My first build, which GPU should I go with?

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jamie8dc

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Dec 27, 2008
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This is my first build and I've been doing a lot of research and think I've got it pretty much finalized. I'd like to place my order in the next few days.

COOLER MASTER RC-690 Mid Tower Computer Case
Seagate Barracuda 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
Corsair 650W PS
Corsair 4GB DDR2-800
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775
Asus Radeon HD 4870 1GB
Creative X-Fi Xtremegamer
Samsung Burner with Lightscribe
Acer X243Wbd Black 24" 5ms Widescreen 400cd/m2 3000:1

Does the mobo seem like a good choice for this setup? Also, I was really torn between the 4870 1GB and the GTX 260 (maybe 55nm, but those aren't in stock at newegg). Opinions? I'll be using this system for gaming primarily, I do not want to SLI/crossfire now or in the future, so that doesn't matter.

This is my first build and I'm a little nervous, though I've read a few guides and I have changed out individual parts in past PCs so I'm familiar with the inside of a computer. Should I buy extra thermal paste, or is the thermal pad that comes with my CPU sufficient? Putting the CPU in seems like the most nerve-racking part of the whole process (besides pressing that power button for the first time) so I want to go in there prepared.

Thanks for your help and please be honest if something looks bad or sub-par, I can take it! Right now with shipping I'm at around $1520, including the monitor, and I've got $90 in mail-in rebates so it'll be a little under $1430. Seem like a good price for this system?
 
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Tullphan

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2001
3,507
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81
If you're not wanting to SLI or Crossfire, why not go with the 4870x2?
You're spending that much...why not spend a little more? :)
Other than that, everything else looks pretty good...just take your time on it & don't get in a hurry.
 
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palladium

Senior member
Dec 24, 2007
539
2
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I'd go for E8400, OC the heck out of the CPU ( spend the extra cash on a good cooler, unless the price difference is marginal), and, if you still have some change, go for what Tullphan say - a 4870X2, GTX295 or something similar - be sure not to be CPU limited though if you go for that setup.
 
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palladium

Senior member
Dec 24, 2007
539
2
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Originally posted by: jamie8dc
If I decided to go with a GTX 280, what's a good motherboard for about $90-120?
Click to expand...

Don't go for a GTX280 as the 55nm version ( GTX285) is around the corner. That MB seems fine to me, since you don't go SLI/CF.
 
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jamie8dc

Member
Dec 27, 2008
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Well how around the corner is it? I wanted to place my order in the next 3-4 days.

Also, the 4870x2 or 295 seem nice but they're also around $500. The 4870 1GB is $230 and the GTX 280 is about $345. So while obviously I'd rather have a 4870x2 I'm not sure I can justify the price, I feel like a GTX 280 or 4870 1GB will give me everything I need on the 24" monitor I plan on buying.

Do you think the 280 (or 55nm 285 if it's going to be out REAL soon) is worth the $120 increase over the 4870 1GB?
 
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a123456

Senior member
Oct 26, 2006
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1920 res is around the point where you can't max everything on some games I think with a 4870/260. The 280 will allow some better performance but I can't really tell you if it's worth 120$. That's a personal call.

An overclocked 260 can generally reach roughly stock 280 performance so there's a difference but the delta isn't night and day on most games/settings but you can overclock the 280 also to pull away again. Back during the cashback days you could get a 280 for as low as 255$ AR but that's mostly gone now. There's no real set date on the 285 as far as I know. It might come out on Jan 8 when the 295 comes out or it may have a different release date, much like the 55nm 260s. It's scheduled to come out in January according to almost all the current rumors.

Some people like the EVGA/BFG(?) step up if you want to consider that option but I've never really been a fan of it since you end up paying MSRP for the newer card. The new price is generally higher than most stores unless prices really tank after 3 months, which would give the trade-in card more "value." At least with EVGA, they also change the warranty on the new card from lifetime to 2 years and you have to pay shipping.

There are tons of benchmarks out there on the 4870/260. If you're okay with that kind of performance, go for it. They're both excellent cards but the 4870 1GB seems a lot cheaper at current market prices for similar performance to the 260. If you're highly questioning and agonizing over the value of a 280, then it's probably not the card for you.
 
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ther00kie16

Golden Member
Mar 28, 2008
1,573
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yea, go for 55nm. preliminary reviews show the factory overclocked 55nm gtx260 to be about as fast as 65nm gtx280.
 
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jamie8dc

Member
Dec 27, 2008
41
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Keys the one you linked isn't 55nm. It's just superclocked. And Wreckage, I said the 55nm is out of stock and you sent me a link to the same out-of-stock 55nm I've been looking at lol. I did auto-notify so if it becomes available by like, tomorrow, I might get it (I want to place my order tomorrow).

Keys, is that 260 Core 216 going to give me better performance than this Asus 4870 1GB? And please don't use PhysX as your reasoning, I think it's really cool but I really just want to know about normal performance comparison between the two. If so, it's about the same price so I'd probably go with the Core 216, but will it work fine in the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R motherboard I picked?

I have never overclocked and don't really plan on it unless in 6 months I'm unable to play games on high settings and think that overclocking could delay upgrading for a while. If that's the only reason to go with the Core 216 I don't know that it's going to do me much good.
 
AzN

AzN

Banned
Nov 26, 2001
4,112
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I'd go with a quad core at current time since it's been saturating the market for some time now. Perhaps a Q6600 or Q9550.

Change the 4870 to GTX 260 55nm. GTX seems to have the bigger core with more fillrates and higher overclock ability.

Change the Cooler master case for Antec 300 or 900.

