Computer Design Review

R

RadarBot

n00b
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
7
Hey all,

I've been reading other people's posts and there has been a lot of great advice on other threads. I'm building a computer and could use some of that advice. I've spent many hours researching and this is what I have confirm so far:

Processor:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042

Motherboard:
ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131219

Video Card:
XFX PVT88PYDD4 GeForce 8800GT XXX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150254

RAM:
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227298

Case:
COOLER MASTER cosmos S RC-1100-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119150

Power Supply:
COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-650-ACAA-A1 650W ATX Form Factor 12V V2.3 / SSI Standard EPS 12V V2.91 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171023

Cooling:
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

I wanted to know if I selected good parts and if they are compatible. My biggest concern was picking the motherboard. I am aiming for stability and a computer that will last me approximately 3 years before requiring an upgrade (I know, a sin against technology). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'll be using it as a multipurpose computer for webbrowsing, multimedia, gaming, etc.

Thanks in advance,
RadarBot
 
dont get a 8800 because you can get a 4850 which outperfoms it for only a little more and you can get a corsair 750tx for about that price on buy.com which is better quality also. not sure if you even need that processor compared to a q6600/e8400 which isnt too far off for almost half the price and no drives?
 
Right now I have that priced at around 1300 from newegg. I'd like to stay around there. I'm not opposed to going for quality for a few more dollars, but don't want to go overboard (since that is so easy).
 
This a primary gameing machine i take it? no heavy encoding or nthing

if so u can save $200

MOBO MSI K9A2 Platinum AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard $149
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130136

CPU AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz $205
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103249

$355 compared to $555 for the Intel setup

use that extra cash and replace that 8800GT with 2 X 4850's or 1 4870

just a thought if games are the primary role of this pc.
 
If you'd like to maximize your upgradability potential then you should definitely reconsider some of these choices.

I agree with the folks above that a HD4850 would be the best choice for you right now. The X38 based motherboard you chose supports crossfire, which would allow you to add a second HD4850 card at a later date to improve gaming performance if you wanted to. A single nVidia based card would have to be replaced completely. If you just like nVidia, then you should get this overclocked BFG 8800GTS 512MB which is pretty much the same price as the 8800GT you picked out above (notice the free shipping).

I'm guessing that you're going with the Cooler Master 650W PSU because of the combo deal with the cosmos S case? That's fine unless you do want to be able to add a second video card. 750W would be a safer choice for a crossfire setup.

The ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 pro is really not that great. I use it on my Q9450, but my temps are higher than I would like and it is louder than I would expect. Xigmatek seems to be the favorite around here for now.
 
It looks like the general consensus is to drop the 8800GT for the HD4850. I think that's the best course of action here. Which brand is recommended for the HD4850? I also think upgrading my PSU is a good idea. The Corsair 750TX looks like a good choice.

Which Xigmatek cooler would be the best? Would it fit well on my mobo?

I'm pretty sure I am sticking with the Q9450, it looks like a good stable CPU to go with. I just can't decide for sure on the mobo I want. The P5E feels a little on the expensive side, but it gets good reviews for stability.
 
VisionTek is my brand of choice for ATI flavored cards, simply for their US support and lifetime warranty.

$37 - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler (highly recommended: $7 Xigmatek Bolt-Thru-Kit)

You can't go wrong with any of the Asus P5Q series, either, especially if you don't need Crossfire.
 
Updated my specs based on your posts as well as reading other posts on the forums:

Processor:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775

Motherboard:
ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard

Video Card:
VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

RAM:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Power Supply:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail

Cooling:
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

Harddrive:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Does that look better? I could still use advice on a Mobo. I'm looking to OC my Q9450 to at least 3.2 stable. Stability it my number 1 preference.
 
My only advice/recommendation:

If you care about stability and long-term usefulness, I personally would say get a real Intel board. If overclocking is not something you're interested in ever, then there is no better home for an Intel processor than a true Intel motherboard. Rock solid dependable, above and beyond anything you'll find under another name.

