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noahz5   07-20-2009 at 10:37:12 PM

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within one week

BUDGET RANGE: US$600-750

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Watching movies, gaming, surfing the internet, etc.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, DVD Drive, harddrive

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: Have a 24" LCD Samsung T240HD; don't really have a preference, open for suggestions

OVERCLOCKING: Yes SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No (Not anytime soon)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I am looking to build a dependable PC that can do pretty much everything...I am probably going to sell my PS3, and start PC gaming. I want to be able to watch movies/shows in high definition without a hiccup, and I want it to be able to play any game I throw at it.


Here is the wishlist configuration I have so far, but am very open to suggestions:

RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEB 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156078

GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128388

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150359

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115017


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166


I am really looking forward to building my first computer, I don't know why I never did it before. Thanks and I am excited to hear any feedback.


Message edited by noahz5 on 07-20-2009 at 10:40:22 PM
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zipzoomflyhigh   07-20-2009 at 10:53:19 PM
- 0 +

No. You got it all wrong. Q6600 is old technology, 65nm, overclocks well but runs very hot. Not my frist choice for $200 lol.
No. You do not want a G41 for overclocking and it certainly wont crossfire.

Your other choices look good.

You should be looking at a Phenom2 X4 940BE in that price range. For gaming, the 940 is faster than the Q9550 and nearly keeps up with the i7 920 in most cases.

For $55 cheaper, the Phenom2 X3 720BE is only very very slightly slower than the 940 in gaming, but is also easily overclockable from its stock 2.8ghz to 3.5 or even 3.8ghz.
Of course it loses to the 940 in multi-threaded apps.

Look at the newegg 940/720 combo's with mobo. For true 16x/16x crossfire you'll need a 790FX. For 16x/8x you can get a 790GX or even cheaper just a 790X.
Make sure you get one with a 750 southbridge though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.213790

790GX Gigabyte w/Phenom 2 940 X4 $249

$10 cheaper than your Q6600 and G41.


Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 07-20-2009 at 10:57:24 PM
------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.2 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
 Reply to zipzoomflyhigh
noahz5   07-20-2009 at 11:09:26 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for the feedback...Is there much of a difference between Intel CPU and AMD CPU? So, from what I took from your post, my new wishlist looks like this:

RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEB 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156078

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128387

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150359

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103471


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166

This setup would cost me $710.94 + shipping - mail-in rebates.

I have never overclocked a computer before, but am going to attempt it. This is my first time building, so I've been doing a lot of reading up online. Thanks and I am open to suggestions.


Message edited by noahz5 on 07-20-2009 at 11:11:58 PM
Reply to noahz5
zipzoomflyhigh   07-21-2009 at 01:57:38 PM
- 0 +

Dang the 940 was $175 yesterday!! What the heck.

Well I'd wait and see if the price drops again. Actually last week they had it with a free 790GX mobo. I missed it too, dangit.

You may want to consider a the 945, a AM3 mobo and DDR3 for future upgradability.

Lets see, the mobo, ram, cpu you picked is $350, lets see how much more to get you on a AM3 platform.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.211941 P2 945 and 790GX Asus mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231180 2x2gb DDR3-1333


$355 - $15 rebate, actually cheaper than the AM2+ platform with DDR2.


Message edited by zipzoomflyhigh on 07-21-2009 at 02:09:43 PM
------------------------------ P965/Q6700@3.2 8MB HD4850 OC Edition
4GB Corsair XMS 800
Vista64/Win7
Fatality 550w/Antec 300
 Reply to zipzoomflyhigh
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