Computer build help

[fowler1416]

I haven not built a computer in many many years. Like 10 years. I am wanting to get back to doing some gaming and also some video editing at home for fun. I have put together what I think would be a good computer, but I am scared to pull the trigger on it without some feedback from people that are more current with todays technology. I know yall probably get tired of the same threads over and over from people, but they do help, and I thank you in advance for any advice you could give me. Here are the specs, please let me know if any of these choices are bad, or if I should bulk up on one thing or go cheaper on another. Thanks again.....

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $109.99

ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $288.99

SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $449.00

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail - $124.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail - $189.99

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR10664GK - Retail - $72.99

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $229.99

SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S223Q - OEM - $29.99

 

[fowler1416]

Looking to keep this thing around 1500 bucks.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Why the X48 SLI mobo? , I would get a P45 chipset motherboard for less than $150 and save more by getting cheaper DDR2-800 ram, and spend what I saved by upgrading the CPU to the newer Q9xx that fit's your budgets. If rumors are to be beleived the Q9650 will soon be in the $300-350 range.

A good P45 board will overclock better than the X48, and highspeed ram isn't necessary for overclocking

The Q9XXX cpu's will run faster, use less juice, and show a nice improvement over the Q6600 in video encoding.

You should base your graphics card choice on the monitor you will be using and the type games you like to play. Higher end cards and multiple GPU cards are really a waste unless your playing very demanding FPS games on a 24" or larger monitor and you must have all the eye candy on

If your using a 22" monitor and like RPG's and flight SIM's, you can get by with a much cheaper card . Or if you have a 22-24" and want to occasionally play and FPS and don't have to have the highest settings with 999xAF you can get by with something like a 4850 or G260

 

[Denithor]

Here are some better choices.

Q9550 (2.83GHz, 12MB cache) $290
Gigabyte EP45-UD3P $115AR
G.Skill 2x2GB PI Black DDR2-800 $50 (buy one for XP32 or two for Vista64)
Corsair 650TX $70AR (made by Seasonic, better quality than the 750W model)

These changes will save you $105 versus the parts you picked and at the same time provide considerably higher performance & stability (45nm quad versus old/hot 65nm quad, better quality PSU & RAM & motherboard).

EDIT: 45nm quads have already dropped! And the Rampage is a Crossfire board, not SLI.

 

[fowler1416]

Thanks for the replies. I never was a hardware guru so I don't' know all the differences between the x48, p45, etc? I chose the motherboards solely on its reviews and ratings and thoughts of ASUS always being solid, but I don't know much about the detailed workings of mobo's. I know enough to put a computer together, and have done basic desktop support, but never dug much deeper. the mobo is almost always my hangup for building a pc, not knowing what to choose and why to choose some over others. what is considered to best mobo for the quad core chip? I would like to save money where I can, but also don't want 50 bucks holding me back from a much better item.

 

[krnmastersgt]

X48 = Enthusiast gaming platform, capable of running 2-3 ATI cards in Crossfire configurations, P45 = Moderate platform, typically single PCI-E slot but due to lack of large Crossfire options usually a much lower price.

+1 to what GuitarDaddy said on the video card, your choice is largely based on monitor size which determines max resolution. If you have anything smaller than a 24", that 4870X2 is a huge waste of power in my opinion.

 

[fowler1416]

i plan on running this at times through my 60" widescreen hdtv. the rest of the time will be on a 24" widescreen. I do plan on playing as many graphics intensive FPS games as I can find the time for as well, along with trying to get in to video editing for home video stuff.

 

[Denithor]

Then you're at 1080p on the 60" (I hope) and 1920x1200 on the 24" so the 4870X2 is actually a good fit.

The parts I suggested are about the best performance + low prices right now.

Build that puppy!

 

[fowler1416]

so i take it I should stick with the asus rampage if I can afford it and then maybe bump up to the Q9550?

 

[krnmastersgt]

Errr, the 4870X2 has built-in Crossfiring, the board doesn't need to support Crossfire for you to reap the advantages of the dual gpu card. Go for a P45 board and save yourself ~$100-200.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Combo Deal: $734 AR

Phenom II 940
HD 4870x2
Asus 790gx

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Combo Deal: $734 AR

Phenom II 940
HD 4870x2
Asus 790gx

^^That's hard to argue against.

If you go Intel route, no - do not buy the Rampage! It's an overpriced underwhelming board. The UD3P I linked above has been tested by quite a few sites & found to support up to 500 fsb - so it won't limit your OC efforts.

But - damn! - that's a cheap price for a great combo!
Nice find hhbb!

 

[fowler1416]

Isn't the intel quad core a better chip though? Last I checked in to all of this, amd was struggling to get the performance near intel? I have never overclocked before, not saying I won't get into that, but I will probably leave things at default levels.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Everything before Phenom II, that was true, clock for clock Intel chips decimated AMDs, but Phenom IIs (not sure on how they are clock for clock) are about the same price as most C2Qs and outperform the ones in their price brackets. Pure performance-wise, Intel's chips are still stronger, but they cost quite a bit more so the price/performance ratio isn't nearly as good as the Phenom IIs. Phenom II's are only quads though, so Intel still holds the crown in dual-core performance.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: fowler1416
Isn't the intel quad core a better chip though? Last I checked in to all of this, amd was struggling to get the performance near intel? I have never overclocked before, not saying I won't get into that, but I will probably leave things at default levels.

From a price/performance standpoint the only thing close may be the Q9400/Biostar P45 combo at $790 with the HD4870. I'd have to give the Phenom II 940 the nod here fer sure.

Where it starts to get squirrelly is the Q9550/Biostar P45 combo. Intel/AMD trade some blows here and when AMD matched the price cuts it made the Q9550 a little pricey against the PhII 940.

The Q9650 is for the most part the hands-on winner against the PhII 940 except in MainConcept and DivX.

The Phenom II 940 is a 'Black Edition' meaning it has an unlocked cpu multiplier (200MHz x 15 = 3GHz). Simply by raising the multiplier to 15.5, 16, 16.5 ... 17 ... you should get a nice bump without having to up the stock voltage (though a little bit would help stability).

I believe this GSkill 1066 memory is on the Asus QVL list.

 

[thecrecarc]

Wow, the combo is a very nice deal. Not much fault to find there, I suggest you go with it.

 

[shortylickens]

I have no interest in upgrading right now BUT, that combo deal is excellent.

 

[fowler1416]

will i have equal gaming experience with the combo above as with the intel stuff?