New Build, needs critique!

[the yeti]

Heres the new build:

CPU - INTEL Core 2 DUO Wlfdale 3.0 GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

GPU - ATI 4870 512mb

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102748

HDD - Segate Barracuda 320 GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148139

RAM - OCZ Reaper 4GB (2 X 2gb)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

MOBO - ASUS pK5 Delux

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131182

PSU - Raidmax Hybrid 2 730W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152036

Case - CoolerMaster 690

_OWN IT

OS - Windows Vista Home Premium

_OWN IT





What does everyone think? Solid pc?

 

[eklipz330]

i've once heard raidmax psu's are garbage... any1 wanna second that? ive never had a personal experience from them though... everything looks good though

 

[the yeti]

thanks for the reply! But im not good with psu's ... whats the quality difference? I dont understand, does it not feed power efficiently or is more eligible to break. Is that the quality difference? Anyone wanna explain?

 

[aevm]

E8400 and HD 4870 and CM690 and the O/S are great choices.

The IDE hard drive is a bad idea. Get a WD6400AAKS instead.

The P5K Deluxe is a bad idea too, because it is based on an old chipset called P35 with PCI-E 1.1. slots. Get a P5E Deluxe or GA-X48-DS4 if you intend to add a second video card later. Based on that 730W PSU, I'm assuming you want that option. If you're not interested in Crossfire, P5Q Pro or GA-EP45-DS3R will be OK and it's cheaper.

Dump the RAIDMAX. Get a 750TX instead, or a PC Power & Cooling 750W.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009 $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx $110

Both are top quality and powerful enough for your system even if you add a second video card. The main difference is that the PC Power & Cooling product has a smarter layout IMO when it comes to removing heat, and it's been around long enough to get a lot of awards.

BTW, that Raidmax has only enough PCI-E connectors for one HD 4870. The other two have enough for two cards. As for quality, PC Power & Cooling is usually considered the best PSU brand, with Corsair very close. Raidmax is considered tier 5, as in "buy it only if nothing else is available".

 

[the yeti]

thnx so heres my changes...

For the PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002

For the Mobo


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128086R


For the HDD

WD6400AAKS

 

[aevm]

OK, so I assume you will never want a second video card, since you're getting a motherboard with a single PCI-E x16 slot and a PSU with connectors for a single card. You can save $20 with a StealthXStream 600W.

I wouldn't buy an Open Box motherboard. Risky move. $10 more buys you a new GA-EP43-DS3L. You lose RAID, but you get PCI-E 2.0, and you know it hasn't been damaged and all the pieces are there.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128347

 

[the yeti]

ok thanks dude! the advice is greatly apprechiated, but how much power do i have left from the 600? what if i want to upgrade my GPU in the future and it requires more power?

 

[modem3]

The 610w pcp&c will power a bit more with better stability

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

 

[aevm]

Yeah, if your next card is like the HD 4870X2 or 9800GX2 then 600W is little.

Try this one:

Corsair 650TX, $75
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-650w-atx12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178324.html

Compared to the GameXStream 700W, it's $5 less, offers 52A instead of 56A, and it has 6+2 pins instead of just 6 pin. The HD 4870 is happy just with 6-pin connectors, but your next card most likely will want 8-pin connectors because those allow more power.

There's also a 750TX for $95 at www.buy.com, if you want something even more future-proof.

 

[the yeti]

ok thanks... whatabout the mobo should go with the ds3l ?? or any other cheap p35 suggestions

 

[shadowthor]

+1 for the 750TX

 

[aevm]

Stay away from P35, man. P35 motherboards have PCI-E 1.1, not PCI-E 2, and that's bad. You're worried about the PSU not supporting your next video card, but not about the MB bottlenecking that next card? Even the HD 4870 runs better in a PCI-E 2 slot, at least in some cases. Seriously, look for something with P43 or P45. If the GA-EP43-DS3L doesn't have all the features you need, maybe the P5Q?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131295

 

[random_2]

Whatever aevm says. Just do it.....you'll be glad you did


The Canuck

 

[aevm]

LOL, I'm blushing. Really now, I've been known to say dumb things. The OP better do his research. Can't just trust unknown people on a forum, not a good idea...

 

[the yeti]

**** i totally forgot about the pcie 2.0 thnx for remindin me! No im just worried about money, i havent gotten enough buisiness lately to buy anything too expensive

 

[random_2]

LOL....I think I have bigger feet and a bigger mouth aevm.....As for unknown people on the forums I agree, although from what I have seen most of us here all try to give the best advice we can in spite of our different opinions
My comments in my previous post were just because you seem to have the same opinions I do, but you get there quicker....LOL

Yeti

aevms still right, knows his stuff, and probably spends way too much time in sites like Toms, Anandtech or with his face buried in his open computer case....and I've never seen him say anything dumb....unlike me...LOL

Hope your build goes smoothly.

The Canuck

 

[the yeti]

thnx for the reassurance, i trust the responses... i i thank you all... i have a PC to purchase... unless anyone ese would like to add...