New Build – your thoughts?

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jnetixz

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• MOBO: Asus M4A89TD-PRO-USB3 – $184
• RAM: 4GB Kit DDR3 G.Skill-Ripjaws 1600 – $66 (x2 – 8GB - $132 total)
• CPU: AMD AM3 Phenom x4 955 Black Edition – $148
• GPU: Gigabyte 1GB GTX460 – $199
• PSU: Corsair VX-450 – $82
• Case: Cooler Master RC-692 Advanced II – $125
• Cooling: CPU Coolermaster Universal Hyper 212+ – $31

Total – $901 –


Budget Range: $940 AUD.

I will be getting a second GTX 460 in about 2-3 months, in case you're wondering why I chose an SLi-capable motherboard. Buying in Australia too, this is most probably why prices are so different to what you'd usually expect.
 
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gkay09
^ Hmm ok lets see,...

CPU - 2500K - ~AUD 240-250

Mobo -
This is a mATX board which offers SLI as well as Crossfire, but when you populate 2 graphic cards, rest of the slots would be blocked - wont matter if you wont use any add-on cards
Asus P8P67-M-PRO
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=50015
AUD 187

RAM - Same Corsair 4GB DDR3 - AUD 55

CASE - I would get a normal case with very good airflow - Antec 300 - AUD 55

PSU - Antec EA 750W - AUD 127

GPU - HD 6870 - ~ AUD 269

Total - ~AUD 940 - So with the above build you can go Crossfire later on and also with a single HD 6870, you can get good FPS in BFBC2,...
But first read about the components, then decide if you want to go with it,...
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jnetixz

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Also, the 1GB Gigabyte HD6850 is only ~ $10 more expensive than the 1GB GTX 460 – would it be worth getting that? I would have thought not, but correct me if I'm wrong.

The only other thing I was skeptical about was choosing suitable RAM – is there any particular upsides to any specific brands for AMD builds? How much of a difference will I see going from 1333 -> 1600, too?

So far I have contemplated buying the following RAM;

■http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=2a&products_id=47556 [x2]
■http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=30041 [x2]
■http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=42529
■http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=40280

Feel free to browse if you think you can find a more optimal choice – Centrecom's RAM.
 
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jnetixz

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One last thing – would it be worth getting less RAM (maybe 4GB/6GB) and squeezing a 2GB HD6950 – $347 into the mix?

I don't "need" a new case, it would just clean things up a shitload (cable management and the likes), also, I only added the CPU cooler into the mix because I assumed it would help in terms of longevity.

Jumbling thoughts at the moment. Hmmm.

Edit: I'll be playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 / Vietnam mostly – perhaps World of Warcraft when it's not so boring too. Both games will be played at 1920x1080 on an Asus VE246H.
 
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gkay09

gkay09

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^ Few issues with the current selection of parts,
1. Mobo - That board supports only Crossfire and No SLI, so you would have to get an ATI card, which IMO is also very good,... Also if not overclocking very high, I doubt you would need that 890FX board, even an 890GX board would suffice and x8x8 would suffice Crossfire...

2. PSU - For a single card, that 450W would suffice, but if you want HD 6850 Crossfire, then you would need to get atleast a 600W+ preferably 650W PSU,...

RAM - For gaming, you wont need more than 4 GB of RAM

What case do you have ? Overclocking ?
 
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jnetixz

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Using both http://msy.com.au/Parts/PARTS.pdf and http://centrecom.com.au/ btw ...

So my choices are;

Mobo: MSI 890GXM-G65 @ $149 & [strike]Gigabyte GA-890XA-UD3 @ $167[/strike] - correct? Screw it, going to get the MSI one for $149.

PSU: I won't be using Crossfire right away, so the VX450 or even CX400 would be fine, right?

RAM: I was contemplating just sticking to 4GB RAM if the 8GB wasn't "required". How much of a hit would my FPS take if I were to FRAPS my gaming with only 4GB RAM, though?

Anyway, would 4GB Kit DDR3 G.Skill-Ripjaws 1600 – $66 suffice? (this is listed at MSY, as listed at the beginning of this reply). If not, my other options are this, this or this. I would probably go with the last one, as reviews I have read have yielded, Centrecom also stock it in 7-7-7-20 afaik.

Edit: If the G.Skill-Ripjaws @ 1600 for $66 will suffice, I'll just get those – the other options push me too far over my budget.

Edit: Oh, the case I'm using is a Cooler Master RC-692 Advanced II – plenty for anything on the market other than maybe an SR2.
 
