[New System Build] $900 Gaming Computer

[hayab250]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming!

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard and Mouse, OS (Plan on using Windows 7 RC)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: doesn't matter

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, later though

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050, 1920x1080



Antec 300 Case and Antec EA 650W PSU Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198951
$107

Asus 21.5" WD HD 1080P Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051
$170

AMD Phenom II X3 720 and Biostar 790GX Mobo Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.200066
$228

G.Skill 2X2GB DDR2 1066 RAm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
$55

HIS IceQ 4 + Turbo Radeon HD 4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161265
$184
Planning on buying another in a few weeks for crossfire

WD Caviar 640GB 32MB HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
$75

Samsung DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151175
$23

Core Contact Sunbeam 120mm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004
$36


Questions:

When I do crossfire my 4870's will the EA 650W have enough power?

The 4870's will be running at 8x/8x, will they bottleneck?

Is there a noticeable difference at 16x/16x?



Total comes to around $900 with shipping

 

[Guest]

I'd upgrade to this cpu cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

and save a few buck on the ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

otherwise it looks pretty good. you'll probably want a larger psu, 750 or more and it's going to be a tight fit in that antec 300. it's quite a bit more but i'd recommend the antec 900.

 

[xthekidx]

I wouldn't run two 4870's on the EA650. I would say a 750w PSU at a minimum. I would go for this PSU, its $110 after using the Promo code, and after $30 MIR its only $80, which is an awesome deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

Alternatively, You could just get that Case/PSU combo and just go lighter on the GPU's. Two 4850's in crossfire will be plenty for 1080P resolution.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102837

Running at X8 bandwidth for crossfire makes very little difference unless you are going quadfire (4850x2's or 4870x2's), it makes maybe a 1% FPS difference to go with X16 X16 with 4870's.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

and save a few buck on the ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

I'd stick with your original RAM choice. AMD CPU's benefit from the extra speed of DDR2 1066 RAM. That G.Skill kit is a very nice kit.

 

[gkay09]

+1 to xthekid and shortstuff

+1 for 4850 crossfire...Actually you can get 2x4850 for about $190 now...SO for just $6 more, you get considerably high performance and for the 1080p, 2x4850 is more than suffice...it would play all the games maxed out @ that resolution...

HIS Hightech H485FN512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
10% off with promo code VGA661, ends 6/12
$104.99
($94.99 after $10.00 Mail-In
Rebate 14-161-259 )
Free Shipping*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161259

So if you go with 2x4850, then you wouldn't have to change the PSU also...

And as shortstuff said, dont change the RAM...AMD CPUs take advantage of that speed...

 

[xthekidx]

Yeah keep the DDR2 1066 ram.

 

[evongugg]

I'd say two 4770's CF for $220.00.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-4770-crossfire,2288-13.html

You only need a 550W power supply. You can save there.

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonhd4700/requirements.html

 

[hunter315]

Good luck getting your hands on 2 4770s though, and right now 4850s tend to be a bit cheaper and a lot easier to find in stock and the 750Watt power supply give him far more room to upgrade in the future

 

[Onus]

Those HIS GPU models with the IceQ4 fans on them exhaust their heat; I think worth paying a little more, especially if you think you'll want a pair of them (that's a lot of heat).

 

[nickhoff]

+1 to jtt...