ONE OF THE MANY. I need help too!

[mobo360]

OK I'll make this as easy as I can for you guys, I will help the community back once I get my build together:



So I'm building my own computer, but I need your opinion on these parts. Keep in mind that

1. I am going to be using 4GB of 800Mhz RAM, Radeon HD 4870 1GB, DVD drive, wiped hard drive from my current computer and Windows 7 BETA (for now 😀)

2. I am under a tight budget and need the best parts for a good price

3. I am only aiming to build a mid-range computer, nothing with low performance, but nothing that will break the bank for the best parts. My budget is under $300 for the following four parts.


Here are the links to the parts I would like to get:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119195 -Case

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130228 -Motherboard

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028 -Power Supply

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103694 -CPU

Please comment on these parts, and tell me if you think you can find a better deal, or if you think something wont be good enough.

Thanks!

 

[Helloworld_98]

get a different PSU, I think the Corsair 550TX would be the best bet for you.

and look into the 710 X3 over the 545 X2, it's $3 more but you get an extra guaranteed core.

 

[astrodudepsu]

The x3 710 shows as deactivated on Newegg.ca as I type this.

 

[mobo360]

Thanks for the reply.

I was looking at that CPU before, but I decided that that 3.0Ghz Dual Core would give me more for gaming than the 2.6 Tri-Core you mentioned. But I looked it up on Newegg.ca, and it seems that the item is deactivated apparently. Is it worth it to get it on another site or would the current one I have be enough?

And the power supply seems too much, considering the price I'm getting for the one I mentioned. I'll look into it though

 

[Helloworld_98]

^ when it comes to PSU's, you want quality over quantity (in this case no. of watts.)

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The Raidmax PSU you picked is a very low quality unit with no active PFC correction. Don't use it unless you want an impressive indoor fireworks display. The PSU is certainly not a place to try to save a buck. This PSU is a little more money, but is a quality unit that would easily power your system:

PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500D 500W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $79.99

 

[mobo360]

Isn't that PSU good enough for a 9800GTX or HD4870?

 

[Helloworld_98]

^ the raidmax one probably isn't.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The little red voltage switch on the back of the PSU is a dead give-away of a low-end unit with no active PFC correction. It would be a VERY bad idea to use that PSU in your system.

 

[mobo360]

The Raidmax PSU you picked is a very low quality unit with no active PFC correction. Don't use it unless you want an impressive indoor fireworks display. The PSU is certainly not a place to try to save a buck. This PSU is a little more money, but is a quality unit that would easily power your system:

PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500D 500W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $79.99

Hmm, that looks like a price that will barely fit into my budget, but will fit nonetheless. So do you think if I get that PSU, that I should be good to go for a solid mid range computer with the parts I mentioned in the original post?

 

[mobo360]

And also; all of these parts would be compatible with each other, right? And can I boot a wiped HDD with Windows 7 BETA, ?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The motherboard you picked is an AM3 board which means it requires DDR3 RAM. You'll need a different motherboard if you're planning on using DDR2 RAM. I haven't had good long-term reliability with MSI. I would try to get an Asus or Gigabyte AM2+ board.

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $94.99

or

ASUS M3A76-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $84.99

 

[Helloworld_98]

And also; all of these parts would be compatible with each other, right? And can I boot a wiped HDD with Windows 7 BETA, ?

yes and yes.

 

[hunter315]

Yes, but only one graphics card. You dont want to get a cheap POS PSU because it will cost you far more in the long run. There are many that dont survive anywhere near 100% load. About midway down the page there is a video of what happens when you put 95% load on a POS with no A PFC, skip to about 2:01
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/527/7

Thats why we advise against skimping on the PSU.

Also you cannot use DDR2 ram on an AM3 board, for only $5 more you get to keep your ram
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

Damn i need to type faster

 

[obsidian86]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012 this

 

[shortstuff_mt]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012 this

The price is low on that PSU, but I wouldn't use if for this system. It doesn't even have the required power connectors for a 4870. I despise using adapters and figure if the PSU was designed to power a GPU that requires 2 PCI-E power connectors that they would make it with 2 PCI-E connectors.

 

[mobo360]

The motherboard you picked is an AM3 board which means it requires DDR3 RAM. You'll need a different motherboard if you're planning on using DDR2 RAM. I haven't had good long-term reliability with MSI. I would try to get an Asus or Gigabyte AM2+ board.

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $94.99

or

ASUS M3A76-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $84.99

WOW, I can't believe I missed that. Doesn't that CPU need a AM3 motherboard though?

 

[hunter315]

Nope, AM3 CPUs will work in AM3 or AM2+ sockets, however AM2+ processors have 2 extra pins making them physically incompatible with AM3 sockets.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Nope, the AM3 chips are backwards compatible and work in most AM2+ motherboards. Some older boards require a BIOS flash to recognize AM3 chips, but the two boards I linked should work out of the box with your CPU.

Edit: 31 seconds hunter315, 31 seconds. :lol:

 

[obsidian86]

its an older design psu thats why its $40 off

 

[mobo360]

Nope, the AM3 chips are backwards compatible and work in most AM2+ motherboards. Some older boards require a BIOS flash to recognize AM3 chips, but the two boards I linked should work out of the box with your CPU.

The problem is that right now I only have 2GB of 667Mhz RAM, which I plan to use until later this year when I get 800mhz RAM. I'm still looking.


Thanks for all the help guys, if you guys didn't help me I would have ordered the wrong parts!!

 

[mobo360]

!! I found one!

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130237

It supports 667 RAM DDR2, so I can upgrade it later on with 4GB of 800. And it's AM3! So would this finally complete this package?

 

[mobo360]

Yes, but only one graphics card. You dont want to get a cheap POS PSU because it will cost you far more in the long run. There are many that dont survive anywhere near 100% load. About midway down the page there is a video of what happens when you put 95% load on a POS with no A PFC, skip to about 2:01
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/527/7

Thats why we advise against skimping on the PSU.

Also you cannot use DDR2 ram on an AM3 board, for only $5 more you get to keep your ram
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

Damn i need to type faster

Now it says it supports DDR2 1066, but can it still support 667?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I still wouldn't recommend MSI. The two motherboards I suggested above will both work just fine with DDR2 667 RAM. Asus and Gigabyte are both top-notch manufacturer's. I can't say the same for MSI.

The RAM speed listed in the motherboard specs are just the maximum speed they're rated to run. They can run slower RAM just fine.

 

[hunter315]

actually its AM2+ with a bios that supports AM3 CPUs. Its micro ATX so it might be a bit cramped. The gigabyte 770 that shortstuff and i posted is only $5 more but is full ATX so you will have more room for upgrades.