Rookies AMD/5970 build - seeks approval from the Gurus!!

[bblackwood]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week

BUDGET RANGE: $1500-1700

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming(MMOs mostly), surfing, college.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.come

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US Base/Okinawa, JP

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD Phenom II x4 965, XFX Radeon HD 5970

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Powerful, yet economical. This is myfirst build, and I am hoping it has a long lifespan. I took MadAdmirals advice and sprung on the 5970 since it would provide the longest lifespan and best gaphics for a single card system at the moment. I would most likely a year from now or so like to add another 5970, hopefully later. Do you guys think my case will accomodate this? I am also seeking assistance regarding compatability between components, I did as much research as my sore eyes could take, and I feel confident, however I would like to avoid common rookie mistakes! Thank you so much for looking at my build, I am open to any and all advice!

CPU/Mobo: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ965FBGMBOX/GIGABYTE GA-790FXTA-UD5 AM3 AMD 790FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard -$360.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345260

I chose this combo because I read that the UD5 is the best mobo for the AMD, newegg was out of stock when I tried to find the mobo alone, but it came in this combo w/ MW2 which is just some nice icing.

GPU:XFX HD-597A-CNB9 Radeon HD 5970 Black Edition 2GB 512 (256 x 2)-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card -$719.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150460

This is what I am building the system around, like I said earlier. Just wish I could find one! Haha.

HDD: Western Digital VelociRaptor WD740BLFS 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 2.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136553

I have a few externals, so I dont need a large HDD.

PSU: Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC -$109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM -$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

CPU Cooler: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler -$34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

DD: Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM -$21.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030


OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM -$99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Case:XCLIO A380BK Fully Black SECC 1.0mm thickness ATX Full Tower Computer Case -$89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103010

TOTAL: $1647.90

EDIT- Changed PSU to Antec modular 850 thanks to the hard work of CMC! Thanks!

 

[jimishtar]

what is your monitor resolution? u might not need 5970, maybe 5870 will do just as good. definitely get another PSU brand, look for Corsair, Antec, PC P&C, Coolermaster, OCZ... and 965 is pretty much factory overclocked 955, but i dont think its much of a price difference. nice rig overall.

 

[cmcghee358]

what is your monitor resolution? u might not need 5970, maybe 5870 will do just as good. definitely get another PSU brand, look for Corsair, Antec, PC P&C, Coolermaster, OCZ... and 965 is pretty much factory overclocked 955, but i dont think its much of a price difference. nice rig overall.

Just to piggy back, yeah find a better brand of PSU. I highly recommend modular, I wish I had gone modular...

If you got the 965 in a combo, it's probably as good a deal as a single 955. Check to make sure that its the C3 stepping of the 965. It will end with MBOX, rather than IBOX.

It's a 125W CPU, rather than a 140W. Meaning it will run cooler and have more headroom to OC. Even if you don't OC, a cooler CPU is happier.

As for the case, I think it's ugly as sin, but thats just personal preference so Im not going to knock you.

Which service are you in, Marines? Air Force?

PS Also alot of reviews on that case about the fans taking a complete dump. And a 120mm fan slot in the back with no fan /shrug

 

[bblackwood]

I'm a Navy Corpsman for the Marine Corps... i.e a medic.

Thanks for all the info, I'll definitely look into the modular PSU, the reason I chose that brand was because of the overwhelmingly positive response I had found during my research.

I didnt know that since the CPU was 125W that it was better for OC'ing, haha, I was even looking at the 140 thinking that I was choosing a less powerful CPU, but the combo was pretty good.

And the case, I liked th "jet intake" kind of look, haha. I'll do a bit more research on it, I'm just looking for something that will possibly fit two 5970's a year or two from now, it was also a modestly priced full tower.

Again, thanks for all the feedback so far!

 

[cmcghee358]

I'm a Navy Corpsman for the Marine Corps... i.e a medic.

Thanks for all the info, I'll definitely look into the modular PSU, the reason I chose that brand was because of the overwhelmingly positive response I had found during my research.

I didnt know that since the CPU was 125W that it was better for OC'ing, haha, I was even looking at the 140 thinking that I was choosing a less powerful CPU, but the combo was pretty good.

And the case, I liked th "jet intake" kind of look, haha. I'll do a bit more research on it, I'm just looking for something that will possibly fit two 5970's a year or two from now, it was also a modestly priced full tower.

Again, thanks for all the feedback so far!

I'm pretty bored want me to look around for some substitutes?

PS That PSU only has 2 12V Rails with a total of 65A, that most likely will fall short of what you need for 2 5970s. I learned a long time ago, Wattage is only 1/2 the battle with PSUs

 

[cmcghee358]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371024

Hands down. Its modular. From a great company, has 4 12V rails totalling almost 100A. And its only 10 dollars more.

Gonna go hunt for a case alternative now

 

[cmcghee358]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129073

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119157


I personally have an Antec 1200 which is a full tower version of the Antec 900 2 that I linked somewhere up there. I have a bias towards Antec.

If Antec blew up and all the cases imploded simultaneously and I had to pick another brand, I'd go with any of the Cooler Master's I linked. All have good airflow, room and are of solid construction with a nice look. They don't look as "intake'y" as the one you linked, but they still look good and function better.

 

[bblackwood]

I'll take all the help I can get! Thanks CMC!

 

[Dave in Houston]

The first line of the product tour on the Antec power supply says "The Antec's CP series is exclusively designed for Antec's 1200/P183/P193 cases." Several of the reviewers on Newegg commented that it doesn't fit their case.

CMC, will that PSU fit in all the cases you suggested?

Dave

 

[cmcghee358]

The first line of the product tour on the Antec power supply says "The Antec's CP series is exclusively designed for Antec's 1200/P183/P193 cases." Several of the reviewers on Newegg commented that it doesn't fit their case.

CMC, will that PSU fit in all the cases you suggested?

Dave

Wow dave, good catch! I've never heard of such a thing, lemmie go back and find a more "universal" PSU. Thanks for the sharp eyes

 

[cmcghee358]

This one will be more than adequate for your current needs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026

But if you really intend to Xfire 5970s they will eat up 300Wx2+10% 660W by themselves... So a 750W PSU will be inadequate.

Also another 750W from Corsair, a great PSU manufacturer:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 89.99 after $20 MIR

For 850W+ from a good manufacturer it's going to cost a little higher.

I bought a cheapo PSU and even tho it hasnt failed, it makes me nervous. A PSU that faults a certain way can fry all components down the line.

Some 850Ws:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009 140.00

And an Antec 1000W Modular for 160, 140 after MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371012

But that Antec 1000W PSU has alot of negative reviews about it going *pop* *fizzle* so I personally would steer clear of it, even though the company is reputable

 

[bblackwood]

Hmmm... maybe I should just go back to the Seventeam ST-850ZAF 850W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817176002&cm_re=850w_modular_power_supply-_-17-176-002-_-Product

Not only are the reviews on the egg quite positive, but these two professional reviews seem to look upon it favorably.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1471&pageID=6208

http://www.rwlabs.com/article.php?cat=articles&id=81&pagenumber=1

Seventeam has been around since 86 in Taipei but has only recently gotten a US distributor which seems to be the reason most are weary with the brand recognition. And some of the reviews on the other 800+W's are pretty scary!

For 99 bones to boot...hmmm.

My only concerns with it, would I have issues hooking all my components up to it considering its number of connectors? And it seems the Antec that was recommended was single rail, but most are 4 rails, while this one is at 2?

Man, I thought the PSU would be the easiest part! haha.

 

[bblackwood]

Best answer selected by bblackwood.