New build, need some input

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dave2521

Weaksauce
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
97
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
gaming, watching movies online and downloading movies (HD) might use as a TV turning as well, and some school work.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
1500, after tax/shipping
3) Where do you live?
Phoenix Arizona
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Looking for a full build, minus monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
None
6) Will you be overclocking?
It is possible, I would have to answer yes on this one.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Its a 28" Hanns-g 1920 x 1200 i think is what it is
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
With in a month
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
n/a
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
No

Here is what i came up with so far... any input/advise is very much appricated

Mobo:
ASUS P7P55D-E LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Processor:
Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail

Ram:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail

Graphics:
2x DIAMOND 5850PE51G Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail

Power:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... - Retail

Drive:
LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM

HD:
Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 3.5" Hard Drive

My main questions are do i need Crossfire? and also would it be a better investment to go with the i7 or not?

Thanks in advance!
 
Regarding your Graphics, I would stick with a single card solution

AMD 5870

That is really more a personal preference, however it is based on the reality that simplicity is valued highly in all aspects of modern life. A dual card solution will provide great numbers for some/many games, but doesn't give the same performance advantage for ALL games. You are also introducing a failure factor that you don't need (one extra component that could fail). Same thing goes for RAIDing your HDD (which I don't believe you indicated you are going to do anyway). For a first attempt don't introduce extra complexity that isn't required and offers very questionable performance advantage.

Case:
I like my Lian Li A17

Check out the B25F by lian li
 
I agree with sweeper240. A Radeon HD 5870 video card is plenty for 1920x1200. I have that same monitor you have and my 8800GT graphics card is only a fraction of the performance of the 5870. However, I still can play some games at 1920x1200. UT3, TF2, GOW, Turok, Rainbow 6 Vegas. COD, Crysis and Stalker I have to lower the resolution to 1440x900 - 1680x1050 to play those games more smoothly on high settings. As sweeper240 has said, not all games will benefit from Crossfire. The thing about Crossfire is that it depends on software multi-GPU support. Also, I don't feel it is a better investment to go with a Core i7 when a Core i5-750 build will fit your needs just fine.


Here's a build to start you off with.

CPU/MOBO - Intel Core i5-750 + GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3P both for $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.332520

PSU/RAM - Antec Truepower New TP-750 + G. Skill 4GB DDR3 1600 both for $204.94 ($25 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.343597

VIDEO CARD - XFX Radeon HD 5870 1GB for $399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150443

HDD - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB for $89.99
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10011440

OPTICAL - ASUS 24X Sata DVD Burner for $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

CASE - Coolermaster Storm Sniper for $113.71
http://www.provantage.com/cooler-master-sgc-6000-kxn1-gp~7COOL07P.htm

* I listed this case mainly because a Radeon 5870 (11.5" - 12.25" long) video card will fit in it.

O/S - MS Windows Home Premium 64bit for $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Total: $1,278.59 before shipping & taxes

BTW, you still have the option to Crossfire if you choose. The Antec TP750 has 62A on the +12V rail and should still be enough to power 2 x Radeon HD 5870 in Crossfire. A 5870 consumes lower power than a Radeon HD 4890. Also, Core i5-750 is very energy efficient
 
Last edited:
I ended up ordering what was listed there... a day earlier... lol same case too :)
 
HardwareGuru's build is fantastic.

In my mind there are 2 different design philosophies (actually 3):
1. Under-design (the only industry that I am familiar with that this can be a good thing is HVAC)
2. Design to specification or need
3. Over-design.

You under-design if you want to fail or you are lazy or you are trying to ensure high efficiencies in an HVAC design (the only time I know its a good idea)

You design to specification or need when you have an idea of what you need and are building to a budget.

You over-design when you have the means or the experience to actually know what you actually need, and what you really want.

Good luck with your build, its very unlikely you will ever go back to pre-built machines :)


HardwareGuru said:
I agree with sweeper240. A Radeon HD 5870 video card is plenty for 1920x1200. I have that same monitor you have and my 8800GT graphics card is only a fraction of the performance of the 5870. However, I still can play some games at 1920x1200. UT3, TF2, GOW, Turok, Rainbow 6 Vegas. COD, Crysis and Stalker I have to lower the resolution to 1440x900 - 1680x1050 to play those games more smoothly on high settings. As sweeper240 has said, not all games will benefit from Crossfire. The thing about Crossfire is that it depends on software multi-GPU support. Also, I don't feel it is a better investment to go with a Core i7 when a Core i5-750 build will fit your needs just fine.


Here's a build to start you off with.

CPU/MOBO - Intel Core i5-750 + GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3P both for $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.332520

PSU/RAM - Antec Truepower New TP-750 + G. Skill 4GB DDR3 1600 both for $204.94 ($25 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.343597

VIDEO CARD - XFX Radeon HD 5870 1GB for $399.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150443

HDD - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB for $89.99
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10011440

OPTICAL - ASUS 24X Sata DVD Burner for $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

CASE - Coolermaster Storm Sniper for $113.71
http://www.provantage.com/cooler-master-sgc-6000-kxn1-gp~7COOL07P.htm

* I listed this case mainly because a Radeon 5870 (11.5" - 12.25" long) video card will fit in it.

O/S - MS Windows Home Premium 64bit for $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Total: $1,278.59 before shipping & taxes

BTW, you still have the option to Crossfire if you choose. The Antec TP750 has 62A on the +12V rail and should still be enough to power 2 x Radeon HD 5870 in Crossfire. A 5870 consumes lower power than a Radeon HD 4890. Also, Core i5-750 is very energy efficient
Click to expand...
 
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