AM3 build, Looking for input

[existencenow]

Okay, So for starters this is my first post.
Secondly ill state that i do have SOME preferences that are not so much brand loyalty as just what i have experienced/witnessed first person.
I plan on using this build for Gaming, streaming and encoding a variety of content and photo editing.


1. Until ATI gets to a point where their drivers are more stable i'm 100% a stubborn Nvidia Fanboy, Less someone can present reasons to me otherwise in REAL WORLD results.
2. I prefer AMD>Intel at the present time ONLY due to the fact that this computer is on a very harsh and strict budget. "Oh how i miss when i could afford intel!!" /tear
3. I don't have very tight reigns on Motherboard preferences. But i do biostar, and GENERICALLY avoid "bottom-bucket" boards ECS, Jetway, and in most cases Foxconn.
4. Hard drives i greatly prefer WD over SG and other HDD brands. When it comes to SSD at this time. i greatly prefer two WD AALS 640s over a SSD purely for sake of longevity for from what ive experienced write lifes on SSD do not expect to last 4 yrs +.
5. Power supplies i have zer0 brand loyalty since ive found it impossible to attain VANTEC's anymore.
6. Ram i have no specific tendencies either since ive always been in a situation of carrying over ram from previous builds and not bought new since DDR2.


Okay, enough of me rambling about brands on-to the nerd pron! Time to discuss hardware. Here is my list and reasons, if any, on why i chose each piece.



~Cpu~
AMD x4 970 @ stock 3.5
\
I picked this CPU for it being a Quad core, so it is viable for use in all current games w/o being wasted finances on an X6. Has a wonderful STOCK clock speed and from what ive seen OC's well when the time comes.

~Mobo~
MSI NF980-G65 nvidia SLI Board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130236
I picked this board for i intend on eventually attempting to Run SLI. I have seen almost entirely good reviews.
Second pick if i abandon the SLI idea:
MSI 870A-G54 Firstly for the upgradeable features such as both SB/NB being of modern tech so less likely to run into issues with X6 if that ever comes market viable for gaming. Same reasoning for the SATAIII For i do expect to upgrade once HDD/SDD become capable of utilizing those speeds natively on a single drive basis.

~GPU~
MSI N460GTX CYCLONE 1GD5
I chose this card due to its cost/performance factors, its got a heatsink that when lapped can handle some rather serious over-clocking. And lastly, for the lame factor of its VERY aesthetically appealing to me in comparison to other gtx460s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127510

~Memory~
I have no EXACT preference that is rock solid BUT im kinda torn between a few models.
Gskill 2x4GB CL7 DDR1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-380^20-231-380-TS,20-231-401^20-231-401-TS

~or~
The very similar,
Gskill 4x2GB CL7 DDR1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231329

Very flexible on RAM Choices

~Storage~

Rock solid on this choice unless someone can come with real world stats.
For Long term storage, movies music etc
WDEALS 1tb WD blue 7200RPM
Active data-OS/Games Etc.
WD6401AALS WD Black 640GB Preferably 2 or more pairs in RAID1

~PSU~

I have Zer0 preference when it comes to PSU's so feel free to leave your own input.

~Chassis~
Not exactly a preference due to price or any means except for imo, its utilitarian, and BEAUTIFUL!
CM690 II Advanced w/ Plexi side window.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216



I would now like to close this stating that ALL and Any input is fully welcome and anticipated.

 

[rolli59]

Good price good unit XFX650 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207007 will be enough even if you go SLI later. You do not seem to need help with anything else but here is a nice combo on case and PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514542

 

[existencenow]

Good price good unit XFX650 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207007 will be enough even if you go SLI later. You do not seem to need help with anything else but here is a nice combo on case and PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514542

Ive been contemplating a ~450W psu with stable reviews and using this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817101044 "Booster" Psu for the graphics only.

Does anyone happen to know anything about that item. IMO it sounds like the most intuitive idea since modular cabling. But on the opposite end i have found 0 REAL-WORLD tests and reviews on that product. Based on stats it could easily single slot up to a GTX470. Any opinions?

Edit ! BAH AT USING THE HYPERLINK FEATURE NOT WORKING !!!

 

[rolli59]

I can understand a Booster PSU as an add on but not planning a new build on it. You are better of with a bigger quality PSU from Antec, Corsair, Seasonic or XFX (made by seasonic).

 

[Outlander_04]

Two points worth mentioning
1/ ATI drivers have been stable for me for the last 4 years so if they dont work for you then you have a problem not them
2/ Buy the Phenom x4 965 . Its the exact same piece of silicon and will save you money since you can overclock it to 970 speeds with one tiny BIOS adjustment

 

[mosox]

For gaming you don't need more than 4G of RAM. What's your budget?


http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareuk.inc&cat=13&post=296564&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

 

[existencenow]

For gaming you don't need more than 4G of RAM. What's your budget?


http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareuk.inc&cat=13&post=296564&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=1&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

My prospective budget. With the 2 WD black 640s an ~ 240 $ monitor, and 4x 1tb WD blues. Is ~ 1100 or so .

Side note. About the 8 gigs of ram. my ONLY justification in that is a semi attempt at future-proofing.

