[SOLVED] Recommended $1800 System Questions

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 07:48 PM

Alright, so in an effort to learn more about computers and to have a 64-bit OS/gaming machine, I've decided to try and build my own. Also, I have a DAW with a system heavy soundsonline.com VST. They recommend:
* Intel or AMD Quad Core 2.0GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit OS and host

Alright, trying to stay ~$1500, I've shaved off a couple of items that I already had or don't need. Here is what I have (this is exactly from the $1500 build):

Case: Coolermaster HAF $139.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DQ6 $189.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128343
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 $324.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115130
Ram: Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 $90.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197
CPU Cooler: Zalman 9700 $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118020
Power Supply: Corsair 1000w $259.99 http://jbrlsr.com/?aid=5336121828&bi...82E16817139007
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SC $344.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130446
Hard Drive: Western Digital Raptor 74gb $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136033
Hard Drive: Seagate 640gb $69.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148335
DVD Burner: Asus $28.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135186

As you can see, I've shaved off the sound card (have another PCI one). I also left the OS cost off because I am focusing only on the hardware costs, but I plan on running Windows 7 64-bit.

As a beginning question, what is the Western Digital Rapter 74GB internal hard drive for? Is it intended for a backup hard drive?

Also, the motherboard didn't get fantastic reviews (they weren't terrible either, in fact, I noticed a lot of mobos are heavily criticized), I was wondering if there were any other motherboard suggestions that would be compatible with this build--I would be willing to pay more for the motherboard. Despite recommendations for the audio program mentioned above, I'm going to stick with 4GB Ram because 8GB is way outside my price range.

If anything here could be significantly improved, please let me know that too. I am doing some more research on my own, but I definitely want to hear more expert opinions.

Thanks,
Dave

Phædrus2401 · 10-03-2009, 08:15 PM

If this is meant for gaming then you will see almost no benefit of getting the Q9650 over the E8500. For gaming a dual core is currently (and for the forseeable future) the best bang for the buck choice.

The Corsair HX850W is sufficient for that build and will work just as well as the 1000W for cheaper.

Drop the Raptor drive, there is literally no real world improvement unless you're reading off massive files/groups of files (1GB+). Also if you plan to use that as your OS drive you'll run out of space in months.

You can do without the Zalman if you don't plan to overclock; otherwise keep it on.

The Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R will work just as well as the DQ6; fewer features, but cheaper, and a lot of the features missing are ones you likely won't use.

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 08:28 PM

Thanks Pheadrus, this is really helpful.

Comparing those motherboards, what about the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358 vs. the one you recommended? It seems somewhere in-between the two others.

Here is a quick link to the three in question for quick reference, I was just running through Tech Specs:
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128343
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=GA-EP45-UD3R

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 08:39 PM

Quickly, this is the updated list with the same mobo that's still in question:

Case: Coolermaster HAF $139.99

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DQ6 $189.99

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor $189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036

Ram: Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 $90.00

CPU Cooler: Zalman 9700 $49.99

Power Supply: Corsair Professional CMPSU-850HX 850W Power Supply $169.99
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...ingid=47127661

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SC $344.99

Hard Drive: Seagate 640gb $69.99

DVD Burner: Asus $28.99

Current system cost: $1273.92

Phædrus2401 · 10-03-2009, 08:40 PM

The UD3P is a nice one too, a few more features and maybe a hair more overclocking potential than the UD3R. It also has two PCIe x16 slots so you could go with CrossFire if you wanted to, though I don't normally recommend it.

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 08:50 PM

To be honest, I have an extremely limited knowledge of overclocking. I'll keep the fan though, just in case I decide to try it out. I'm going to keep the current video card over the Crossfire, and... ah, I just can't decide between the two mother boards.

Phædrus2401 · 10-03-2009, 09:05 PM

If you go with an Nvidia graphics card then you'll never use the second PCIe x16 slot on the UD3P because the motherboards don't support SLI, only CrossFire. That's the main major difference between the two, the UD3R has one PCIe slot, the UD3P has two. There are other differences, but you're unlikely to notice them.

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 09:09 PM

You've got me curious about the CrossFire card now, I'm reading more about it... why do you normally not recommend it (and would there be a reason to recommend it in this case)?

