Upgrade + New Build

[tulx]

Hello techies!

Today I'd like to share my plans on upgrading my current gaming system and using the parts I'm about to change to make a mid-range PC for the lady.

My current PC is (homebuild and twice-upgraded):

Phenom I (yes, 'one' - such a thing really exists, and it's called 'Agena') 9850 BE (OC @ 3,1 GHz) - cooled by Alpenföhn Nordwand
Asus M2N-DELUXE (have this one from the very begining), Socket AM2+, nForce 570 or smth like that Chipset
4x1GB Apacer 667 RAM (old and works)
XFX Radeon 5870 1GB (on a 22'' screen)
Velociraptor for Sys, mundane HDDs for storage
Everything's powered by a Zalman 1000W PSU
It's all stuffed in a Silverstone Raven 2 (love this thing)

So:
The CPU and Mobo+RAM goes to the new mid-range system, which will get:
A Zalman CNPS9700 NT CPU Cooler (maybe, not sure on that yet)
A XFX Radeon 5770 1GB (for a 22'' screen)
A nice and stabe PSU @ about 500W or so
And a mundane HDD
All packed in a Thermaltake V9 Supertower, because women like shiny things (I consider my Raven2 modest, I do)
(forgot smth?)

And:
I'm planning on replacing my CPU and Mobo+RAM with the following:
Phenom II 965 BE (OC @ ~3,8 GHz - heard that's the stable point) - that's the best AMD has to offer, obviously. And I'm keeping the marvelous cooler
Asus Crossfire Formula III (AM3) 790FX Chipset
Kingston HyperX DDR3 1333MHz
Radeon, PSU and everything else stays.
Might get a SSD once they make sense. And no, they don't at the moment.

That's that, then. Feel free to suggest what you'd do different. I'd just like to point out - I know Intels high-end CPUs blow AMD to the moon and back, but I have no intentions on getting one. AMD's the way to go for me - their CPUs are as good as Intels on the respective price segment.
I also thought about getting a series 4 Radeon instead of the 5770, since they're very close to each other, concearning both performance and price, but the new family does have DirectX 11, which IS an important feature, especially for the future (+ I could go crossfire at some point later with them - I expect the old Mobo to die at some point anyway.)
Good day!

 

[erick81]

I like your build the one thing I would consider is changing the 965 BE for the 955 BE save your self a little cash for identical performance.

 

[Alvin Smith]

+1^ on the 955 (965 is if you don't OC).

... here is the appropriate RAM kit for your build ... faster/better/cheapr.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=ripjaws_1600_dual-_-20-231-303-_-Product

Model
Brand G.SKILL
Series Ripjaws Series
Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
Type 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
Tech Spec
Capacity 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Speed DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Cas Latency 7
Timing 7-8-7-24-2N
Voltage 1.65V
ECC No
Buffered/Registered Unbuffered
Multi-channel Kit Dual Channel Kit
Heat Spreader Yes

 

[tulx]

Thanks for the tips, Alvin and Eric!
Interesting - about the 955...its base clock is 200MHz lower, which, logically, should result in a 200 MHz lower max overclock. I suppose that's not correct, then? 0_o

And about the RAM - that indeed looks good. I was confused by the specification of the Mobo, however. Asus states it supports [...], 1333, 1600(?_O.C._?), I wasn't sure what that meant, tbh.
And sadly, G.Skill seems kind'a unavailabe in my region. The closest resellers are in Germany and I really don't fancy the shipping costs and risks.
What about these:
Crucial 2GB, Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800, 8-8-8-24, Unbuffered, NON-ECC, DDR3-1600, 1.65V, 256Meg x 64 The timings are pretty close to the G.Skills...?

I have a somewhat limited choice to choose from: http://m79.lv/operativa-atmina-24.html?page=1&f1169=28360&f1165=21045

 

[mosox]

Any RAM will run at 1333 unless you overclock. And you can also consider the GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5.

 

[tulx]

Hm, come to think of it, there's the CROSSHAIR IV FORMULA out now as well. It's not listed on Asus site, though, which is odd. The price is pretty close to both the forluma 3 and the 890fxa board from Gigabyte. Surely need to thinnk about this...

Gygabyte seems to have 2 LAN ports, which I would really need. Asus has 1, but....I mean, just look at it!! @_@ http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-crosshair-iv-formula-review/1

And the new Crosshair seems to have lost the great discrete audio card from mark 3.... Ah - why does this always get so complicated?!

 

[tulx]

Ah, OK - found Asus site - seems it has the audio card integrated. Well, I guess Crossfire IV Formula is the way to go, then!

 

[Alvin Smith]

Any RAM will run at 1333 unless you overclock. And you can also consider the GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5.

+1 on the UD5