Check Out My New Gaming Build

Let me start by saying I am upgrading from anDell XPS M1530 laptopwith an 8600m gt. I am doing this because I can barely play SC2. Yesterday I put together a build that I thought would be able to run SC2 on high. After some research, I realised it wouldn't. So I have revised my plan and put together these parts. Please offer comments and critiques and if you have any ideas to save some $$$. The total comes to $994.

Case:Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $100

HDD:SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $55

Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $180

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor$160

GPU: XFXRadeon HD5850 1GB $295

Disk Drive:ASUS DVD-E818A6T/BLK/B/G Black 18X SATA DVD-ROM Drive - Bulk $17

PSU:Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS: $80

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL $100

Keyboard:LITE-ON SK-1788/BS 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard: $7

Total:$994

Some notes: I think the mobo is a bit pricey but do want to crossfire at some pointand I don't know if there are other good Gigabyte chips that are capable for less. I have read that Gigabytetends to make good instructional manuals to give some instruction which is good for me since I am a noob at this. Also I presume this will run SC2 perfectly on high if not Ultra. I do not want to go through this process and have it stutter whatsoever on high...

Thanks for any help.

Excellent! But I would change to a 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 (you can never have enough space) and an Antec 300 to save cash on the case. I would also change the PSU to an Enermax Modu+ 700w Gold certified. and the CPU to a 965.

Excellent! But I would change to a 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 (you can never have enough space) and an Antec 300 to save cash on the case. I would also change the PSU to an Enermax Modu+ 700w Gold certified. and the CPU to a 965.

desertpython

I don't install too much so I think 500GB will be enough. I have a 160 GB HDD now and it has lasted me. Plus I might end up getting an external. The case I'm going to leave too because it is actually only $80 witha rebate and I think it is worth $25 more than the 300.

As for the PSU, that is awfully expensive...the one's I see on newegg are $130 and $190. Do you not think the 650W will be enough? I know the PSU is very important so I do want to make sure this is good enough.

I found the 955 in a combo with themotherboard so to get the 965 it would be another $45. I don't know if that is worth it?...

955 is OK, but 965 is a bit faster, and that PSU is unmatched in terms of quality - its Gold certified, the highest, with excellent stability of rails and very little ripple. If you had a PSU pyramid this would be at the top, 650w is enough but the model comes in 700w, so get that. The case isn't really necessary but if you like it . . . .

The HD I would change - GTA 4 takes 15GB+ for itself, Dragon Age under 10GB, and most modern games at least 8 or 9GB - if this is a pure gaming rig with only games than it would be OK, just.

I really like that build. I think you are spending too much on the motherboard, but that's your call. You could get a decent Crossfire board for alot less than that. The Phenom II x4 955 is plenty, don't let anybody tell you otherwise. The only difference between it and the 965 is the 200mhz difference at stock speeds, and you'd never even notice it. Besides, all you have to do to get a 955 to 3.4ghz is go into the BIOS at startup and change the CPU muliplier from 16 to 17. Most don't even need any extra voltage to do it. Great build. I think you spent money in the right places, except for that overly expensive motherboard. I can't really bash it though, Gigabyte makes great stuff.

I really like that build. I think you are spending too much on the motherboard, but that's your call. You could get a decent Crossfire board for alot less than that. The Phenom II x4 955 is plenty, don't let anybody tell you otherwise. The only difference between it and the 965 is the 200mhz difference at stock speeds, and you'd never even notice it. Besides, all you have to do to get a 955 to 3.4ghz is go into the BIOS at startup and change the CPU muliplier from 16 to 17. Most don't even need any extra voltage to do it. Great build. I think you spent money in the right places, except for that overly expensive motherboard. I can't really bash it though, Gigabyte makes great stuff.

hartsickdiscipl

its not that expensive....its about 25 bucks cheaper than my UD3R board.

- Change the case to something like the Lancool K62, or even the Antec 902. The 902 is pretty much an 'upgrade' of the 900, with cable management and black interior being the most prominent of changes. The Lancool is pretty much a better case all around, really.

- If you're not planning to run Crossfire, then get a cheaper motherboard. If you are, then change your PSU. It has a reduced 12V rating based on other 650w PSU's out there. You're better off getting a Corsair 650TX, or even the Coolermaster GX 650w. Those should run dual 5850's just fine.

That's all I can see that should be looked into. Great picks you got there :D

Thanks for the suggestionsguys, I'm looking into all of them. What do you think about this mobo: MSI 790X-G45 AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD. It is $100. As for the PSU- If I crossfire I will not be doing it for a while so I will probably just upgrade at that time.

- Change the case to something like the Lancool K62, or even the Antec 902. The 902 is pretty much an 'upgrade' of the 900, with cable management and black interior being the most prominent of changes. The Lancool is pretty much a better case all around, really.

- If you're not planning to run Crossfire, then get a cheaper motherboard. If you are, then change your PSU. It has a reduced 12V rating based on other 650w PSU's out there. You're better off getting a Corsair 650TX, or even the Coolermaster GX 650w. Those should run dual 5850's just fine.

That's all I can see that should be looked into. Great picks you got there :D

ravenguard90

Oh, didn't realise those PSU's are the same price or less. Thanks perhaps I will get the 650TX

That MSI board is good, but the list of supported memory really bothers me, as it doesn't even support 1333mhz. Chances are it does, but I'm not sure it's wise to risk it.

I respect your decision to stick with the Antec, but if you are in the States, the GX 650w is actually cheaper than the Antec on Newegg. It really is a steal at that price.

