Please check my build

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BackNBlack

83 posts

Master Geek

#28329 26-Nov-2008 16:58

Hi im going to build this PC and would like some recommendations, or if i should change any thing. I will use it for mainly gaming and playing the latest games, wont to play at max settings, yet it is a bang for buck system with bang for buck hardware, maximum performance/price. Should i get a better Motherboard, if i plan to overclock in the furture?

Budget: No real budget as the most bang for buck hardware will determine the price.

MotherBoard: Asustek P5Q Pro Intel P45 ATX:$241.01
Graphics card: ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB graphics card:$280.00
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Tower Gaming Case:$179.95
Ram : DDR2 4GB PC2-8000 DUAL CHANNEL:$149
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower Modular 750W Modular $226.40 OR Corsair 750W TX Series PSU non modular $189
DVD Writer: Asustek DRW-2014L1T Serial-ATA DVD Writer:$41.58
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 2.4GHz, LGA775, quad core:$309.30
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate OEM 64-bit:$290.25 OR Home Premium around $180-$235
Hard Drive: Western Digital 640GB SATA 7200rpm hard drive:$121.49
Monitor: undecided LG W2252TQ 22" LCD 1680x1050 2ms DVI?for 22inch:$358.87?? possible 24inch

Total:$1838.98

Price and list update

MotherBoard: Asustek P5Q Pro Intel P45 ATX:$241.01 Recommended every where, any disadvantages?
Graphics card: ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB graphics card:$298.08 Best bang for buck card at the momment am I right?
~~Case: Antec Nine Hundred Tower Gaming Case:$179.95~~ BROUGHT
Ram : DDR2 4GB PC2-8000 DUAL CHANNEL:$149 Read Question 3
Power Supply:Thermaltake Toughpower Modular 750W Modular $226.40 OR Corsair 750W TX Series PSU non modular $189 Do i go for a $37 dearer PSU for a modular, same Wattage? I heard Corsair is the best choice in PSU's to? The antec 900 i hear isnt the best for cable management but i recieved the latest version with i think 3 large slots on the motherboard back plate. Which is more furture proof out of the to?
DVD Writer: Asustek DRW-2014L1T Serial-ATA DVD Writer:$41.58 Recommended basic DVD writer no need to spend extra $$$
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 2.4GHz, LGA775, quad core:$354.38 Best for the furture/ games being developed for quad cores even though E8500 better at the momment
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate OEM 64-bit:$290.25 OR Home Premium around $180-$235 Want 64 bit vista but not sure if i need Ultimate, any comments?
Hard Drive: Western Digital 640GB SATA 7200rpm hard drive:$118.10 Not sure but 640gb seems the best bang for buck hard drive, any recommended brands?

Total:$1718.8

Questions

1 Is the dollar with NZ to USA gonna get better through out 2009 which it has caused huge price increases, should I wait or build In January, or is this how it is going to be for ages(all year and next)? I ask cause back in October CPUs where around $100 cheaper ATI 4850 $50-60 cheaper And I think Motherboards $20-30 cheaper.

2 Should i get a better Motherboard, if i plan to overclock in the furture? Yet this is a bang for buck PC.

3 (see latest Post)

4 How does this look and comments? Thermaltake Toughpower Modular 750W Modular $226.40 OR Corsair 750W TX Series PSU non modular $189 Do i go for a $37 dearer PSU for a modular, same Wattage? I heard Corsair is the best choice in PSU's to? The antec 900 i hear isnt the best for cable management but i recieved the latest version with i think 3 large slots on the motherboard back plate. Which is more furture proof out of the to?

Thanks

EDIT Ive taken off the monitor from the build as i will buy this after a month or so later after the build.

pebbles

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#180484 26-Nov-2008 18:01

Just my 2cents - that board and corsair ram tend to disagree with each other

eXDee

4033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1070

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#180487 26-Nov-2008 18:05

Sure its not just the Corsair RAM? there was a very bad batch a few months back which had serious issues, which are now all fixed. I use Crucial Ballistix in my P5Q Pro.

Only get a Q6600 if you're going to do things like video editing and encoding and other multi core applications. Gaming works better with 2 faster cores in general, so the e8400 would be a good choice.

Make sure that the HD4850 is one with a big fan on it, the stock ones are a bit loud and hot.

Otherwise everything is perfect.

pebbles

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#180491 26-Nov-2008 18:10

All I know is that a build at work would not agree with corsair this week - so unless we have stuff that was supposed to be recalled? But yeah, the prices also look amazing - seem to be up to $50 cheaper than the closest retailer!

BackNBlack

83 posts

Master Geek

#180496 26-Nov-2008 18:22

I was going to get a E8500 but i read that the games where going to be developed for quads and so furture games will run better on a quad Cpu. Am i right?

eXDee

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+1 received by user: 1070

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#180507 26-Nov-2008 19:24

Depends how far into the future, often the extra cores arent fully utilized in current engines even if they do use them.

