1st Build jitters

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auburnu008

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Jul 8, 2008
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I have been doing a lot of research here and think I have a good idea for my 1st PC build. I will be using it for mostly web surfing and a little gaming and DVD watching/burning. I just got a 32" Sharp 1080p LCD for my moniter. I am planning on waiting until next week to order everything so I am make sure (with your help) that I get the right stuff. I am also waiting because of the intel price cuts. I was originally going to go with a q6600, but decided to wait and get a q9950 for about $150 more after the cuts. I plan on keeping it for about 2 years and them upgrading then. I wanted a crossfire motherboard just in case I decide to add another 4850 down the road. Please let me know if there is anything out of place or if things can be improved. THANKS!

Q9950
$350ish next week
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041&Tpk=Q9550


ASUS P5Q-E LGA 775 Intel P45
$150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131296


OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
$57
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267


SAPPHIRE HD 4850
$160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102747


Thermaltake W0116RU 750W
$105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153038


Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB
$90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218


Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS
$200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133021


SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R
$28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171


Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
$13
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007


XIGMATEK HDT-S1283
$27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003


XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket
$7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019
 
Don't count your rebates until you get them. You still have to pay the up-front costs, which adds tax to the total. Rebates are never guaranteed, so until that check is cashed, you didn't get the item for that lower price.

There's a promo code for TODAY ONLY for the P5Q Pro, which isn't too different from the P5Q-E. The code puts the Pro at only $130, which is a good deal, IMO. If you don't have the code, you could switch the vidcard to the Asus HD4850, which has a combo special with the P5Q Pro, saving you $30 total, but the card is $5 more than the Sapphire. Still, a savings of $25 is pretty good, IMO.

Also, I'd get the TX750 from buy.com instead of the Toughpower... much cheaper, unless you want a modular PSU, then the Toughpower is probably your best choice at that price.

AS5 is only $6. Added to all your other components, it won't add $7 shipping to the total shipping costs.

If you want to OC higher than 3.4Ghz, you might be better off with some DDR2-1000 RAM instead:
$85 - G.Skill 4GB(2x2GB) DDR2-1000 F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ
 
i'm new here so don't believe everything i say. however...

for browsing the internet and watching dvd's the Q9950 seems like overkill. with a 32" lcd i'd consider dropping down at least to a 6600, then taking the extra money and upgrading the 4850 to a 4870.


good luck on your first build :)
 
enginurd said:
Don't count your rebates until you get them. You still have to pay the up-front costs, which adds tax to the total. Rebates are never guaranteed, so until that check is cashed, you didn't get the item for that lower price.

There's a promo code for TODAY ONLY for the P5Q Pro, which isn't too different from the P5Q-E. The code puts the Pro at only $130, which is a good deal, IMO. If you don't have the code, you could switch the vidcard to the Asus HD4850, which has a combo special with the P5Q Pro, saving you $30 total, but the card is $5 more than the Sapphire. Still, a savings of $25 is pretty good, IMO.

Also, I'd get the TX750 from buy.com instead of the Toughpower... much cheaper, unless you want a modular PSU, then the Toughpower is probably your best choice at that price.

AS5 is only $6. Added to all your other components, it won't add $7 shipping to the total shipping costs.

If you want to OC higher than 3.4Ghz, you might be better off with some DDR2-1000 RAM instead:
$85 - G.Skill 4GB(2x2GB) DDR2-1000 F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ
Click to expand...

Very good info. Thank you! I added the combo to my cart and saved $25. I decided to get the Toughpower because I wanted a modular PS. The rebate on it expires tomorrow so I think I am going to order it tonight. Plus newegg's 10% off power supply code will save another $17. I am going to chage the RAM to the G. Skill 1000. Thanks for the help.
 
Zeroheaven said:
i'm new here so don't believe everything i say. however...

for browsing the internet and watching dvd's the Q9950 seems like overkill. with a 32" lcd i'd consider dropping down at least to a 6600, then taking the extra money and upgrading the 4850 to a 4870.


good luck on your first build :)
Click to expand...

Well I just cant see paying $180 for a q6600 when I can get a $550 processer for $350 in a week. I do not want to have any regrets later. I know it is probably more that what I need, but it isn't that much more $. As far as a 4570, I should be able to run the 32" and play games on a 4850 for now. Later I could always add a second 4850.
 
I ordered the thermaltake toughpower 750 for $100 shipped. If I was to go with a Q9550, what would you recommend for a motherboard if I was going to get a 4570 now and possibly upgrade to a crossfire setup later? I have everything else picked out except the motherboard. Thanks for your help.
 
Is the 32" an LCD monitor or an HDTV? If it's a monitor, which resolution do you use? If it's an HDTV, is it a 720p or a 1080p?

Depending on the answers to the above questionnaire, you may be better off with going with either an HD4850 or an HD4870. The HD4850 is best if you have a 720p HDTV or you're playing games at a resolution less than 1920x1200; otherwise, get the HD4870. Depending on which games you play, you may only need one card.

Regardless, the P5Q Pro is $150 shipped right now, and the P45 chipset supports dual x8 CrossFire. There is currently a combo deal going on where you save $30 off the cost of a P5Q Pro and an Asus HD4850 purchased together.
 
auburnu008 said:
Well I just cant see paying $180 for a q6600 when I can get a $550 processer for $350 in a week. I do not want to have any regrets later. I know it is probably more that what I need, but it isn't that much more $. As far as a 4570, I should be able to run the 32" and play games on a 4850 for now. Later I could always add a second 4850.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind that as you move up-scale in processor models, you'll pay a significant amount (over the next cheaper model) for an insignificant performance gain. The Q9550 may be $350 next week, but compared to a Q6600 for $180, you shouldn't expect $170 worth of extra performance from the Q9550.

Also, the biggest performance jump between the two models is not in raw ghz but in the architecture improvements of the 45nm process (the Q6600 is an older, 65nm chip.) I believe the Q9450 will be discontinued with the price cuts next week, but if you can find one at a good price after the cut as retailers cut their stock, that may be a better option. A Q9450 is also a 45nm chip, and will provide most of the performance benefit realized by jumping from a Q6600 to a Q9550.... The only downside is if you want to OC. The Q9450's limiting multiplier can make OCing a bit more difficult than on a Q6600 (x9 multi) or Q9550 (x8.5 multi)
 
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