No need to get a sound card unless you are audio freak. Onboard sound should satisfy most people.
 
JPB

JPB

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2005
4,064
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Just so you know OP...the 55nm GTX260 cards are indeed in stock at Newegg.
 
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jamie8dc

Member
Dec 27, 2008
41
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WHERE?? The link he posted has no option to "Add to Cart" only to "Auto-Notify." Can you send me a link to a newegg 260 55nm that I can add to my cart?

Azn I don't want to spend more money on quad-core. About the sound card, if I'm getting these cheapo Creative 5.1 Speakers will on-board sound still sound fine? I'm not incredibly picky, and I just want the 5 speakers for FPS games so I can tell where people are. If it will sound pretty good with on-board, that'd save me almost $100.
 
AzN

AzN

Banned
Nov 26, 2001
4,112
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Originally posted by: jamie8dc
WHERE?? The link he posted has no option to "Add to Cart" only to "Auto-Notify." Can you send me a link to a newegg 260 55nm that I can add to my cart?

Azn I don't want to spend more money on quad-core. About the sound card, if I'm getting these cheapo Creative 5.1 Speakers will on-board sound still sound fine? I'm not incredibly picky, and I just want the 5 speakers for FPS games so I can tell where people are. If it will sound pretty good with on-board, that'd save me almost $100.
Click to expand...

Yeah you should be good. Onboard sound now a days support 7 speaker systems with 24 bit. For better sound you should invest in better speakers. They make bigger difference than getting a sound card over onboard.

Some games are starting to use quad core like GTA 4. There's no reason to get a dual core for a new build unless low budget. If you are low on funds Q6600 is $180-190. Although relative low 2.4ghz you can easily get it 3.2 ~ 3.6ghz..
 
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ther00kie16

Golden Member
Mar 28, 2008
1,573
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if you live near a microcenter, they probably still have the q9300 for $180 in-store. it will overclock about as well as q6600 and will output less heat.
 
Keysplayr

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,211
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Originally posted by: jamie8dc
Keys the one you linked isn't 55nm. It's just superclocked. And Wreckage, I said the 55nm is out of stock and you sent me a link to the same out-of-stock 55nm I've been looking at lol. I did auto-notify so if it becomes available by like, tomorrow, I might get it (I want to place my order tomorrow).

Keys, is that 260 Core 216 going to give me better performance than this Asus 4870 1GB? And please don't use PhysX as your reasoning, I think it's really cool but I really just want to know about normal performance comparison between the two. If so, it's about the same price so I'd probably go with the Core 216, but will it work fine in the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R motherboard I picked?

I have never overclocked and don't really plan on it unless in 6 months I'm unable to play games on high settings and think that overclocking could delay upgrading for a while. If that's the only reason to go with the Core 216 I don't know that it's going to do me much good.
Click to expand...

I know it wasn't 55nm. I didn't think that mattered to ya. Yeah, clock for clock, they still will perform the same, and the one I linked to is factory overclocked like you've noticed. It will be faster than a 55nm GTX260 clocked at stock 576 core etc. etc. Plus the free game. I thought this was a very good value.

And yes, the 260 that I linked to will give you better performance than the 48701GB. And yes, it will work fine in your Gigabyte mobo. It lists PCI-e x16 2.0 in the specs.
 
AzN

AzN

Banned
Nov 26, 2001
4,112
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Originally posted by: jamie8dc
I don't know how to overclock. :(
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It's easy as changing the FSB all done on your motherboard and testing for stability. There are guides out there even for people new to overclocking. I'm sure if you come back to overclocking section here people would help you get to desired clocks.
 
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jamie8dc

Member
Dec 27, 2008
41
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I think I'm going to go with this EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 55nm Superclocked for $270. That seem like a good deal?


A few people have been telling me I should get a quad core instead of a dual core. I know this isn't the right section for this question, but do you think going with a Q6600 will give me more longevity than the E8400 I was looking at before? Again, I'm scared to overclock so I'm talking about stock speeds unless I grow enough metaphorical balls to try my hand at OCing it later. ;)
 
AzN

AzN

Banned
Nov 26, 2001
4,112
2
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That's a great deal for 55nm 260gtx. They overclock very well and should be neck and neck with GTX280.

quad will definitely give you more longevity. E8500 will give you extra 20-25% speed now without overclocking but when quad cores get optimized for apps and games Q6600 will be 40-50% faster than E8500. There isn't a game that doesn't run well with a 3ghz core 2 duo. Might as well get the quad and overclock it to 3.2ghz-3.6ghz. Overclocking is quite easy these days with motherboard support out of the box. Next 1-2 years from now will be more interesting for quad cores but currently selective apps and few games take advantage of them. If you aren't quite ready for a quad core you can always buy a cheap dual core CPU and overclock and upgrade later when quad's price come down a bit.
 
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pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Make sure you get a EVGA video card so you can step up in 90 days or less if you find your current video card is not enough for the games you play!
 
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jamie8dc

Member
Dec 27, 2008
41
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0
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Make sure you get a EVGA video card so you can step up in 90 days or less if you find your current video card is not enough for the games you play!
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm getting the EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 55nm Superclocked.

Good idea Azn. Once again I'm too scared to overclock, lol. I thought it was going to be easy until I read a guide on it and it seems extremely complicated. I think I'm just going to get the E8400 and then upgrade to a quad-core in 12 or 18 months. I was thinking about a Q6600 and OCing it but I don't want to screw anything up. I wish all the CPUs were identical so I could just get some pre-determined numbers and get a slight (~15-20%) OC without much trouble.
 
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