Please Share Your Opinion Of My Parts Kit

[RoseBear]

Building two identical systems, for database creation, application development, moderate gaming, video editing. Price range is $1300 USD each. Will be buying parts in America for use in America. Doing an Intel build this time, and I like ATI. The only current parts I have are 4 20x CD/DVDRWs with Lightscribe. I've never overclocked but am interested in having the option. Would like to buy the parts this week.

Case: Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP

PSU: Corsair CMPSU-750TX

CPU: Core 2 Quad Q9550

Motherboard: DFI LanParty DK-X38-T2RB LGA 775

Video Card: HIS Hightech H487F512P Radeon HD 4870 512mb 256-bit GDDR5

Memory: G.SKILL 4GB DDR2 800, CL 5-5-5-15

HDD: WD Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750gB

The previously-mentioned CD/DVDRWs.

Dual 22" monitors.

Will I see any gains from DDR2 1066 memory?

Is there a better motherboard out there? I'm not in the market for multiple video cards, just one good one.

Speaking of video cards, is there a better ATI clone out there? I've had good luck with Sapphire in the past, but this card is the one recommended in the Build Guide.

 

[Boobs McGee]

Overkill on the PSU, so you can save some cash there. I would get a P45 board if you have no intentions of going crossfire. The gigabyte and asus models seem pretty popular right now. You don't need DDR2 1066 unless you are going to really push the FSB. Even the video card may be overkill if you will only do moderate gaming. Of course that depends on your definition of moderate. Maybe check out the 4850/4830?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

The only gains you will see with that ram is headroom to overclock your cpu where you will max out at 533fsb which is tough to do with some boards. So with that 800 you will be able to pump your fsb up to 400 without stressing the memory chips/sticks.

 

[RoseBear]

What capacity power supply should I look for ---- 650W or 550W? I want expansion room, in case I decide to put one or two more hard drives in the box --- dare I go as far down as 450W?

I want to play games like Elder Scrolls III on a 22-inch monitor without having to step the settings down. Can I do that with, say, this this 4850 Sapphire card?

How about this GIGABYTE GA-EP45C-UD3R board? And if I use this board, with a memory standard of DDR2 1066, should I splash out and get DDR2 1066??

Thanks so much for putting up with my questions!

 

[Boobs McGee]

Only buy the 1066 mem if you really want to push an OC. For PSU I would suggest starting your search in the 500-550W range. If you want to go up from there, you can.

If you want to play Morrowind, you can do that on pretty much any modern card as it is an old game. Yes the 4850 would be more than enough to play it. Of course if you can spend 10 bucks more AR and get a 4870, might as well: 4870

The mobo is probably fine. I would get the model without the "C" in it though. You likely don't need 6 RAM slots or the higher advertised FSB unless you are really planning to push an OC. Actually more memory modules usually hinder the OC process FWIW.

 

[theAnimal]

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P gives you the option of Crossfire.

How about 2x HD4830? $160-170AR and outperforms a 4870.

Silverstone ST60F would be a good PSU choice. Modular, lots of connectors, and 80Plus Bronze.