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$900 build for friend, fast processor, sins of a solar empire, dvr

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - $900 build for friend, fast processor, sins of a solar empire, dvr

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mortonww   11-09-2009 at 04:57:50 AM

Yeah, so this is a new build that my friend wants me to help him pick out parts for and then assemble.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Middle of next month (unless we find relevant parts on sale during Black Friday)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Watching, recording live tv (cable and OTA), Playing Sins of a Solar Empire.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, OS (will be windows 7 pro 64 bit with student discount)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: whatever works

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A.

PARTS PREFERENCES: I think we want to go Intel for CPU

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 (not sure. He will be using his LCD as a display and he didn't know what resolution that was. waiting to hear back from him. Let's build around 1080 for now and scale back if we can when more info arrives?)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: PC just needs to be fast with every-day tasks and play Sins of a Solar Empire at good framerates at 1920 x 1080.

Here's what I'm thinkin'

Intel Core i5 -750

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V8
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] CatId=4749I'm not seeing that large of a selection of 1156 CPU coolers.

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

Asrock P55 Extreme
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

This ASUS P7P55D PRO motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131405

RAM: 4 GBs of OCZ Gold dual-channel DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227483

G.Skill Ripjaws Series 4 GB (2 x 2 GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231303

PSU: Corsair 650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

GPU: XFX 1 GB HD 4870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

Case:
Cooler Master Storm Scout
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119196

DVD Drive: LG 22x DVD drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136167

TV Tuner: Hauppauge Win-tv-hvr 1850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6815116015

AverMedia AverTV Combo PCIe ATSC/NTSC/QAM TV Tuner Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product


The total comes to around $1,033 without rebates considered.

His budget was $900, so this is pretty close but any cost-saving tips would be appreciated. I have extra Arctic Silver 5 from my build to use with the heatsink.

Or, feel free to completely change this build.

EDIT: HDD


Message edited by mortonww on 11-09-2009 at 11:39:33 PM
------------------------------ i7 920 @ 3.2 GHz w/Cooler Master V8,
OCZ Platinum DDR3 1600 MHz 8-8-8-24, Sapphire Radeon HD 4870X2,
Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB, Corsair HX1000 Watt PSU,
Intel DX58SO, Cooler Master Storm Sniper mid-tower, Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
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EXT64   11-09-2009 at 05:28:14 AM

That CPU cooler looks like a bit of overkill, but since you have one, I guess you know if it is worth it or not. The Cooler Master Hyper 212 pus is a pretty decent one too, though it goes in and out of stock a lot:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

------------------------------ Phenom II X4 940 BE 3.0GHz - 1.25V > GA-MA790GP-DS4H > XFX ATI 4850 1GB > 4GB OCZ Platinum 1066MHz 5-5-5-15-2T > PCP&C 610W
Athlon II X2 250 3.0GHz > GA-MA770T-UD3P > Sapphire ATI 4650 512MB DDR3 > 4GB OCZ Platinum 1600MHz@1066MHz > XP/Win7 Enter 64
 Reply to EXT64
Bronze Home Brew badge overshocks   11-09-2009 at 05:30:38 AM

^don't get that mobo if you are going to overclock (seeing you getting a v8 heatsink)

 

that mobo is not good for overclocking, select asus or gigabyte..
also that mobo doesn't offer x8 x8 lanes

 

for ram, that ram is good but you can get 1333mhz/1600mhz CL7 at the same price/lower
the REAL world performance is about the same..so go for the cheaper solution..

 

1600mhz 7-8-7-24 lower price $105:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231303

 

1333mhz 7-7-7-21 lower price $95:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231276

 

1600mhz 7-7-7-24 same price $115:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231279

 

i suggest going for the cheapest one i suggested here because, the REAL world performance isn't much different..it's practically the same actually

 


Message edited by overshocks on 11-09-2009 at 05:31:39 AM
------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
 Reply to overshocks
AtomicDumpling   11-09-2009 at 06:18:17 AM

You should probably go with a better brand of motherboard if you decide to overclock, which will raise your price. But you can buy a cheaper CPU cooler to save some money unless you plan to really push the OC.

You might also want a larger hard drive since you will be recording high-def programming. That will take up a lot of storage space. Another nice touch would be a Blu-Ray burner drive if you can afford to bump up your budget.

------------------------------ Learn How to build a computer or see my recommended computer parts to buy.
 Reply to AtomicDumpling
wsupduck   11-09-2009 at 07:23:22 AM

I could play sins on my super slow 1.7ghz p4 with I can't even remember what graphics card,(had 128mb of ram though) on a 1240x1024 (or whatever that standard is with the normal settings on a completely full hard drive that was fragged as a mofo with good frames, over kill system


Message edited by wsupduck on 11-09-2009 at 07:24:31 AM
Reply to wsupduck
mindless728   11-09-2009 at 04:12:03 PM

you realize that the tv tuner won't be able to pick up encrypted cable channels, usually only the channels that are in your area over the air will be under clearQAM and usable meaning channels like comedy central and such will not go through the tv tuner

you need something called a cableCard tuner for all cable channels

Reply to mindless728
mortonww   11-09-2009 at 11:33:27 PM

All right, excellent.

So, I'm switching the cooler out for the hyper 212 -$30

Going with overshock's first set of RAM -$10

This ASUS motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131405

supports x8 x8 for crossfire. +$30

Quote :

you realize that the tv tuner won't be able to pick up encrypted cable channels, usually only the channels that are in your area over the air will be under clearQAM and usable meaning channels like comedy central and such will not go through the tv tuner

you need something called a cableCard tuner for all cable channels



Thanks. I didn't know what clear QAM even meant. So something that supports QAM, like this card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

would be what I'm looking for? -$16


Message edited by mortonww on 11-09-2009 at 11:40:25 PM
------------------------------ i7 920 @ 3.2 GHz w/Cooler Master V8,
OCZ Platinum DDR3 1600 MHz 8-8-8-24, Sapphire Radeon HD 4870X2,
Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB, Corsair HX1000 Watt PSU,
Intel DX58SO, Cooler Master Storm Sniper mid-tower, Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
 Reply to mortonww
Bronze Home Brew badge overshocks   11-09-2009 at 11:38:04 PM

^everything looks great. i'm not sure about the tv tuner card, hopefully someone else can answer that...

best of luck to you!

------------------------------ You can select me as Best Answer
e6400 oc'd 3.2ghz,CCF cooler
3870x2, p5k/epu
750watts psu, antec 900
 Reply to overshocks
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