with the combo and the new memory, the price is back down to $790

 

[nerrawg]

This hard drive is a lot better as well, more stable (problems with the old seagate .11 versions) and quicker even though it has a larger capacity.
sry forgot link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218