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Mega-budget Starcraft2 / Photoshop build (REVIEW please!)

Key West

Key West

Banned
Motherboard+RAM: ASUS M4A78T-E + G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3- $206 after rebate

Hard Drive: Existing WD 1.5 TB

Case: Gigabyte GZ-PH2A3 Black ATX Mid Tower $20

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition-$105

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 512MB PCI-E $95 - $10 off code - $15 Rebate = $70

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master RR-B10-212P-G1 $30

Sound Card: Existing PCI Turtle Beach Riviera

PSU: Existing Antec EA-430 430 watts

DVD Drive: Existing

Total: $431

1. Foremost concern is Compatibility! Will everything fit and work together okay?
*The case is rather small I heard. It will fit 4850 & bigass CPU cooler right?
*I think the PSU should be enough to juice the vid card.. excuse my utter ignorance but PSU will fit in that case?

2. Reviews talk about unlocking the 4th core on the CPU via motherboard. Does my motherboard support doing that? Also how hard/easy is it?

3. I'm assuming this can blow away SC2 @ everything max... (I have the beta currently). I've learned the game is CPU-heavy than GPU. This build should take care of both, yes?

Cheers to all guys.
 
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bignateyk said:
When does SC2 even come out? It hasn't even entered beta yet has it?
Click to expand...

Where have you been? Its been in beta for ~2 months now and they are giving keys out on fb in all sorts of weird ways. Also through email, twitter, WoW etc.

I cannot play the beta maxed at 19x12 with a q9550 @3.4, 9600GSO 768 (sli disabled as it does not work with the beta) and 4 gigs of ram. The 4850 is faster than a 9600GSO but I would not be surprised if it couldn't handle it either.
 
Key West said:
Please.. anyone?
Click to expand...

1. All those parts will work together perfectly.

2. That board will unlock the cores if you have a chip that can be unlocked. M4A78T-E – 1402 Official Bios – SUCCESS!! - SUCCESS #2!! *Thanks AMDRick* http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/535501-amd-phenom-ii-core-unlocking-guide.html. You can save money and buy a cheaper mobo but it may be hard to beat that combo deal.

3. I have the SC2 beta and can max it out with an 555 BE @ 3.2 ghz with my 4890 plugged in. I can't imagine having too much trouble doing the same with a 4850. It's not all that intensive. With my 4670 it runs at "high" on all setting at 1920, and that's a much weaker card than the 4850.

Unlocking cores is very simple. Feel free to PM when the stuff comes and I'll help you out.
 
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Remember that not all X3 and X2 chips can have their chips unlocked. Some of them are sold as X3 or X2 because they really do have defective cores on them. So you might get lucky or unlucky.

I havent played the SC2 beta, but I would think that would run it fine.
 
For the price on the cpu HSF and the oem cpu, you could just pick up the retail Phenom X4 2.8ghz for $140 from newegg and not have to worry if the 4th core would unlock. $10 more will get you the 3.0ghz version, $20 more will get you the 955 BE.
 
Find a deal on a 5770. There was one in the Hot Deals section (I believe it was Powercolor on ZZF) for $125 shipped. Oh, and, to ^. I'd probably just go with the A2 620 Propus. Quad for under $100. Not too shabby. Put that $40 to a 5770.
 
MisterDonut said:
Find a deal on a 5770. There was one in the Hot Deals section (I believe it was Powercolor on ZZF) for $125 shipped. Oh, and, to ^. I'd probably just go with the A2 620 Propus. Quad for under $100. Not too shabby. Put that $40 to a 5770.
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Huh? My CPU is about 6 units above A2 620.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2545-7.html

5770 is barely 0.5 tier faster than 4850. I don't think that's worth spending nearly 2x for it. ($70 vs $125)

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2521-8.html
 
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Key West said:
Huh? My CPU is about 6 units above A2 620.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2545-7.html

5770 is barely 0.5 tier faster than 4550. I don't think that's worth spending nearly 2x for it. ($70 vs $125)

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2521-8.html
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6 units above A2 620...what does that even mean :hmm:? I doubt he'll feel....6 units of performance difference.

0.5 tier faster...but wait, isn't it a LOT faster? I doubt this tier system is linear.
 
MisterDonut said:
6 units above A2 620...what does that even mean :hmm:? I doubt he'll feel....6 units of performance difference.

0.5 tier faster...but wait, isn't it a LOT faster? I doubt this tier system is linear.
Click to expand...

I meant 6 CPUs behind.

So you're saying 6 units won't make a difference much, yet you directly contradict by saying '0.5 tier' does because it's not linear?
 
I did it... thanks to all for your opinions.

$451 after rebates.. I got $250 cash back from my credit cards last year.. so $200 out of pocket... I'll sell some of my older videocards to craigslist for $50-70 (7600GS & 9500GT) at least. Time to return my very recent 9800GT too.

So a new system that will tear PS & games for $150, not too shabby.
 
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