Might even find one with some overclocking potential to some degree if the mood strikes... who knows. :)
 
Joe Average said:
My only advice/recommendation:

If you care about stability and long-term usefulness, I personally would say get a real Intel board. If overclocking is not something you're interested in ever, then there is no better home for an Intel processor than a true Intel motherboard. Rock solid dependable, above and beyond anything you'll find under another name.

Might even find one with some overclocking potential to some degree if the mood strikes... who knows. :)
Click to expand...

Intel doesn't have the best QC, so they, too, have their share of problems (I've had to RMA several Intel boards). They only have a few boards with OC'ing capabilities enabled, which are usually their Enthusiast level boards (Bad Axe, Bone Trail, Skull Trail, etc), which are very pricey. Sure, Intel boards are very stable and reliable, but so are other mainstream boards from other Tier1 companies, especially if you don't OC. ;) Heck, even the ECS boards that come free with Fry's combos are pretty stable (at least the Intel chipset-based boards).
 
onedestinazn2 said:
dont get a 8800 because you can get a 4850 which outperfoms it for only a little more and you can get a corsair 750tx for about that price on buy.com which is better quality also. not sure if you even need that processor compared to a q6600/e8400 which isnt too far off for almost half the price and no drives?
Click to expand...

dhc014 said:
If you'd like to maximize your upgradability potential then you should definitely reconsider some of these choices.

I'm guessing that you're going with the Cooler Master 650W PSU because of the combo deal with the cosmos S case? That's fine unless you do want to be able to add a second video card. 750W would be a safer choice for a crossfire setup.
Click to expand...

I also recommend the PC Power and Cooling. I thought I saw a deal on newegg where it was a couple dollars more or about the same price. I am not quite sure. I am happy with my own. The cables are just so damn long. This is a huge problem for the Antec Nine Hundred case...well at least the older version of it as I heard it had better cable management aka a bigger hole ? :D

Joe Average said:
My only advice/recommendation:

If you care about stability and long-term usefulness, I personally would say get a real Intel board. :)
Click to expand...

real Intel board? do you just mean one with more tweaking abilities?


fantomau said:
This drive would be alot better, As it comes close to the performance of a Raptor

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS
Click to expand...

ditto.. How much is the 500GB Seagate you proposed? I am quite sure the difference is a few dollars..$10-20?


Enjoy your new system by the way. Is it your first build?
 
IMO I would avoid using an Asus board. If you every have problems with it, their customer service is a joke. Currently have a P5N32-E SLI into RMA with them, but can't check the status of it because the site has been for 2 days. There are so many more reputable manufacturers out there these days it's just stupid not to go with one. Asus used to be king, but not anymore for a lot of reasons.
 
e2g said:
Enjoy your new system by the way. Is it your first build?
Click to expand...

Its my first build in 6 years. With the way technology moves these days I feel like I'm doing it for the first time. My last computer was a 1.6 Ghz AMD Athelon with 512 RAM. A real beast. ;)

I forgot how fun it can be to build your own machine.

Atreides82 said:
IMO I would avoid using an Asus board. If you every have problems with it, their customer service is a joke. Currently have a P5N32-E SLI into RMA with them, but can't check the status of it because the site has been for 2 days. There are so many more reputable manufacturers out there these days it's just stupid not to go with one. Asus used to be king, but not anymore for a lot of reasons.
Click to expand...

If you wouldn't use an Asus board do you recommend any others?

I've been looking at the ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard - Retail. There have been some people running that and getting 3.2 clock speeds with stability.

Also the GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS4P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail looks nice.

I guess motherboards are the hardest part about building your own comp. Lots of people have personal preferences and previous experiences that lead them to recommend certain boards. As you said, Asus used to come highly recommended but now their Customer Service seems to be a warning point. Is Gigabit any better than Asus? Should Customer Service really be that big a deal breaker?


As you guys recommended, I've decided to go with the Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM over the Seagate.

I think i'm pretty solidified except for the Mobo. I also have a few concerns about the RAM, but from other posts it looks like the G.Skill are good enough, saving $20 over the OCZ Platinum.
 
