Need last stretch advice to be sure [Mid-end system]

[Roncorps]

Hi,

I'm building a mid-end gaming/everyday system and I've read lots of reviews about the part I'm about to choose for it, but I'm not sure about my choice, so I saw the opportunity that qhe tom's hardware forum community could tell me if I'm doing the right choice.

First, like I said, I'm planning a mid-end system, so I already dropped the high end part, even at 20-40$ difference (more), but I wanted a system that can perform when needed. Some part seem to be near the top mid-end to let me upgrade if neccesary.

So there's it goes. (P.S. I'm canadian, so my price number come from a canadian website that got equal or better price than Newegg, but less part)

Case - Coolermaster CM 690 II Advanced ($80)
- Already purchased , it received very good review, so didn't think it was a bad choice -
Motherboard - ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 ($120)
- I'm hesitating, because I'm adding a video card and I don't know if the onboard video worth it.
- The ASUS M5A99X Evo ($141) is part of my reflexion too, because it can use the next Bulldozer CPU, but I don't think I need to go in that kind of update.
PSU - Antec Truepower New 750W ($112)
- Seem like a good deal to me. Good review, great power for upgrade.
DDR - Kingston HyperX KHX1600C9D3K2/8GX 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 XMP Dual Channel ($53)
- No comment
CPU - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T ($148)
- Wanted to go with x4 925 at $104, but for 44 more buck, the X6 was tempting
CPU Heatsink - Zalman CNPS10X Quiet ($51)
- If I want to overclock or upgrade, always usefull I think.
Video card - Sapphire Radeon 6770 1GB ($120)
- Where I'm hesitating the more ... I like ATI Radeon and this card top the GFX550 in some review.
- I don't plan to Crossfire.

Total = $728, tx included

So that's it. Thank for your help/comment. I was planning to get a Intel 320 Series GEN3 120GB SSD too ($229) or OCZ Vertex 2 120GB ($198), but I'm waiting.

 

[michxymi]

No reason for such big PSU. I would get

XFX 550W PRO550W Core Edition Single Rail ATX 12V 44A 24PIN ATX Power Supply 80PLUS Bronze
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15180AC2961&vpn=P1550SXXB9&manufacture=XFX

I would get this CPU Heatsink. It's what I've got, for my Phenom II X4 955 which I clocked to 4.0GHz!

Scythe Mugen 2 REV.B. HeatPipes CPU Heatsink LGA1366 1156 775 AM3 AM2+ AM2 754 939 940 120MM Fan
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC6165&vpn=SCMG-2100&manufacture=SCYTHE

Also get the Phenom II X4 955. This way you will still have a powerful CPU, which can O/C to 4.0GHz easy and you will save some money for a better GPU

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Quad Core Processor 3.2GHZ AM3 8MB Cache 125W Retail Box
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10360AC6599&vpn=HDZ955FBGMBOX&manufacture=AMD

For Motherboard check Gigabyte's GA-990XA-UD3. Newest AMD 990X/SB950 chipset for better SSD support, 10 phase Power Design which results to a more stable system, SATA & USB III etc.

Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3 AMD 990X AM3+ ATX DDR3 3PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI SLI SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950BD1058&vpn=GA-990XA-UD3&manufacture=Others

Finally for GPU get something with more power like a 6870!

ASUS Radeon HD 6870 DirectCU 913MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI 2XMINI DisplayPort HDMI PCI-E Video Card
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10530BD9927&vpn=EAH6870%20DC/2DI2S/1GD5&manufacture=ASUS

 

[Outlander_04]

Definitely the 990 series mb

definitely NOT the X6 Phenom . These often perform slower than equivalent speed X4's in gaming since games cant use all 6 cores

Make sure the RAM is 1.5 volt . You only need 2 x2 gig for gaming . More will not improve frame rates

The Mugen over the Zalman cooler

and which graphics card has to be based on your
1/ budget
2/ the resolution of your monitor

 

[Roncorps]

@Mitch

1. For the PSU, I wanted a bigger one to be able to upgrade and if I changed my idea about Crossfire, I
would be able to do it. That's why a 750W, and the Antec Truepower top the chart in most review.

2. Many choice are there I think. I've looked on the Scythe Heatsink, but it didn't attracted me. The Zalman is $16 more but it got very good review because of is silent fan (Yes, not as much as Scythe), but providing a better cooling efficiency. (32.1 db at low with 18.9C / 46.8 db at high with 12.9C, see FrostyTech test

3. You are right sir, I think it's a better idea and it save me $38. The X6 1055T was calibrated at 2.8GHZ, but the X4 955 is at 3.2GHZ, with mostly the same cache.

4. Never gone into GB, always ASUS. I got a $20 mail in rebate with ASUS, so the MoBo is $118. The GB is $142. The board seem pretty good. What the main difference between the ASUS M4A86GT, except for the loss of onboard video ? Does the 990X chipset worth it over the 890 ?

5. Now, I'm confused because I don't how much a good card I need. I've already saw that one, but don't know cost/effective vs what I need. I play WoW with normal setup, want to play D3 when going out. Don't play high demanding FPS and etc. game.

 

[Roncorps]

@Outlander

1. Yeah, the 990 seem good enough cost/effective and it can take the next Bulldozer CPU.

2. Going with the X4 955 BE as mich advice

3. I need more RAM because I do some image editing and I'm a geograph. Our softwares use LOT of RAM. So the 8GO seem enough and the price is good.
Kingston HyperX is 1.65V. What the main point about volt on RAM ? I'm not the overclocker guy, so much is unknow to me.

