I need a 2nd opinion from experts on my new build

[jhowell]

So i need some folks to tell me what they think about my new system, from power to proc power, I am not on an unlimited budget, but through the help of alot of folks here i have narrowed everything down to this. I dont wanna have to upgrade anytime soon, and i at this point hella like what i have come up with... Please any suggestions and why you think that is a good idea would be wonderful, i'll be purchasing this friday.

Each item and the link to the newegg site incase you need more information on it =)

I want to use this to expand my gaming a bit, currently i really am only playing warhammer, but that is massively due to computer limitations of my system now, I have a copy of UT3 sitting here, and would certainly like to be able to play crisis ect.

Will this system setup be able to handle anything i throw at it? Good god with the power i put in it i sure hope so lol. Let me know what you think


XCLIO Coolbox Advanced Fully Black Finish 0.5mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103021

Arctic Silver Ceramique Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100009

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

COOLER MASTER V8 RR-UV8-XBU1-GP 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103055

Seventeam ST-750ZAF 750W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817176004

SAPPHIRE 100270SR Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102809

ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

 

[jhowell]

OH also forgot to say, i was also thinking about going to a 4870 and adding another 4 gigs of ram, however i thought the 4850x2 was a better choice. My understanding is that it is recognized as two seperate cards by the OS so you technically are running crossfire by installing one of those,

two cards are better than one oO

 

[smithereen]

Hey, the 4850X2's cheap again!

I have never heard of that case before, so no comment.

You might be underspending on the motherboard a little, maybe up it to a 790X
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

And if you aren't going DDR3, drop down to a Phenom II 940, for $55 less you are getting basically the same CPU.

Better PSU, cheaper after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

 

[Helloworld_98]

1) swap the PSU for a corsair 750TX or PCP&C 750w

2) swap the graphics for a 4890 or 4870

3) swap the processor for a 940 BE

5) swap that motherboard for a 790GX one.

these will keep your PC running at about the same performance at time of build but you will be able to add a second 4870 or 4890 which would beat your build by a fair bit since a 4850 X2 = 4890.

 

[jhowell]

ah ok, that definatly makes sense, just saw a review of the 4850x2 vs 4890 and the difference was minimal till they added the second 4890 lol.

 

[jhowell]

so the 955 and 940 are only differentiated by the ddr3 and a tiny bit of speed?

 

[jhowell]

One last question, is it really even worth it to have the quad core? or should is save some money with a dual core and get a pimpin mobo?

 

[jhowell]

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

what about that specifically instead of the quad, will my computer be able to run most anything?

 

[Helloworld_98]

it is definitely worth it to get a quad at the moment since games are starting to use the extra cores.

 

[jhowell]

would you guys recommend 8 gigs of ddr2 for windows vista, or 4 gigs on ddr3 10k, tryin to decide which to go with

 

[smithereen]

You're computer will be able to run anything either way, but I'd say the quad is worth the extra $40. Hell, you were ready to spend $245 on a 955, you should be willing to spend $190 on a 940. I say get a 940 while the getting's good.

 

[jhowell]

ya no doubt, i had just heard that quads weren't worth it, and i knew that someone on this site was knowledgeable so i wanted to throw it out and see what came back... I ended up going with the 940 and a solid mobo, definatly excited about them =) Thanks again for all the tips

 

[xaira]

its according to what you plan to use the pc for, go with the 720 be
get a 4890, heard the 4850x2 was plagued with issues
get a 4890

either of these boards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128384

the v8 is a big cooler, ensure it fits

also the ram is tall, that ram would most likely affect it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184