New Gaming Rig

optimus2009

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I am planning to get a new system with the following configuration:-

1. Processor - Core i5 750
2. Motherboard - MSI P55 GD65
3. RAM - Corsair XMS3 DHX 1600MHz 4GB Kit
4.Graphics Card - Sapphire ATI 4890 1GB
5. CPU Cooler - Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus
6. Cabinet - Coolermaster CM 690
7. SMPS - Coolermaster eXtreme Power 650W
8. Monitor - BenQ G2412 HD

Is the above config a good value for money deal or are there better alternatives.

Pls let me know ur suggestions...
 

Transmaniacon

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Better PSU;

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx ($89.99 w/ $10 MIR + Free Shipping)

This new RAM is very fast and has the low voltages necessary for the i5 CPU;

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231279 ($94.99 + Free Shipping)

Edit: Look for an XFX HD4890 because you will get the benefit of the lifetime warranty.
 
All good advice.

As far as value for the money, with a 24" monitor I think a 5850 would be the better deal.

I did a quick search for the BenQ G2412 and didn't find it in the US. Please tell us where you are and what your price range is.
 

optimus2009

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Thanks everybody for all your valuable suggestions.

I am in Bangalore,India.

The reason for choosing Sapphire 4890 is that after the launch of 5000 series the price if this card has been decreased by sapphire but not much by other companies.

BenQ G2412 is available in india.
The official link is:-
http://www.benq.co.in/products/LCD/?product=1489

It costs arround Rs 10000/- or 200USD approx.

What should be the best RAM for MSI p55 gd65 at the same price of the corsair xms3 1600 DHX whic costs arround Rs 6K or 120USD approx.

Pls suggest RAMS from all Brands(like Corsair and OCZ) as the availability of these brands are more.

By the way I ll check the availability of the G.Skill RAM and post soon.

I intend to use the OC Genie feature for over clocking as this will be first time I ll be overclocking. So all config should safely allow me to overclock.

By the way what clock speed can I safely achieve with this config ?
 

optimus2009

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continued...

I did some search about memory voltages and realized any voltage greater than 1.65V may damage the memory controller. Thus I think the corsair XMS3 DHX 1600 DDR3 is of no use as its operating frequency is 1.8V.

Correct me If I am wrong...

And one more thing abt prices in India. They are always higher than the US prices as the usual conversion rates are not followed and prices are decided separately. Thus the increase % vary from brand to brands..

One more query...

Currently I am going to have 2 SATA2 HDD but in near future I plan to buy 3 1TB SATA2 HDD which will be made to work in RAID 5 .

Hence will the 650W smps going to be enough be enough ??


Waiting for response before i could finalize the config to buy..
 
Yes it's still enough power.

It's hard to help folks in India. You don't seem to have much in the way of online retailers. Is this because of postal restrictions?

Here's a general idea about RAM

4GB, the lower the latency the better, frequency is less important. None of it make a huge difference in performance, so don't spend too much.

Here in the US it's fairly easy to get 1600Mhz, 7-7-7-24, 1.65V at a reasonable price. Generally here I would consider 1333 CL8 to be the minimum. I wouldn't recommend any RAM that ran at 1333 CL9 for sure.

Corsair
G.skill
OCZ
Kingston

Are all good. Kingston is universally available I think.
 

optimus2009

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I am zeroing towards the following config after incorporating the suggestion depending on availability:-

1. Processor - Core i5 750

2. CPU Cooler - Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus

3. Mainboard - MSI P55 GD65

4. RAM - OCZ Platinum Series DDR3 1600MHz @ 1.65V CL 7-7-7-24 P/N - OCZ3P1600LV4GK 4GB Kit http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr3_pc3_12800_platinum_low_voltage_dual_channel

5. Graphics Card - Sapphire ATI 4890 1GB

6. Cabinet - Coolermaster CM690

7. SMPS - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W

8. Monitor - BenQ G2412 HD
http://www.benq.co.in/products/LCD/?product=1489


Is this cofig OK now or is there still room for improvement ??

What over clocking speeds can I safely achieve using the Hyper 212 plus cpu cooler?
 

optimus2009

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I checked out local prices..

1. core i5 750 + MSI P55 GD65 costs Rs 20K or 400USD
2. core i7 920 + MSI X58 PRO E costs Rs 25K or 500USD

DDR3 memory prices have suddenly risen up to 20% in a month it will take more than a month for the prices to drop..

So I was thinking If I currently go with 2nd option and single 2GB stick and ditch the cpu cooler for the time being... (Wont over clock for the time being)

I can get the remaining ram and hopefully a 2nd 4890( hopefully prices drop) and cpu cooler later...

Is this a better option or shall I stick with the previous one...

LGA 1336

Pls relpy soon... Eagerly waiting for your suggestion as I am buying the system tommorow...
 

Transmaniacon

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There really isn't much benefit in going with the 860 over the 750 for gaming purposes, the 860 has hyperthreading which is beneficial to programs like CAD/Design and Audio/Video Editing. I would stick with the i5 build, and make sure you get a dual-channel kit of RAM, so 2x2GB.
 

optimus2009

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I am not taking about 860 but i7 920 which is LGA 1366 platform so I do get 2 16x PCI Express + plus I get HT for my other applications [The system is also going to be used for other multi threaded apps] + intels later high end architecture will follow the LGA 1366 platform.

So I mean to say it may be future proof...

What r ur thoughts about it??
 
If you were planning to use a 6 core cpu in the future or wanted to used two high end cards such as 4890 or higher, then the X58 makes sense.

Otherwise the LGA 1156 socket has just as much longevity planned as the LGA 1336.

Be aware though that a 650W PSU, even a good one, won't run two 4890s for any length of time.
 

optimus2009

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I am planning to to make purchases in two phases : -

Phase 1:
Processor(i7 920) + MB(MSI X58 Pro E) + 3GB Triple Channel Kit + 1 4890 + Cabinet + Some decent SMPS + Monitor(Benq G2420HD)

along with this above use my existing 2 HDD( a 250GB and a 500GB) , and other peripherials

Phase 2: after few months
CPU Cooler + 2nd 4890 + Required SMPS + 3 1TB HDD to run in RAID 5


what r your thoughts about it...

Pls suggest some RAM if it is OK with the plan..

What should be the PSU wattage to run the complete set up of both phases..

 

optimus2009

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continued...

I ll overclock only after phase 2 so that the cpu does not bottleneck the 2 4890 cards....

Eagerly waiting for reply....
 

Transmaniacon

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Why buy 2 power supplies? Just spend an extra $10-20 and get this;

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx ($109.99 w/ $10 MIR + Free Shipping)

And it would just be easier to get a 6GB kit now, plus this way you don't use up all your RAM slots and have the option of getting another 6GB down the road, plus this OCZ RAM is a steal!;

OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365 ($109.99 w/ $20 MIR + Free Shipping)
Free 4GB USB flash drive w/ purchase, ends 10/31
 
Yes, the RAM suggestions are the same for the i7 920, you just have to buy 3/6GB instead of 4GB.

If the price is too high, getting the 3Gb seems OK... you should clearly buy the bigger PSU first.

 

overshocks

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Funny guy, just makes up a 860 outta nowhere.
 

overshocks

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Where did you read "just as much longevity" from? Link me if possible
 

overshocks

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good ram 1333mhz 7-7-7

why not get 5850, or 5770 when it comes out. directx11 will be good if you play games that support it, plus all those extra features..lower power consumption, eyefinity..etc

you'll need 750W for 2x 4890. choose a 80+ PSU