1st Build - Please Review/Suggest

[ChiefIlliniwek]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11845845


Thank you in advance for reviewing my build. I have selected parts for your review. There are some caveats that should be considered:



APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: < 3 days



BUDGET RANGE: $1200 before rebates.



SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Netflix/Hulu video networking to PS3, home use photo/video editing, and general home office.



PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers.



PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, buy.com and amazon



COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.



PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel and high quality internals installed in an ATX mid-tower.



OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, when graphics card drops below $100.



MONITOR RESOLUTION: Will replace my Dell 1901FP within 6 months of the build. The new monitor will be on a wall mount.



ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: This is a first time build. Cooling and parts compatibility are concerns. The technical information on the site has been very helpful to date.



1. Power supply – I used the egg and thermal take psu calculators and came up with 590W and 379W respectively. The numbers consider 2 radeon 5750 cards crossfire utilization (possible future upgrade), overclocking to 3400 MHz, 3 case fans. With this in mind, I have the 550 and 750W PSU on the list. What are your thoughts?

2. CPU Cooler – Will this Coolermaster work on my cpu/mobo? Install issues inside the case?

3. Windows 7 64bit – Home premium or Pro?

4. Was thinking about a second HDD (WD Velociraptor) but think a partition on the Caviar Black for the OS + Applications Software will do the trick. Thoughts?



I look forward to your comments.


$1200 Intel Build

Avg Rating:
. Qty. Image Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price . 1 COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long ... - Retail
Model #:RR-B10-212P-G1
Item #:N82E16835103065
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$34.99 $34.99
. 1 Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail
Model #:BX80605I5750
Item #:N82E16819115215
Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
In Stock

$199.99 $199.99
. 1 ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard

ASUS P7P55D PRO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #7P55D PRO
Item #:N82E16813131405
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$169.99 $169.99
. 1 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Model #:GFC-00599
Item #:N82E16832116754
Return Policy:Software Return Policy
In Stock

$104.99 $104.99
. 1 CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
Model #:CMPSU-750TX
Item #:N82E16817139006
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate Card17-139-006

$139.99 -$30.00 Instant $109.99
. 1 Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Model #:WD1001FALS
Item #:N82E16822136284
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$109.99 -$10.00 Instant $99.99
. 1 HIS H575Q1GD Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

HIS H575Q1GD Radeon HD 5750 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
Model #:H575Q1GD
Item #:N82E16814161316
Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail in Rebate Card14-161-316

$154.99 -$5.00 Instant $149.99
. 1 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Model #:AS5-3.5G
Item #:N82E16835100007
Return Policy:Consumable Item Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$9.99 $9.99
. 1 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
Model #:F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
Item #:N82E16820231277
Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$105.99 $105.99
. 1 Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5

Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB port / Extra silver face plate - Retail
Model #:RCR-IC001
Item #:N82E16820223103
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$14.99 $14.99
. 1 Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:Nine Hundred Two
Item #:N82E16811129058
Return Policy:Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
In Stock

$139.95 -$20.00 Instant $119.95
. 1 Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model AD-7241S-0B LightScribe Support

Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model AD-7241S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM
Model #:AD-7241S-0B
Item #:N82E16827118032
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock

$31.99 $31.99
Subtotal: $1,152.84

 

[fastx21]

You're list is good. Only a few changes

Cas7 G.Skills

Get this hard drive instead Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

Windows Pro is just fine. No need for ultimate.

And I'd rather see you get a 5830 or higher video card but if price is a consideration then stick to your choice but get a XFX 5750 instead.

 

[fastx21]

Your corsair choice for psu will suit you just fine and even so if you choice to crossfire.

The cooler master hyper 212 plus is an excellent choiceds

windows 7... anything but ultimate. Not worth the extra cost

As for HD. Get the spinpoint F3 as I recommended. And if newegg is out of stock check amazon, zipzoomfly...etc. It's worth it. Paritioning a separate space for OS should be fine.