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 09:26 PM

Also, I think I may actually go up to 8GB if possible. I went to Crucial.com and checked out the 8GB Ram available for the GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard:

8GB Kit (4GBx2), 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 memory module
CT2KIT51264AA667

* Module Size: 8GB Kit (4GBx2)
* Package: 240-pin DIMM
* Feature: DDR2 PC2-5300
* Specs: DDR2 PC2-5300 • CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-667 • 1.8V • 512Meg x 64

This runs for $460.00, but I typed in this same information and found this on Amazon, which goes for $195:

Crucial CT2KIT51272AB667 8GB (4GBx2) 240-pin DIMM DDR2 PC2-5300 Memory Module
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re.../dp/B000R73FD0

Although they sounds exactly the same, the CT2KIT number is different. Would this RAM be compatible with my motherboard, or am I missing something? This sounds like too wide a gap in price range for the same product (which means they probably aren't the same).

Phædrus2401 · 10-03-2009, 09:31 PM

CrossFire means running two ATI cards at the same time, the equivalent of SLI. We don't recommend it because: A.) it has a horrible bang:buck ratio, where you pay twice as much for about a 10-40% improvement in performance, B.) with high-end cards it requires an 850W+ PSU (which you have, so you'd be good there), C.) there are various stability issues in many games, as well as microstuttering (google it), D.) it causes a lot more temperature build-up, but since you have a decent case you'd be good there too.

Basically you're paying more than you would for a single high-end card for the same performance increase, plus there are instability issues.

If you wanted top-of-the-line performance right now I'd recommend the Radeon 5870, currently the best single-GPU card on the market, but pricey.

Phædrus2401 · 10-03-2009, 09:31 PM

8GB of RAM isn't worth it, you'll never use it all. 4GB DDR2 800 or 1066 (PC2 6400 or 8500) is the best for your money.

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 09:50 PM

So, I looked at what you suggested

HIS H587F1GDG Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161301

It's only $40 more than the current card, and I can see some gains. For clarification purposes, it says Crossfire Supported Video Card and you said it's a single-GPU card, which means I don't have to use it as a Crossfire card, or have I confused myself? It is a PCI Express 2.0 x16, which is the same as the GTX 285, so I am guessing it would be find to go with the Radeon in the GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R Motherboard?

I looked at microstuttering too... big turn off. Watched it in action on Fallout 3:
YouTube - Fallout 3 Juddering (iFPSclamp=0)

Phædrus2401 · 10-03-2009, 10:00 PM

I would recommend the Sapphire or PowerColor version of the 5870 rather than HIS; better customer support.

Yup, Crossfire supported means that it just has the option to be used in crossfire if you want to. And it'll work fine in that motherboard; PCIe 2.0 x16 has been the graphics card standard slot for several years now, there are a few PCie 1.0/1.1 x16 cards and AGP 4x/8x and 8x cards and PCI cards, but they're mainly mid to lower end; anything new will be PCIe 2.0 x16.

dduckett · 10-03-2009, 10:11 PM

Hm.. I ran across some deactivated items on Newegg, specifically the Seagate 640 HD and the Asus. I also noticed that the Powercolor brand of the Radeon 5870 had OpenGL and Direct X 11 3D API, as opposed to the Sapphire brand only had Direct X 11 3D API. Does this have something to do with rendering?

I've never bought through newegg before, do they usually restock quickly, or should I go ahead and start looking somewhere else for the deactivated products?

Phædrus2401 · 10-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Virtually all video cards support both DirectX and OpenGL, the only difference is that the newer series of card it is the newer the version of those APIs it will support. The 5870 is the first card to support DirectX 11, along with the 5850, and the future 5870x2 and the GeForce GT300 cards that are coming in December.

If the item is deactivated it means they've stopped selling it. Usually they restock pretty quick if they're going to do it at all, but in those cases it says "out of stock" or "on backorder" rather than deactivated.