4. Why the Mugen ?

5. Budget : Around $100-120
Resolution : ViewSonic VX2240w (True Resolution 1680x1050)

 

[Outlander_04]

The mugen is a better cooler , and cheaper [ usually ]

There are boards with a 970 chipset that sell for under $100 US
I think there's an Asrock [ owed by ASUS] that has dual pci-e x 16 slots and can crossfire
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157262

But I like this one for value and quality
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

You cant crossfire with it , but what I have generally found is that in a year or two you can upgrade to a single better card more economically than buying another older card to match the one you have [ if you sell your old one ]
The 970 will perform identically to the 990 .

At 1680 x 1050 you can game spectacularly with a Radeon 6850 , and your original 6770 is enough for your games . Having said that , Id buy the 6850 if it was in the budget

 

[michxymi]

Gigabyte offers a better Power Phase Design (10 Phase vs 8 Phase), without loosing anything ASUS 990X motherboard has to offer. So why you want to get the Asus motherboard?

About PSU. It would be the biggest waste of money If you Crossfire, In order to play at this resolution. Even at 1920x1080 2011 GPUs are playing everything on max! Plus Crossfire means more money for case, higher temperatures and property drivers to work! My point is, buy something that you will use and not something you maybe use.

Are you plan to overclock? If you need only a heatsink for lower noise, you can check

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

I suggest Mugen, because It's what I use on my 955, and along with Cool and Quiet Technology from AMD, I'm very happy with it. Stable overclock, pretty acceptable temperatures!

Finally, you may not need such a 6870. 6850 seems Ideal for such resolution. Get 6870 if you plan to buy a new monitor!

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

 

[Roncorps]

I like the ASUS M5A97 Evo too. Good price and seem to have good potential. TechPowerUp list that it can do x16/x4 Crossfire.

The Mugen is out of order on DirectCanada, the website I order normally. What about the SCYS-1000 ?

For the video card, the Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 is over $165. Only $45 buck more than the 6770. Worth it for long run ?

 

[Outlander_04]

16 x/ 4 x means the data speed to one card is quite restricted . It might be able to do it [ like me running a marathon ] BUT I JUST DONT WANT TO
If you do get the 6850 then crossfire is not going to be needed any time soon .

I have not used a Yasya , but I just googled this
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1335/5/
and it looks like it out performs a Mugen by a tiny margin

 

[michxymi]

As I said it's up to you friend. If you need a heatsink for overclock then get a good one. Yasya seems very good. Generally, Scythe is a very good company at heatsinks so I would trust this product too. If you need it only for lower noise level the coolermaster I linked is more than enough.

I will say yes to the Asus 970. And with the money you'll earn get a 6870. It will destroy everything at 1680x1050 and it will be there when you 'll buy a new monitor!

 

[Roncorps]

I want to OC, but not as mad. If I want to OC maximum the X4 955 BE to 4GHZ, something like the Coolermaster Hyper 212 or Scythe Samurai Zz could be perfect ? Noise is not a must, just want a good around $30 heatsink at best.


For the Mo, there's good points for the GA-990X. So, long run, which one : GA-990X at $143 or ASUS M5A97 at $117 ? I can afford both, don't need CrossFire.

For the video, I think going with the 6850 is fine, because I don't plan to CrossX and don't plan to get a new monitor soon. I know that 6870 is like the best choice, but cost-wise, I can pass.

For PSU, you think max 550W is right ? The XFX 650W for $78 buck seem a pretty good choice if I need to go down the 750W path.

 

[michxymi]

Final choices for me!

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

I know a lot of people with 955 @ 4GHz and Hyper 212. They are happy with it so it's OK from me too. Go for it!

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

If you can afford it, go for GA-990X. Just for 10 Phase Power Design.

GIGABYTE GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128510&Tpk=gigabyte%20ga-990xa

SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

For 6850 even 550W are a lot. Get the 450W version

XFX Core Edition PRO450W (P1-450S-XXB9) 450W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207012

 

[Roncorps]

@Michxymi

Yeah Right now, I have that in my cart, only for the PSU that I'm hesitating now (95% of the system is done). I think I'll go with the 550W. I have calculated with power supply calculator a recommended 469W for my system. OC it goes to 579W. Wouldn't be recommended that I got with XFX 650W for OC purpose ?

 

[Roncorps]

Best answer selected by Roncorps.

 

[michxymi]

@Michxymi

Yeah Right now, I have that in my cart, only for the PSU that I'm hesitating now (95% of the system is done). I think I'll go with the 550W. I have calculated with power supply calculator a recommended 469W for my system. OC it goes to 579W. Wouldn't be recommended that I got with XFX 650W for OC purpose ?

Really? How much VCore you add? C3 Stepping is 1.25V and can go up to 1.4V, mine is 1.30! Anyway getting 550w isn't a bad idea. You will keep this PSU for your next build too!

 

[Roncorps]

1 physical core, OC to 4000 / 1.4V
all the other system part
plus
5 SATA
1 SSD
1 combo DVD
5 Fan

Got me to 575w with Thermaltake calculator but 700w with Asus calculator.

I think 550w will do the job and like you said, will be good if I upgrade my build.

Thanks a lot, I saved like $40-50 on my original build, but got HD 6850 with the GA990X. And I didn't look at all at the XFX PSU. They got great reviews and are $30-40 less costly than other regular brand with superior testing.

 

[Roncorps]

I could even go with XFX video card. They seem to have good review too. The XFX Radeon HD6850 is like $6 buck expensive, but is OC to 820mhz/4.4GHZ vs Sapphire at 775mhz/4.0GHZ. For 5 more buck, there the dual fan too.

The best I think is about your HD6870. With XFX, for 15 buck more than the Sapphire HD6850, I got one. That's $13-15 than Sapphire counterpart.

 

[michxymi]

Happy building then and looking forward for feedback!