September Build - Input requested

B

Boyo

Gawd
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
626
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
I will be using this PC for gaming (COD4, Black Ops), video encoding, Photoshop, multiple Chrome windows, Adobe editing.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Budget is $2500 before tax and shipping.

3) Where do you live?
Chicago

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Mobo, CPU, RAM, SSD, PSU, Case, Video Card.

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
WD Caviar Black 2TB, Samsung 22" Monitor, G9X Mouse, G15 Keyboard.

6) Will you be overclocking?
Up to 4GHz if I can.

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
22" 1280x1024

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
September

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
6GB HDD and 3.0 USB

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
No

Asus P6X58D 1366
Intel I7 930
XFX Radeon HD 5870
Corsair Dominator 3x2GB
Kingston SSDNow V+ 128GB
Corsair 850HX PSU
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Corsair Obsidian 800D
 
if you are using 22" 5870 is complete overkill... GTX 460 would be better value for what you are using...

Asus P6X58D while it is good board but not needed to get to a 4 GHz overclock.

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R would be my pick

Corsair Dominator have no real world performance advantage over other brands. More the better in your case.

3x 4GB Corsair XMS3 kits would be the way to go.

SSD I would go with OCZ Technology 120 GB Agility 2

Corsair psu is good pick.

as for the 800D, have you look at the 700D?
 
OK. I will use your advice and get an upgrade to my monitor. What size is recommended?
I am also changing over to the OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD. Thanks for the tip on the RAM. But I have a question about that. Why go with that, unless you mean I can OC them to 1600. Is that right???
 
Boyo said:
Thanks for the tip on the RAM. But I have a question about that. Why go with that, unless you mean I can OC them to 1600. Is that right???
Click to expand...

Well because the RAM he's more than likely talking about is the DDR3 1600 version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

Which means that you don't have to OC them to DDR3 1600 speeds. Getting three of those above sets will get you 12GB of RAM for about $300. A significantly better buy than any Corsair Dominator set.

Aim for a 23" to 24" monitor with a resolution of at least 1920x1080.
 
Danny Bui said:
Well because the RAM he's more than likely talking about is the DDR3 1600 version:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

Which means that you don't have to OC them to DDR3 1600 speeds. Getting three of those above sets will get you 12GB of RAM for about $300. A significantly better buy than any Corsair Dominator set.

Aim for a 23" to 24" monitor with a resolution of at least 1920x1080.
Click to expand...

Great help. I changed my list to the RAM you recommended, great buy. I am going to look at the Dell Ultrasharp series 24" Monitor.

I have read that "The X58 platform runs in triple channel mode, but can downstep to dual or single channel. However, using 4 memory modules forces it into either 2+2 or 3+1 mode, which hinders performance in comparison to native triple channel." "Additionally, those Corsair rams use 1.65 volts, which can put stress on the IMC, disregarding the reduced overclocking headroom and increases power consumption, does the ram have to be Corsair?"

That kind of turns me off to that particular RAM. Any other suggestions?
 
Boyo said:
Great help. I changed my list to the RAM you recommended, great buy. I am going to look at the Dell Ultrasharp series 24" Monitor.

I have read that "The X58 platform runs in triple channel mode, but can downstep to dual or single channel. However, using 4 memory modules forces it into either 2+2 or 3+1 mode, which hinders performance in comparison to native triple channel." "Additionally, those Corsair rams use 1.65 volts, which can put stress on the IMC, disregarding the reduced overclocking headroom and increases power consumption, does the ram have to be Corsair?"

That kind of turns me off to that particular RAM. Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...

Well actually we do tend to recommend another and lower voltage brand here on the forums:
$145 - G.Skill F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 3 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM

Rated at 1.5V. As for the 2+2 or 3+1 decreased performance note, you're really not gonna notice that much of a real world performance increase. The performance hinderance is probably all synthetic benchmark crap. Alsoe note that lt_shiro said "3x 4GB Corsair XMS3 kits would be the way to go". So three of those Corsair RAM sets would be six sticks of RAM which means triple channel performance.

But if you want lower voltage, that G.Skill set is a good choice.
 
with that budget you should be able to go straight to eyefinity..
 
i wouldn't suggest eyefinity if he is doing photoshop work... 30" display can be had for $1300 these days.
 
Danny Bui said:
Well actually we do tend to recommend another and lower voltage brand here on the forums:
$145 - G.Skill F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 3 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM

Rated at 1.5V. As for the 2+2 or 3+1 decreased performance note, you're really not gonna notice that much of a real world performance increase. The performance hinderance is probably all synthetic benchmark crap. Alsoe note that lt_shiro said "3x 4GB Corsair XMS3 kits would be the way to go". So three of those Corsair RAM sets would be six sticks of RAM which means triple channel performance.

But if you want lower voltage, that G.Skill set is a good choice.
Click to expand...

You are right. I missed that part where it_shiro said the 3x4GB of RAM. I will check out the G. Skill. Thanks.
 
OK. Here is my new build with the help from all of you. Any further suggestions?


Asus P6X58D 1366 $309
Intel I7 930 $200
Thermalright 120 Ultra Extreme $59
XFX Radeon HD 5870 $399
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600 3x2GB $169
OCZ Vertex 2 120GB SSD $349
WD Caviar Black 2TB (Own)
Corsair 850HX PSU $169
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit $99
Corsair Obsidian 800D $299
Dell U2311H e-IPS Monitor $289
 
Any particular reasons why you chose the P6X58D over cheaper and equally quality motherboards like the following?:
$210 - Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Intel X58 ATX Motherboard
$240 - Asus P6X58D-E Intel X58 ATX Motherboard

Ditch the Corsair 850HX and go with this higher quality and cheaper 850W modular PSU:
$156 - XFX XPS-850W-BES 850W Modular PSU

I prefer this cheaper and lower voltage G.Skill set:
$145 - G.Skill F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 3 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
 
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