Analyze my $2000 dollar build

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Le037

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 21, 2008
Messages
457
Sup. I'm having the chance to build a new computer with 2000 dollars. I've learned a lot in the last month and this is what I've come up with. I'd like to hear what you think and what you would change :)

- Intel E8400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

- Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

- Corsair PSU 1000W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007

- G.SKILL 4GB DDR2 1000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

- WD Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

- Cooler Master Stacker 830 Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119122

- Windows Vista 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116493

- 2x Visiontek Radeon HD 4850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129112

- Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

The total is 1770 dollars. Don't mind the radeons. There's so much going around with video cards lately, that since I'm still waiting one or 2 weeks more maybe a better choice will show up. They're just representative of 400 dollars.
 
Looks very similar to a build I'm looking at. Will watch this thread.
 
If you are gonna wait till the end of the month, I would make the following changes:

Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz 12MB L2 - $316 after Q3 price cuts (typically end of July)
Corsair TX750W
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB



That would leave you just enough to get 2x HD4870 or a single 4870X2. Also would want to add a DVD drive and an aftermarket HSF ;)
 
Toaster Oven said:
If you are gonna wait till the end of the month, I would make the following changes:

Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz 12MB L2 - $316 after Q3 price cuts (typically end of July)
Corsair TX750W
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB

That would leave you just enough to get 2x HD4870 or a single 4870X2. Also would want to add a DVD drive and an aftermarket HSF ;)
Click to expand...

Nice advice! I didn't know Intel would be dropping prices. How much faster is a Velociraptor than that WD Caviar? Won't I lose a lot of speed If I downgrade? Btw, when is the 4870x2 coming out? I just can't wait.

Oh, and what about the Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5001ABYS 500GB instead of the Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB?
 
You won't lose a ton of speed if you downgrade to the 6400AAKS. Don't bother with that particular 500GB drive. It's slow.

Any reason why you're getting the $300 Rampage Formular over, say, a $150 DS3R or P5Q Pro motherboard?

Oh and unless you really want those fancy RAM coolers, ditch the overpriced Dominator RAM and go with this cheaper but still excellent DDR2 1066 RAM set:
G.SKILLF2-8500 CL5D-4GBPK 2 x 2GB DDR2 1066 RAM - $90
 
I think a 9800GX2 or HD4870X2 and a P45 board would be a better option, because, IIRC, not all games take advantage of Xfire. I could be wrong, so someone could slap some sense into me.

Anyhow, I agree with Danny and Toaster.
 
Danny Bui said:
You won't lose a ton of speed if you downgrade to the 6400AAKS. Don't bother with that particular 500GB drive. It's slow.

Any reason why you're getting the $300 Rampage Formular over, say, a $150 DS3R or P5Q Pro motherboard?

Oh and unless you really want those fancy RAM coolers, ditch the overpriced Dominator RAM and go with this cheaper but still excellent DDR2 1066 RAM set:
G.SKILLF2-8500 CL5D-4GBPK 2 x 2GB DDR2 1066 RAM - $90
Click to expand...

Thx for the help. If those g.skill sticks are as good as the Corsair then it's some more money I can spend on something else.

No reason why I chose the Rampage. Just scared to try cheaper boards. I'd also like to have an X48 chipset. The P45 won't do any good if I feel like adding another video card later on.
 
Le037 said:
Thx for the help. If those g.skill sticks are as good as the Corsair then it's some more money I can spend on something else.

No reason why I chose the Rampage. Just scared to try cheaper boards. I'd also like to have an X48 chipset. The P45 won't do any good if I feel like adding another video card later on.
Click to expand...

Reasonable priced X48 motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 Intel X38 Motherboard - $225
 
Le037 said:
Nice advice! I didn't know Intel would be dropping prices. How much faster is a Velociraptor than that WD Caviar? Won't I lose a lot of speed If I downgrade? Btw, when is the 4870x2 coming out? I just can't wait.

Oh, and what about the Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5001ABYS 500GB instead of the Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB?
Click to expand...

If you want best possible speed and have $300 to burn there are better ways to go. On July 7th, OCZ is releasing their Core Series SSD drives (ref1, ref2) any of which will put that Velociraptor to shame. With prices starting at $169 I think you'll see a lot of people switching to a 32/64GB SSD as their main boot drive and pairing it up with a larger traditional HD for storage.

Rumors about the 4870X2 launch date are all over the place. OCW is now reporting late July as the release date. Other sites say it won't be till August. Dunno who's right here :p
 
enginurd said:
I think a 9800GX2 or HD4870X2 and a P45 board would be a better option, because, IIRC, not all games take advantage of Xfire. I could be wrong, so someone could slap some sense into me.

Anyhow, I agree with Danny and Toaster.
Click to expand...

Didn't see your post. How long would I have to wait for the HD4870X2? Since I've gotta do this more or less in July.

I don't have a problem with buying just one fast video card and using a P45 chipset as long as that's the only disadvantage it has compared to an X45.

Toaster Oven said:
If you want best possible speed and have $300 to burn there are better ways to go. On July 7th, OCZ is releasing their Core Series SSD drives (ref1, ref2) any of which will put that Velociraptor to shame. With prices starting at $169 I think you'll see a lot of people switching to a 32/64GB SSD as their main boot drive and pairing it up with a larger traditional HD for storage.

Rumors about the 4870X2 launch date are all over the place. OCW is now reporting late July as the release date. Other sites say it won't be till August. Dunno who's right here :p
Click to expand...

Damn man this way u just have to wait forever. I'll wait for the 4870x2 though if those rumors are true.

