Thanks for the build

[Defense]

Hello there. Been reading this forum for years. This is my 2nd post ever. I just wanted to thank everyone for all the info, that helped base my purchases. I only use my pc for gaming and firefox. Using a 24" monitor @ 1920x1200. Here is what I pulled the trigger on after searching for the best deals.

Intel i5 750 @ 3.5ghz 1.15v ($170) Hit 4ghz but didnt like the heat and the 1.3v+
Sapphire HD 5850 ($299)
Antec Earthwatts 650W ($50)
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128405 ($105)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231278 Runs at 7-8-7-24@1.5v currently at 1600 ($105)
Western Digital Caviar Green 500gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136334 ($45)
Cooler Master N520 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103057 ($40)
Windows 7 oem ($105)
Had a new Cooler Master Centurion case I got for free from a friend.
Just under 1k after tax and misc fans and what not. Not bad for an awesome gaming machine.


Didn't get everything from Newegg.com. Just used it as a reference. System runs great after stress tests. CPU idles @ 33c and 44c full load with prime. GPU idles around 40c and full load gaming 59c stock. Ran into a problem with ATI's OC feature. It was downclocking my gpu for 2d but wouldn't return to stock speeds while 3d. Had to uninstall it and install MSI Afterburner. Now it downclocks and performs correctly. Thinking of getting a 2nd drive for raid 0.

 

[lt_shiro]

post pics

 

[engiNURD]

/waiting for pics, too

 

[cory1234]

Nice build.

 

[tiraides]

Stupid question, but why the WD Caviar GREEN?

 

[Defense]

Stupid question, but why the WD Caviar GREEN?

It was in my budget. I wanted the Black version but didn't want to pay the additional money. If I stretch for the black, then why not for a SSD.... it keeps going and going. lol

My next thing I purchase will probably be another green for raid 0. Or maybe a Western Digital Black or maybe a SSD. And I guess just install my games on it?

 

[lt_shiro]

that is a bad idea, green drives are not really for raid sets. their design with power saving, not performance.

 

[NoForgiveness]

Get the Black and use it as your OS drive, keep your data on the Green.

 

[engiNURD]

Yah, that green drive will be slow, especially because it spins down every 8 sec. IIRC.

 

[Defense]

I just opened up my case and looked at the hard drive. The few parts I ordered from tigerdirect was the hard drive. I just remembered the green was out of stock. So I got a blue. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2795126&CatId=2459 that's the model number I have in my machine. This whole time I could have swore I got the green. Maybe it was a blessing... haha. I will try to post some pics today. Thanks guys

 

[engiNURD]

a blessing indeed. blue caviars are much faster.