Configured System vs Home Build

[clsmcs]

10/23/2010 edit - based upon very nice advice from sp12, and from more forum browsing, I have posted new specs and a couple questions about 10 posts down

Greetings!

My son has configured a build using a local retailer's website. Although I have never built a pc, I see many advocates for that course here (and other forums too). I am certainly willing to give a home-build some consideration.
I am by no means an expert, but what I do know has mostly been gained from Tom's forums and articles. I am looking for some feedback, and maybe suggestions concerning the following configuration and if it might be a good idea to build it myself (with or without changes/suggestions from here).

Usage: Gaming (WOW, Crysis, MoH, whatever might come out in the next year or so , General Purpose, surfing, maybe some JAVA programming.

Looking for something that allows for expansion and upgrades for a few years instead of complete replacement.

We live in the US.

Here's what he configured, from their base he upgraded a few items:

Their price: $1900 usd

MoBo: MSI X58 Pro-E Core i7 Crossfire/SLI ATX
Processor: Intel Core i7-930 CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: Mushkin 6Gb HP3-12800 (3x2Gb) 3Pk- i7 (could only choose between 3g and 6g)
Hard Drive: WD10EACS 1TB SATA II 7200RPM
Video: ATI Radeon HD R5850 1GB DDR5 PCI-e (see note about monitor choices)
Monitor: Asus 22" VW224U LCD 1680 x 1050 2MS (could get 1 of 2 1920x1080’s for another $50-80, but they do not list the model numbers)

Case: Cooler Master RC-922 HAF Mini 922
Power Supply: Ultra Lifetime Series Pro LSP750

MS Windows Operating Systems MS Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit

DVD+/-RW Drive: Lite On 24X DVDR Multi Writer Black LH20A1P185BULKB
Memory Reader: ALPS 11-in-1 Internal Card Reader DF386P901A

System Warranties: Warranty: 4 Year Labor / 3 Year Parts

 

[sp12]

Those parts would cost ~1300 purchased from Newegg (and that's on the high-side).

And some of those parts are not ideal to begin with.

 

[clsmcs]

Thanks for that. I guessed that some of the parts were not ideal from reading other build threads. So, I suppose that for around $1500 I could build my own with better parts....

 

[sp12]

Granted, you lose the 4 year labor, and not all of the parts will have a 3 year warranty.

 

[clsmcs]

Understood, yeah, thanks again. Of course, I imagine with all quality parts then my luck would be bad if something failed soon after manufacturer's warranty. Of course, that's always been "the risk" with home-builds I suppose.

 

[clsmcs]

Wondering which parts are not ideal(and maybe why they are not, so I can make better decisions)?

Also, from a future upgrade point of view, it the PSU ok?
Supposing crossfire may be in our future...any bottleneck or cooling issue you may see?

 

[sp12]

Are you asking for specific parts recommendations?

 

[clsmcs]

I'm sorry, yes please.....

Here is the info (parts copied from the original config above). I am open to comments on original parts and suggestions:

Approximate Purchase Date: within 30 days

Budget Range: 1600-1800 usd before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, spreadsheets, java compile/dev, mysql, internet

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, any

Country of Origin: USA –upstate NY

Parts Preferences: (see original config from retailer below, they have limited parts choice, but I am using that as a base to improve upon)

Overclocking: Probably not

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe in future

Monitor Resolution: (1600x1200, 1680x1050, 1920x1080, 1920x1200)

Additional Comments: fairly quiet


Original Config:
Their price: $1900 usd

MoBo: MSI X58 Pro-E Core i7 Crossfire/SLI ATX
Processor: Intel Core i7-930 CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: Mushkin 6Gb HP3-12800 (3x2Gb) 3Pk- i7 (could only choose between 3g and 6g)
Hard Drive: WD10EACS 1TB SATA II 7200RPM
Video: ATI Radeon HD R5850 1GB DDR5 PCI-e (see note about monitor choices)
Monitor: Asus 22" VW224U LCD 1680 x 1050 2MS (could get 1 of 2 1920x1080’s for another $50-80, but they do not list the model numbers)

Case: Cooler Master
RC-922 HAF Mini 922
Power Supply: Ultra Lifetime Series Pro LSP750

MS Windows Operating Systems MS Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit

DVD+/-RW Drive: Lite On 24X DVDR Multi Writer Black LH20A1P185BULKB
Memory Reader: ALPS 11-in-1 Internal Card Reader DF386P901A

System Warranties: Warranty: 4 Year Labor / 3 Year Parts

Finally, I have just seen posts about Sandy Beach, etc coming 1st qtr next year. I don't think we can wait though. I think I remember seeing an article exploring whether any existing mobo could support that line. I don't see how, but then again I am fairly clueless. Is there a build path now that could better prepare one for a Sandy Beach upgrade in the future?

