First real build, vid card options

darkfall13

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Mar 15, 2010
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This is my first from scratch build so bear with me.

Well let me start by listing what I currently have:

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition AM3 CPU HDZ965FBGMBOX - 3.40GHz, Socket AM3, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) FSB
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=A79-1965

OCZ PC3-10666 Platinum RAM - 4GB, 2x2GB, 1333MHz, DDR3, Low Voltage, Dual Channel
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=O261-6258

MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130223

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152102

ABS Tagan BZ Series BZ1100 1100W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Patent Piperock Modular Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817814012

So obviously I still need a video card and the obvious choice is Radeon(s) of some sort as the MoBo is CrossFire enabled. But I've become interested in a GeForce card because of the PhysX and crunching capability (SETI, Folding). So my first question is I know I won't be able to run SLI but will I at least be able to use a GeForce card? But the more important issue is DX11 vs DX10. As I don't believe any GeForce card runs it yet.

So with this set of parts what is your suggestion for a good gaming video solution (probably around $350)? And no you don't need to go price hunting for me, just ballpark estimates are good, don't need you to be running around more than you have to. And feel free to critique the parts I have selected, this is my first build after all. Oh speaking of which, I was intending to do this build last year but due to financial issues was delayed, so I actually have a 64bit Vista disk, but is it worth the trouble or should I just get Windows 7?
 

duk3

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Jan 15, 2010
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What is your budget?
That PSU is way overkill.
Get something much cheaper like a corsair 750w or 850w PSU:
750:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&cm_re=750w_corsair-_-17-139-006-_-Product
850:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009&cm_re=850w_corsair-_-17-139-009-_-Product

As far as motherboards, I would look at waitng for the 890fx chipset to come out or get a 890gx chipset. These will support future 6 core AMD CPUs.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128435&cm_re=890gx-_-13-128-435-_-Product

I would switch to the AMD 955 processor and get an aftermarket cooling device.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212%2b-_-35-103-065-_-Product

For graphics, an ati 5870 would be great for around 50$ over your budget of 300$ or you could go for a 5850 for around 300$.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=4gb_gskill_ddr3_1600-_-20-231-303-_-Product - Nice ram.
 

darkfall13

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Mar 15, 2010
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Well technically I was shooting for around $1000 but things like the power supply (oh and of course case, it's this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146025) is a hand me down from brother when he sold off his things, so yeah it's a lot of wattage, but I already have it so why not use it. I have the RAM too, I don't remember how or why lol, so those already have kind of skewed what I thought I'd be spending on the build.