The general concenus at the moment is 2 fast cores are better for gaming than 4 slower ones and since dual core is what most of the market is, that's how the games are made. In the future this will change, but it is unknown how long, intel core i7 is quad core only with hyperthreading, which will probably put quad core into mainstream but theses are very expensive and will take a long time before it does go mainstream.

e8500 overclocks like a dream too.

If you're not going to upgrade your computer again for like 4 years, then you could arguably say that quad core is better, but by then the system will be too slow to run the games released at the time.

Buying for the future in the computing world often never works out because things change so fast.

BackNBlack

83 posts

Master Geek

#180623 27-Nov-2008 10:30

How do i know what Power supply to get? If i upgrade a few things that need more power will i have to upgrade my power supply again? Is it wise to get a more powerful one so i dont have to replace the powersupply as well? or is the 650 ample for upgrades to come?

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pebbles

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#180624 27-Nov-2008 10:35

You will be fine with that PSU don't worry, unless you plan on adding more video cards or things like that

pebbles

741 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#180626 27-Nov-2008 10:41

Just another point... are you sure you want 64bit Vista? It can be nice... but it can also be a real pain in the bum sometimes.

BackNBlack

83 posts

Master Geek

#180637 27-Nov-2008 11:19

yes i probaly plan on adding another graphics card in the furture, how big power supply will i need for that?

And yes i plan on using 64 bit Vista

With adding another graphics card i heard the p5Q Pro wasnt so good with 2 cards, how about a P5Q deluxe, how ever its around $321 compared to $180, and this is surpose to be a bang for buck system good money for performance.

Thanks

eXDee

4033 posts

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+1 received by user: 1070

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#180642 27-Nov-2008 11:28

Well if you're sure you plan on adding a graphics card then go for an x48 chipset board which as you've found have a large pricetag. Many people who think they will end up finding out that a year or so down the track its actually a better idea to sell their current card and buy a new one which is even faster.

Also, the x8 x8 vs x16 x16 crossfire is not a huge performance impact, for the 4850 it's perhaps 5% in benchmarks? maybe up to 10% at most. So crossfire on the p5q pro is possible if you want to.

that 620hx will handle all that + another 4850 if you decide to crossfire.

BackNBlack

83 posts

Master Geek

#180659 27-Nov-2008 12:41

I guess cross fire is only good if instead of buying a $600 card you can get 2 $300 cards which will have better performance.

Quic Broadband

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BackNBlack

83 posts

Master Geek

#181598 2-Dec-2008 15:58

This looks like to be my final build, please check if all is compatible and any recommendations.
How do the keyboard and mouse look? Will the 750W PSU last me for ever? Will it allow me to cross fire 2 mid to high cards? but most probally id only crossfire 2 ATI 4850 at the max.

MotherBoard: Asustek P5Q Pro Intel P45 ATX:$182.25
Graphics card: ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB graphics card:$280.00
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Tower Gaming Case:$179.95
Ram : G.SKILL 4GB kit G.SKILL DDR2-1000 PC8000 CL5-5-5-15 2GB x 2:$149
Power: Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower 750W $226.40
DVD Writer: Asustek DRW-2014L1T Serial-ATA DVD Writer:$41.58
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 2.4GHz, LGA775, quad core:$309.30
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate OEM 64-bit:$290.25
Hard Drive: Western Digital 640GB SATA 7200rpm hard drive:$121.49
Keyboard: Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard: $88.09
Logitech G5 Laser Mouse:$85.93

Total $1889.78 Budget $2000

Moniter i will buy later $300-$650.

This is a bang for buck system and these are my furture plans

Next year may upgrade graphics card.
Then 2010 if intel i7 cpu, supported mother board and cheaper DDR3 prices come down, replace those things with my current build. That is why i choose a bang for buck $180 Motherboard, $300 quad and $149 4x4gb DDR2 ram.
I can keep my 600gb drive, 750W PSU, antec 900 case, DVD WR 64bit vista, monitor, mouse, keyboard.

How does it all look, any comments.

Thanks

DrGr33n

57 posts

Master Geek

#181729 3-Dec-2008 10:35

Comment: Nice setup. Dont forget some aftermarket cooling for the Q6600 if you plan to overclock..

Cheers ;-)

Only dead fish go with the flow...

BackNBlack

83 posts

Master Geek

#183893 13-Dec-2008 17:37

1: Hi im looking to buy some ram but want to know which is better 2x2gb 800mhz(or higher if its possible at CL4) CL4 or 2x2gb 1066Mhz CL5. Which is better and why? This is my first build, but i know that lower the lantacy CL4 is better then CL5 and the higher the Mhz is better. But which combination is better, for performance and espcially gaming.

Would the first option of ram be better as you could over clock it increaseing the Mhz up to 1066. Would there be any disadvantages and would this be easy for a first time PC builder and overclocker?

2: What Ram should i go for? Or any other recommenedations. These where just the cheapest bang for buck RAM with differnt possibilities I could find on C1 shopping mall.

Either

http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=15600
http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=13254
http://www.c1com.co.nz/shop/step1.php?number=12393

And where can I find the Outcome at the cheapest price in NZ. I had a look on price spy but cant seem to find what im looking for.

Thanks