Please review my build (upgrade)

[DaveRana]

They are all compatible.
But that mobo seems overkill for what you are doing?

Try this combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.523542

Also if you need more ram try this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-096-_-Product

Thanks a bunch....the reviews on these aren't all that good though. How much attention need I pay to user feedback/reviews on components? I don't mind paying a bit more for the reliability and longevity factor of a product.

 

[mfenn]

Can you guys please take a look at this wish-list and let me know if

1. i have chosen anything incompatible
2. i can cut anything down in cost because I am ordering overkill compoments (video card)?
3. do I need to order any special tools to seat the memory/CPU?

TIA

Intel Core i7-950 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115211

ASUS Rampage III Formula LGA http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131666

Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe SSD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226151

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/768MD5 GeForce http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121390

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145220

ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

Those will work, but are complete, total, and utter overkill.

From the type of usage you described (working with RAW files), you'd be much better off from a bang/$ perspective with my previous recommendation.

 

[DaveRana]

Those will work, but are complete, total, and utter overkill.

From the type of usage you described (working with RAW files), you'd be much better off from a bang/$ perspective with my previous recommendation.

k thanks...can you suggest an Intel based build for me?

mobo, cpu, video card, mem?

 

[mfenn]

k thanks...can you suggest an Intel based build for me?

mobo, cpu, video card, mem?

You've still not answered my previous question. Why are you so obsessed with Intel? :awe:

i5 760 + GA-P55-USB3 $298
G.Skill DDR3 1333 8GB $135

Same 5450 that I recommended below.

 

[mosox]

That's an expensive multiple video cards motherboard - good for gamers - get a cheaper one.

But I would get this, it's cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.537753

 

[DaveRana]

You've still not answered my previous question. Why are you so obsessed with Intel? :awe:

well as I mentioned before, my last system was AMD. I just wanted to try out an Intel build. Can you tell me why I should go with AMD and not with Intel? I have a totally open mind at this point....not biased or anything...

 

[DaveRana]

That's an expensive multiple video cards motherboard - good for gamers - get a cheaper one.

But I would get this, it's cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.537753

thanks..yes I'm going to try to put together cheaper components now...

 

[Blain]

bump can somebody review my build? post #21

Yes... follow post #15

 

[DaveRana]

Yes... follow post #15

post #15 lists only a video card

 

[zi0n.]

But that mobo seems overkill for what you are doing?

This and get the 1GB ver of the 460.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Honestly, the only thing I would consider reusing is your case. The power supply will likely need to be upgraded, the hard drive is relatively small and old so I'd use it for backup at best (and you'll have to get a motherboard with both IDE and SATA connectors to make use of that drive and a new SATA drive). Same goes for the DVD drive.

I'd just go with SATA drives and throw that old hardware away and if you really want a speedy boot drive I'd consider going with a small SSD and buying a 1TB SATA HDD for your data but that might be stretching your budget too much.

 

[Blain]

bump can somebody review my build? post #21

Yes... follow post #15

post #15 lists only a video card

That's true, but in post #21 you said...

"2. i can cut anything down in cost because I am ordering overkill compoments (video card)?"

 

[mfenn]

well as I mentioned before, my last system was AMD. I just wanted to try out an Intel build. Can you tell me why I should go with AMD and not with Intel? I have a totally open mind at this point....not biased or anything...

I'm not saying that you should necessarily go with AMD (though it is a good choice for your usage scenario).

I'm just trying to teach a man to fish, so to speak. Questioning why certain components may or may not be better for a given task is the first step to putting together an effective and economical machine.

 

[DaveRana]

Please review my list. Bear in mind that a bit of an overkill is ok, since I will build this PC and forget about it for the next 5 yrs or until the hardware starts to die.

Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield CPUhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115213

ASUS P7P55D-E Mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131620

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series Memoryhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231311

EVGA GeForce GTX 460 Video Cardhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130568
I'm a bit clueless about the graphics card. Any better alternatives?
Mushkin SSDhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226151

COOLER MASTER Silent Pro PSUhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171036
Should I get the CORSAIR 650W PSU instead?

ASUS Black 24X DVD Drivehttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135204

SAMSUNG 24" Monitor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001378

 

[mfenn]

I'm a bit clueless about the graphics card. Any better alternatives?

If you don't game, a GTX 460 is complete overkill. Especially one of the super-overclocked super-loud designs. A GTS 450 will handle all of your CUDA needs and then some.

Should I get the CORSAIR 650W PSU instead?

The Coolermaster is fairly meh and isn't significantly cheaper than a 650TX. That being said, with a GTS 450, you don't need anything like a 650W PSU. Check out the Antec Neo Eco 400W for $29 AR Apromo.

 

[DaveRana]

If you don't game, a GTX 460 is complete overkill. Especially one of the super-overclocked super-loud designs. A GTS 450 will handle all of your CUDA needs and then some.



