New Gaming Build $1000-$1500 (v2) feedback needed

[azurel]

Hi guys,

After some tweaking of my original plan, here's my new planned build. Would appreciate feedback.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1 month away

BUDGET RANGE: $1000-$1500 (the closer it is to $1000, the better)/No rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, watching shows, mild excel, light video editing/conversion

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: OS, mouse

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: will be buying from brick & mortar shops, online pricelists/products lists for reference (note conversion is Php 45= $1)

PCHUB
PC Gilmore
Gaisano Interpace

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Philippines

PARTS PREFERENCES: ATI gpu, AMD cpu

OVERCLOCKING: Yes, up to slightly below 4.0ghz

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes - crossfire (future upgrade path)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920 x 1080 (would have preferred 1920x1200 but there appears to be no cost-efficient choices where I am)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
-------------------------------------------------------
CPU:

Phenom X4 955 BE ($171) OR Phenom X4 965 BE ($195)
(for reference purposes: i-760 ($220)

Motherboard:

Gigabyte GA890 GPA UD3H ($167)
OR
ASRock 890GX Extreme3 ($137)

RAM:

G.Skill Ripjaws 1600 CL7 ($114)
G. Skill Eco 1600 CL7 ($122)

VIDEOCARD:

HD5850 (any of the following: which brand has the best quality?)

XFX 5850 - ($296)
Powercolor (Vanilla) ($293)
Powercolor PCS+ ($304)**
MSI MSI Twin Frozr II ($329)**
Sapphire 5850 (vanilla): ($304)
Sapphire 5850 Vapor-X ($333)

** These cards come with the following promo items:
1. Thermaltake (AF0003) 120mm ModX 12 Case Fan
2. Deep Cool XFAN 5 pci cooler
3. Delkin earphone or Sensonic earphone/headset

HSF:

Hypermaster 212 PLUS ($35)
OR
Coolermaster Hyper TX3 ($23)

PSU:

Corsair TX750 ($131)
OR
Corsair TX650 ($115)

CASE:

CM 690 PURE ($89)**
OR
Cooler Master (RC-692-KWN2) 690-II Advanced, Clear Side Window ($122)
OR
Cooler Master (RC-922) Haf 922, Clear Side Window ($130)

**This case comes with the following promo items:
1. Cooler Master PWM 120mm fan
2. Deep Cool XFAN 5 pci cooler
3. Delkin earphone or Sensonic earphone/headset


HARDISK

Samsung 1TB ($68)
OR
Samsung 1.5TB ($89)

MONITOR

Samsung B2230 ($193)
or
Samsung B2330 (cant find price yet locally - in newegg $250)
or
Samsung P2270g ($240)


Speakers: (budget $60-$70)

Altec Lansing VS2421
Altec Lansing VS2621
Creative SBS A500

or any other speakers (either 2.1 or 5.1 near the prices of the above speakers

KEYBOARD:

need suggestions for solo keyboard (not with mouse) wireless and value for money)

Would appreciate feedback and suggestions. Warnings about parts not fitting also appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[gkay09]

CPU - X4 955 Overclocked to 3.6-3.8GHz as any thing above doesnt offer good performance value...

Mobo - That Gigabyte is fine if you are Crossfire plans...

RAM - Stick with the Ripjaws, the ECO wont offer any power advantage on the AMD platform...

CASE - Any of those are fine...So choose which you like the most...

PSU - The 650W would sufffice even for 2x HD 5850s, but it doesnt have the required power connectors...If you are fine with using power adapters, then get the 650TX else 750TX...

HDD - Samsung F3 1TB

HSF - Definitely the 212+ also get another fan in push-pull config, which would offer even better performance...

 

[azurel]

Thanks. Re: the push-pull config, where should I plug the 2nd fan? mobo via the system fan header? or direct to the PSU? Im thinking of using one of the free coolermaster fans (120mm) as the 2nd fan, with the other free fan as the top fan of the CM 690 [thinking of a top-down orientation for the 212plus]

Also, is the TIM compound that comes with the 212 plus electrically conductive?

 

[gkay09]

^ Yes, if the 2nd fan has the 3 Pin/ 4Pin, you can connect it to the mobo which can be controlled via the BIOS or other fan control s/w like Speedfan...

As for the TIM, am not sure whether it is electrically conductive...

 

[azurel]

I just found another MOBO that I'd like to consider: ASRock 890GX Extreme3 ($137) which is a full $30 cheaper than my other choice, the savings to be placed in getting the XFX 5850 vs Powercolor 5850 (vanilla) rather increase my cash outlay. The features seem to be the same except for some absence legacy connectors which I dont really need.

My only concern is the quality. I know Asrock is Asus-made. But I read somewhere here that Asrock is a third-tier brand quality wise (1st- Asus/Gigabyte 2nd- MSI/Intel 3rd- Asrock.


Should I be worried? The reviews seem to be favorable, though some Newegg buyers have complained about DOA boards.

Will this board "fit" with my other part as well as the Gigabye 890GPA-UD3H? e.g. will I be able to run my G.Skill ram at 1600 or higher at CL7, etc.

Thanks