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Request for comments on build

N

Newsome

n00b
Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
42
I would like your comments on this potential boutique build (specs listed below Q&A):

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Between 1000 and 1400, not including tax and shipping.
Needs to be boutique built. I have selected MForce.

3) Where do you live?
US

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Everything but monitor


5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
N/A

6) Will you be overclocking?
No

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Already have 22 inch LCD

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within the 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?
No, will be part of purchase


Build specs:

Cooler Master Centurion 590
Corsair TX 650W
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000 (3.1Ghz)
GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4
Super Talent DDR2-800 8GB (4x2G CL4
Western Digital WD5001AALS 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB
Samsung SH-S223F 22X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW SATA Drive
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD4870 Vapor-X 1GB
Creative Labs Audigy SE 7.1
Microsoft Vista Home Premium 64-bit

While I am interested in any comments you have (seriously), I am especially interested in any issues you see about:

1) cooling
2) noise (I prefer a quiet computer when not gaming, which is why I have the Vapor-X there)

Thanks for the time and consideration.
 
Last edited:
Ditch the X2 6000+. The X2 7750 is faster than the X2 6000+ but costs $25 less. So do not go with the X2 6000+:
$65 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 CPU

In that $90 price range, the Phenom 8450 is a decent choice at $80.

Ditch the WD5001AALS as you can get the same if not better level of performance plus 140GB more storage for the exact same price:
$70 - Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$80 - Western Digital WD6401AALS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Try out the onboard audio first and then decide whether or not you need a sound card.

I don't see a 3rd Party HSF and from what I know, the stock AMD HSF is somewhat loud. I recommend this HSF:
$40 - Xigmatek Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm HSF

IIRC, the GTX 260 (both the 192 SP and 216SP versions) are a bit quieter than the stock HD 4870 1GB cards. Not 100% sure on that.
 
Since you want a pre-built system from a boutique vendor, I recommend asking a mod to move your thread over to the Computer & Gadgets forum.

The only other thing that I have to add is that onboard sound has progressed to the point that it's now good enough for most people (especially if you decide to use digital/HD audio). Try out the onboard sound first, and then get a discrete sound card if you're otherwise disappointed.
 
Thanks to all who replied! As per Danny Bui, tiradies and USR7377's advice, I have swapped out the CPU for an X2 7750, and ditched the Creative Audigy sound card. I have decided against a 3rd party HSF out of concern about them ripping loose in transit from the boutique and careening around in the case. My current build is therefore:

Cooler Master Centurion 590
Corsair TX 650W
AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 (2.7 GHz)
GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4
Super Talent DDR2-800 8GB (4x2G CL4
Western Digital WD5001AALS 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB
Samsung SH-S223F 22X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW SATA Drive
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD4870 Vapor-X 1GB
Microsoft Vista Home Premium 64-bit


Any additional thoughts/suggestions?
 
Don't know how common loose HSFs are but, but got my build shipped from Max to MD with a CM V8 without trouble..

Like Danny suggests I would also consider the WD 640GB, for what can't be more than a few bucks over the 500gb.

Also, would you mind posting the price for the build? so we know where in your budget your are..
 
The current build is $1000. In practice, I'd like to stay fairly close to that mark, though going a bit more is okay too. I'm thinking of looking at the 640GB for the next iteration of the build.

I'd be interested in knowing if others have had a-okay shipping experiences with large HSFs.
 
Different builder, but yes mine made it with zero problems. Might depend on how the cavities are packed. Mine had cut styrofoam inserts slid in all over the place and nothing was going to move.
 
Sounds like a nice build, but after reading this thread I don't understand why so many of you have your computers built by someone else. It's not like its difficult...??? And you obviously have a good amount of tech knowledge to be posting here. Why not just do it yourself and save a few bucks and gain a sense of acomplishment. Also, when you have nerdy girls over, you can tell them you built your own computer and they will want your junk (not your pc junk)...
 
REDYOUCH said:
Sounds like a nice build, but after reading this thread I don't understand why so many of you have your computers built by someone else. It's not like its difficult...??? And you obviously have a good amount of tech knowledge to be posting here. Why not just do it yourself and save a few bucks and gain a sense of acomplishment. Also, when you have nerdy girls over, you can tell them you built your own computer and they will want your junk (not your pc junk)...
Click to expand...

Cause they want to?
 
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