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

I really like that build. I think you are spending too much on the motherboard, but that's your call. You could get a decent Crossfire board for alot less than that. The Phenom II x4 955 is plenty, don't let anybody tell you otherwise. The only difference between it and the 965 is the 200mhz difference at stock speeds, and you'd never even notice it. Besides, all you have to do to get a 955 to 3.4ghz is go into the BIOS at startup and change the CPU muliplier from 16 to 17. Most don't even need any extra voltage to do it. Great build. I think you spent money in the right places, except for that overly expensive motherboard. I can't really bash it though, Gigabyte makes great stuff.

Neo_revolution7

its not that expensive....its about 25 bucks cheaper than my UD3R board.

It's still more expensive than it needs to be. There are plenty of good boards out there for way less money. I'll never understand why people spend so much on their motherboards sometimes. The most expensive one I've ever had was my Socket 939 Asus A8N-SLI. My last 2 have been $60 and $80. Served me just fine. I understand that it will cost a bit more for a good Crossfire board, but it doesn't have to be that much more.

[QUOTE="Neo_revolution7"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

I really like that build. I think you are spending too much on the motherboard, but that's your call. You could get a decent Crossfire board for alot less than that. The Phenom II x4 955 is plenty, don't let anybody tell you otherwise. The only difference between it and the 965 is the 200mhz difference at stock speeds, and you'd never even notice it. Besides, all you have to do to get a 955 to 3.4ghz is go into the BIOS at startup and change the CPU muliplier from 16 to 17. Most don't even need any extra voltage to do it. Great build. I think you spent money in the right places, except for that overly expensive motherboard. I can't really bash it though, Gigabyte makes great stuff.

hartsickdiscipl

its not that expensive....its about 25 bucks cheaper than my UD3R board.

It's still more expensive than it needs to be. There are plenty of good boards out there for way less money. I'll never understand why people spend so much on their motherboards sometimes. The most expensive one I've ever had was my Socket 939 Asus A8N-SLI. My last 2 have been $60 and $80. Served me just fine. I understand that it will cost a bit more for a good Crossfire board, but it doesn't have to be that much more.

agreeded but i guess they charge more for different features, but we also can't expect an Asus Rampage 3 to be 60 to a hundred bucks either.....but its also a good xfire and overclocking board atleast from the reviews ive read but there is one board which i would not pay 700 dollars for and thats the GA UD9http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128446&Tpk=ud9thats a bit overpriced.....

Ok guys. I have revised a bit. I have decided to screw crossfire. That is only going to make me want to spend an additional $300 for another 5850. So, I have revised a few things. First, I chose a gigabyte motherboard with no crossfire feature and got 4GB RAM in combo deal. Next I changed my PSU and got in a combo deal with the Phenom 955. In addition I dropped down to an Antec 300. This all saved me $150. Now I can get the Samsung monitor I am looking at and be under $1000 for the whole setup.

Please let me know what you think of this setup and the changes I made.

Also, since I am a noob at this I have to ask: Is this every thing I will need for my system to run? (Besides an OS, I have that covered.)

Thanks!

It looks like this now:

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

HDD:SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $55

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor$160

GPU: XFXRadeon HD5850 1GB $295

Disk Drive:ASUS DVD-E818A6T/BLK/B/G Black 18X SATA DVD-ROM Drive - Bulk $17

PSU:CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT

Keyboard:LITE-ON SK-1788/BS 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard: $7

Total: $803.87

Specifically, what do you think of the motherboard?

I would go for that mobo brand, but at the very least, an 890X chipset. All looks good, I prefer Seagate but the build is solid.

I would go for that mobo brand, but at the very least, an 890X chipset. All looks good, I prefer Seagate but the build is solid.

desertpython

If he isn't going for a multi-GPU setup, then the 890X chipset is pretty much useless considering it's meant for dual-gpu builds. As for the HDD, the Samsung F3 is known to be the fastest platter drive out there in the market, disregarding the Velociraptor. It's a very good choice, to be honest.

[QUOTE="desertpython"]

I would go for that mobo brand, but at the very least, an 890X chipset. All looks good, I prefer Seagate but the build is solid.

ravenguard90

If he isn't going for a multi-GPU setup, then the 890X chipset is pretty much useless considering it's meant for dual-gpu builds. As for the HDD, the Samsung F3 is known to be the fastest platter drive out there in the market, disregarding the Velociraptor. It's a very good choice, to be honest.

890X - not FX - you miss that part?

Alright so now you have me a little mixed up. What mobos are you suggesting? I don't see any 890x chips on newegg. Thanks. And yes, I don't need a crossfire board.

I found the 890xa and I believe it is a crossfire capable motherboard.

[QUOTE="ravenguard90"]

[QUOTE="desertpython"]

I would go for that mobo brand, but at the very least, an 890X chipset. All looks good, I prefer Seagate but the build is solid.

desertpython

If he isn't going for a multi-GPU setup, then the 890X chipset is pretty much useless considering it's meant for dual-gpu builds. As for the HDD, the Samsung F3 is known to be the fastest platter drive out there in the market, disregarding the Velociraptor. It's a very good choice, to be honest.

890X - not FX - you miss that part?

The 890X is exactly like the 890GX, sans the IGP. It is meant for dual-gpu setups. 890FX is also meant for multi-GPU setups, although it's at 16x/16x compared to 8x/8x, and can usually support more than two cards.