Thats the board I just ordered, The Asus P5Q Deluxe, But you can get it cheaper at ZipZoomFly.com HERE - That saves you $30 more

I've had good success with the 2 Asus boards I've used in the past.
 
RadarBot said:
I've been looking at the ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard - Retail. There have been some people running that and getting 3.2 clock speeds with stability.

Also the GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS4P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail looks nice.

I guess motherboards are the hardest part about building your own comp. Lots of people have personal preferences and previous experiences that lead them to recommend certain boards. As you said, Asus used to come highly recommended but now their Customer Service seems to be a warning point. Is Gigabit any better than Asus? Should Customer Service really be that big a deal breaker?
Click to expand...

If you are afraid of something becoming DOA, customer service should at least be a consideration to you. But, regardless of your overall choice, you may want to drop down to a cheaper board with similar features, like the P5Q Pro or the GA-EP45-DS3R.
 
I just RMAed a board with Asus. I called the RMA phone line, got an RMA number, shippped it out, and got a new board back in 10 days. It really wasn't all that bad, so I'm not sure where these other people are coming from.

On the other hand, I've dealt with Gigabyte RMA on several occasions and never got a functioning product back after at least a month of headache with each product.

Therefore, I think your choice of an Asus motherboard is sound.
 
I just called ASUS support and asked what boards would go with the Q9450, and they recommended either the P5E line or P5Q line. They're support didn't seem that bad, but it was only one experience. Guess now its up to me to decide on the board. Does anyone have any experience with either board? Opinions of X38 vs P45? Recommendations? I like the X38 because of the full Crossfire support. I think that a second 4850 may be in my future.

The P5E is basically a different Maximus Formula, and the P5Q was a Rampage Formula, is that correct?

I keep getting recommendations to go for a lower priced board, but for some reason I feel like I'll be losing out on OC stability by going down. Also, I don't think that ~$230 for a Mobo is that bad. Are my fears unfounded? Seems like a lot of people purchased the P5E already and love it. Has there been a previous thread about the comparisons between the two boards? I searched but couldn't find any.

Thanks again for all the advice.
 
Careful, in some cases, if you spend too much for OC stability, you may reach a point where you would have been better off buying a cheaper board and more expensive chip, lol. With that said, the cheaper boards, $90 - $150 range, are still very stable for high OCs. If you want to push your chip to the max, and squeeze every last drop of performance out of it, then yes, spend the extra money on a higher end, enthusiast level board, if you don't mind the price. Just keep in mind, the OC difference between a $130 P5Q Pro ($20 off newegg promo code in newsletter) board and a $230 P5E board isn't much (under 5%, a few hundred Mhz or less). Then you gotta ask yourself, is that minimal difference worth a whole $100? To some, yes... most, no.

The only reason to get an X38 board over a P45 board would be for dual 16x Crossfire, aside from an occasional rarity by which the X38 is actually cheaper than the P45 (DFI X38 vs P45-DS4P).

BigBadBiologist said:
I just RMAed a board with Asus. I called the RMA phone line, got an RMA number, shippped it out, and got a new board back in 10 days. It really wasn't all that bad, so I'm not sure where these other people are coming from.

On the other hand, I've dealt with Gigabyte RMA on several occasions and never got a functioning product back after at least a month of headache with each product.

Therefore, I think your choice of an Asus motherboard is sound.
Click to expand...

Thats funny, I just had a completely opposite experience. My Gigabyte board replacement came back within 10 days and works perfectly while it took a month to get my Asus board replacement, and it didn't even work! :rolleyes:

No company is perfect; just hope you get lucky when its your turn for an RMA. :p Everyone will make recommendations based on their own experiences. Its up to you to gather all those recommendations and make a decision based on what you've heard... but at least you now know what you're getting yourself into. ;)

I don't think Asus' customer support level is a deal breaker for most people, but personally, I try to avoid them. However, that P5Q Pro for $130 is so damn tempting. Though I think I'll just wait for Asus' G45 board instead, since thats what I need, lol.
 
I have no problems with my Asus Rampage Formula. Booted fine the first time... no issues at all.

As for the HDD i would go with the 640 WD... it is def a fast one!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top