Thanks!

 

[sp12]

SB will not be backwards compatible with any current mobos. Do you live by a microcenter?



Anyhow:

i7-950 295$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211
5850 195$ AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127500
Litescribe burner 17$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136168
Hyper 212+ 30$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
HAF 922 90$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
1 TB drive 52-70$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007603%20600003269%20600003340%20600003489&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&CompareItemList=14|22-136-534^22-136-534-TS%2C22-152-185^22-152-185-TS
6GB Ram 135-155$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100007611&IsNodeId=1&PropertyCodeValue=523%3A45114%2C524%3A29371%2C2599%3A50618%2C2599%3A29232&bop=And&CompareItemList=147|20-231-335^20-231-335-TS%2C20-227-641^20-227-641-TS
Mobo 162-210 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%20600007887&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&CompareItemList=280|13-128-456^13-128-456-TS%2C13-130-226^13-130-226-TS%2C13-157-189^13-157-189-TS%2C13-131-665^13-131-665-TS%2C13-128-423^13-128-423-TS
Silver efficiency 750 watt PSU 110$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100007657&IsNodeId=1&PropertyCodeValue=4097%3A43843%2C4097%3A43844&bop=And&CompareItemList=58|17-151-101^17-151-101-TS%2C17-207-003^17-207-003-TS

Assuming the most expensive parts listed, 1142 before monitor. 1920 Consumer monitor: 155$ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

Add Windows 7 HP 64 OEM for 100$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

and you get ~1400 with 1920 monitor and windows. This is with the most expensive components chosen when multiple are given.

And I would personally make this an i5-760 based build with 4GB of ram and a decent P55 board and save another ~200$ there.

If you want to spend more, you could get an SSD, IPS monitor, or a Xeon.

 

[clsmcs]

Hey SP12, thanks so much for the time and effort here!

No Microcenters within 150 miles.

You suggest SSD, IPS monitor, and/or Xeon. I'm not sure why, sorry.

With AMD releasing the radeon 6xxx line this week, I am very interested in those, so I will look into the 5850 vs them.

Your i5-760/P55 suggestion is based on more bang for the buck gaming usage?

 

[hogan773]

I see lots of "do you live by a Microcenter"? references here. Is Microcenter cheaper than Newegg generally....or do people recommend it just because you can return the stuff if there is a problem. I guess I always assumed Newegg would be cheapest especially considering sales taxes.

 

[clsmcs]

Thanks to sp12!!!


Approximate Purchase Date: not sure, within a couple weeks, but then again black friday lurks


Budget Range: 1500-1800 usd Before rebates


System Usage from Most to Least Important: multi-purpose, gaming, work (java dev, not enterprise programming, no servers needed, maybe some music composition, maybe some light video editing, spreadsheets, small db (mysql).


Parts Not Required: need everything


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, tiger


Country of Origin: USA (not near a Microcenter)


Parts Preferences: intel cpu

Overclocking: Not comfortable with it (yet). So maybe in the future, but not to start off with.


SLI or Crossfire: Maybe not right off the bat, but I can see it for sure down the road


Monitor Resolution: from 1600x1200 to 1920x1080 at least

Additional Comments: In that parts listed below, my strategy is this: I will have a pc before end of year so that means Sandy Bridge is out. Which means the Mobo will not take the next gen of cpus, so I want to have something that can last for a while, and something I amy be able to squeeze some more performance out of in the future (thus I better get more comfortable with oc'ing huh?).

I know I have not yet included mouse/keyboard, can always get them later.

I chose 1 6870 for now, knowing I want to crossfire it, but delaying for near future price changes and driver changes (is that a good thing?)

I also am not sure about the case, only because the psu goes on the bottom, and I am not sure if the fan should be pulling air in or pushing out, and if I need any other fans.

I think everything here connects and is compatible, but of course would appreciate thoughts there too.

CPU Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz $295.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211&cm_re=i7_950-_-19-115-211-_-Product

MoBo ASUS Sabertooth X58 $200.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131665

Case COOLER MASTER HAF 922 $90.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Ram G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) SDRAM DDR3 1600 $155.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335

Cooler COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus $30.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

PSU XFX Black Edition P1-750B-CAG9 750W $130.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003

GPU GIGABYTE GV-R687D5-1GD-B Radeon HD 6870 $240.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125347

HD SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB $70.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

OS Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 $140.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758

DVD/CD LG Black 22X DVD $17.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136168&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Display ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" $175.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Total $1,542.00

 

[clsmcs]