Upgrading a 6.5 year old P4 ($600-800)

[cocoseng]

Hi everyone,

I am a longtime reader, first time poster looking to upgrade a 6.5 year old PC. The overall theme of my rebuild is energy efficiency as a priority with value and power as the secondary and tertiary considerations. This machine is the home PC, but really is dedicated to photo (CS3) and video editing (CS3) as well as a moderate amount of gaming.

Please let me know what you think of my build so far.

Thanks,

Cocoseng

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: By the end of October (Win7 release) BUDGET RANGE: $600-$800 after rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Photo editing, gaming, video editing, web, typical business suites

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor (Samsung 22" 1920x1080), keyboard, mouse, case

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, but I bought the CPU from Microcenter COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not likely

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Energy efficiency is key which makes me curious if the video card and PSU I selected are ok. I am sold on the i5 750 so I really want help in fashioning a system around that.

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Here is the list:

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail ($170)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0317379

ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail ($150)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131404

SAPPHIRE 100279-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail ($145)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102849

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail ($100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail ($85)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

 

[mavanhel]

If you're just going with one video card, then you definitely don't need 650W of power. This Corsair 550VX should do you nicely.

 

[build]

You can get a decent motherboard for a lot less, such as http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157171

At that resolution, you might want to upgrade the GPU to a 4890. Here's a nice combo with DDR3 RAM and $20 Rebate http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.265385

PSU is a bit much as mavanhel already mentioned, but I'd go for a cheaper one such as this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017 . It's modular and comes to just $60 after rebates.

As for the rest of the build, here's some recommendations:

Antec Three Hundred Black - $54.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner SATA - $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB - $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

 

[cocoseng]

Thanks for the help. I am not familiar with that mobo manufacturer, do they come highly regarded?

 

[obsidian86]

asrock is an offshoot of asus

 

[jared51182]

I don't know how much gaming you do, but getting a 5850 wouldn't break your budget here, and it has lower power consumption than the 4870 - at load and at idle.

Here is the Tom's article about the 5850, including a look at power consumption - with comparisons. Also, with the above suggestions for price reductions, you might be able to get back that cost as well.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5850,2433-13.html

 

[masterasia]

I don't know how much gaming you do, but getting a 5850 wouldn't break your budget here, and it has lower power consumption than the 4870 - at load and at idle.

Here is the Tom's article about the 5850, including a look at power consumption - with comparisons. Also, with the above suggestions for price reductions, you might be able to get back that cost as well.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5850,2433-13.html

Yeah......get the 5850 its only $100 more than the 4870. It's a like having 2 4870s.

 

[jared51182]

Also, the 5850 satisfies all of your goals. It is more energy efficient than alternatives, it gives massive value for a reasonable price (powerful card), and that touches your last requirement of getting power.

Also, as noted above, at that resolution build suggested getting into the 4890, which is more money, and higher energy consumption, so you get it all, but at an even higher price - but as I noted before, still doesn't break the budget.

 

[build]

The 5850 would be better, but I don't get the 2nd part of your post. Are you saying the 4890 was not a good suggestion ?

 

[jared51182]

No, not saying that at all, just saying that you recommended a better card, and that the 5850 does it even better. I was using your suggestion to further my suggestion. I think the 4890 is better than the 4870 given the resolution, and your comment just reinforces getting a better card than the 4870. If he was spending more money on the 4890, he may as well make a jump to something more energy efficient and more powerful at the same time.

 

[build]

Ah alright I get you now

 

[cocoseng]

Thanks, everyone. One last question, is going WD Green harddrive taking this efficiency thing too far? I do not want to take too much of a performance hit.