Advice on my desktop setup

[lukdoberder]

lukdo

here's my to-buy list:

proc: intel core2quad q8400 2.66ghz 4mb cache
mobo: intel blk dp45sg p45 s775
memory: x2 2gb dd3 13333mhz
gpu: PC HD5750 1gb gddr5 128bit

im thinking if i should go with this setup or go for i5-750 2.66 8mb

and if i should go with i5, what motherboard equivalent(price and features, crossfire) to intel blk dp45sg you guys can recommend?

purpose: internet/office-30%, adobe
3ds max and other graphics apps-40%
games-30%

Thanks in advance!

 

[saaiello]

I wouldn't suggest building a socket 775 system it is EOL (end of life) either go with an I5 or go with a Phenom II x4. The Core 2 processors and motherboards are way overpriced since you can get much better with newer components for roughly the same price.


ASUS P7P55D-E LX LGA 1156 $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131634

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield $199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215&cm_re=I5_750-_-19-115-215-_-Product

or AMD

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO AM3 AMD 890GX $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131633

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

or

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban $205
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851

Way better performance with these 2 platforms then the Core 2 you were gonna build your GPU is a good pick.

 

[capt_taco]

I would definitely go the AMD route with this one.

If your budget is fixed, I'd go with the Phenom II x4, which ought to run you roughly the same price as a mid-range LGA775 Intel quad core. I would also go with the 5770 for your video card instead of the 5750 -- it will REALLY be worth the extra $20 or so.

If you've got a few more bucks to spend, first thing I'd do is go for a 5850 as your video card. Second priority would be maybe going with the 6-core Thuban if you want CPU power equivalent to an i7.

Seriously, now that AMD has come out with 6-core processors, there's really NO reason to pay a 40% premium for an Intel CPU basically based on name recognition alone. Not unless you're trying to build a $2,500 ultra-gaming rig that will be worth $1,500 by the summer.

 

[capt_taco]

and if i should go with i5, what motherboard equivalent(price and features, crossfire) to intel blk dp45sg you guys can recommend?

Oh, also -- whatever you do, PLEASE do not buy an Intel motherboard, and especially the DP45SG. That board in particular is known to suck a dirty ass; just look at the number of threads in the motherboard forum complaining about "DP45SG sound issues" or something similar.

Intel boards are also notorious for being picky about components. As in, if your RAM doesn't work at a stock voltage or timing that the board likes ... too bad, your system will never be stable and there's nothing you can do about it except buy different RAM and hope it works. You want to adjust the timings or voltage manually? If you touch those settings in the BIOS -- which is really one of the most basic adjustments you can be making -- odds are as good as not that the machine won't even power on next time. Want to overclock? Forget it.

Basically, Intel has decided to "simplify" their boards by making even very basic adjustments not work, which renders them basically useless with any "performance" components or even a lot of run-of-the-mill components. Their customer service also has a pretty bad reputation for refusing to refund/exchange parts under warranty, coming up with any excuse to refuse it and try to blame it on something you did instead.

In summary, they are a horrible, horrible company for motherboards and I would avoid them at all costs. Go with Asus or Gigabyte if you want something reliable and user-friendly.

 

[lukdoberder]

I wouldn't suggest building a socket 775 system it is EOL (end of life) either go with an I5 or go with a Phenom II x4. The Core 2 processors and motherboards are way overpriced since you can get much better with newer components for roughly the same price.


ASUS P7P55D-E LX LGA 1156 $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131634

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield $199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215&cm_re=I5_750-_-19-115-215-_-Product

does the ASUS P7P55D-E LX ready for crossfire?

i think im going to go with the i5-750/asus combo. but one more thing. the only p55 boards available here in my place are:

ASUS P7P55D LE LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131410

and

ASUS P7P55D Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131400R&cm_re=Asus_P7P55D-_-13-131-400R-_-Product

both within my budget.

i just want my board to be crossfire ready and future-proof. ^_^

and fyi, im not a fan of overclocking because doing it will cost me more.

thanks SAAIELLO for your help.

