im hoping to keep it around this price, i have lots of hd's already so this would just be for a clean install of windows, i can't afford an ssd right now

 

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/898/blahblahz.png

 

 

 

any ideas on what to change etc?

 

 

edit: disregard prices on this site

 

it just makes it look pretty

Edited November 3, 201015 yr by Mike

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=138_803&products_id=15162

 

save $14 and better north bridge plus integrated side port memory, so if your GPU dies, you can use the on-board graphics to still use your computer. Plus i also have this MOBO and very stable and reliable.

 

 

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=186_538_913&products_id=15023

 

2 lots of these come to $174 which is a dollar cheaper, but you go from 1333mhz to 1600mhz for the same timings. you can adjust them yourself to get better. only thing is that you take up all 4 slots of memory instead of 2. but unless you wanna do major video and image editing, you wont have to worry bout getting extra RAM.

 

 

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=558_1090&products_id=12310

 

have 3 of these currently, and no problem except for 1 dead pixel in the screen that's nearly a yr old.

 

 

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_877&products_id=13121

 

saving $20 dollars, the vapor-x series are a bit more intense in the way that they transfer heat, in which they use a vapor chamber (read up on it). so if you wish to sacrifice 40mhz core clock to achieve better cooling, IMO, worth it.. you can always overclock up to the mark anyway.

 

 

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_535&products_id=15160

 

Something like this would be a better PSU as it has a modular system (removable cable that aren't needed), and yes, it is $24 dollars dearer, but you gain an extra 50W and cable management.

 

 

And you have forgotten one important ingredient to your puter: a CPU cooler..

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=207_23_312&products_id=14913

 

have seen this one work wonders in my bro's computer, but depends how much room you got in your case to the window..

 

 

 

My 2c worth, so hope it helps

Edited November 3, 201015 yr by ToxicFlower

You can buy a cheaper cpu and then overclock it with this heatsink:

 

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=31&lng=en

 

Very very very cool heatsink. I have seen it used on an i5 overclocked to 4ghz and it was running smooth az. Im currently using it to overclock my 2.4ghz core 2 duo to 3.0ghz.

hey floyd try to get a ssd. somehow.... Harddrives are the only thing slowing down the new era tech stuff. I made the same error your about to. Also ya might want to look into a monitor that supports 3D just in case things go that way in the future. just ideas i had reading your post.

Firstly: Dont worry about an SSD, ATM the price makes them a wank factor. How much do you want to Fap over your 60GB HDD when you could get 1TB of space for a tiny bit more?

 

My build atm:

 

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4GHZ BE $169 125W Umart

GPU: Nvidia GTX 480 (EVGA Superclocked) $600 600W Umart

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H $172 Umart

RAM: G Skill 4G(2x2G) DDR3 1600Mhz PC12800 $100 Umart

PSU: XFX Core Edition Pro 850W $186 PCCG

Screen: Samsung BX2250 21.5 WdScrn LED $240 PCCG

CASE: CoolerMaster CM 690 II Advanced $125 PCCG

HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX $109 PCCG

HDD2: WD Green 2TB WD20EARS $129 PCCG

ODD: Sony AD7240SGB 22X SATA OEM DVD RW Black $28 Umart

CPU HSF: Zalman CNPS10X Quiet Cooler $67 Umart

Total: $1925

Extras:

Nexus Real Silent 120mm Fans (5 pack) + $49 PCCG

 

Bit more than your budget, but thats what I have planned. Im not getting it right now as Im waiting for November to end so I can look at the new Raedon cards to come out. They will drop the price of those on the market (hopefully).

 

Also, with respects to your PCU, why spend 204 on a 6 core CPU? There are no games nowadays that use 6 cores, and very little number of programs that are able to utilise that, they have barely taken up using 2 cores. 4 cores has to come next. Look at the 695BE. ITs 4 cores and only $160 odd.

 

*readies flame shield*

the reason hes going for a 6 core is to give him a bit of future proofing for new titles

Yeah don't go on the SSD train yet , they ATM have a limited Read/write cycle ATM. If you set one as a master , you have to do some tinkering to get another drive to dump the page files on and i wouldn't advise on going down that track.....

 

For what money you spend on getting a SSD , you get more value for money in the terms of memory if spend getting a 2TB HDD.

