Comment on my build, PREAZE?

Calis

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
407
hey dudez, building a new pc this week, any chance of getting some comments on the build:

VID CARD: EVGA 9800 GTX 512MB 675MHz

CPU: Q9450

MOBO: Asus P5E3-Deluxe-WIFI Motherboard

RAM: Corsair TW3X4G1333C9DHX (2x2GB) PC-10600 (DDR3)

Samsung 750GB 7200rpm SATA II 32MB CACHE

CoolerMaster Cosmos S Case

OCZ GameXStream 850W SLI

LITEON DH-20A4P IDE Super AllWrite DVD+-20X8X8/8X4
 
There's no reason to spend $330 on an X38 board if you're not going to use Crossfire. Get a P35 that uses DDR2, or if you really want to blow your money, get a board capable of SLI. The only concern is making sure that it supports the Q9450. You also don't need an 850W PSU for a single 9800GTX.
 
Unless you're gaming at a 1920x1200 or greater resolution, there's no need for SLI or CrossFire. Look for a P35-based board with similar features.

DDR3 is not worth the money right now. By the time it is, Nehalem (the latest processor series from Intel) will become more mainstream. Get yourself a 4GB DDR2 800 or DDR2 1000 kit -- there are several available for under/around $100 per kit. And there's no noticeable difference between CL4 and CL5 RAM, so don't pay more for lower latency memory.

The GameXStream model PSUs are based off the FSP Epsilon PSU series, which is known for producing out-of-spec fluctuations, or ripple, at high loads. Ripple kills your parts over time, so (even though you may not reach those high levels) it's not worth the risk.

And now, some questions:
  • What is your budget? Is shipping/taxes included within the budget?
  • What are you going to use your computer for? Which programs/games are you going to use?
  • Which monitor/resolution are you using?
  • Are you considering overclocking?
 
I concur with tiraides.

Please answer his questions or we cannot help you better.

And here are some motherboard choices:
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $90
MSI P35 Neo2-FR Intel P35 Motherboard - $110
DFI BloodIron P35-T2RL Intel P35 Motherboard - $120
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R Intel P35 Motherboard - $125
DFI LanParty DK P35-T2RS Intel P35 Motherboard - $140
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P Intel P35 Motherboard - $144
Abit IP35 Pro Intel P35 Motherboard - $170
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4 Intel P35 Motherboard - $170
Gigabyte GA-EX38-DS4 Intel X38 Motherboard - $207

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 4 SATA ports, check out the DS3L. If you need 5 SATA ports, 2 eSATA ports, and a second PCI-E x16 port, then get the Neo2-Fr. If you want heavy overclocking abilities and six SATA ports, check out the Blood Iron. If you like the BloodIron but want significantly better overclock stability, go for the LanParty. If you want 8 SATA ports, RAID, and legacy ports and high overclocks, than the DS3R is a good choice. If you want the DS3R but need Firewire and a second PCI-E x16 port, then go for the DS3P. If you want something that can overclock pretty damn high along with, RAID, eSATA ports and firewire connections, than the IP35 Pro. If you like the DS3P but want better cooling for overclocking, then go for the DS4.
 
Since you asked so nice in the thread title...


The 9800 GTX isn't worth the price premium at the moment over the 8800 GTS 512MB. It's practically the same card, OCed a bit, with some power saving features. Is it really worth another $100+? Not even close.

As others have already said, forget the X38. It's flat out stupid to pay for DDR3 right now, and you will never use Crossfire support with an Nvidia card, so that extra cash is buying you a whole lot of nothing over a P35 based board.

Unless you're running 1920x1200+ you don't need to even consider Crossfire or SLI.

Any particular reason you're choosing the Q9450 over a $208 shipped Q6600 from Frys.com? It's not that much faster.

As others have said, forget that OCZ PSU. I don't know if it's still running, but Directron.com had the Corsair TX750 for $105 + shipping with a $35 MIR a week or two ago. At that price it really can't be beat.
 
god i love this forum, thanks for the advice guys! ill keep looking into it!

