What to build?

[StarfishPrime]

Hello,

I hate waiting for stuff to load! I no longer do gaming on my PC. Mostly Internet and digital photo processing. I seem to build a new box every 3 years but am not a huge enthusiast. Currently running a AMD 4200+ 2.2GHz; 4Gb Corsair; Radeon 850 with 256Mb Ram; and a WD 2500KS as my boot drive.

Any CPU/mobo/RAM/video recommendations. How about 64bit vs. 32bit? I don't mind spending a few extra bucks so I don't have to wait as much but dont want to throw money away either.

Thanks

 

[tecmo34]

■CPU: Intel Core i5 750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz
■MOBO: ASUS P7P55D-E LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB
■RAM: G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
■HSF: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus - Optional item if you don't plan on overclocking
■HDD & PSU Combo: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB & CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W
■GPU: XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB
■DVD: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer
■Case: Antec 300 Illusion
■OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
■Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - Optional item if you don't plan on overclocking

Total Cost - $980.89

 

[StarfishPrime]

Thanks for the advice!

This is what I've spec'd out today - Please tell me where I'm out of my mind and wasting money. My goal is to build a fast loading machine (I know I prob shouldn't be running Windows) and a quiet machine. I'm mostly on the Internet, do digital photo processing on 20Mb files, some video, music. I prefer stability to OCability:

CPU: AMD Phenom II 965 Quad
Mobo: Asus M4A785TD AMD 785G 6Gb/s SATA
RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) DDR3 1333
HSF: Thermaltake 120mm Hydro Dynamic 16dBa
HDD: Seagate Cheetah 15K SAS 6Gb/s (It seems like SSD drives are a bit buggy and expensive)
PSU: Enermax Eco80+ 500W (EES500AWT)
GPU: ?? Got no clue ??
CASE: use my current Antec P180
OS: Win7 64bit

Big difference is yours is $980; this one about $1700 without the GPU. I got nothing against Intel - just all my prior builds were AMD. I do like the i5 750 Lynnfield recommendation. Its just a few bucks more than the Phenom 965 and less watts

 

[MadAdmiral]

What's your budget?

CPU: Switch to the 955. It's a better value.

RAM: Don't get 8 GB. Especially with 4 GB sticks. You're spending a loot on unnecessary parts. Get some G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 for $115. If you really need 8 GB for some programs (none of which you've listed), get 2 kits.

HSF: If you don't want to overclock, you don't need this. If you do, get the Coolermaster Hyper 212.

HDD: I wouldn't spend $300+ on a non SSD. That's just silly. Any standard HDD is going to be slower than an SSD. Get a Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB and a 80 GB SSD for a total of $345.

PSU: POS. Stick to Antec, Corsair, OCZ, FSP, SeaSonic or Silverstone.

GPU: HD 5770 $150ish.

 

[tecmo34]

i5 750 vs II X4 965 Comparison

Your build is way overpriced for little or no true performance increase... SORRY!!

Since you have a Antec P180, you can drop the case for additional saving. The Samsung is pretty much the fastest non-SSD you can purchase and I'm pretty sure your motherboard will not support SAS drives. They are not standard SATA type drives and are designed for servers. To have the fastest loading machine, I would add this to your build (Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2M080G2R5 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal SSD) and it'll move your cost up to $1,218.89 and will be far faster than your build.

 

[MadAdmiral]

If you really want to spend near $1,700, go with the i7-920.

The changes would be:

CPU: i7-920 $290
Mobo: Asus P6X58D Premium $310
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Redline 3x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 6 $230 after rebate
Everything else the same.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I don't think that MoBo supports Serial Attache SCSI (SAS).

Don't think ya need more than 4GB

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.phpname=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=152

 

[builderbobftw]

Mad's right. Spending 800$ on RAm isn't worth it, you're ram will be worth about 50$ in 3 years.

 

[jonnyboyC]

i would possibly recommend against the Seagate harddrive you have in your possible build, I feel that enterprise class harddrive are becoming obsolete in alot of ways. I feel if you got 2
:SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
that you'll get similar performance far more storage and at a discount to that seagate.

For the PSU: I would also shy away from less name brand psu's possibly you could go with
: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

As for your gpu you i would probably suggest an ati 4670 or if you want the new dx 11 probably the 5570
5570: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874
4670:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102854

 

[StarfishPrime]

Best answer selected by starfishprime.