The Coolermaster is fairly meh and isn't significantly cheaper than a 650TX. That being said, with a GTS 450, you don't need anything like a 650W PSU. Check out the Antec Neo Eco 400W for $29 AR Apromo.

Thanks for the recos, mfenn. These video cards should have a decibel number in their technical specs so people like me can understand which ones are loud. Yeah I definitely don't want a noisy PC. Will the GTS 450 handle video editing well? There are no user reviews on this product on newegg and that throws me off a bit...

How about this card? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-855-_-Product

 

[fffblackmage]

You lose CUDA with the HD4670. Cheapest GTS450 seems to be this MSI N450GTS-M2D1GD5/OC GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB $120 ($95 AR). Of course, I don't know what programs you're using will actually benefit from CUDA, so someone else will have to chime in for that...

 

[DaveRana]

You lose CUDA with the HD4670. Cheapest GTS450 seems to be this MSI N450GTS-M2D1GD5/OC GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB $120 ($95 AR). Of course, I don't know what programs you're using will actually benefit from CUDA, so someone else will have to chime in for that...

thanks...yeah, what the heck is CUDA and why do I want it? I'll be using Photoshop, Lightroom for pictures and Premiere to edit movies.

 

[mfenn]

thanks...yeah, what the heck is CUDA and why do I want it? I'll be using Photoshop, Lightroom for pictures and Premiere to edit movies.

CUDA is essentially a library that software developers can use that allows an application to perform calculations on the GPU instead of/in addition to performing them on the CPU. It can provide some nice performance benefits, but is only available on Nvidia cards. Premiere does take advantage of CUDA.

I wouldn't worry about the lack of reviews on the MSI GTS 450. It looks to be pretty much a reference design.

 

[DaveRana]

CUDA is essentially a library that software developers can use that allows an application to perform calculations on the GPU instead of/in addition to performing them on the CPU. It can provide some nice performance benefits, but is only available on Nvidia cards. Premiere does take advantage of CUDA.

I wouldn't worry about the lack of reviews on the MSI GTS 450. It looks to be pretty much a reference design.

mfenn, appreciate the help here. I'll go with the video card and PSU you suggested. I got a couple of stupid questions at this point:

My existing hard drives are 3.5" and so are the enclosures in my computer case. Looks like I'll need to get some adapters to fit 2.5" drives in 3.5" enclosures. Also, my case has three fans. After 5 yrs of use, I think I should replace them even though they are working fine at this point.

I'm wondering, should I just order a new case too that has both 2.5 and 3.5 bays? Will using an old case cause any problems with respect to fit?

 

[mfenn]

mfenn, appreciate the help here. I'll go with the video card and PSU you suggested. I got a couple of stupid questions at this point:

My existing hard drives are 3.5" and so are the enclosures in my computer case. Looks like I'll need to get some adapters to fit 2.5" drives in 3.5" enclosures. Also, my case has three fans. After 5 yrs of use, I think I should replace them even though they are working fine at this point.

I'm wondering, should I just order a new case too that has both 2.5 and 3.5 bays? Will using an old case cause any problems with respect to fit?

No problem. On to your questions:

The Mushkin SSD actually comes with a 2.5"->3.5" adapter, so you're fine there. If your old case works and you're happy with it, I'd just hang onto it. The ATX standard hasn't changed with regard to dimensions in quite a while, so you'll be fine. Same for the fans.

 

[DaveRana]

No problem. On to your questions:

The Mushkin SSD actually comes with a 2.5"->3.5" adapter, so you're fine there. If your old case works and you're happy with it, I'd just hang onto it. The ATX standard hasn't changed with regard to dimensions in quite a while, so you'll be fine. Same for the fans.

Thanks a bunch.

Last question....will all these components come with wires/connectors I'll need? Any oh-you-forgot-to-buy-this type of thing?

Are you suggesting I should replace the case fans (3) or just replace them only if they die? I'll say they've seen maybe 6000 hours of use so far.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks a bunch.

Last question....will all these components come with wires/connectors I'll need? Any oh-you-forgot-to-buy-this type of thing?

Are you suggesting I should replace the case fans (3) or just replace them only if they die? I'll say they've seen maybe 6000 hours of use so far.

I'd say to only replace them if they die or the bearings start to rattle. It's not like the computer will explode or anything if a fan dies.

The only loose cables that you should need are SATA. The mobo comes with 4, so you should be fine unless you have more than 4 drives.

 

[DaveRana]

mfenn and all you guys who have helped me so far with this. Two thumbs up from me

I'll be ordering over the weekend and hopefully not get any DOA parts *crossing my fingers*

 

[DaveRana]

grr one more..does the cpu come with thermal paste or do i have to buy it separately??