OK, so my budget is AU ~2500

im a bit out of the loop, so ive kinda been looking around. The main thing is i need this to last me a few years

ill be doing alot of heavy photoshop/flash/3dsmax etc work, as well as gaming. RAM is esesential for me, i work at A3 300dpi (for those that dont know, its BIG) with alot of stuff

i havent been able to game on my current pc very well for a long time, so id love to be able to get back into it a bit

4gb of ram is absolutely essential
from my research the q9450 seems like a good processor for me
as for GFX cards, i went for the 9800GTX because its approximately the same price for me


What would you recommend instead of those parts, especially PSU wise, considering i may well run SLI in the future!

EDIT: i am running 3x 24" monitors, all 1920x1200 native
 
Just so you know, SLI only works with one monitor enabled. Meaning if all three monitors are on, used and enabled, you cannot use SLI.

Power supply wise, pick up this PSU:
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad 750W PSU - $150

As for that Asus motherboard, it's an all-right choice. I do have some personal gripes about it as well as the company but those may only apply to me:
- Not enough SATA ports
- Forced use of eSATA
- Asus website is so damn slow

EDIT: I see that you switched from a P5K-E Wifi to that 750i motherboard.

If you really want SLI, go with that mobo then. HOWEVER, do note that Nvidia chipsets are not as stable, reliable or cooler running as the Intel P35/X38/X48. So do decide whether or not high game performance is worth the added loss of stability.

If the above don't matter and you like the Wifi adapter, then go for it. However here are some other options just in case:
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 Motherboard - $90
MSI P35 Neo2-FR Intel P35 Motherboard - $110
DFI BloodIron P35-T2RL Intel P35 Motherboard - $120
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R Intel P35 Motherboard - $125
DFI LanParty DK P35-T2RS Intel P35 Motherboard - $140
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P Intel P35 Motherboard - $144
Abit IP35 Pro Intel P35 Motherboard - $170
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4 Intel P35 Motherboard - $170
Gigabyte GA-EX38-DS4 Intel X38 Motherboard - $207

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 4 SATA ports, check out the DS3L. If you need 5 SATA ports, 2 eSATA ports, and a second PCI-E x16 port, then get the Neo2-Fr. If you want heavy overclocking abilities and six SATA ports, check out the Blood Iron. If you like the BloodIron but want significantly better overclock stability, go for the LanParty. If you want 8 SATA ports, RAID, and legacy ports and high overclocks, than the DS3R is a good choice. If you want the DS3R but need Firewire and a second PCI-E x16 port, then go for the DS3P. If you want something that can overclock pretty damn high along with, RAID, eSATA ports and firewire connections, than the IP35 Pro. If you like the DS3P but want better cooling for overclocking, then go for the DS4.
 
I'm still stuck in a rut over SLI or not, it seems like it would be good for longevity, but then again im not sure if im ever really going to need it.

And as you said, it only works with one screen when enabled!
 
SLI would not be good for longevity. An excellent quote on SLI:
Markyip1 said:
Just some info on SLI / Crossfire: It's absolutely not worth considering if a) you're gaming at a resolution under 1920x1200 (as you'll see no performance benefit over a single card,) and b) if you plan to buy one card now and another later. SLI / Crossfire as an upgrade path is usually a very poor idea, as by the time you're ready to get that second card, a new single card solution will likely be available that will outperform two of your older cards in tandem. Furthermore, there really is no cost benefit to the SLI Upgrade Route, as any additional cost in getting the new card can be easily mitigated in most situations by selling the original. By avoiding an SLI / Crossfire solution when it will not be of benefit, you gain a cooler running, simpler to maintain system and more importantly, access to a much better (and broader) selection of motherboards.
 
oh, your in australia mate...

hi, i'm from melbourne, where are you? there are plenty of great stores around here and there is one particularly good store that has branches all over Australia...

www.msy.com.au

www.cpl.net.au

www.pcmaniacs.com.au

those three are particularly good stores with msy often being the cheapest and having branches just about everywhere...

anyway, again as people have already said, sli is pointless for resolutions under 1680x1050, but since your running 1900x1200, it would be useful, apart from the fact that you would have to get a matrox card aswell... If you want to run 3 monitors, you may consider 2 or even 3 seperate cards to run each monitor seperately...

