AMD build critique welcome--help me spend less money!

[ChaiBabbaChai]

I agree i5 and i7 are better than Phenom II but I bought Phenom II because it was way cheaper, I could not get a i7 mobo for under $200 when i was looking in March. I only spent $500 on my upgrade of Mobo, RAM, and CPU.

But my question is, when I do video encoding and music ripping and compress/uncompressing even though AMD is slower will it translate into real world difference. CPU's today are so fast I am happy with my Phenom II X4, maybe I would save 5 seconds here and there but for the money I am happy to save a couple hundred dollars on a mobo and CPU.

Like I said, it would cost $70-80 more for an i5 750 and a good Gigabyte board. That is not WAY anything.

Not 5 seconds difference either. More like multiples of 5 based on how large the files are. But, no, the encoding will be the same, it's not going to sound different just because you went with AMD.

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

I even read you can update the drive to only access the same space as a Raptor, 320GB or whatever they are at, and you have a Raptor for a cheaper price.

That's actually a fallacy.

 

[JimKiler]

That's actually a fallacy.

You are saying something on the internet is inaccurate? (insert sarcasm here)

 

[fallout man]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for all the input.

I've committed to the:

40GB Kingston SSD
1TB drive
XFX 5870 GPU
Phenom II x4 955
4GB DDR3 RAM (to be upgraded if it's sluggish)

...and LIAN LI PC-X500 :awe::awe::awe:

I got the case only because I managed to get Win7 Pro for $30, and decided to re-use my old PSU (550W will handle single 5870). Very nice!!!

Again, I really appreciate the input you've all given. I think that I'm going to love this build.

 

[Firsttime]

Awesome, that's a fun build, just make sure you have the connectors on your PSU to handle the 5870.

 

[fallout man]

Awesome, that's a fun build, just make sure you have the connectors on your PSU to handle the 5870.

I'm running a 9800GTX now. I think it should work (2x 6pin).

When I decide the upgrade, I'll get a more RAM, a more poweful PSU, and perhaps another 5870 for CF.

Most of all, I'm really looking forward to having a non-ghetto rig (and this case will last as long as ATX is a standard--I tend to hold on to nice things).