Get this for the hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Black%20640GB
And this for the DVD drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

EDIT: Ah, you meant the 5870 was out of stock. They should be in stock again within a day or so, but they're selling like hotcakes so snap it up fast as soon as they're available before they go out of stock again.

dduckett · 10-04-2009, 07:31 AM

Phaedrus, I owe you big time. :-) Here is the final build and I'm going to start buying parts today:

Case: Coolermaster HAF $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=GA-EP45-UD3R

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor $184.99
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...nnorswebguidec

Ram: Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 $94.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197

CPU Cooler: Zalman 9700 $58.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118020

Power Supply: Corsair Professional CMPSU-850HX 850W Power Supply $169.99
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...ingid=47127661

Video Card: POWERCOLOR AX5870 1GBD5-MDH Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity $379.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131176

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive – OEM $74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Black%20640GB

DVD Burner: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk – OEM $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Although, the Windows 7 isn't going to be released until Oct. 22. Also, do you have any guides recommending the order to install parts and how to keep from building static electricity while I'm working (I'm paranoid that I'm going to ruin something).

shotgn · 10-04-2009, 08:16 AM

Just ground yourself to the case before touching anything

Or you can purchase an anti static wrist band
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16899261005

And a link for a guide
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.c...id=1444&page=1

dduckett · 10-04-2009, 06:04 PM

I read more about specific parts of this build. I noticed that quite a few users had problems with Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 RAM causing a BSOD. Is there an alternative to this RAM that will work with this build?

I am willing to pay some more for excellent quality hardware from well-known brands.

Phædrus2401 · 10-04-2009, 07:12 PM

Corsair is a well-known and respected brand. I've never used that particular kit so I can't say, but their RAM is generally high quality.

A similar kit would be what I'm using, OCZ Platinum 4GB DDR2 1066.

dduckett · 10-05-2009, 11:28 AM

Alright, I'll look into both types of RAM and try and make a decision.

Since I won't have Windows 7 until after Oct. 22nd, I'm wondering if I should wait to buy parts. Do you all advise putting the system together before receiving the OS, or should I hang on? So far I have only purchased the case, hard drive, and DVD drive.

By the way, I am taking monitor suggestions, 19+" is good for me, and I am looking to spend around $125-150. I've never owned a wide-screen monitor before, I take it most resolutions are supported for newer games... what experiences have people had with older games and wide screens?

10-03-2009, 07:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	[SOLVED] Recommended $1800 System Questions Alright, so in an effort to learn more about computers and to have a 64-bit OS/gaming machine, I've decided to try and build my own. Also, I have a DAW with a system heavy soundsonline.com VST. They recommend: * Intel or AMD Quad Core 2.0GHz, 8GB RAM, 64-bit OS and host Alright, trying to stay ~$1500, I've shaved off a couple of items that I already had or don't need. Here is what I have (this is exactly from the $1500 build): Case: Coolermaster HAF $139.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160 Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DQ6 $189.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128343 Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 $324.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115130 Ram: Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 $90.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197 CPU Cooler: Zalman 9700 $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118020 Power Supply: Corsair 1000w $259.99 http://jbrlsr.com/?aid=5336121828&bi...82E16817139007 Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SC $344.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130446 Hard Drive: Western Digital Raptor 74gb $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136033 Hard Drive: Seagate 640gb $69.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148335 DVD Burner: Asus $28.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135186 As you can see, I've shaved off the sound card (have another PCI one). I also left the OS cost off because I am focusing only on the hardware costs, but I plan on running Windows 7 64-bit. As a beginning question, what is the Western Digital Rapter 74GB internal hard drive for? Is it intended for a backup hard drive? Also, the motherboard didn't get fantastic reviews (they weren't terrible either, in fact, I noticed a lot of mobos are heavily criticized), I was wondering if there were any other motherboard suggestions that would be compatible with this build--I would be willing to pay more for the motherboard. Despite recommendations for the audio program mentioned above, I'm going to stick with 4GB Ram because 8GB is way outside my price range. If anything here could be significantly improved, please let me know that too. I am doing some more research on my own, but I definitely want to hear more expert opinions. Thanks, Dave Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 08:17 PM.

10-03-2009, 08:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions If this is meant for gaming then you will see almost no benefit of getting the Q9650 over the E8500. For gaming a dual core is currently (and for the forseeable future) the best bang for the buck choice. The Corsair HX850W is sufficient for that build and will work just as well as the 1000W for cheaper. Drop the Raptor drive, there is literally no real world improvement unless you're reading off massive files/groups of files (1GB+). Also if you plan to use that as your OS drive you'll run out of space in months. You can do without the Zalman if you don't plan to overclock; otherwise keep it on. The Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R will work just as well as the DQ6; fewer features, but cheaper, and a lot of the features missing are ones you likely won't use. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-03-2009, 08:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Thanks Pheadrus, this is really helpful. Comparing those motherboards, what about the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358 vs. the one you recommended? It seems somewhere in-between the two others. Here is a quick link to the three in question for quick reference, I was just running through Tech Specs: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128343 GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358 GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=GA-EP45-UD3R Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 08:30 PM.

