First time builder, please review my new gaming rig

C

cthunder067

Posts: 11   +0
Hello Everyone,
Ok this is the 1st time I ever put together my OWN gaming system. While I am not a hardcore gamer, I wanted a decent system for gaming and watching movies. The games I mostly play are WoW, SCII, Call of Duty and Battlefield. After doing some research (and within my budget) this is what I came up with. Pls give feedback on my new rig.

MTHBD: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO
CPU: AMD Phenom II x 4 965 BE
Cooler: COOLMASTER Hyper 212+
MEM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
VIDEO: ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/768MD5 GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 768MB
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
OPTICAL:: Lite-On 24X DVD/Writer iHAS424-98 Lightscribe
POWER: ANTEC EA 650 Watt PS
CASE: ANTEC 300 Illusion

I have a couple of questions 1) Is my memory ok? 2) Since I haven't purchased the Video Card (last item) would you wait for the ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 (assuming it will) to drop in price?
Thanks any feedback is aprreciated
Lamar
 
You could go with an AMD 870 chipset in case you would like USB 3.0. However, the motherboard you have selected has excellent features for its price.

For the memory, I would suggest this kit instead of the Corsair.

The GTX 460 1GB performs considerably better than the 768MB version according to most benchmarks. So this would be a better choice.
You could also try and procure an HD 6870 which would give a significantly better performance at a premium of about $70.

For the PSU I would pick the Corsair 650TX.
 
Hi Lamar. Could you please tell us your budget? That allows us to make suggestions and configurations.

By the way, I love the cpu choice.

* Of course Ritwik7 bet me -- again! Fully agree with him on the Corsair and either the 6850 or 6870 would be a good choice.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Ritwik7
Yeah that is the main reason (features) I picked this board. I am not really concerned with USB 3.0 or Sata III at the moment. Besides I would rather save the money and use it towards memory or a better Graphics card.

Route 44
Oops sorry, I thought I added it in the begging. My Budget is $750-$800 US.
Edited: I don't need a mouse or kybd. Using this monitor as well ..
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor
 
Ritwik7 said:
... For the PSU I would pick the Corsair 650TX.
Click to expand...
Agree, have been using Corsair for a while and they're rock solid.
Route44 said:
By the way, I love the cpu choice.
* Of course Ritwik7 bet me -- again! Fully agree with him on the Corsair and either the 6850 or 6870 would be a good choice.
Click to expand...
The Phenom II 965BE is rock solid (see specs) although it's being discontinued in favor of the 970BE and 975BE, which from the reviews I've seen do have a little more headroom for overclocking than the 965BE. Also on board with the 6850 or 6870 over the GeForce 460 ... plus that leaves the door open for Crossfire where SLI isn't an option with your motherboard.
 
Is there a reson for the COOLMASTER Hyper 212+? is it because you will be overclocking? If not, no reason to spend the cash on this part.

I just built a gaming rig for my brother-in-law using a HIS 6850 and I was pleasantly suprised at how nice this card handled. My B-I-L loves it. Plus as Mizzou rightly points out your board is limited to Crossfire but that is okay.

HIS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161348
 
Route44, Yes I was planning on overclocking my system.

Next Question ... The HIS card is nice, but I am a fanboi of ASUS :D Of the two which would you go with?

HIS
The one you linked
ASUS
EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP - It's temporarily out of stock with Newegg.
 
I have an alternate suggestion for you if you can squeeze $10 more out of the budget. The Phenom X6 1055T...and here is why. I build a lot of these for customers as i am finding more games are using 4+ cores (including BC2)
BBC2_CPU_x6.JPG


anyway this multi-core use by games is certainly the trend for the future. Secondly the Phenom x6's are the best OC'ing chips by AMD to date. I am building number 7 and they have all done 4+Ghz easily and rock stable at 1.43v. ( I run mine @ 4.2 @ 1.445v) Thirdly when or if you use your machine for other multi threaded apps/software, a 4Ghz x6 is very fast. ( between a i7 975 and a stock i7 980) This has been my experience with my machine as well. here's a benchmark
http://www.guru3d.com/article/asus-crosshair-iv-formula-review/11
anyway, just am alternative I thought you may want to consider
 
I fully second red1776's suggestion. Not only does the man know his hardware and builds it was he who directed me to the 1055 for that build I mentioned.

red, I've been reading that there are games coming out later this year that will/can utilize 6 core processors. Got any insights to this as it may help cthunder067 in his decision making.
 
hey J,
I think that sums it up, it seems multi core (4+) is getting adopted faster than DX11. That and its a no lose deal for an extra $10 you get better OC, more cores, they run very cool (even OC'ed past 4 Ghz) and better performance for multi-threaded software.
and you have more CPU support if you go way big with the VGA's I have my x6 running 4 OC'ed 5850's. if you can find one, there is also a 95w version of the 1055T.

