First New Build In MANY Years, Need Advise

[69Rocket-Joe]

I am looking to build a new rig for the first time in about 10 years. My last build was an ASUS K7V Slot A Athlon system way back when. It served me well for many years and my most recent computer was a store bought HP. I have the itch now to build another computer and have some parts picked out but need advice on more.

System will be built for use in the following priority; gaming, web surfing, video playback, AutoCAD drafting, small business use.

I already have a mouse, keyboard (wouldn't mind advice on a gaming keyboard for FPS), monitor (Samsung 2443 BWX), Case ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058&Tpk=nzxt%20m59 ) DVD Drive ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187&Tpk=s223 )

Motherboard: MSI 790FX - G70 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130223&cm_re=msi_790fx-_-13-130-223-_-Product

CPU: Phenom II x4 965 BE http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
Might drop down to the 955 if someone can convince me it is the better bang for the buck.

GPU: I want to try out a crossfire setup. I'm thinking two 4870 1GB cards? Open to other thoughts that are not more than $300-400

PSU: I'm thinking this 700w OCZ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018 but not sure if that will be enough.

HDD: WD Caviar Black 640GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&cm_re=caviar_black_7200-_-22-136-319-_-Product

RAM: 4 or 8 GB (haven't decided yet) looking at some OCZ: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227496&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL110509&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL110509-_-DesktopMemory-_-LS4C-_-20227496 Anything better or cheaper?

I need input on a cooler. The case has provisions to run liquid lines through it so that may be an option, would like to try and OC a little but not a ton. Anything I am missing here? Is the onboard audio good enough or do I need a separate sound card? I've got an old Soundblaster Xgamer I can use if that is better than the on board audio.

I'm a little behind in technology but getting back up to speed. I will probably run WIN7, will the upgrade work on XP? If so can I do a clean install with the upgrade disc and utilize the 64 bit version? I'm a little confused on what to do in terms of the OS and how to go from 32 bit XP to 64 bit WIN7. Or am I stuck buying a full version of WIN7?

Thanks for the help,

-Joe

 

[lolzololz]

If you want something more future-proof(so it'll last maybe as long as your old computer did), I'd go with a core i5 and HD 5850 setup. Take away the 2x HD 4870s, and replace them with a single HD 5850. It's cheaper and it has newer technology. With the money saved from switching those GPUs, you could go with a core i5.

Anyways, your setup is high-end as it is. It is by my standards, anyways(I'm still running on an old ASUS K8V-MX MoBo and 1.6 Ghz AMD cpu. I'm looking through threads to find upgrading ideas).

 

[69Rocket-Joe]

Tom's just suggests that the crossfire 4870's is the best graphics option in my budget for GPU's, that is why I went that way. I'd like to stick with AMD.

Any more input? Has anything I've picked out not work with each other? I'm a little rusty on equipment so I might have picked out something wrong.

Still looking for CPU cooler ideas.

-Joe

 

[obsidian86]

rather get the 955 you can easily clock it to 965 speeds

some faster cheaper ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

i'd rather grab a 5870 it is bout as powerful as 2 4870's but has dx11 support

 

[69Rocket-Joe]

rather get the 955 you can easily clock it to 965 speeds

some faster cheaper ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

i'd rather grab a 5870 it is bout as powerful as 2 4870's but has dx11 support

That is what I was thinking about the 955, it is about a $25 difference right now.

Thanks for the tip on the RAM, adding that to my potential list.

Does the 5870 support crossfire in case I decide to go that route in the future? I'll look into it more on my lunch break.

Any thoughts on a PSU or cooler?

Thanks,

-Joe

 

[obsidian86]

yeah all ati graphics cards support crossfire the psu is ok but the earlier ocz units weren't too good

this is some of the best

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022

on the cooler there are many to choose from http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

these are some decent ones

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835124022

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

dont forget thermal paste

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020&Tpk=mx 2 thermal

 

[69Rocket-Joe]

yeah all ati graphics cards support crossfire the psu is ok but the earlier ocz units weren't too good

this is some of the best

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022

Thanks again, I like this cooler you linked to; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 and I'll have to mull over the PSU again as well as the GPU.

Good advise guys, keep it coming.

-Joe

 

[dndhatcher]

The problem with relying on the "best graphics card at price" is its limited in scope and has no thought given to future upgrades. I prefer to start a system with the single best GPU I can afford and buy a motherboard/PSU strong enough I can add a second in a couple years as an upgrade if I need to. Single cards always work, some games dont utilize multiple cards. Single cards use less power and run cooler. The only advantage multiple GPUs ever has is performance/money today.

The new ATI 5000 series has relative low power usage and temperature going for it in addition to DX11. Given your monitor, a single 5850 ($300) or a pair of 5770s ($320) would give you good results and DX11.

 

[overshocks]

Here's a build that I've done for another person, take a look at it and use it as a reference..

I only used newegg, but you can use other sites if you can find the same parts for cheaper.
Or if you can find better combos at newegg

Here's an i5 750 build with new monitor, without O.S

>MOBO+RAM 30 dollar discount
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.289943

>Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197&cm_re=haf_922-_-11-119-197-_-Product

>CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215&cm_re=i5_750-_-19-115-215-_-Product

>Hard drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=spnpoint_f3-_-22-152-181-_-Product

>Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102857&cm_re=5850-_-14-102-857-_-Product

>Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049


>Optical Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

>Heatsink

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

>Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Total: $1,288.88 Before Rebate

This build gives you the ability to crossfire/sli in the future if new games are more demanding. You could add in another graphics card, the power supply is decent and could handle 2 graphics card.

 

[69Rocket-Joe]

Thanks to all for the responses. I am leaning towards an AMD chip. I have only ever had AMD chips. My first computer was a K6, first laptop was a K6-2, first system I built was a Slot A Athlon, and my newest is a store bought Athlon 64x2.

I am putting my plans on hold for now until after the New Year as things are weird at work and they are doing workforce reductions and even though they say they are done and even if they weren't I'd feel safe I cannot justify building one at this time. After the first of the year we will know one way or the other where the company is headed. I will revisit this build at that time and see if any opinions have changed.

Thanks,

-Joe