Building PC - Hardware advice

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almaster666

n00b
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Aug 18, 2009
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Hey guys,
So, I currently own an OEM Acer computer (please don't tell me I should have built, I had neither the time nor the money to do so). It runs games like GTA 4 just fine for now but I need better.
So, what I have so far is this:
- AMD Athlon x2 4050e (2.1GHz) - so far, no real OC'ing possibility because of Acer Motherboard with locked BIOS.
- 4Go DDR2 RAM
- Nvidia GeForce 9500 GS - 512Mo (which I have yet to OC)

My plan is to upgrade the different components little by little (I can't afford everything at once, I'm still a student). I am first upgrading to a bigger, better ventilated case and PSU.
In a few months I'll be upgrading to a better video card (GTX 260 Core 216 or GTX 275) because my current one is bottlenecking my system more than the CPU.
And, third step, I'll upgrade my motherboard and CPU to a DDR3 and AMD Quad or Athlon x3 core processor.

My first question is:

I have bought a case, PSU and I'm getting a free heat-sink for a future CPU upgrade. What do you think of these components? Will they be sufficient for the type of setup I'm aiming for? Any suggestions?

Case: Antec Three Hundred: http://www.materiel.net/ctl/Boitiers/39143-Three_Hundred.html

Power Supply: Corsair TX 750W: http://www.materiel.net/ctl/Alimentations/33363-TX_750W.html

Heat Sink: Xigmatek HDT-S1283: http://www.materiel.net/ctl/Radiateurs_processeurs/31506-HDT_S1283.html

Thanks a lot
and sorry for the links being in French but 80% of the info is in English abbreviations anyway

EDIT: Btw, I am very patient, I don't need everything to come together at once. I understand that it's silly to run a GTX 275 on my crappy motherboard but if it's for 2 or 3 months, it's okay.
 
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Nvidia current products are over priced. I would suggest 4870 1 GB or 5770 1 GB.

I don't suggest Xigmatek has doesn't have AM3 bracket. Coolermaster Hyper 212+ would be my pick.
 
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I don't know AMD products very well.
What makes the 4890 better than the 5770?
The only thing I'm seeing is the difference in the memory interface (only 128-bit on 5770) and the DX11 capability for the 5770.
 
What size LCD monitor are you using right now? In response to your question on a 4890 vs 5770, the 4890 although DX 10.1 support has a 256bit memory interface with a wider memory bandwidth of 124.8 GB/s. The 5770 memory bandwidth is 76.8GB/s. This matters when you are gaming at high resolutions such as 1920 x 1200 and enabling AA and AF settings. The Radeon 5770 will not keep up with the 4890.

It_shiro is right on nvidia cards being more expensive. A GTX 275 is more expensive than a Radeon HD 4890. Also, the GTX 260 is more expensive than a Radeon HD 4870. Right now, Nvidia chip video cards don't look attractive as far as price/performance wise vs ATI chip video cards.
 
Okay, so Memory bandwidth matters only for hi-res, large monitors.
I won't go over 20" or 21". I don't like playing on huge screens. I'm currently using a 19" which I'll probably change sometime because I can't get better than 1366x768.
thx
 
The widescreen lcd monitors these days are using the 16:9 aspect ratio vs 16:10. So, if you were to buy a 20 or 21" lcd now, its native resolution will be 1600 x 900 res for most 20" displays. But, there are still a few 20" lcds with 1680 x 1050 res. 21" lcds are either 21.3" or 21.5" the 21.3" has a 4:3 aspect ratio with 1600 x 1200 res. The 21.5" lcds will have a native res of 1920 x 1080. If I was in your shoes, I would go 22" with 1680 x 1050. You may think it's huge to you but, you'll get use to it. I went through several lcd sizes and a 22" which at first I thought was big is not soo big. A 21.5" with a 1920x1080 res may be higher in resolution but, at 21.5" the text will be small. I would go 23"+ for 1920x1080 res.
 
Keep in mind that GPUs are the fastest depreciating components in a gaming system. So basically, don't wait too long between your GPU and your CPU/Mobo/RAM upgrade, otherwise you would have been better suited by upgrading those first, assuming your new GPU will be bottlenecked by your non-OC'able 4050e.

Free heatsink? keep it. alternative is to sell it, so do so if you need the cash, since you can't OC yet.
 
Hey guys,

I'm moving on with my next step which is CPU, Mobo, RAM.
I am hesitating between an 1156 platform with Core i5 and AM3 platform with Phenom x4 955 BE or 965 BE.
Going with the AMD solution would only save me about 50 bucks. Is it worth it?
If I go with the Intel, I'll run it at about 3.1 or 3.2 GHz which is what the stock 955 BE runs at.
I have a feeling that the AM3 platform will be outdated before the 1156 so I'm leaning towards spending the extra 50 bucks and getting the slightly better performing i5.

Opinions, advice?

Btw, I was gonig to upgrade my GPU first but my OEM Acer mobo is a real POS, I can't OC my Athlon x2 40something 2.1GHz.
And, ATI is having so many production problems that I don't want to buy a card and have to wait a month and a half for it. So, better upgrading the platform and seeing what types of GPUs are on the market 3 months from now. :D
 
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My only advice is if you do go with i5, get it from Tiger direct. Its $189.99 - 15% Bing cashback = $161.50 + FS.
 
almaster666 said:
Hey guys,

I'm moving on with my next step which is CPU, Mobo, RAM.
I am hesitating between an 1156 platform with Core i5 and AM3 platform with Phenom x4 955 BE or 965 BE.
Going with the AMD solution would only save me about 50 bucks. Is it worth it?

If I go with the Intel, I'll run it at about 3.1 or 3.2 GHz which is what the stock 955 BE runs at.
I have a feeling that the AM3 platform will be outdated before the 1156 so I'm leaning towards spending the extra 50 bucks and getting the slightly better performing i5.

Opinions, advice?
Click to expand...
To be fair, that's the same thing people are saying about the 1156 and LGA1366: That the LGA 1156 will be outdated long before the LGA 1366. Anyway, with the LGA 1156, pretty much most of the new CPUs coming out for that platform are just dual-core CPUs. As for AM3, it's been reported that AMD are planning to release six-core CPUs in Q2 2010. So in one sense, the AM3 platform will edge out the LGA 1156 in terms of released CPUs in the foreseeable future.

almaster666 said:
And, ATI is having so many production problems that I don't want to buy a card and have to wait a month and a half for it. So, better upgrading the platform and seeing what types of GPUs are on the market 3 months from now. :D
Click to expand...
Eh, seems reasonable.
 
If all you're doing is gaming, and could use that $50 to get a better vidcard later on, then go with AM3. If you do a lot of other intensive non-gaming things, then the LGA1156 would be a better choice since clock for clock, the Core i5 is faster than a Phenom2.
 
I'm not doing any video editing.
Just web browsing, Microsoft Office and games.

So, Phenom 2 955 or 965 BE should be plenty enough?
 
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