Help me with CPU (AMD vs. intel), motherboard, SLI vs. XFire, etc...

Hit Deity on 5/5/2010 at 03:30

See, there's another dilemma. I think it's kind crazy to drop $300+ on a top-end graphics card, only to have it limited by my 1600x900 LCD (or whatever it is) monitor.

But, yes, what I'd like to do is keep my current, 5 yr old system as my "workhorse" for internet, word processing, homework (for the kids), etc, and have my new system be my (and mine alone) pure gaming system. I'm going to get a good-quality mouse for it and most likely a keyboard, but I probably won't be buying a monitor anytime soon. Haven't decided on that yet...

My old (current) PC is the go-to system for homework and printing, and other stuff, so I'd like to have new core system for just my games. Does that make sense?

bikerdude on 5/5/2010 at 14:31

Quote Posted by Hit Deity

My old (current) PC is the go-to system for homework and printing, and other stuff, so I'd like to have new core system for just my games. Does that make sense?

Can I assume NewwEgg will be ok for this purpose, or do you have another fave site or two that i can have a look at..?

Mingan on 6/5/2010 at 02:39

I know you said you want put XP on your computer, but if you're set on building a modern/medium-to-high-end computer, it just makes no sense. At all. Specially if you intend to use it for gaming. You're going to need an OS that can support more than 3gb of RAM, for sure.

Hit Deity on 6/5/2010 at 04:52

Update:

Looks like I'm going to go with AMD after all. I have been happy with them for 3 custom builds so far, so why rock the boat, right? (Also, the Intel Core i7 processors that I'd like to get are minimum $600 or so and up!!)

Operating System: Has to be one of the Windows 7s (Ultimate, Pro, Home...? Can't decide yet.)

I prefer TigerDirect.com. Site is easier to navigate, prices are great, and I've had no problems with them whatsoever so far. Shipping is really cheap!!

Thinking about:

* 2TB Western Digital SATA 3G drive
* 8GB of OCZ 1333MHz DDR3 memory (2x4096)
* and something like a PNY GeForce GTX 470 video card (not decided yet)

I can't find anything on the motherboard I'm considering (ASUS Crosshair IV Formula 890FX) about PCI Express 2.0 compliance, but the video card is 2.0 compliant. Should I try to find a board that is 2.0 compliant? Probably means I'd have to go Intel right? Since AMD hasn't done 2.0 boards. (I think.)

Matthew on 6/5/2010 at 08:48

I don't think there's much reason to pick Windows 7 Ultimate over Professional unless you are going to use Bitlocker, the Unix subsystem or need some very extensive Terminal Services features. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions#Comparison_chart) This comparison chart is pretty handy; personally I went for Professional to assist with remote desktopping into my work computer.

bikerdude on 6/5/2010 at 10:15

Ok, Tigerdirect it is.

Ill have a look later today and get back to you with a list etc.

:thumb:

bikerdude on 6/5/2010 at 16:54

Ok, For the best bang without getting silly on the buck see below. Also no games/apps out there are gonna make use of 8GB of ram, buy a 4Gb kit and spend the $125 difference on a new PSU. All the new kit is going to need a better PSU than you currently have to give you reliability and overclock-ability.

CPU:
Phenom II X4 945 - (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4615717&CatId=4431) $149
MOBO:
Asus M4A89GTD Pro - (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5838445&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs) $139
RAM:
Kingston KHX1333C7D3K2/4G - (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6095456&CatId=4524) $134
PSU:
SilverStone Strider Plus ST75F-P 750W - (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5554567&CatId=2533) $139

Total - $561

Reasons for my choices -

CPU - cheapest X4 w/6MB cache, overclock to 3.4Ghz easily, Black edition (unlocked multi)
MOBO - latest SATA/USB/chipset tech, Heatpipe coolinh, $110 cheaper than similar specc'd strider.
RAM - trusted brand, best timmings for speed/price, lifetime warranty.
PSU - trusted brand, Single 12v rail, modular connections.

Quote Posted by Bikerdude

. Also no games/apps out there are gonna make use of 8GB of ram

Unless you use photoshop or a raytracing app and have a 64bit OS - see (http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=502&Itemid=67&limit=1&limitstart=5) here

Hit Deity on 7/5/2010 at 04:39

Wow, Bikerdude, you've really done your homework!!

Lots of great ideas in there. I'd like to know your thoughts on graphics cards if you've got the time.

You kinda think along the same lines as me (or maybe it just works out that way for some reason): For some reason, potential systems I come up with, usually have similarly priced components. (For example: Your choices are all around the $140 range, each.) It does seem kind of silly to get a $200 motherboard and pair it with a $600 graphics card!

When I start building systems on paper/computer, I usually do something like a $600 system (egad!), a $1400 system, and a $2000 system. I guess you could say those are my "economic", "budget", and "high end" systems.

I guess I skipped over that motherboard you recommend because it didn't mention anything at all about SATA support (although I see there are SATA connectors in the pic, and SATA cables are included in the kit). (Wow, Cables come included. That would be a first for me, since MSI just gives you a crappy PCB and a hope in hell...)

Thanks for the info. I've got a lot of thinking (and soul-searching) to do. I might "bump" each component up a few degrees, so to speak, but I think you're right: anything more, and it's diminishing returns at its diminishing worst.

Hit Deity on 30/5/2010 at 13:37

Well, it's done. For better or worse, I have increased my carbon footprint slightly and built a power-hungry monster that's, well, oh-so-sweet.

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8MHz CPU
ASUS Crosshair IV Formula motherboard
Kingston KHX1333 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 Dual-channel RAM
PNY Nvidia GeForce GTX 470 graphics card
Soundblaster X-Fi XtremeGamer soundcard
WD 1.0TB 64Mb cache SATA Caviar Black hard drive
Silverstone 80+ Silver 850W PSU
NZXT Zero 2 Craft Series Full-ATX tower (it's big, but it's one of the smallest full towers I've seen)
Razer Lycosa gaming keyboard
MS Sidewinder X8 mouse
Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium OS
Samsung LCD 1600x1000 21" monitor (the one I already had)

Thanks to everyone for the tips and info and encouragement, and especially: thanks to Bikerdude for the dearth of technical info and suggestions.

Oh: And the bitch screams through Left4Dead with everything turned up to max. (It's the only game I've tried so far.) It's whisper quiet, and cool as a cucumber. Every now and then, I think there's a coffee pot making coffee in another room, but otherwise, I have to put my ear next to the thing to tell if it's on. Can anyone say Boo-yeah!!

Life is good again. :)

Al_B on 30/5/2010 at 15:49

I don't think dearth means what you think it means...