 

[mosox]

That's the max I could do in that budget. The Samsung HDDs are newer and faster.

AMD Phenom II X4 970
ASUS M4N75TD AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131637
G.SKILL Ripjaws + LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514361
2 x SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB + XFX P1-650X-CAG9 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514448
ASUS Black 24X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
MSI N460GTX CYCLONE 1GD5/OC
ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

$1,126.89

 

[existencenow]

what would you say the pro/cons for using the samsunn 500s would be over the WD AALS 640?

Also. Does anyone know further details when comparing the MSI and ASUS 750a and 980a boards. whats the main upgrades between for i have seen No AM3 Sli compatible boards that have usb3 or SataIII.
Is there any reliable Off-brands, including NON-Newegg, that support either/preferably sataIII.

 

[mosox]

No cons for the Samsung, it has only one high density platter and it's faster and cooler. No SATA3/USB3 on AM3 SLI mobos, you can go HD 5850 and a crossfire mobo. I don't know those two boards but I know that the Nvidia 980 chipset is a rebranded 750.

 

[existencenow]

No cons for the Samsung, it has only one high density platter and it's faster and cooler. No SATA3/USB3 on AM3 SLI mobos, you can go HD 5850 and a crossfire mobo. I don't know those two boards but I know that the Nvidia 980 chipset is a rebranded 750.

My only conflict with the AMD graphics line is that i severely hate the Catalyst control panel. and secondly ive run into alota conflicts with games in the past. TBH tho. If i were to end up going SLi, id prolly end up going intel.

So on that note. what AMD chipsets for UNDER 139.99$ does everyone advise. NO MICRO ATX. sata III prefered and usb3 appreciated. IF APPLICABLE firewire is usefull to in my situation.

 

[mosox]

You can get this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128444
and a HD 5870 and forget about SLI/CF, you don't need that when you have a 5870. Get only one HDD for now.

You can also wait a few weeks for the new ATI 6 series that is scheduled to appear this month.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

if you want to do nvidia on AMD, you can, just you can't do SLI.

good budget build might use the AS Rock 770 Extreme 3 board at $75, or the 870 at $90, your 970 chip, and a GTX 460

 

[existencenow]

if you want to do nvidia on AMD, you can, just you can't do SLI.

good budget build might use the AS Rock 770 Extreme 3 board at $75, or the 870 at $90, your 970 chip, and a GTX 460

I had a bit of interest in ASRock. But ive been kinda sketch being that it is supposedly the ASUS boards that dont meet the QC requiremtns of asus boards so they rebrand the batch. Anyone know the vailidity of this potentially false info?

Secondly What would everyones opinion on a
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127512
Gpu

Either of these Two Mobo's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007625%20600007943%20600009016%20600008296%20600054095&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&CompareItemList=22%7C13-130-275%5E13-130-275-TS%2C13-131-647%5E13-131-647-TS

Asus~http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131647
MSI ~http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130275

This Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121067
Its a lesser known brand but i recently installed one and its been astounding.

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103894
X4 970

Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001419

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingItem.aspx?ItemList=N82E16811119216

HDD .. Untill i buy more at a later time to save on budget
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136544

So any opinions so i can close this and finalize?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

no its not. AS Rock was spun off from Asus to compete in entry-level motherboards. They're a strong, second-tier motherboard maker, but have the same quality as Asus

 

[existencenow]

So on a component level is this motherboard more or less identical to the 880g asus i listed above?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157191

 

[boiler1990]

I like most of your build parts.

I would go with the 1GB version of the GTX 460; it's got more cores and more memory, which results in some pretty large differences. If you're stuck on a budget, you will still get great performance out of the 768MB cards.

Kingwin is an ok brand of PSU, but the 850W Seasonic is like $5 less, and is a great brand of PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151100

 

[mosox]

Since you can't SLI 850W is way overkill. You can get a cheaper one and a HD 5850 if you buy that crossfire mobo.

 

[gordon_81]

Two points worth mentioning
1/ ATI drivers have been stable for me for the last 4 years so if they dont work for you then you have a problem not them
2/ Buy the Phenom x4 965 . Its the exact same piece of silicon and will save you money since you can overclock it to 970 speeds with one tiny BIOS adjustment

the 955 is the same chip as the 965 and the 970 the 965 and 970 are just clocked higher, he must just go for a 955 and OC it

 

[boiler1990]

Since you can't SLI 850W is way overkill. You can get a cheaper one and a HD 5850 if you buy that crossfire mobo.

Forgot you can't SLI (well) on the AMD chipsets

Yeah, an 850W for that system will be total overkill. You should be able to get away with a 500W PSU.

 

[existencenow]

When it comes to Hdds for a 7200 What is the average wattage per drive overhead?

ill initially have 3 WD blues adn 2 wd blacks

 

[mosox]

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

If you get a 460 you can get a cheaper mobo and a good 500W PSU. If you get the 5850 you can get the same, or you can get a crossfire mobo and a good 650W PSU (if you want to add a second card).

Or you can get the Intel Core i5-760, a SLI mobo, a GTX 460 and a 650W PSU.

E: spelling

 

[existencenow]

Best answer selected by Existencenow.