Bought first. Researched later. How did I do?

[bottle-necked]

This is my first build and I'm looking for comments/concerns regarding performance per dollar. I heard 6 cores, got all excited and never looked back until I found this forum. While it's clear the Sandy Bridge technology is superior, I'm wondering how I did for the price.

Approximate Purchase Date: 8/10/2011


Budget Range: <= $500


System Usage from Most to Least Important: Converting Video files, Running Server 2008 (Mainly just a file server, internal webserver, 2 windows 7 virtual boxes sporadically), Transferring files to external media, Watching movies, possibly gaming if a video card falls into my lap.


Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, AMD Phenom II x6 Black, ASRock 890GX PRO3, WD 1500ADFD 150GB HDD, 2 x Seagate Barracuda ES 750 GB HDD


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Country of Origin: US


Parts Preferences: AMD Phenom II x6 Black, ASRock 890GX PRO3, Corsair Vengeance 2x4gb


Overclocking: Yes


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: 1440x900 and 1680x1050


Additional Comments: Still juggling a couple different options for PSU and Case:

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 59.99 (49.99 after MIR)
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 49.99

RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W
Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Processor:
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz - New 135.00

Motherboard:
ASRock 890GX PRO3 AM3+ AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - 50.99

Memory:
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 - 60.99

HardDrives:
Western Digital 150 GB,Internal,10000 RPM (1500ADFD) - 35.78
2 x Seagate Barracuda ES ST3750640NS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive @27.77 - 55.54

Video Card (Optional from old rig):
ATI Radeon HD4850

$338.30 so far.. $100 for case/psu.. plan on upgrading hdds ASAP

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/criticisms.

 

[gallen89]

Probably could have taken a little bit of the money spent going to the 6 core processor and stepped up your mobo a little, but for what you plan on utilizing the pc for the 6 core might be more useful to you.

 

[bottle-necked]

Probably could have taken a little bit of the money spent going to the 6 core processor and stepped up your mobo a little, but for what you plan on utilizing the pc for the 6 core might be more useful to you.

By all means, that board is not top end, but am i right in thinking i will be able to use next generation amd cpus with that board? I saw to use bulldozer, you need 990, but this one still claimed to be AM3+ with an 890.. (if it's not obvious, that's about where it gets over my head)

Regardless of that though, what 'little steps' would i be looking to take in a higher tier mobo? And would they really be noticed or are the features you're talking about ones that make it more upgradeable?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Outlander_04]

The Hexcore is a great cpu for encoding . Very good value for performance, so you have done well there .
An AM3+ capable motherboard is a good idea ... can yours support the next generation Bulldozer processors?

The WD raptor drives were once the best you could buy but today they are often matched by Samsung F3 drives . The samsung is a lot quieter too .
Neither can compare to an SSD for performance

 

[bottle-necked]

can yours support the next generation Bulldozer processors?

If "AM3+" alone doesn't imply that, then i'm going to assume no since it's 890X instead of 990X

Neither can compare to an SSD for performance

Would using a SSD for the OS/Applications alone be where most of the speed will show, or should i save up for as much storage as possible?
I was looking at the read/write comparisons between raptors and SSDs and would love to go that route, just still so new and pricey. Considering Intel 320 Series SSDSA2CW080G310 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive for OS/Apps and (3) HITACHI Ultrastar 7K3000 HUA723020ALA640 (0F12455) 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive... Just pacing my budget.

Any thoughts on the PSU? I think w/o Video card I need under 300W but I feel like 300W PSUs are cheaply made just cause they're cheaply priced.

 

[1foxracing]

According to ASRock your board is bulldozer ready.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=890GX%20Pro3
I have a 890 Gigabyte board and I know it is Bulldozer ready as well.

 

[bottle-necked]

According to ASRock your board is bulldozer ready.

Very good, thanks for the lag work.

Think I'm gonna get that 600W PSU and use the Challenger case and call it a day on this one until i can get a SSD.

Thanks again.

 

[bottle-necked]

Lian Li

Seasonic

And yes, you're right. would be kind of silly to get a SATA II SSD anyway. I'll just have gift ideas come Christmas =P

Great info.. reviews only give you so much to go on.
Great deals on case and psu also.. 338.30 + 69.99 (from 109.99) + 54.99 (from 84.99) = 463.28
Not too shabby.

Now I just have to plug it all in right and cross my fingers!!

 

[bottle-necked]

Best answer selected by bottle-necked.