*** I vote for the Asus EAH Direct Cu version. I started using them a while back and they are phenomenal cards
 
red1776 said:
hey J,
I think that sums it up, it seems multi core (4+) is getting adopted faster than DX11. That and its a no lose deal for an extra $10 you get better OC, more cores, they run very cool (even OC'ed past 4 Ghz) and better performance for multi-threaded software.
and you have more CPU support if you go way big with the VGA's I have my x6 running 4 OC'ed 5850's. if you can find one, there is also a 95w version of the 1055T.

*** I vote for the Asus EAH Direct Cu version. I started using them a while back and they are phenomenal cards
Click to expand...

Man, how I wish I could afford a new build. I'll have to look into the Asus version. These 6850s are a nice addition to the graphics card glut.
 
red1776 said:
I have an alternate suggestion for you if you can squeeze $10 more out of the budget. The Phenom X6 1055T...and here is why. I build a lot of these for customers as i am finding more games are using 4+ cores (including BC2)

anyway this multi-core use by games is certainly the trend for the future. Secondly the Phenom x6's are the best OC'ing chips by AMD to date. I am building number 7 and they have all done 4+Ghz easily and rock stable at 1.43v. ( I run mine @ 4.2 @ 1.445v) Thirdly when or if you use your machine for other multi threaded apps/software, a 4Ghz x6 is very fast. ( between a i7 975 and a stock i7 980) This has been my experience with my machine as well. here's a benchmark

anyway, just am alternative I thought you may want to consider
Click to expand...

Thanks Red, I will take you up on your advice CPU and Video Card.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave feedback ::grinthumb
 
0k guys, I am back for yet another video card question. Ok so it seems the 5850 outperforms the 6850 and the GTX460 outperforms the 5850. But the GTX460 is equally in performance to 6850. If that is the case why not go with the GTX460? Just curious?
Thanks
 
From the reviews I've seen the 6850 outperforms the GTX460 on a pretty consistent basis, here's a performance summary from a review of the Gainward GeForce GTX 460 SE on TechPowerUp. Across a wide variety of games the 6850 is 21% faster and the 5850 is 28% ... the HD 5850 is pretty sweet card.

perfrel.gif
 
The GTX 460 and the HD 5830 are pretty evenly matched (with the 460 1GB usually performing better). The 6850 on the other hand, as Mizzou pointed out, does consistently outperform the the 460. In your case it also makes sense to go the ATI way as your board supports CrossFireX which will allow you to add a second 6850 in the future.
 
Ok Here is my Final Build.

MTHBD: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz
Cooler: COOLMASTER Hyper 212+
MEM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800
VIDEO: ASUS EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
- It's temporarily out of stock. ETA 1/24/11
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"

OPTICAL:: Lite-On 24X DVD/Writer iHAS424-98 Lightscribe

POWER: ANTEC EA 650 Watt PS
CASE: ANTEC 300 Illusion

Comes to 815.00 with Shipping and Taxes - Exlcuding Rebates (70.00 in rebates)
(MTHBD, HD and Cooler + Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound Bought from Amazon)

I am aware of the 870 - 890 chipsets, but I am not concerned with USB 3.0. Also I a realize I could have gone with the new Shady Bridge technology. But I prefer AMD and can upgrade when Bulldozer arrives.
 
Nice build. Keep in mind, Bulldozer will not work in the current AM3 boards. It will be a new socket design.
 
Route44 said:
Nice build. Keep in mind, Bulldozer will not work in the current AM3 boards. It will be a new socket design.
Click to expand...


Hey J,
where did you read that? can you link the article for me? I had read the same , but then read that they will work in AM3 boards with "limited functionality"
 
Here is a nice Shady Bridge build. But definitely over my budget


Antec Three Hundred Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129066
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005
Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115072
GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128460
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231427
ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827135204
ASUS EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121399
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152185
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835103065

Comes to $952 with shipping and Taxes
 
Route44 said:
Nice build. Keep in mind, Bulldozer will not work in the current AM3 boards. It will be a new socket design.
Click to expand...

Yeah, No biggie I have no problems upgrading my Mthbd and CPu when the time comes. But I needed a new system like today. Old one died on me. :(
 
It pays to consider the alternatives before pulling the trigger so you're not second guessing yourself later. Question is if the Intel build is over your budget or is just more than you want to spend. Think this will determine which system you wind up building, the Sandy Bridge rig would be pretty sweet.
 
Sorry if I made it sound like I am second guessing myself. :blush: My budgets is $750 and I pushed it over my max budget of $800 dollars. But I am fine with that because of the Rebates. Even with the rebates from the Shady Bridge system. I still couldn't afford it. I was just posting it because it would be a nice setup. I am and will be more than happy with my build. And with the advice and improvements from you guys. I will like my new build even more. :D
 
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