Question About Build

[Briskk]

Hi guys!

So my computer has been serving me for around 4 years and I thought it would be time that I'd upgrade to a new one. I've pretty much decided that I would go with an AMD build as they usually have better price to performance ratios. My budget is capped at $900. Here is what I have so far.

AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor $129.99
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler $28.57
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5 ATX AM3+ Motherboard $159.99
Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $50.40
Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive $69.99
MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card $315.46
Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case $149.99
XFX ProSeries 750W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply $122.60
Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $19.99

Unfortunately, this build comes up to $1046.98, not including shipping. This is a problem. So I thought to my self "Why not reuse some of my current compenents?"

Here is a list of my current components:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz
Dell Xps 630 630i Motherboard (0C113J)
Hynix 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-6400 DDR2-800MHz Memory (HMP125U6EFR8C-S6 AB)
Seagate Barracuda 750GB 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive (ST3750630AS)
PowerColor Radeon HD 5770 1GB Video Card (AX5770)
Dell XPS 630 Case
Dell 750W Power Supply (D750E-00)
Dell D568C DH-16A6S CD-R/RW DVD R/RW IDE Optical Drive (DH-16A6S)


Now I know that I won't be able to reuse the CPU, Motherboard, RAM, and Video Card; but what about the Power Supply, and Optical Drive?
I would like a new case because the Dell XPS 630 Case requires my motherboard to be inverted and I'm not sure how that will affect the overall performance and quality of my new parts but if it doesn't affect the overall performance, I guess I can use the case and buy a better one such as the 650D in the near future.

Even the Hard Drive, the one I have right now is 16MB of Cache I believe. Would a 64MB Cache Hard Drive really give me that much more performance?

I would like to know if my PSU is a good quality one because I don't want it frying up my new parts. Plus I've been using it for around 4 years.

Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.

 

[Rammy]

I can't tell you much about the PSU (perhaps someone more familiar with Dells can) but from the stats provided you should be absolutely fine. It's a 750W PSU, 4 12V rails each at 18A. In terms of power, it's way more than you need.
You can comfortably run a 7950 on a 500W PSU, a 750W should be good for Crossfire.

The only obvious warning would be towards the fact that it is aging. PSUs have a finite lifespan, so it's perhaps something you could use as a temporary solution but eventually its performance is likely to deteriorate, depending on how hard it has been used.

Similar story with HDD. If it's been used a lot, continually written and rewritten then it will be gradually aging. There's nothing to stop you using it, especially as a secondary drive, but it's probably not good as a long term solution.

 

[Firespert]

This motherboard us much cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138341&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

The build looks great. Reuse the the hard drive for sure.

 

[Briskk]

What about reusing the Optical Drive and the Case. Im just a bit weary about reusing the case as I've realized that dust builds up very quickly inside it and I am not quite keen about it requiring the MOBO to be inverted.

 

[Rammy]

Yeah there is absolutely no harm in using an old case. Cases have a lot of attributes people obsess over but at the end of the day, the components would still work if they were lying loose on a desk. I have cheap-ed out on cases before and regretted it, but as a short term solution to your problem it's definitely viable.
Also, the case you picked is very expensive. If you like it, and you want it, then I'm not trying to dissuade you, but if you just want a quality "box" then you can do it a lot cheaper.

As for optical drives, they are much the same as they always have been. Unless you want a Blu-ray drive of course. I've actually done away with mine entirely as 90% of my software is downloaded these days. I keep an external one in a drawer. Not for everyone, but it kinda demonstrates how irrelevant it is overall.

Even keeping the expensive case I reckon you can easily get down to $900 without any compromises.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($82.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.49 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($297.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.93 @ Mac Connection)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($84.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $899.34
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-25 20:40 EST-0500)

 

[Briskk]

What would you recommend as a good quality built case preferably with a side window, decent ventilation, and dust filters on all intakes?

Because I'm trying to cut down my costs and here is what I have so far. The parts I picked are from Canada and the prices are different.

AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor $139.99
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler $34.99
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard $149.99
Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory $54.99
MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card $319.99
Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case $149.99

Total: $849.94

Now I know some of the parts I can save a few, such as the MSI Twin Frozr I've selected but I rather have higher quality parts that will last as I am definitely planning to overclock in the future. Also the prices for my parts listed above are from merchants close to my house so I can avoid shipping costs. Memory Express/NCIX.

Also if I do stick with my current case, is there any secret or convenient way in preventing dust build up? I find it extremely annoying.

Thanks again for your time

 

[Rammy]

I'm getting (near enough) the exact same price if I shift PCpartpicker to Canda.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Canada Computers)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($35.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($72.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($50.40 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ Memory Express)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Memory Express)
Case: Corsair 650D ATX Mid Tower Case ($149.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 550W 80 PLUS Gold Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($94.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $904.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-25 21:36 EST-0500)

I'd say you can definitely go cheaper on your motherboard, unless you desperately need something it offers. Much over $100 on an AM3+ motherboard is probably not going to give you anything significant.
Reason I put in the Gigabyte HD7950 over the MSI is that it's a bit faster and has a really epic cooler on it. Also it's a fair chunk cheaper. Only reason I wouldn't get that one is if size was a problem (it's the length of a bus) but in that case you should be good.

As for case suggestions, the Bitfenix Shinobi looks a lot like the 650D but is dramatically cheaper. It's probably not quite in the same league but it's a nice case for sure and you can get it in a version with a window. If you like the simple, elegant black box style then 90% of what Fractal Design make might suit you too, but those tend not to be cheap.

Dust build up is pretty much unavoidable. Removable filters help a lot so you can just wash them out. There's a lot of discussion about Positive Vs Negative pressure in cases but personally I think it's unlikely to make a lot of difference. Any case that's got really good ventilation tends to have subsequent dust issues.

 

[camohanna]

I would keep the HDD, with pricing of them these days... I take it that this is for gaming? This i cheaper then above and will perform better...

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/G509
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/G509/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/G509/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77M-D3H Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($84.47 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($50.40 @ DirectCanada)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($299.99 @ Memory Express)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($68.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $753.83
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-26 02:35 EST-0500)

 

[Briskk]

Best answer selected by Briskk.