I'll see how much money I'm left with after the build is complete and see If I can get one of those SSDs. Nice info man, thx.
 
Le037 said:
Didn't see your post. How long would I have to wait for the HD4870X2? Since I've gotta do this more or less in July.
Click to expand...

It looks it might be coming at the end of July.
 
Look at all these insomniacs... Yes, the only reason to get an X48 is for dual 16x Crossfire. P45 only offers dual 8x Crossfire.
 
IMO, at or above $200, you reach the point of diminishing returns (for motherboards). The extras you get with the ROG boards aren't worth their price premium, to me, personally; However, if they are to you, then by all means, spoil yourself.
 
Ok, I switched the Rampage for the Gigabyte. The build is now $270 dollars down supposing $400 go on a video card. Otherwise there's 670 dollars left to spend between a video card and something else.
 
Le037 said:
Otherwise there's 670 dollars left to spend between a video card and something else.
Click to expand...

Some options:
- Two HD4870 in Crossfire if you can't wait.
- The HD4870X2 when it comes out
- Another or bigger LCD monitor.
- A couple gallons of gas :)
 
onedestinazn2 said:
what monitor are you using? the 2408wfp from your sig?
Click to expand...

I bought a 24" Dell 2408wfp some weeks ago. It got stolen on the way here though, so I'm still waiting for a new one.

Danny Bui said:
Oh and unless you really want those fancy RAM coolers, ditch the overpriced Dominator RAM and go with this cheaper but still excellent DDR2 1066 RAM set:
G.SKILLF2-8500 CL5D-4GBPK 2 x 2GB DDR2 1066 RAM - $90
Click to expand...

Oh, btw. The G.SKILLs cost $150. I think I saw it at $90 too a while ago, or maybe we're both crazy.
 
i would go with 2 4870's then, maybe even the 1gb versions coming out. sorry to hear that about your monitor though oh and a cpu cooler?
 
enginurd said:
Literally... if you're in CA, lol.
Click to expand...

LOL! Unfortunately I am.:(

Oh well.

Oh and another option would be:
- More storage space
- Maybe one of those SSD drives. Though the current drives aren't that much faster than their mechanical counterparts.

Le037 said:
Oh, btw. The G.SKILLs cost $150. I think I saw it at $90 too a while ago, or maybe we're both crazy.
Click to expand...

No they were $90 a few minutes ago. Damn Newegg's automatic price increases!

Get this RAM instead if you can't get the above G.SKill for $90:
G.SKILL F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ 2 x 2GB DDR2 1000 RAM - $85
 
Danny Bui said:
- A couple gallons of gas :)
Click to expand...

Haha I live in Argentina, gas is cheaper here. Can't say the same about computer parts though. That's why whenever I decide on the parts I'm gonna buy them all together and go pick them up at my aunts house in Miami in one trip.
 
Yah, get this...

$37 - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler (optional: $7 - XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 LGA775 Bolt-Thru-Kit)

Get these sticks then, since the instant rebate on the other G.Skills is gone...
$85 - G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-1000 F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

They're slightly slower, but you won't notice the difference. The price difference for 66Mhz (dual channel, so really only 33Mhz) isn't worth it.
 
enginurd said:
Yah, get this...

$37 - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler (optional: $7 - XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 LGA775 Bolt-Thru-Kit)

Get these sticks then, since the instant rebate on the other G.Skills is gone...
$85 - G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-1000 F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

They're slightly slower, but you won't notice the difference. The price difference for 66Mhz (dual channel, so really only 33Mhz) isn't worth it.
Click to expand...

Added both, Including the retention bracket. Everything's $1770 now. How good is that cooler btw?
 
The best bang for buck cooler out right now. ;) As good as the $60 Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme (TRUE120), but it already comes with a fan. If you want something more silent, get the Noctua:

$63 - Noctua NH-U12P Universal heatsink

Its also as good as the TRUE120, but already comes with one of the quietest fans on the market (which costs $20 on its own).
 
Thanks a lot for the help. I'm gonna go sleep now, I gotta wake up in a couple hours. Feel free to keep posting suggestions :)
 
young boy said:
lol that's contradictory. X48 and X38 :D
Click to expand...

its the copy and paste bug... all engineers suffer from it from time to time. technically, since X48 is just a newer version of X38, that listing isn't so contradictory as one would have originally though. :p
 
young boy said:
lol that's contradictory. X48 and X38 :D
Click to expand...

Nice job! I've posted the list like that for the past two weeks and only now someone notices the mistake. LOL!

@ enginurd
I learn something new every day. That engineer's copy and paste bug is definitely new :D
 
You think engineers type out code anymore? Its all copy and paste! :p over-engineered to accommodate last minute changes as well as the ability to copy and paste code easily, with simple changes for different functionality. :D
 
enginurd said:
You think engineers type out code anymore? Its all copy and paste! :p over-engineered to accommodate last minute changes as well as the ability to copy and paste code easily, with simple changes for different functionality. :D
Click to expand...

True. :D Hell I'm copying and pasting the same code from past projects into current projects right now. I'm on the right path now. :)
 
Toaster Oven said:
If you are gonna wait till the end of the month, I would make the following changes:

Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz 12MB L2 - $316 after Q3 price cuts (typically end of July)
Corsair TX750W
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB



That would leave you just enough to get 2x HD4870 or a single 4870X2. Also would want to add a DVD drive and an aftermarket HSF ;)
Click to expand...
hmm in that case i might revise my current future build that includes the 4870x2 ;)

forgot about that nice Q9550 :)
 
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