Need professional advice before order

[napsterlone]

Hello everyone. I have finally completed choosing my parts for my future gaming computer build. I ask that you please review all my parts to make sure they are compatible and that I have chosen good parts. It is based off of an AMD build.

What I will use it for:
- graphic intensive video games
- home theater
- multi-tasking
- downloading large files
- lots of internet use

What I'm looking for:
- a build that will last me for a while
- I will not overclock for now but I will in the future once I get more comfortable
- a build that will allow me to work speedily and play smoothly on ultra graphics options
- I'm not going to get hung-up over specifics, I just want a PC that will get the job done. I don't need the best.
- A $700 value computer

Questions:
- Is my power supply enough?
- Is my motherboard a good one?
- will my GPU do the job?
- will my CPU do the job?
- is my case good?
- is everything compatible?
- will it last me a long time?

Build:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD3 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor

Video Card: XFX Double D HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready

Power Supply: OCZ ZT Series 650W Fully-Modular 80PLUS Bronze High Performance Power Supply

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory

Hard Drive: Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal

Case: Antec Gaming Series one illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

CD/DVD reader/writer: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

TOTAL: $755 before rebates+shipping

TOTAL: $700 after rebates

 

[o1die]

I don't see anything except the video card. You might check the newegg reviews and see if noise is an issue for the xfx brand; some brands like Sapphire are rated quieter for some models. I use an ocz ps and ssd and have had no problems with them.

 

[kajabla]

Looks good. With that mobo you can add another 6870 in the future, and your PSU's good for that.

 

[napsterlone]

Looks good. With that mobo you can add another 6870 in the future, and your PSU's good for that.

Ok thanks. Also, should i stick with the Phenom II x4 965 BE or should i go for an FX series CPU?

 

[napsterlone]

I don't see anything except the video card. You might check the newegg reviews and see if noise is an issue for the xfx brand; some brands like Sapphire are rated quieter for some models. I use an ocz ps and ssd and have had no problems with them.

Ok thanks. Also, should i stick with the Phenom II x4 965 BE or should i go for an FX series CPU?

 

[nekulturny]

Ok thanks. Also, should i stick with the Phenom II x4 965 BE or should i go for an FX series CPU?

My opinion is, the only way I would go with an FX would be under 2 conditions.

1. It be the FX-8120 model.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103961

2. You overclocked it over 4.0GHZ. Contrary to some review sites (including Tom's), an overclocked 8120 stacks up pretty well against the more expensive Intel 2500K.

This is a very comprehensive benchmark of the CPUs head to head overclocked.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1210060/fx8120-vs-2500k-benchmark-results

 

[kajabla]

If you had enough cash to go 8120, you'd go 2500K. The 965 is good.

 

[nekulturny]

If you had enough cash to go 8120, you'd go 2500K. The 965 is good.

Considering they're only 170 bucks now, and 2500Ks are still 220, and the new Ivy Bridge 3570k is 240 (which at best is only 6 percent better than the 2500k and at worst, gets way too darn hot under overclocking conditions- and Intel promised pre-release it would be 20 percent better than Sandy Bridge- Clearly it wasnt).. I'd take the FX-8120 over em, but thats just me. Sure, originally FX 8 cores were way too expensive for the stock performace they offered, but they really do seem to come alive under overclocking conditions going by that article I linked to. My main objection to Intel is their business practices, we all know they make better products, they're still crooks.

 

[nekulturny]

Although it is worth mentioning, that if you live near a MicroCenter, they've been running an In-store only offer on I5-2500ks for 170 bucks thats substantially cheaper than you'll find it online from Newegg or TigerDirect.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589