 

[lukdoberder]

Oh, also -- whatever you do, PLEASE do not buy an Intel motherboard, and especially the DP45SG. That board in particular is known to suck a dirty ass; just look at the number of threads in the motherboard forum complaining about "DP45SG sound issues" or something similar.

Intel boards are also notorious for being picky about components. As in, if your RAM doesn't work at a stock voltage or timing that the board likes ... too bad, your system will never be stable and there's nothing you can do about it except buy different RAM and hope it works. You want to adjust the timings or voltage manually? If you touch those settings in the BIOS -- which is really one of the most basic adjustments you can be making -- odds are as good as not that the machine won't even power on next time. Want to overclock? Forget it.

Basically, Intel has decided to "simplify" their boards by making even very basic adjustments not work, which renders them basically useless with any "performance" components or even a lot of run-of-the-mill components. Their customer service also has a pretty bad reputation for refusing to refund/exchange parts under warranty, coming up with any excuse to refuse it and try to blame it on something you did instead.

In summary, they are a horrible, horrible company for motherboards and I would avoid them at all costs. Go with Asus or Gigabyte if you want something reliable and user-friendly.

so intel mobos fail that much? i think im gonna go for asus.

 

[lukdoberder]

I would definitely go the AMD route with this one.

If your budget is fixed, I'd go with the Phenom II x4, which ought to run you roughly the same price as a mid-range LGA775 Intel quad core. I would also go with the 5770 for your video card instead of the 5750 -- it will REALLY be worth the extra $20 or so.

If you've got a few more bucks to spend, first thing I'd do is go for a 5850 as your video card. Second priority would be maybe going with the 6-core Thuban if you want CPU power equivalent to an i7.

Seriously, now that AMD has come out with 6-core processors, there's really NO reason to pay a 40% premium for an Intel CPU basically based on name recognition alone. Not unless you're trying to build a $2,500 ultra-gaming rig that will be worth $1,500 by the summer.

thanks for the help capt_taco!

i dont really trust AMD processors that much in terms of reliability. i heard that they overheat more compared to intel processors, and that important if your living in a hot and humid country like the philippines. but if were going to talk about price and budget, thats something AMD is known for. ^_^

 

[saaiello]

No the board I listed does not have crossfire if you want crossfire get this.

ASUS P7P55D EVO LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131407

Its about $40 more for a board that supports crossfire their are cheaper but they usually run at x4 on the second card you want a board that will run x8 x8 when in crossfire the board I just listed will do that and its a great all around board and please pay no attention to newegg reviews most of those reviews are by people with no computer experience and give bad reviews because their board wouldn't work and most of the time its user caused problems but they give bad revies anyway.

 

[saaiello]

thanks for the help capt_taco!

i dont really trust AMD processors that much in terms of reliability. i heard that they overheat more compared to intel processors, and that important if your living in a hot and humid country like the philippines. but if were going to talk about price and budget, thats something AMD is known for. ^_^

You are like the others that think AMD are no good and say they oveerheat easier the new Phenom II and Athlon II are not like the original Phenoms they are very reliable and have great performance to cost ratio. I have been building computers for some 15 years now and AMD had some blunders that really hurt their rep but their Phenom II line run stable as rocks and run nice and cool and give awesome performance so please dont judge a manufacturer because they had a few bad products.

 

[Pro Llama]

The current AMD line is reliable, and they normally have a good price to performance value. We could help you better if we know the prices in your area. If you have a sight that you are looking to buy from or a even a general price for each of the chips mentioned we can let you know what the best price to performance chip is.

 

[rattman169]

I agree with SAAIELLO, I have own both in terms of processor, and sorry to say this but my hottest CPU that I ever own was an Intel 820D 2.8Ghz stock and I need a better HSF to keep it from getting to warm and I still had issues with fast games and over heating, never had that issue with any other intel or AMD CPU's, my new Phenom II X4 955BE is running at 34C and 47C under load with the HSF running at 25% of it's full speed and at 50C my fan goes to 50% speed to cool it down and it has never in the last month and a half gone above 50C. Only if I overclock will I hear the fan kick in and make a little more noise and that's only when I game under load, about 54C MAX (CPU O/C to 3.6GHZ on stock HSF)

 

[lukdoberder]

No the board I listed does not have crossfire if you want crossfire get this.

