Help a Newb with a new computer

[lehtv]

Asrock Pro3 Gen3 is in stock.

6950 2GB for $100 less is so much better value for money than the Asus 570, especially as it has 2GB VRAM. However, given that the release date of the new GPUs gets closer and closer, even a 6850 or 6870 would be a good decision as a placeholder until then; in any case, avoid spending a lot on a GPU that will be vastly outperformed pretty soon.

 

[mfenn]

Here is an update as of now:
CPU 2500k (219)
RAM CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (49)
PSU CORSAIR Professional Series HX650 (120)
HDD HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.D (150)
SSD Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB (208)
Case COOLER MASTER HAF X (180)
OS Microsoft Windows 7 Home (100)
ODD Asus Blu-ray (68)
GPU TBD
Sound TBD
MoBo TBD
Cooler Noctua NH-C12P SE14 140mm SSO CPU Cooler (75)

Comments:
- CPU: Good
- RAM: Too expensive for what it is. This $40 G.Skill DDR3 1333 will perform within 1-2%.
- PSU: Too expensive for what it is. You can get a Seasonic X-650 for $10 more. Though I wouldn't recommend doing that when a $90-$30 MIR XFX 650W will perform just as well
- HDD : Too expensive for what it is. It is a very fast drive, but that was worth a $10 premium. It's not worth double the price of this $70 Seagate.
- SSD : Good
- Case: OK, but not worth $180 IMHO. The http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160Corsair 500R is significantly less expensive.
- OS : Good
- ODD : Good
- GPU : Get a 6950 2GB like lehtv advises if you want good day 1 performance
- Mobo: ASRock Z68 Pro3, ASRock Z68 Extreme3, and ASUS P8Z68-V LE are all good choices that won't break the bank.
- HSF: I don't really see the point of a top-down cooler in full-size case. A tower cooler like the U12P will perform better.

 

[Goothry]

Question for mfenn:

What is the reasoning for Season X-650 > Corsair Pro HX650, and XFX 650W > Corsair Pro HX650?

Pertaining to the XFX 650W, is MIR better than modular in some manner that I'm not seeing, or is this purely a price comparison perspective?

Other thoughts:

I was beginning to reconsider my choice of case. In general I'm looking for a full tower. I'm told they're easier to work in, and are less constrained for space regarding internal components for such parts as GPUs. I don't particularly care about LEDs and windows. That said, I invite more suggestions for cases. I'm not completely opposed to a mid sized cases, I'm simply leaning more toward full-tower at this point.

lehtv, how close are these new GPUs? Would you advise it is worth waiting for?

 

[Goothry]

Additonally,

Does 650W PSU leave me enough power to expand beyond my currently speculative build? I know it would not support a second GPU, but what about an additional ODD to add a cd burner or other such parts?

 

[lehtv]

lehtv, how close are these new GPUs? Would you advise it is worth waiting for?

In the best case scenario we'll get 7800 series in December. Probably more likely we'll have to wait until January, perhaps even February. The 7800 series will perform like 6900 series or better but consume much less power. I would expect 7900 series to follow shortly after, hopefully they will perform at least 30-40% faster than 6900 series. However, a HD 6950 2GB is really fast already, it plays any game on nice settings on 1080p. When it starts to feel slow, sell it and upgrade. Waiting would be sensible if you didn't really care about gaming at the moment.

Does 650W PSU leave me enough power to expand beyond my currently speculative build? I know it would not support a second GPU, but what about an additional ODD to add a cd burner or other such parts?

Any of X-650, HX650 and XFX 650 will easily power any single-GPU setup with overclocking and additional devices, expansion cards, fans, you name it. There's absolutely nothing to worry about in that regard. Each of X-650, HX650 and XFX 650 also has four PCI-e connectors since they actually are capable of SLI/Crossfire. You could run 6950 2GB crossfire fairly comfortably. 7850/7870 crossfire, roughly equivalent to a single GTX570/580 in power consumption, would be child's play.

What is the reasoning for Season X-650 > Corsair Pro HX650, and XFX 650W > Corsair Pro HX650?

Compared to HX650, X-650 has better efficiency and it's quieter (hybrid fan). XFX 650W lacks modularity and has slightly lower efficiency, these are the only reasons it costs less than HX650. Better value for money. I'd expect both of X-650 and XFX 650W to output a bit more stable voltages than HX650 because they're Seasonic built instead of CWT.

 

[mfenn]

Question for mfenn:

What is the reasoning for Season X-650 > Corsair Pro HX650, and XFX 650W > Corsair Pro HX650?

Pertaining to the XFX 650W, is MIR better than modular in some manner that I'm not seeing, or is this purely a price comparison perspective?

MIR stands for Mail In Rebate.

As for the PSU's, lehtv hit the nail on the head. Given the prices, the X-650 is just plain better than the HX. Taking price into account, the XFX 650W is the best deal. Is a X-650 better than it? Yes. Is it twice as good? Hell no.

I was beginning to reconsider my choice of case. In general I'm looking for a full tower. I'm told they're easier to work in, and are less constrained for space regarding internal components for such parts as GPUs. I don't particularly care about LEDs and windows. That said, I invite more suggestions for cases. I'm not completely opposed to a mid sized cases, I'm simply leaning more toward full-tower at this point.

Mid tower and full tower are completely arbitrary designations at this point. You have to look at the actual dimensions to get a good idea of the size of the case. Something like a 500R is not going to feel cramped unless you are Andre the Giant or something.

Does 650W PSU leave me enough power to expand beyond my currently speculative build? I know it would not support a second GPU, but what about an additional ODD to add a cd burner or other such parts?

Easily. A 6950 2GB system will pull something like 300W flat out.

 

[Goothry]

I'm back for some more advice!

I've been waiting for the new batch of GPUs to launch due to my want of a single GPU solution. Supposing the new 7970s stay around their $550 estimated price range I will be going with one of those. However, I find myself stuck again. The prevailiing sentiment toward the launch of the new line seems to be that only a limited quantity will be released initally on Jan 9th, and additionally once other companies get a hold of this card they will release their own tweaked versions a bit later. When is it reasonable to expect these tweaked versions? Is it recommened that I wait for them?

 

[mfenn]

Meh, if you are dead set on getting a super expensive single card (I highly recommend against it), you might as well just get a GTX 580 right now. It's very similar performance per dollar as the 7970 and you won't have to worry about stock or price gouging (which will happen on the first batch).

Really though, you should just get a 6950 2GB for less than half the cost.

 

[Goothry]

550 would be my absolute limit on price there. My fear here is that I go out and get an older card and that soon after I make that purchase the newer cards drive the old card's price down. In doing so I could have just eaten the cost of a more expensive card and gotten longer relative usage out of it. (Or something like that. I know I'm not being 100% clear, but please forgive me. I haven't had my coffee yet)

/arg

Either way, thank you for your continued advice.

 

[mfenn]

Newer and faster stuff is always going to be coming out, so don't base your decisions on release dates and speculative pricing. Prices going down is just a fact of life in the computer business, it doesn't make what you bought suddenly worthless.

Look at price/performance, which you will find to be similar between the 7970 and the GTX 580 (though both are atrocious compared to a 6950 2GB).