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jnetixz

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I'm 100% getting either the Gigabyte 1GB GTX 460 or the 2GB Gigabyte HD 6950; the only exception would be SLi 1GB GTX 460s, and that's only if I'll be able to get the difference subtracted from the cost of another piece of hardware by choosing a less expensive model (that will also suffice).
 
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gkay09

gkay09

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^ Fine with ASRock boards ? They are also good(though not as good as the Gigabyte/ ASUS, but are decent and offer good value for money)

Here is a build,...

CPU - X4 955 - AUD 147 centrecom

Mobo - Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H - AUD 158
The reason I suggest this is because the MSI is a mATX board and when going Crossfire, rest of the slots will be blocked, which is not the case with the Gigabyte

RAM - The Corsair 4GB that you linked is good enough - AUD 55

GPU - HIS/ Powercolor HD 6850 - AUD 199

PSU - I would suggest this PSU -
Antec EA 650 - AUD 102 MSY
Or Corsair TX 650 114 MSY
So that you wont have to spend on a new PSU later one if you want to go Crossfire

CASE - The Advanced is a very good case, but you do get the 690 Black sans the SATA dock, which is very similar, but if you want a very good case with good features, then the Advanced is a solid option - AUD 121 Centrecom

CPU Cooler - The 212+ woud be a good option, also will allow for good overclock
- AUD 31

Total - ~ AUD 813
 
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jnetixz

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So the 1GB 6850 is 100% better than the 1GB GTX 460 for 1920x1080 Battlefield Bad Company 2?

If so, I'll probably get the Gigabyte one, and do a few other things to bring the total to ~ $940.
 
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jnetixz

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Battlefield%20Bad%20Company%202%201920.png

Why is the FPS so low in the one you linked, and marginally higher in the one I've provided?

Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-460-gf104-fermi,2684-11.html
 
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jnetixz

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Fml, didn't even notice LOL.

Hmm, so you'd recommend that build then? Anything else you could possibly add/change to get the maximum performance out of $940AUD?
 
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jnetixz

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ccom.png


That leaves me with ~ $371 for a decent GPU.

Which do you think would be best to get?

This or something else? :eek:

Sorry to keep hassling you haha, just need to be 100% sure before I spend any money ... I would hate to buy the parts then realize I could have gotten more performance by chopping and changing here n' there.

 
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gkay09

gkay09

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^ Why do you want to get a Crossfire board, but not a PSU that would power 2 cards ? IMO either drop that board and get the 1 that I have specified above or get a more powerful PSU which can handle Crossfire, so that you dont spend the money where not necessary and for the option that you wont use,...
 
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jnetixz

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But with the excess ~ $130 I have, I might as well get an i5 2500K > 955 Black Edition yeah? I'd be OCing the 955 to 4.0GHz, what OC potential does the i5 2500K have in comparison?
 
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gkay09

gkay09

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^ The 2500K has an unlocked multiplier and can easily hit 4GHz+ with cheaper coolers such as Cooler Master Hyper 212+,... So has a lot of overclocking potential,... but the main issue is the price of the board, if you want a SLI/ Crossfire capable board, then it would cost you ~AUD 200, so with the CPU 2500K(Note that the 2500 will not offer unlocked multiplier and hence not suitable for overclocking) - AUD ~240 so total ~AUD 440 compared to the ~AUD 307 of the AMD
 
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jnetixz

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Gah. The possibilities. -.-

If you were in my shoes, tell me exactly what you'd do for maximum performance for both Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (normal AND Vietnam) + World of Warcraft; both @ 1920x1080.

I'm honestly just going to buy the parts you recommend in your next reply and wing it LOL.
 
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gkay09

gkay09

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^ Hmm ok lets see,...

CPU - 2500K - ~AUD 240-250

Mobo -
This is a mATX board which offers SLI as well as Crossfire, but when you populate 2 graphic cards, rest of the slots would be blocked - wont matter if you wont use any add-on cards
Asus P8P67-M-PRO
http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=3a&products_id=50015
AUD 187

RAM - Same Corsair 4GB DDR3 - AUD 55

CASE - I would get a normal case with very good airflow - Antec 300 - AUD 55

PSU - Antec EA 750W - AUD 127

GPU - HD 6870 - ~ AUD 269

Total - ~AUD 940 - So with the above build you can go Crossfire later on and also with a single HD 6870, you can get good FPS in BFBC2,...
But first read about the components, then decide if you want to go with it,...
 
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