ASUS P7P55D EVO LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131407

Its about $40 more for a board that supports crossfire their are cheaper but they usually run at x4 on the second card you want a board that will run x8 x8 when in crossfire the board I just listed will do that and its a great all around board and please pay no attention to newegg reviews most of those reviews are by people with no computer experience and give bad reviews because their board wouldn't work and most of the time its user caused problems but they give bad revies anyway.

but will ASUS P7P55D Deluxe (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product) suffice?they both have x8/x8 support, almost same specs and deluxe is much cheaper.

 

[lukdoberder]

good for AMD. ill take their processor into consideration next time but for now, im going to stick with intel.

 

[lukdoberder]

The current AMD line is reliable, and they normally have a good price to performance value. We could help you better if we know the prices in your area. If you have a sight that you are looking to buy from or a even a general price for each of the chips mentioned we can let you know what the best price to performance chip is.

heres the site of the retailer.

http://www.pcx.com.ph/index.php/

prices can be downloaded but they are all in peso.

 

[Pro Llama]

heres the site of the retailer.

http://www.pcx.com.ph/index.php/

prices can be downloaded but they are all in peso.

The chip you’re looking at is the Q8400 and it cost 8,100. It will perform on par with the Athlon II x4 620 which is 4,850: http://www.pcx.com.ph/index.php/components/processor/athlon-ii-x4-620-2-6g-2mb.html
The Phenom II x4 945 will perform much better than both of them and cost 7,750 but it is currently out of stock.
The Phenom II x4 965 will outperform the 945 but cost 9,050. The PII 965 trades blows with the i5-750 which will run you 9,850. If you have the money for one of these two chips neither will be a disappointment, because they are both great chips.

You can use the same ddr3 ram for all of them. Normally AMD boards cost a bit less than Intel boards. As far as motherboards go; Asus and Gigabyte boards are very well made. ASRock is normally a little cheaper, but they still have strong board I just wouldn’t put them on par with Asus.

 

[rattman169]

I have also used different motherboards over the years, "most of my issues were with pure intel board, then MSI board (blown capacitors on all MSI boards used). My most stables of boards with the least amount of issues are Asus and surprisingly ECS. Also why go socket 775? Seriously? Made a bet that you can keep old sockets alive. What says you O/C the cpu and it dies after 6 month, just say, no more cpu socket 775 (they are no longer manufactured) you now have to change motherboard, cpu and memory, but if you go newer socket (even socket 1156 is on the way out according to intel) leaves you AM3 or Socket 1366, more money in the long run, so why not just get one of these technologies and avoid the pain later. (Not saying it will happen as my system was good for 3 years but several friends of mine went the old tech and are now regretting it.) Just an opinion, I am just logical.

 

[Pro Llama]

I have also used different motherboards over the years, "most of my issues were with pure intel board, then MSI board (blown capacitors on all MSI boards used). My most stables of boards with the least amount of issues are Asus and surprisingly ECS.

ECS? I have owned 2 of their boards both failed and fast. The Northbridge heat sink fell right off the one, I cleaned it up, put some new thermal compound on it, and reattached. The system ran somewhat after that; it would lag up for no reason. Put an ASRock board in it and had no other problems.

 

[rattman169]

like I said, surprisingly, I was just as shocked, used them as cheap replacements in 3 system and they are still going strong and fast, 2 are at least 3 years old and the other is 2 years old. I only have 1 in my possession and it's in my 6 year old sons PC with a socket 478 2.8Ghz cpu. Have built others beside the 3 but the owners of the other board have changed them when they upgraded their systems (friends who decide every 4 months to change there system for better). Yeah I like Asrock as a cheap alternative

 

[Pro Llama]

like I said, surprisingly, I was just as shocked, used them as cheap replacements in 3 system and they are still going strong and fast, 2 are at least 3 years old and the other is 2 years old. I only have 1 in my possession and it's in my 6 year old sons PC with a socket 478 2.8Ghz cpu. Have built others beside the 3 but the owners of the other board have changed them when they upgraded their systems (friends who decide every 4 months to change there system for better). Yeah I like Asrock as a cheap alternative

Maybe I just have bad luck with them lol