10-03-2009, 08:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Quickly, this is the updated list with the same mobo that's still in question: Case: Coolermaster HAF $139.99 Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DQ6 $189.99 Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor $189.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036 Ram: Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 $90.00 CPU Cooler: Zalman 9700 $49.99 Power Supply: Corsair Professional CMPSU-850HX 850W Power Supply $169.99 http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...ingid=47127661 Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 285 SC $344.99 Hard Drive: Seagate 640gb $69.99 DVD Burner: Asus $28.99 Current system cost: $1273.92 Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 08:46 PM.

10-03-2009, 08:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions The UD3P is a nice one too, a few more features and maybe a hair more overclocking potential than the UD3R. It also has two PCIe x16 slots so you could go with CrossFire if you wanted to, though I don't normally recommend it. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-03-2009, 08:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions To be honest, I have an extremely limited knowledge of overclocking. I'll keep the fan though, just in case I decide to try it out. I'm going to keep the current video card over the Crossfire, and... ah, I just can't decide between the two mother boards. Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 09:01 PM.

10-03-2009, 09:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions If you go with an Nvidia graphics card then you'll never use the second PCIe x16 slot on the UD3P because the motherboards don't support SLI, only CrossFire. That's the main major difference between the two, the UD3R has one PCIe slot, the UD3P has two. There are other differences, but you're unlikely to notice them. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-03-2009, 09:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions You've got me curious about the CrossFire card now, I'm reading more about it... why do you normally not recommend it (and would there be a reason to recommend it in this case)? Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 09:14 PM.

10-03-2009, 09:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Also, I think I may actually go up to 8GB if possible. I went to Crucial.com and checked out the 8GB Ram available for the GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard: 8GB Kit (4GBx2), 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 memory module CT2KIT51264AA667 * Module Size: 8GB Kit (4GBx2) * Package: 240-pin DIMM * Feature: DDR2 PC2-5300 * Specs: DDR2 PC2-5300 • CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-667 • 1.8V • 512Meg x 64 This runs for $460.00, but I typed in this same information and found this on Amazon, which goes for $195: Crucial CT2KIT51272AB667 8GB (4GBx2) 240-pin DIMM DDR2 PC2-5300 Memory Module http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/re.../dp/B000R73FD0 Although they sounds exactly the same, the CT2KIT number is different. Would this RAM be compatible with my motherboard, or am I missing something? This sounds like too wide a gap in price range for the same product (which means they probably aren't the same). Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 09:30 PM.

10-03-2009, 09:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions CrossFire means running two ATI cards at the same time, the equivalent of SLI. We don't recommend it because: A.) it has a horrible bang:buck ratio, where you pay twice as much for about a 10-40% improvement in performance, B.) with high-end cards it requires an 850W+ PSU (which you have, so you'd be good there), C.) there are various stability issues in many games, as well as microstuttering (google it), D.) it causes a lot more temperature build-up, but since you have a decent case you'd be good there too. Basically you're paying more than you would for a single high-end card for the same performance increase, plus there are instability issues. If you wanted top-of-the-line performance right now I'd recommend the Radeon 5870, currently the best single-GPU card on the market, but pricey. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-03-2009, 09:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions 8GB of RAM isn't worth it, you'll never use it all. 4GB DDR2 800 or 1066 (PC2 6400 or 8500) is the best for your money. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-03-2009, 09:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions So, I looked at what you suggested HIS H587F1GDG Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161301 It's only $40 more than the current card, and I can see some gains. For clarification purposes, it says Crossfire Supported Video Card and you said it's a single-GPU card, which means I don't have to use it as a Crossfire card, or have I confused myself? It is a PCI Express 2.0 x16, which is the same as the GTX 285, so I am guessing it would be find to go with the Radeon in the GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R Motherboard? I looked at microstuttering too... big turn off. Watched it in action on Fallout 3: YouTube - Fallout 3 Juddering (iFPSclamp=0) Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 09:53 PM.

