Advice on Hardware Selection!

[Rey_Ron]

Hello,
I was thinking of buying a gaming desktop soon, but something that does not exceed a normal mans earnings. I got 2 options in 2 platforms, Intel-NVIDIA set, or AMD-ATi set.

The specs are as follows:

AMD-ATi set:
AMD Phenom II X6-(2.8GHz, 2000FSB, 9MB Cache)

Corsair DDR3 Gaming RAM
3 X 2GB RAM

ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO-(USB 3.0, ATi Crossfire Ready!)

Creative SoundBlaster 5.1 VX

Western Digital Black-1TB Hard Drive(64MB Cache, 7200RPM, 6GBPS)

ASUS EAH-5830
GPU:ATi Radeon HD 5830
Memory:1GB GDDR5 256Bit

CoolerMaster 650Watts GX


Intel-NVIDIA set:
Intel Core i5-650-(3.2Ghz, 4MB Cache)

Corsair DDR3 Gaming RAM
3 X 2GB RAM

ASUS P7P55D-E PRO Gaming Board

Creative SoundBlaster 5.1 VX

Western Digital Black-1TB Hard Drive
(64MB Cache, 7200RPM, 6GBPS)

ASUS ENGTX-460
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 460
Memory:1GB GDDR5 256Bit

CoolerMaster 650Watts GX

Both sets costs almost the same, honestly the Intel-NVIDIA set costs slightly more than the other.

But Im not so good at this hardware choosing thing. So I want advice, on which one would be a better choice for DirectX 11 gaming at good detail and smooth FRPS.

Please guys I want serious advice.

Thanks.

 

[lucas1024]

First, there is nothing that says you can't have an AMD-nVidia and Intel-ATI configurations, so don't rule those options out.
Next, the GTX 460 is a better card than the HD 5830. From the reviews it looks like the HD5850 is a better match.
I think the Phenom II X6 is a waste in a gaming rig. I have seen a lot of people recommend the Athlon II X4, although I would personally prefer a Phenom II X4.
Also, I am new to this forum, but I think in general it is recommended to post a budget when asking for recommendations

 

[Twoboxer]

Lucas is correct - you do not want to invest in a 6-core for gaming. A 6-core will only outperform a 4-core in a select few applications. Benchmarks available upon request.

OTOH, starting new you don't want to invest in a dual core for gaming either. Most games use 2-3 cores, and its helpful to have another core available for "system stuff", etc.

You need to tell us your screen resolution for gaming in order to get the right graphics card. I'm going to assume you are gaming at 1920 for config purposes.

If you want AMD, probably the best value is the X4 955BE, reference here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-overclock,2772-3.html

If you want Intel, the sweet spot is the i5 750, reference here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-cpu-overclock,2772-4.html

Note that the i5 is as easy to mildly OC as the 955.

I don't do AMD (because I don't know the mobos very well), so here's an i5 750:

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

GIGABYTE GA-P55-USB3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128425

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253

SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

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

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 CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

COOLER MASTER HAF 912
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Total 876.91 +11.29 shipping - $20 MIR = ~ $870

This rig will not crossfire or SLI. If you want to prepare for 2xVidcard, the mobo and power supply need to be improved. OTOH, this system has high-quality parts, no wasted money, and will game at 1920 with the very best of them.

 

[Rey_Ron]

Thanks Twoboxer and Lucas,


Sorry but the pricing information is going to be less helpful because Im in Malaysia and prices from the US obviously don't apply here. However, the other information were very helpful.

I set the combinations like that simply cos I thought ATi works best on an AMD platform and likewise NVIDIA works best on Intel.

Just one more question, would you advice me on buying the AMD-ATi platform over the Intel-NVIDIA platform? Yes ofcourse keeping in mind the quad core version of the Phenom instead of the 6core version.

I want to game at the highest resolution possible, probably 1920x1080. The monitor I am going to buy is probably a Samsung 23" B2330H. But as you mentioned above the 6 core version is a waste, but it wont hurt if i still buy it right, cos maybe in the future some heavy games might need more than 3 or 4 cores. Currently I am not looking for a dual-graphics platform but as much as of the motherboards, both of them have dual-graphics capabilities, so I can add another one if I ever want to. But does the AMD motherboard support a single NVIDIA card? Because if it does then I'd prefer to use the GTX460 rather than the HD5830. If I change the CPU to i5-750, then the price hikes to a couple of hundred more, which will hurt my wallet abit, cos if I can save up a little then I can plan to add a liquid cooling system in it too.


Thanks guys, your help is very much appreciated.

Rey_Ron

 

[jsc]

Memory - you do not need triple channel memory, just dual channel. That means either 2 or 4 DIMM's but not 3.

 

[Twoboxer]

Buying a 6-core (excluding Intel's monster-priced 6-cores) will give you lower performance than you can get with a quad. Its been over 4 years since quads were introduced, and games still use only 2-3 cores. Also keep in mind few other applications actually profit from 6-cores/12 threads. Will the pace accelerate? Perhaps.

Here's a comparison between 1055t and i5 750:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/147?vs=109

But if you want a 6-core, by all means buy a 6-core.

If you are using a single video card, there's no problem going Intelcpu/ATI or AMDcpu/nVidia. If crossfire, either Intel or AMD cpus will work fine. If you are planning SLI, go Intel.

A single gpu system in this range is well-powered by a 550W psu. To prepare for dual gpu, you not only need the appropriate mobo but also need to spend more for a strong 650W or (most often recommended) 750W psu.

 

[Rey_Ron]

Thanks again Twoboxer,


I think I'd prefer to buy the Phenom II X6 1055T CPU rather than the Intel Core i5-750. And currently I want to stick to a single Graphics Card, that is the ASUS ENGTX-460 1GB 256Bit. But what Im confused is with, is the motherboards support for the NVIDIA GPU. It is CrossfireX ready but nothing about NVIDIA GPU support is mentioned there. I'd prefer to change the Graphics card in the future if i need to rather than add another.


I went through the NVIDIA site, and saw that minimum system power requirement for NVIDIA GTX-460 is 450W, so I think the 650W Cooler Master GX is well above par. The only thing Im confused about is the motherboard support, as I mentioned above.


Thanks again, Twoboxer.


Rey_Ron

 

[Twoboxer]

Repeating what I said earlier - do not be confused - every mobo will support an AMD or an nVidia gpu. Period. The sole issue is with SLI support. Best not to try 2xnVidia on an AMD board.

As for the Coolermaster psu . . . I can't find a review by a qualified reviewer, and not all Coolermaster psus are good ones. If you can find A 500W-599W Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, or PC Power & Cooling psu, please go that way. Or something rated "1" or "2" on this list:

http://rankedpsulist.dabbledb.com/publish/rankedpsulist/94041ebb-aae6-4edf-8aa3-e37a5f5e3db7/35-42amps.html

Flaky psus account for more than half the problems resolved here.

 

[Rey_Ron]

Thanks Twoboxer.


I went through the list and found one of them in there. its the Seasonic M12II, but its the 620W variant. And looks good too, the others listed here are a bit too out of the league in terms of budget, you see. Thanks for all the advice bro, its been a pleasure to speak to you, I'll try to contact you again if I face any more hazards again. Thanks....


Rey_Ron

 

[Twoboxer]

My pleasure! A Seasonic has ALWAYS been a reasonable buy.