Help critiquing new build

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arcanus

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 28, 2004
Messages
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Hi folks. It's been several years since I've been in the market for PC hardware (my current PC is an AMD 64 3200+ (@2500), ASUS A8V, 1gb RAM, and 6800gt :D) and so I've been out of the scene for a while. I am not playing any current gen games right now, but my rig is starting to show its age and I want to get on the multi-core dx10 4gb RAM path to righteous computing power in anticipation of great software to come. These combo deals at Newegg and the prices of the 4850 are very enticing.

I don't plan on playing Crysis at ultra-mega high settings on Hubble telescope resolution or anything, and probably won't overclock it right now (yeah right!). I do anticipate eventually getting some after market CPU and VGA coolers and slapping on another 4850 for Crossfire, if I feel the need to.

Questions:
- ASUS P5Q Pro mobo: good choice?
- Will the 650w PSU suffice if/when I decide to grab another 4850 for Crossfire? (I will probably just be running 1 optical drive and 2-3 HDDs)
- What are you opinions on the RAM I've chosen?
- Vista Home Premium 64bit...I'm a bit weary of Vista in general, and even more weary of the price of the Ultimate version. Is there a compelling reason not to get Ultimate, or even Vista in general?

Here's the build:

- ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131299
- SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814102747
$349.98 -$50.00 Combo = $299.98

- Antec P182 Gun Metal Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811129025
- Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115037
$359.98 -$30.00 Instant -$50.00 Combo = $279.98

SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822152052
$89.99

Antec EA650 650W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817371015
$99.99 -$20.00 Instant = $79.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231148
$129.99 -$40.00 Instant = $89.99

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM Item #: N82E16832116204
$109.99 -$15.00 Instant = $94.99

Total: $934.92
 
- The P5Q Pro/4850 combo is a good deal, I'd stick with that.
- 550W is enough for 4850 CF but the PSU you selected doesn't have the dual PCI-E 6 pin connectors that you would need. As well 3 separate rails for only 650W is a bit of a turn off. Get a Corsair VX550W instead of the Antec or a Corsair TX750W for some more headroom for future upgrades.
- G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 instead of the RAM you selected.
- Switch your HD to Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB because it's faster, quieter, sucks less power, and you get some extra capacity as well.
 
- That mobo is a good choice. However, start downloading your drivers now. Asus' website is ridiculously slow. If you compare Gigabyte's website and Asus' website, you'll see what I mean.
- No hard numbers (Read: legitimate numbers) has come out yet about the power requirements for 4850 Crossfire. In any case, that EA650 is a not a good choice since it only comes with one PCI-E connector whereas a 4850 Crossfire setup will need two. So go with a different PSU. I recommend this PSU since it has 4 PCI-E connectors and is an awesome price for a 750W PSU which should be more than enough for a Crossfire setup:
Corsair 750TX 750W PSU - $99
- Good RAM. Used it myself. No complaints.
- Don't bother with the Ultimate version unless you think the extra secruity and backup features are worth the extra ~$70. Vista Home Premium 64bit is a good choice. No real reason to ditch Vista since drivers and updates have matured to the point that Vista is a relatively stable OS.

Also, I recommend ditching that Samsung drive go with this bigger and significantly faster drive for only $10 more:
Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $100

EDIT: Shit didn't see Toaster Oven's post. Man I'm a slow typer. :)
 
arcanus said:
Questions:
Click to expand...

Toaster Oven and Danny Bui have you covered :)

I just got my new computer, with the Antec P182 case. You're going to love it :) It looks great, and is great for cable management, cooling, and low noise. I would suggest, though, that you replace the fans that come with the case, and use these 120mm Yate Loon D12SL-12 Case Fans. The Antec default fans aren't as quiet as the Yate Loons.

Also, if you plan on overclocking at some point, you'll want a better heatsink. Danny Bui forgot to list these, hehe.

--------------------------------
Originally Posted by Danny Bui

Here are some recommendations for better CPU coolers:

Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja Plus Rev.B CPU HSF - $35 (optional: Thermalright LGA775 Universal Bolt-Thru-Kit - $5)
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle HSF - $37 & Xigmatek ACK-I7751 Rentention Bracket - 7$
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm HSF - $50 ($60 - $10 MIR)
Noctua NH-U12P HSF - $59
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme CPU HS - $57 + Scythe S-Flex Fan SFF21E - $15

The Xigmatek HDT-S1283 seems to be the current favorite. It cools as well as the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme, but costs less.
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