new computer build

N

newrig

Weaksauce
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
93
hey I've in the past and just wanted to see what you guys thought about this one. i already have a mouse, keyboard, monitor highest res is 1280x1024 19in., hoping to buy a 25in+ monitor so i can play at 1900 or 2560 res and i don't need fire wire or raid. i don't plan on OC'ing but i might later on. also i might Crossfire/sli but not sure yet. All i'm going to do with this is game 18hrs a day so its going to be used alot. going to play games like cod4,AOC, crysis, SC2, D3, TF2, CSS, DODS, UT3, WOW. dont plan on upgrading for awhile like 2yrs. hope this is enough info. my budget for this is $1500ish.

CASE:COOLER MASTER NV 690 NV-690C-KWN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119157&ref=lmcd i picked this case because it looks like it will work and its around 100 bucks. would like a full tower case. if this isnt any good please let me kno.

MOBO:GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336
I picked this mobo because if i wanted to crossfire later down the road.

Proc:Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042&Tpk=q9450
i should probably get a aftermarket cooler for the processor but i have no idea which one.

vid card:4870x2? it looks uber in reviews and all that but some people say that if ati doesnt keep up with drivers for certain games it sucks just like the 3870x2 in some say but i have no idea.

PSU:Thermaltake W0116RU 750W Complies with ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V version Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153038

hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262
looks good dont need anything big.

RAM:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...147&Description=ddr2+1200&name=Desktop+Memory
one of these im not sure which is better but i plan on getting 4gigs.

DVD burner: if u could find one that's good just need it to read games.

OS: i was looking at vista 64bit but i'm not sure if i should get that or xp. some say vista is good some say it sucks i don't know what i should pick.

thanks for reading this and helping me out on this. if theirs something better/cheaper please say something. thx again
 
Last edited:
Looks good so far. Maybe look at switching that drive for this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218 for more storage and it's a really really fast drive. You could still just partition it off?

The Xigmatek http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 is a great HSF for a cheap price. Probably pay to use this too http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

I use Vista X64 and never had any problems with it. Seems pretty fast and reliable with me.

Also, if you wanna save a few dollars, this Corsair powersupply is just as good if not better for cheaper. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006


The Coolermaster RC690 is a great case I have one and love it to bits. Good luck with the build.
 
$170 is really too much for a 750 watt PSU -- the Corsair 750 TX is usually around $100 AR if you are willing to give up modular cables. If you are considering later Crossfire X with a pair of 4870X2s, though, you should be getting the Corsair 1000 HX instead. It is ~$60 more ($250 or so), but worthwhile in that case.

I'd recommend the Xigmatech HDT-S1283 heatsink/fan combo at ~$30 (plus the bolt-thru kit, ~$6, or Thermalright's will work too) for your quad.

The 7200.10 is a good drive, but kind of dated. I'd recommend you spend a bit more on Western Digital's single platter 320GB, as it will be a good bit faster and give a little more storage for not much money money.

Get a 4GB kit of RAM -- 2x2GB, not 4x1GB. Populating all the slots will limit your maximum stable OC due to stress on the motherboard's MCH. A quality 4GB kit of DDR2-1066 can be had for under $100 AR from OCZ, G.Skill, GEIL, Corsair, Crucial... take your pick.
 
looks like ill be getting the things u suggested. do u have any info on the gpu, OS and ram? is it better to go with just a 4870 or a gtx280 or just get the 4870x2? and for the os should i get vista 64 bit?
 
DDR2-1066 is plenty fast, forget DDR2-1200, and those are all 2GB kits you linked. You want a 4GB kit (2x2GB) /not/ a 2GB kit (2x1GB). Do not get any of the RAM you linked.

I'd suggest you wait for the 4870X2 and get a P45 or P43 based board instead of the X48. A single 4870X2 should be plenty unless you are /extremely/ demanding. Price to performance the GTX 280 just cannot compete at its current pricepoint. Forget about it unless you are a diehard Nvidia fan... and since you were considering an ATI card, I don't think you're quite /that/ diehard.

I'd recommend a Samsung DVDRW. I believe ther is a 22X SATA drive for $25 shipped right now on Newegg.

Vista Home Premium 64bit OEM runs $100. That's what you want. You're getting DX10 capable hardware and there are more and more games coming out now that have actual beneficial DX10 support. Running XP on a new machine (that can easily handle Vista) at this point in time is shooting yourself in the foot.
 
im feeling so noob right now ;/ can u link the bolt thru kit i cant find it ;/
 
The guy above linked the Xigmatech "official" one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

Beats the hell out of pushpins. Very worthwhile.

I also recommend this G.Skill RAM kit - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

Only ~$5 more than all the other DDR2-1066 4GB kits after rebate, and no rebate to bother with. Only reason I could see to go with a different brand would be if you want this Mushkin kit -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146785 -- since it is $5 cheaper AR and comes with a free 3DMark Vantage license.
 
the p43 looks good, but on all of them the reviews arent the best is this something i should worry about?
 
When are you planning on upgrading your monitor? If you're not going to upgrade it within the next six months, stick with one HD4870 and be done with it. If you wait too long, by the time you actually buy your new monitor, there will be a new card out that performs better than what's currently available.

I'm somewhat confused by one of your earlier statements... you said that you wanted a full tower case, but you choose a mid tower case in the RC-690. The RC-690 is a good case, but if you really want it, get it for less at Provantage. An example of a full tower case is the Thermaltake Armor VA8000BWS case (if you want that, again, get it from Provantage). Cooler Master and Lian Li also make excellent full tower cases, but they're pretty expensive -- expect to pay nearly $200, if not more, for one.
 
ill prob have the monitor way before 6months(hopefully). and thx for pointing out that the 690 is a mid tower case lol ;/. that thermaltake one looks good so im going to just go with that one. dont thing paying over 150ish is worth it on a case imo. thx for the help
 
newrig said:
the p43 looks good, but on all of them the reviews arent the best is this something i should worry about?
Click to expand...

Do you mean the NewEgg reviews? Don't rely on them -- most of the reviewers there don't know what they're talking about. Check hardware review sites and forums -- starting here, of course -- and choose one based on which features you want or need.

newrig said:
ill prob have the monitor way before 6months(hopefully). and thx for pointing out that the 690 is a mid tower case lol ;/. that thermaltake one looks good so im going to just go with that one. dont thing paying over 150ish is worth it on a case imo. thx for the help
Click to expand...

Hopefully? I know of a lot of people who have said that they were going to get something new, then started to procrastinate, forget, run out of money, whatever... and end up keeping the same thing they were originally going to replace. If you aren't 100% sure that you are going to buy the monitor soon, my suggestion is to get a midrange card good enough to play games on your monitor right now -- like the 9600GT or the 8800GT -- and save up enough money so you could buy the video card and the new monitor at the same time. (You could always sell the old card later to recoup some of your expenses.) The HD4870 is overkill for your current monitor and it may not be used to its full potential in most games.
 
I thought the 4850 has more heat issues then the 4870 or more power req? something like that.

hmmm that makes alot of sense. tomorrow ill check to see if i can buy the new monitor at the time of the 4870x2 release date. thx to all of u for the help and ill be on tomorrow to let u kno so u can help me find a good monitor :p.
 
The HD4850 has "heat issues" because it uses a single-slot cooler (compared to the double-slot cooler the HD4870 uses), but it can handle the heat. The HD4870 actually has the higher power requirements.

If you want good monitor recommendations, check out the Displays forum here.
 
Looks like a killer box, I can't make up my mind on either a pair of 4850's or the 4870's.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top