Advice on New Build

[jaybird1313]

I've relied on Anandtech forum advice for my past 3 builds over the last 8 years and have always received great advice. It's time for a new system and I have not kept up to date with the latest hardware trends so I need some help.

I have two 24 inch monitors, so I will need a dual DVI video card.
I'm a casual gamer but have been playing a lot of starcraft 2 beta and would like to run the game at most of the higher settings. My only other need is to be able to play 1080p video. My current video card is not capable of playing 1080p videos without stuttering.

Here is what I'm thinking of, but I'm open to any suggestions:

Antec Earthwatts EA-650 650W
Intel i5 860 Quad-Core 2.80GHz

Need suggestions on:

Case - something quiet, will be in bedroom.
Ram - min 4GB, Id prefer 6GB
HDD - I already have a 1TB WD Black. Is there much benefit to SSD for the OS?
Mobo - I'm lost here. I just know I've always like Asus
Video Card - Something with dual DVI that can play 1080p video files without stuttering.

Thanks in advance for suggestions and advice!

 

[PreachTru]

What is your budget? Need to know that.

 

[jaybird1313]

What is your budget? Need to know that.

~$1500, but I don't mind going over if I have to. At the same time, I don't want to buy more than what I really need.

 

[MisterDonut]

Could get by on AMD here, but your budget allows an Intel build. It's up to whether or not you want to save extra money.

Since you don't want to buy more than you really need, the AMD 955BE + ASUS EVO 790X + 5770 + 500w PSU from Corsair, Antec, Seasonic + 4gb DDR3 G.Skill 1.5v (Avoid OCZ) + Antec P183.

The Intel route would be the i7 -860 + P7P55D.

You'd get better $/performance with AMD, and the speed is nothing you'll miss. Since you seem to use your computer a lot for general computing, I'd suggest picking up an 80gb Intel X-25M or 60GB OCZ. Nothing too pricey here because you'll feel a massive difference from mechanicals. Either way will definitely fall under your budget. Not sure if you'd feel a difference between the 955BE and i860 though. Nothing you've stated requires a processor as beefy as the i860.

 

[jaybird1313]

Could get by on AMD here, but your budget allows an Intel build. It's up to whether or not you want to save extra money.

Since you don't want to buy more than you really need, the AMD 955BE + ASUS EVO 790X + 5770 + 500w PSU from Corsair, Antec, Seasonic + 4gb DDR3 G.Skill 1.5v (Avoid OCZ) + Antec P183.

The Intel route would be the i7 -860 + P7P55D.

You'd get better $/performance with AMD, and the speed is nothing you'll miss. Since you seem to use your computer a lot for general computing, I'd suggest picking up an 80gb Intel X-25M or 60GB OCZ. Nothing too pricey here because you'll feel a massive difference from mechanicals. Either way will definitely fall under your budget. Not sure if you'd feel a difference between the 955BE and i860 though. Nothing you've stated requires a processor as beefy as the i860.

I'm pretty much set on Intel. I've always gone with Intel and think I'll stick with it..... yah I know, brand loyalty is lame, but I don't mind sacrificing a few dollars to get an i5 or i7.

So I've narrowed things down a bit more to:

Antec Earthwatts EA-650 650W
Intel i7 860 Quad-Core 2.80GHz
Sapphire Vapor-X 5770
Asus P7P55D

Unanswered:
RAM - Corsair, Mushkin or G.Skill?
Mobo -Should I get the P7P55D-E?

Also, can someone point me to a guide on how to properly setup windows on a SSD?

 

[MisterDonut]

Yeah, you'll definitely get the performance from Intel . You can probably get by with a smaller PSU (and cheaper. Antec PSU's can get pricey), and I'd go with G.Skill for the RAM. Personally, I've had the best experience with them compared to Corsair, OCZ, etc. Never had Mushkin though, but their DDR3 kits are supposed to be superb. Anything at 1.5v is what you should be aiming for. I think in the memory/storage section of AT, you'll find a guide on SSD. Or make a post there, and you'll get your answer . AHCI + Windows installation is all I did.

 

[Axon]

[/B]Unanswered:
RAM - Corsair, Mushkin or G.Skill?
Mobo -Should I get the P7P55D-E?

Also, can someone point me to a guide on how to properly setup windows on a SSD?

If you've got the cash, Intel is the way to go. It's just a better chip.

RAM: +1 for G.Skill. I'm sure Corsair makes baller RAM, but you can't beat the price/performance on G.Skill right now. So good.

Motherboard: What features do you want? The P7P55D-E looks good, though I personally believe Gigabyte has passed ASUS with their X58 and P55 boards. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128412 is gigabyte's offering in the USB 3/Sata 3 area. The two look pretty much fungible to me.

SSD Install guide: http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...for-Installing-Windows-on-all-OCZ-SSD-Drives& Mister D is correct in all that you need do, essentially, is set the drive to AHCI and install.

Optimization for Windows 7 guide: http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/f...Just-what-tweaks-are-needed-in-win7-with-SSD&

 

[sandorski]

Whatever Case you get, just make sure it takes 120mm Fans at least. Seems to be pretty standard these days, but there are still Cases with 80mm so avoid those.