 

[Ubrales]

One comment - when you get the card reader make sure you have the necessary internal USB headers. Sometimes, the internal USB headers are used up for the Front Panel USB ports. I had this situation and had to resort to special USB pin cables just for the card reader (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34_81_250&products_id=1116) - the card reader cable was plugged into two of these special USB cables and routed to two rear USB ports - works fine.

 

[ChiefIlliniwek]

Thanks for the input. I am going with a XFX Juniper XT 5770 card. Still within my budget. Any other thoughts before I place the order?

 

[banthracis]

You can get a 5770 for the same price as that 5750 in your wishlist.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317&cm_re=5770-_-14-161-317-_-Product

IMO, the 5750 is a horrible buy, it's price to performance ratio is horrendous. It SHOULD be $100 based on it's performance.

Also, RAM wise, get the 7-8-7-21 timing ripjaws. They're $10 more but worth it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=ripjaw-_-20-231-303-_-Product

 

[goatsword]

What resolution are you looking to play at? 1920x1080? 1680x1050?

If gaming is your number 1 priority, I would recommend going AMD x4 Black Edition with an ATI Radeon 5870. For about 1200 you can build a screaming gaming rig that can play Crysis @ 1920x1080 ~38-40FPS. Your 5770 isnt going to do as well at high res, especially on the latest games.

 

[banthracis]

Goats is right about the GPU, though for $1200, you can definitely do a i5 system with a 5850. Gimme a few minutes and I'll pull one together.

 

[grathan]

use this promo code EMCYPNP54 for $10 off windows premium 64bit.

 

[goatsword]

Don't get me wrong, this is a great chipset. But if I were the OP I would sink more money into my GPU and less into CPU/Mobo. That's why I recommended the AMD route. You can get a good x4 630 and a GA-790XTA-UD4 for like $240 shipped. That frees up $130 to sink into an "Enthusiast" card.

BTW you can skip the Thermal compound, the CM 212 comes with it. It's an excellent HSF. My rig was just about 1200 after rebates (combo's helped). I can play anything on MAX @ full 1080.

My Rig

CASE: HAF-922
MB: GA-790XTA-UD4 (DDR3.USB3.SATA6Gbps)
RAM: Mushkin Blackline DDR3 1600
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 925 @ 3.4Ghz
HSF: Hyper 212 Plus
GPU: VisionTek ATI Radeon 5870
LCD: ASUS 24" VW246H

 

[banthracis]

Ok here's a full i5-750 build w/ a 5850.

Optical Drive
Asus $23.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Case
HAF 922 $99.98 w/ $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
Antec 902 is sold out atm, and the HAF 922 is a cheaper, but just as good case.

GPU
5850 $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102884

Media Reader
$14.99 Rosewill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223103

Thermal Paste
AS MTX $6.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100016

It's AS5 performance that's non conductive and has no burn in time.

RAM
G SKill Ripjaw 7-8-7-24 DDR 1600 $114.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium OEM $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

You can get a full retail version of premium or pro for $65 through student offer at win741.com. Technically only a student has to purchase it, the end user doesn't have to be the one who purchased it.

HSF
CM Hyper 212 Plus $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

PSU/HD
OCZ Stealthxstream 700W and 7200.12 500 GB $114.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.347460
The OCZ PSU is a solid PSU for a low price. It'll handle xfire 5850's no prob. Spinpoint F3's are sold out ATM, but the 7200.12 comes comboed for a nice discount and has about the same performance for the same price.

MOBO/CPU
Asus USB 3.0/SATA 6.0 MOBO and i5-750 $374.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.354339

The new mobo I upgraded you to has xfire potential for the future, and has USB 3.0/SATA 6.0 done properly.

Total: $1180.37 before $40 MIR and Shipping

After Shipping to NYC and MIR: $1152.82

Edit: Good catch on the promo for windows. EMCYPNP54 Brings new build total to the same as your old build.

 

[goatsword]

That's a great build banthracis. If I would have gone intel, I would have built that rig, except with the 5870.

Cheers!