Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > New Build - Never Overclocked - Need Hardware advice

New Build - Never Overclocked - Need Hardware advice

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - New Build - Never Overclocked - Need Hardware advice

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
vbman   10-06-2009 at 08:11:52 PM

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Nov 1 BUDGET RANGE: 800-1400 After Rebates – About $1200 as spec’d

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Gaming, Work(Dual Screen for VS2008), surfing the internet, watching movies)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (keyboard, mouse, OS, HD WD Black 750, DVD Burner Sony Optiarc)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (newegg.com)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe – Have never overclocked before
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe – would like to stick with 1 Graphic Card hence the maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (currently using 2 19” Hanns-G HX191DPB(DVI) 1280x1024, would like to increase resolution to either 16xx or 19xx depending on how this will effect Graphic card needed and system cost...)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (Using the September $1250 System Build as guide)
SELECTED PARTS: (Subject to change based on Feedback – Would like to stick with AMD)
CORE:
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail $189.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103674

MB: (Always used Asus MB’s before)
ASUS M4A79T Deluxe AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $188.99
Xtreme Phase for AM3 CPU w/ DDR3 support, TurboV
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131363
or
ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $199.99
Xtreme Phase w/ ROG Gaming Performance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131392
or
(Article recommends for multigpu support)
MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard – Retail $164.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130223

Memory(not familiar with what memory needed for volts/lacency…– Article memory was sold out)
mushkin HP 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996652 - Retail $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146868

VIDEO:
SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail $259.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102857
All 5850 are unavailable – just using this as placeholder – What brand would you get.
How well would this card work in 16xx and 19xx resolution with effects...

Monitor: (Wide screen or No Wide screen for games? – DVI or HDMI ?)
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail $199.99
SPDIF out connector
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236052

CASE/POWER/ COOLING: (Since I’ve never overclocked – Not sure what’s needed)
System will have 1 or 2 graphic cards – most likely 1 – see above
3 HardDrives: 1 WD BE 750gb and 2 1TB WD BE
1 Sony DVD Burner
How much power needed and cooling for CPU…
NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $109.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] %20Tempest

PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply – Retail $129.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 5CF%20750W
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail $ 36.50
Free 15 ft. USB cable w/ purchase, while supplies last
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 0HDT-S1283

As you can see, a lot is still up in the air since I’ve never overclocked and am upgrading resolution.

Any positive feedback is appreciated and changes to what's selected.

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
Bronze Home Brew badge dndhatcher   10-06-2009 at 11:51:22 PM

A wide screen monitor is the only way to game. Lets you see the game and have your status/compass/toolbars at the same time.

The 5850 is a great GPU choice and availability should improve as time goes on. ATI will also release a cheaper and less powerful 5700 series GPU soon so you should probably check for them when you are ready to buy. XFX has the best warranty. Sapphire seems to make good cards but some people have had bad support when there were issues. ASUS and HIS are both good GPU companies also.


You might consider going with Samsung F3 single platter 500GB or dual platter 1TB drives. Fewer more dense platters makes for better performance.


That case looks good. Other cases to check out would be the Antec 900, Antec 902 and Coolermaster HAF 922. You could even look at the Antec 300 illusion to save a little money.


If your main purpose was gaming I would recommend an i5, but if you are doing large VS projectsI would go with an i7 920 if it fits in your budget. It will multi-process better than the PhenomII which may improve your VS2008 experience. Toms this month specifically limited themseleves to AMD CPUs because they have been doing mostly i5 and i7 builds at the mid and upper price points since these new intel CPUs became available.

ASUS P6T SE Motherboard (since you prefer ASUS)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131386
Intel i7 920 CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202
Corsair XMS3 Ram 6GB (3x2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145250
Coolermaster Hyper 212 CPU cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065


Message edited by dndhatcher on 10-07-2009 at 12:02:27 AM
Reply to dndhatcher
vbman   10-07-2009 at 03:10:55 AM

What do you think of the I5 750 instead of the i7 920 and what motherboard for it?

I'm used to always stack memory in pairs - didn't know you could do an odd # of sticks.

Any issues with asus monitor for gaming or dvi over hdmi

Thanks for the reply.

Reply to vbman
Bronze Home Brew badge dndhatcher   10-07-2009 at 03:26:38 AM

The x58 motherboard does triple channel memory. All others use dual channel.

For gaming alone the i5 and PhIIx4 are pretty much a wash. The i5 may be a bit better right now, but AMD will have a 6core AM3 CPU out next year so it has a better upgrade path if games go the way of GTA4 and make better use of more cores.

Reply to dndhatcher
vbman   10-07-2009 at 05:20:03 PM

Anyone have any preferences on monitors. Who to avoid who they like for quality.

Reply to vbman
Bronze Home Brew badge dndhatcher   10-07-2009 at 06:24:55 PM

Monitor resource site:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/faq.htm

Though I use a cheap Acer and am perfectly happy.


Message edited by dndhatcher on 10-07-2009 at 06:25:37 PM
Reply to dndhatcher
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > New Build - Never Overclocked - Need Hardware advice
Go to:

There are 1276 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.472 seconds
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Content
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them