10-03-2009, 10:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions I would recommend the Sapphire or PowerColor version of the 5870 rather than HIS; better customer support. Yup, Crossfire supported means that it just has the option to be used in crossfire if you want to. And it'll work fine in that motherboard; PCIe 2.0 x16 has been the graphics card standard slot for several years now, there are a few PCie 1.0/1.1 x16 cards and AGP 4x/8x and 8x cards and PCI cards, but they're mainly mid to lower end; anything new will be PCIe 2.0 x16. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-03-2009, 10:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Hm.. I ran across some deactivated items on Newegg, specifically the Seagate 640 HD and the Asus. I also noticed that the Powercolor brand of the Radeon 5870 had OpenGL and Direct X 11 3D API, as opposed to the Sapphire brand only had Direct X 11 3D API. Does this have something to do with rendering? I've never bought through newegg before, do they usually restock quickly, or should I go ahead and start looking somewhere else for the deactivated products? Last edited by dduckett; 10-03-2009 at 10:14 PM.

10-03-2009, 10:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Virtually all video cards support both DirectX and OpenGL, the only difference is that the newer series of card it is the newer the version of those APIs it will support. The 5870 is the first card to support DirectX 11, along with the 5850, and the future 5870x2 and the GeForce GT300 cards that are coming in December. If the item is deactivated it means they've stopped selling it. Usually they restock pretty quick if they're going to do it at all, but in those cases it says "out of stock" or "on backorder" rather than deactivated. Get this for the hard drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Black%20640GB And this for the DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289 EDIT: Ah, you meant the 5870 was out of stock. They should be in stock again within a day or so, but they're selling like hotcakes so snap it up fast as soon as they're available before they go out of stock again. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for. Last edited by Phædrus2401; 10-03-2009 at 10:21 PM.

10-04-2009, 07:31 AM	#16 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Phaedrus, I owe you big time. :-) Here is the final build and I'm going to start buying parts today: Case: Coolermaster HAF $139.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119160 Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard $104.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=GA-EP45-UD3R Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor $184.99 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...nnorswebguidec Ram: Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 $94.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197 CPU Cooler: Zalman 9700 $58.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118020 Power Supply: Corsair Professional CMPSU-850HX 850W Power Supply $169.99 http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...ingid=47127661 Video Card: POWERCOLOR AX5870 1GBD5-MDH Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity $379.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131176 Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive – OEM $74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0Black%20640GB DVD Burner: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk – OEM $29.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289 Although, the Windows 7 isn't going to be released until Oct. 22. Also, do you have any guides recommending the order to install parts and how to keep from building static electricity while I'm working (I'm paranoid that I'm going to ruin something). Last edited by dduckett; 10-04-2009 at 07:34 AM.

10-04-2009, 08:16 AM	#17 (permalink)
shotgn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 196 OS: xp My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Just ground yourself to the case before touching anything Or you can purchase an anti static wrist band http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16899261005 And a link for a guide http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.c...id=1444&page=1 __________________ Do or do not, there is no try -yoda-

10-04-2009, 06:04 PM	#18 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions I read more about specific parts of this build. I noticed that quite a few users had problems with Corsair Dominator 4gb ddr2 1066 RAM causing a BSOD. Is there an alternative to this RAM that will work with this build? I am willing to pay some more for excellent quality hardware from well-known brands. Last edited by dduckett; 10-04-2009 at 06:10 PM.

10-04-2009, 07:12 PM	#19 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,775 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Corsair is a well-known and respected brand. I've never used that particular kit so I can't say, but their RAM is generally high quality. A similar kit would be what I'm using, OCZ Platinum 4GB DDR2 1066. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-05-2009, 11:28 AM	#20 (permalink)
dduckett Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP SP3, Debian, Windows 7	Re: Recommended $1800 System Questions Alright, I'll look into both types of RAM and try and make a decision. Since I won't have Windows 7 until after Oct. 22nd, I'm wondering if I should wait to buy parts. Do you all advise putting the system together before receiving the OS, or should I hang on? So far I have only purchased the case, hard drive, and DVD drive. By the way, I am taking monitor suggestions, 19+" is good for me, and I am looking to spend around $125-150. I've never owned a wide-screen monitor before, I take it most resolutions are supported for newer games... what experiences have people had with older games and wide screens? Last edited by dduckett; 10-05-2009 at 11:35 AM.