Hey guys, I'm putting together my build list for an upgrade that is well overdue (Amd 4200 939 socket), and I have picked out my parts and I am just wondering if there are any better options than what I have. I am mostly concerned with my heatsink choice (possible space issues) and my RAM selection.
Anyways, here are the details:
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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Sometime in the next couple weeks
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Coding, Movies
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Case, Speakers, OS, PSU (Corsair 550VX)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.newegg.com
PARTS PREFERENCES:
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe (distant future)
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
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New Items:
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Delayed New Item:
SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail
I will pick up a 5850 when the first bundles start appearing (which I'm hoping is around the holiday season). Until then I'm running a 8800GTS 320MB.
Existing Items:
Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
So yeah, the questions:
The first question is on my RAM choice. My board supports up to 1600 non-OCed. So thats why I chose the G.Skill with the tighter timings. Is that a solid choice for this build or should I go with something cheaper with more lax timings?
Also, I really don't have much knowledge on selecting heatsinks. I've heard good things about the Sunbeam but I've also heard that it doesn't work so well with some AMD boards and can cover ram slots. Also, I've had two people tell me opposite things on whether it will fit in the case I have.
Lastly, I'm going with AM3 since I am slightly biased towards AMD but also because I can see myself upgrading this easily in the future when I need a new proc. So for now, would a 720 pair well with a 5850? I am planning on OCing the 720 (Why else would you get it?).
Off topic... Look at the power consumption of the 5850 crossfire setup at load:
5850 Review - Power Consumption
479 Watts system draw with a power hungry Lynnfield system... Is the 5850 crossfire capable on a 550Watt psu? Just an observation.
Anyways, here are the details:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Sometime in the next couple weeks
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Coding, Movies
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Case, Speakers, OS, PSU (Corsair 550VX)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.newegg.com
PARTS PREFERENCES:
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe (distant future)
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Items:
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Delayed New Item:
SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail
I will pick up a 5850 when the first bundles start appearing (which I'm hoping is around the holiday season). Until then I'm running a 8800GTS 320MB.
Existing Items:
Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
So yeah, the questions:
The first question is on my RAM choice. My board supports up to 1600 non-OCed. So thats why I chose the G.Skill with the tighter timings. Is that a solid choice for this build or should I go with something cheaper with more lax timings?
Also, I really don't have much knowledge on selecting heatsinks. I've heard good things about the Sunbeam but I've also heard that it doesn't work so well with some AMD boards and can cover ram slots. Also, I've had two people tell me opposite things on whether it will fit in the case I have.
Lastly, I'm going with AM3 since I am slightly biased towards AMD but also because I can see myself upgrading this easily in the future when I need a new proc. So for now, would a 720 pair well with a 5850? I am planning on OCing the 720 (Why else would you get it?).
Off topic... Look at the power consumption of the 5850 crossfire setup at load:
5850 Review - Power Consumption
479 Watts system draw with a power hungry Lynnfield system... Is the 5850 crossfire capable on a 550Watt psu? Just an observation.