CPL and PCM (pcmaniacs) both have XFX and EVGA 780i boards, for around $400, so you may consider one of those, Q9450, and 3 8800GT's or something...

i recommend corsiar PSU's and you can get the HX1000 (overkill, yes but not very expensive) at PCM, to run all 3 cards easily...

also, what CPU cooler will you be using? try to get something decent like the nocuta NH-12P, that will stil lfit in that Comsos...
 
oh, your in australia mate...

hi, i'm from melbourne, where are you? there are plenty of great stores around here and there is one particularly good store that has branches all over Australia...

www.msy.com.au

www.cpl.net.au

www.pcmaniacs.com.au

those three are particularly good stores with msy often being the cheapest and having branches just about everywhere...

anyway, again as people have already said, sli is pointless for resolutions under 1680x1050, but since your running 1900x1200, it would be useful, apart from the fact that you would have to get a matrox card aswell... If you want to run 3 monitors, you may consider 2 or even 3 seperate cards to run each monitor seperately...

CPL and PCM (pcmaniacs) both have XFX and EVGA 780i boards, for around $400, so you may consider one of those, Q9450, and 3 8800GT's or something...

i recommend corsiar PSU's and you can get the HX1000 (overkill, yes but not very expensive) at PCM, to run all 3 cards easily...

also, what CPU cooler will you be using? try to get something decent like the nocuta NH-12P, that will stil lfit in that Comsos...

hah, yeah, im from melb too, in brighton!

the links i provided are just the ones im using to browse options, i usually get what i can from MSY, or just staticice search to find the cheapest retailer!
 
Hey again guys, thankyou all very much for your help!

ive put together another list ( i realise the mobo is crossfire, but it has all the features i want and it seems like a good, fast, all round board (not too expensive either). i know im using an nvidia card, but i wont be using sli anyway so..

Motherboard: Asus P5K-E WiFi Motherboard

RAM: Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C5 4GB (2x2GB) 5-5-5-18 DDR2

PSU: Corsair TX-750 750W Power Supply

Graphics Card: EVGA 9800 GTX 512MB 675MHz

CPU: Q9450
 
750watt because my friend will sell it too me cheap, cheaper than the next one down :p
 
k, the 750W seems ok, no need for it really, but definately no need for the HX1000...

i still think that you should consider 2 cards if your running all 3 monitors off this system, because unless you get a triple head, you won't be able to run 3 off a single 9800GTX...

my mate here has just got the P5K-E wifi, to replace his P35 DS3 (memory slot issue, is now gonna be a hackintosh...) and his only complaint was that the BIOS was different and slightly harder to use than the gigabyte board's one...

is that the EVGA 9800GTX from PCM? how are you getting it? it says out of stock at the moment...
 
You could also drop down to the 8800GTS 512MB instead, since its just a slower clocked 9800GTX.
 
There is nothing inherently wrong with the build itself.

Although I do agree with some of the posters above. I wouldn't spend the extra $ on a 9800GTX. I would probably go with a 8800GTS or GT and then get a GT200 or maybe a 4870 which should be coming out in a couple months.

Also the processor might be a bit overkill.
 
OK, I've spent alot of time doing more research, and i've (hopefully) finalised what I'd like to get

Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula
CPU: Q9450
GFX: EVGA 9800GTX (same cost as 8800 where I am)
PSU: Corsair 750w
RAM: OCZ PC2 8500

various other parts, but thats the main stuff
 
What is it about the Rampage Formula that made you choose it over other motherboard out there?
 
I've been reading alot of reviews on it, I decided against SLI because its not worth the money. I read the Hardocp review on rampage, and they loved it, said it was stable as all hell. Plus i hear its a beast for overclocking, which i may well end up doing in the future. Seems like a good, fast, solid board (another thing is, the alternate board i was considering (x38 DQ6) is only 70 bucks less, i figured i may as well spent a little more and get some other features.
 
I haven't figured that out yet, I imagine ill pick up a cheap second card to run the third. (not SLI obviously)
 
The price premium of the Rampage over the P5K-E isn't worth it, IMO. The P5K-E can OC like crazy as well, just without many of the bells and whistles of the Rampage.
 
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