Tom's Hardware: Topic >$1000 Build
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Good day, and thanks in advance for any help. My "old" rig recently crapped the bed with a fried MOBO (presumably.) I've been..."lightly" exposed to computer hardware and the building/maintenance of such. Besides recent research I am also an "Aviation Electricians' Mate" in the USN, where I deal with computers/electricity etc...daily. I am by NO means an "expert" however in PC builds, and do not have a serious "in-depth" understanding of the many complexities of PC's. However, I do feel as though I have a grasp on the whole process and I am inclined to continue efforts towards becoming ..."in-the-know".
"My Intentions"
I have (near as I can figure) everything that I will need to complete a new build; tools, even an ESD kit, and a foundation of knowledge on the sensitivity of the components and electrical theory. Now, what I want to build is a new machine with the capacity to sustain upgrades in the predictable future, be capapble of multi-tasking and have enough power to "hang-with-the-majors" (potentially.) From my entry-level research that I've done, the following is the build that I've composed as a "draft" so-to-speak. So, what I'm looking for is input & advice to possible considerations I haven't made through ignorance; to improve compatibility, upgrade-"ability", and most importantly COST-EFFECTIVENESS.
I find that in the spirit of cost-effectiveness I have settled on an AMD build as a basis opposed to Intel, but for the record I am open to all suggestions and have no real bias against Intel. So without further a-do, here is what I'm thinking of;
Motherboard
Biostar TA790GX 128M Motherboard - AMD 790GX, AM2+ 128MB DDR2 Side-Port, ATI Hybrid, CrossFire, PCIe 2.0, Gigabit, USB2.0, RAID, HDMI/DVI
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] =B450-2378
OR
Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard - AMD 790FX, Socket AM3, ATX, Audio, CrossFireX, PCI Express 2.0, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, SATA, RAID
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] 20MA790FXT
CPU
AMD Phenom X4 9600 Quad Core Processor HD9600WCGDBOX - 2.30GHz, 4MB Cache, 1800MHz (3600 MT/s) FSB, Agena, Quad-Core, Retail, Socket AM2+, Processor with Fan (1.05 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] 1-AM2-9600
OR
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Dual Core Processor - 3.10GHz, Socket AM3, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s), Retail, Unlocked Multiplier
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] CatId=4432
RAM
2x Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB) (0.4 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] CatId=3412
OR
?? havent really decided yet
GPU
Visiontek Radeon HD 3870 Video Card - 512MB GDDR4, PCI Express 2.0, CrossFireX Ready, Dual DVI, HDTV, HDMI Support, Video Card (1.3 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] CatId=3670
(very open to GPU suggestions; primarily CrossFire ready options)
Hard Drive
Western Digital WD1001FALS Caviar Black Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200 RPM, 32MB, SATA-300
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] CatId=2459
PSU
XION Power Real 1000W ATX Power Supply (2.74 lbs)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] .74%20lbs)
All wrapped up in the ever-sexy;
CASE
Cooler Master HAF 922M ATX Black Mid-Tower Case - 5 External 5.25" Drive Bays, 5 Internal 3.5" Drive Bays, 2 200mm Fans, 1 120mm Fan (30 lbs)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 20Case%20-
I'm sure the PSU is more than I will need; however in the spirit of ever changing technology I want my purchases to last beyond the original intent. As for the rest of it, if it isn't inherently obvious the primary options would go together and the "OR"'s respectively together; the two builds range from ~$710 to ~$900 (not including S&H.) All of my options are negotiable (hence my post) and I'm open to suggestions to all aspects, my purchasing timeline is lenient and will mostly likely be within the next few months and I would like to keep the price tag below $1,000 (I know the complexity of such a timeline as I'm sure much of the latest and greatest will appear during such.) However, I'm a fan of staying just one step behind the times for the sake of reduced prices, as such I love bargains as much as the next person.
I will not be needing mouse, keyboard, optical drive , or a monitor (though I have considered upgrading my current.)
Hoping to hear from a more enlightened source,
(Much love 
[haha])
-"devvo"
p.s. I am ignorant to all aspects of "overclocking" but would be willing to learn and apply the process if it helps (as I'm sure it would, and I would eventually like to make it a standard practice in the future) to re-thinking my builds.
Message edited by devvo on 08-24-2009 at 12:29:51 PM
Indeed, that is a beautiful build; now I know why I ask questions 
-- Thanks for the input; I've appreciated all of it. Now pretty much all thats left is just a little bit more research for my self and the bank roll to fund this party!
Thx;
-devvo
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