Phenom II 1055 - Crosshair 890fx- what else to get

Ah thanks, answered all of my questions Breech.

So then I'm looking at the asus for $261 after rebate http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...121375&cm_re=asus_5850-_-14-121-375-_-Product

or the HIS for $255 with no rebate. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161330&cm_re=5850-_-14-161-330-_-Product

I doubt I will be overclocking it off the bat, but good to have the option later on, so I'm probably leaning towards the Asus if it has the edge there.

Now I'm just looking at cases, Obviously need a full size with this setup and the cpu cooler, trying to choose between cheaper generic brands and more well known ones. Anyone have an "Azza" case? How are they?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517004
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Thx for the voltage details Red, I'm looking at large breezy cases so I think ventillation will be fine. I likely won't overclock it until I start running into lag down the road, you know to conserve electricity and all.

Wendig, very pretty PSU, and the 1k watt is attractive, but I've never had modular and don't really get the point, and this machine is already over budget, so i'll probably stay on the cheaper route.

No problem. Modular supplies are great for cable management, where you only need to plug in cables as you need them (aside from the main rails). I have seen guys without modular supplies do some very impressive cable management as well though.

Ah that makes sense, also makes sense as to why I didn't see the point being as I think a mess of cables going every which way is prettier than an orderly setup. Gives a machine more of an organic feel, like some sort of bio-android or something. Of course this has infuriated any woman who ever lived with me, wires running all over the house and all.

Sorry, I posted that response too quickly. The 2 cards do need to be of the same family but don't have to be the exact same model. So yes you could use two different 5 series cards but not a 5 and a 4 series.

Your statement that they are all the same card HK is completely incorrect unless you're speaking specifically of reference designs. As I pointed out in my earlier post, my specific card uses a cheaper voltage regulator than the reference design and some of the custom PCB's do. As a result you cannot control voltage manually and it suffers from power leakage resulting in more power usage. There are also different cooling solutions to choose from. I'd hardly say the cheapest is the best. It all depends on what you intend to do with them.

My pleasure but please do see the correction about crossfire that HK pointed out in my earlier post.

On a side note, I have a low end Azza Case and it's terrible. Airflow isn't very good and the metal is super thin. I'd recommend this case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194 A good friend of mine has the Sniper and it is a great case, albeit a large one for a mid tower. Right now you can get it for an additional $30 off at Newegg bringing it down to $110 with free shipping. That's a great deal for a really good gaming case.

That comes out to the same cost as the Azza, so I will probably go with the coolmaster based on your suggestions. I'm looking for something large enough for this system and airy enough for cooling. The cooler i listed before seems awfully big so I'm just worried that a mid tower case might be too small.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154013

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Also I read one review that said that a bottom mounted PSU will not fit well with the crosshair, but they didn't go on to explain the statement. Is that something I should be concerned about?
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memory- suggested here were these ripjaws

I don't know anything about memory timing, is this the timing I should be aiming for on this setup? 7-8-7-24-2N also for memory latency do i want a higher number or lower?

I notice Red with his setup is using these corsairs which use 9-9-9-24 with 9 latency instead of 7 would that be better?

Well heck, if we're talking price:size ratio, and also high quality, it doesn't get much better than the HAF 932 from Coolermaster. It's a full tower with excellent air flow (hence the name HAF - High Air Flow). It will accomodate anything you can throw in it, including an internal liquid cooling setup if one desires. $129.99 w/ free shipping right now at the egg. In my opinion, and obviously red1776's as well since he just purchased one, it is one of the most beautiful cases on the market in that price range.

Edit: At the price of that Tuniq cooler, you should also consider the Coolermaster V8, or Zalman CNPS9900 NT . I own both. Both are very quiet and have excellent cooling properties. The Tuniq also looks like a great cooler, I'm just throwing out a couple more options. Hope this helps you out.

I am getting the Tuniq simply because it has a $30 discount when you buy it with the 1055. So the cost really ends up around $35, which is pretty decent for that cooler i think.

That makes sense. I would do the same :grinthumb

Ripjaws are good.

Well that depends on what you value right?
Value wise, cheapest is best, they're all the same chip anyway. ± 15% difference max.

Lower latency is better (7 beats 9) I run mine at lowered timings than stock. The ripjaw series is very good memory.
The vast majority of ram modules are made by a handful of manufacturers and its all good stuff. pick a brand that is compatible with your motherboard, look for the speed you want, and look for the sale. OCZ,G-skill, Corsair,Mushkin, are the more popular brands.
.....or do like Captain Cranky....and but the stuff with the pretty blue heatspreaders

K here is my final decision, I'll press buy in 40 minutes, so if anyone has any alternate suggestions b4 then wouldn't mind hearing them.

Coolmaster storm sniper- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194
Asus crosshair IV Formula- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131644
HIS H585FN1GD Radeon HD 5850-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161330
Corshair 750w- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
And fan cpu combo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.504798
Gskills ripjaws 2x2 4gb ram- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303
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went over my budget, after rebates and promo codes = Grand Total: $1,009.70
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Oh in regards to the case, when I looked at the actual dimensions of the two cases the sniper was actually a little wider and almost as big otherwise, so I think it will be fine.

Looks good, but 40 minutes might not cut it for everyone.

Looks good :grinthumb I'm not sure if you had the promo code for the Sniper case or not, I don't feel like going back to read through everything again. If not, here it is. $30 off w/ promo code EMCYXNP25

Yup I had the promo. I am rushing it because the mail in rebate said it ended the 27th, and I don't know if they mean on or after the 27th, so I figure to play it safe I'll just submit on the 26th.

They probably mean that the mail in rebate must be received by the 27th.
Or that's what they'll tell you to avoid paying.

Anyway, I wouldn't count on mail in rebates.

I would go with the Cooler Master HAF 932 over the Storm Sniper.

They both looked good, I went with the sniper though because the reviews for my cpu cooler said it stuck out far so make sure u had a wide case, and sniper was wider. $30 cheaper to boot was a bonus as well.

Thanks to everyone for putting up with my endless questions, and being so helpful. I will be sure to post some pics of the end product when it all gets in.

I plan on running just a regular 7200 rpm sata drive for now, maybe windows 7 or screw around with a linux version, but direct x emulation probably a hassle. Down the road I'll likely get a SSD drive, hopefully when the prices drop a bit. After just sending a $1k purchase out I dont' really want to think about buying anything big for a while.

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In regards to the rebate, i read all the fine print, just needs a reciept showing before the 27th. Being as aggressively cheap as I am I pursue them pretty adamantly. I once did one of those "click here to get a free xbox 360" things, and by signing up for offers and canceling them after a few weeks I actually got the 360, at a total cost of about $40... then I sold it. It was my crowning achievement in bureaucratic paperwork filling out, though I doubt I would go through the trouble again.

Actually, I think the "Storm Sniper" looks fiercer, and in the end that sort of matters. Besides, you're comparing apples to oranges, mid tower to full tower. Since the case is already 60 dollars over projection, I think you should stand ready to kick in the extra 20, if you really want him to have it. Be a mensch!

Other than that, it seems that other manufacturers have keyed into Antec's success with the original 900, and perhaps gone them one better, in honing the aesthetics of that particular design.

Beyond all that, I think you'll be proud of you new machine, and the case you've picked out, will highlight that. >>>Buy<<<

GSkill has refined their original chromium/aqua blue to a darker and more muted shade, lacking any tendency toward aquamarine. These are way prettier than the originals; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231180