 

Plus i give the SSD more time to improve maybe a year or two ( or until it can have a reliable read/write cycle , then i'll consider it a good master )

the reason hes going for a 6 core is to give him a bit of future proofing for new titles

 

But you see, games use Two cores now, let alone 4. And he wants 6?

 

Further than this, the games use the GPU more-so than the CPU, therefore your better off saving money on the CPU and going for a better Graphics card. The difference between an X4 965BE and a Six core X6 edition in a game is minimal. And in the future when games start using 4 cores, the 965BE will be right there. By time 6 cores are used, he'll need a new system to handle them anyway.

 

My point is, save money on CPU, I KNOW it seems tempting, and I KNOW it may seem like it does more, hell I am still tempted for an i7, but really, your better saving for a better GPU.

 

I have done a lot of looking into this. I think this table explains it best: http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-2010/Gaming-Left-4-Dead-2,2433.html

 

Check out the 'Green' ones. I know it might be a bit inaccurate. But my point is. The 965BE is fine for running games. You dont need to pay any more for something that will give you a minimal advantage over the others. Thats why im restraining from getting the i7, its a small advatage for a huge price tag.

 

EDIT: ALthough I should say, If he wants to do alot of video editting / run many programs simultaneously / even programs like CAD and 3DS Max. Then more RAM and a better CPU will go a long way in those respects. (Im talking with references to gaming)

Edited November 4, 201015 yr by crawfs

bc2 runs like rubbish on a 2 core.

 

going to be video editing alot anyway, plan is for 16gb of ram (cant have anymore with amd mobos)

Ignorance is bliss

+1 to squeezing SSD into the list

bc2 runs like rubbish on a 2 core.

 

going to be video editing alot anyway, plan is for 16gb of ram (cant have anymore with amd mobos)

 

Then you might be best off stepping towards the i7's and Intel motherboards. They will provide more benifit for you down that path as im pretty sure the X58A-UD3R motherboard allows the use of '6GB/10GB etc RAM without going down the 'dual' channel paths. (also USB 3.0). Maybe wait till the 21st and see if the new ATI cards come out. This will drop the prices (hopefully) of their lower cards. Might allow you to get a better CPU / more ram if you wanted. Then again, maybe if you are doing video editting an SSD could be useful, apparently it make photoshop and vegas increadibly quick.

 

Do some reading on certain systems. I think (dare I say it) whirlpool has some recommended systems and builds. EDIT: http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/rmp_sg_whirlpoolpcs

 

Also, I run BC2 on a dual core and it runs fine. It never maxes out and I have nearlly all graphics settings on high. Never had an issue... maybe its just yours.

 

And Psyrus, if it was me to which you were reffering with your comment, if you know more about the topic (im sure you do) then go ahead and correct me. I was mearly providing what I knew as a recomendation, not he concrete be-all and end all.

Edited November 4, 201015 yr by crawfs

Get a 60 Gb SSD as you OS/system drive at around $160-180 and a large 1-2 Tb for $70-140 as your main storage drive .

Best of both worlds.

You will not regret getting a SSD but you might regret not getting one !

 

:hi:

im pretty sure the X58A-UD3R motherboard allows the use of '6GB/10GB etc RAM

 

Yes it does , have 6 gig now and room for double that, and I figured that an i7 will "Future proof " me for a while.

 

..and what Fallen said

Get a 60 Gb SSD as you OS/system drive at around $160-180 and a large 1-2 Tb for $70-140 as your main storage drive .

Best of both worlds.

You will not regret getting a SSD but you might regret not getting one !

 

:hi:

 

What if my programs folder is already 130GB? Thats the main reason I dont want to get the SSD.

You put the most essential applications that will make the most use of an SSD - Windows Install, Adobe, Autodesk, Firefox certain games (Arma2) etc.

 

Programs like Skype, MSN, older games, that kinda thing go on a partition of your storage HDD.

You put the most essential applications that will make the most use of an SSD - Windows Install, Adobe, Autodesk, Firefox certain games (Arma2) etc.

 

Programs like Skype, MSN, older games, that kinda thing go on a partition of your storage HDD.

 

This seems like a sure way to a head-ache factory for me.

 

Im gonna have to pass

 

That and im lazy :scare2:

Haha yeah, once you set it up it should be all good. I'm like you as well, "Oh yeah, when I get a bit of spare time I'll back up all my program installs onto the external." Then I finally get around to it a few weeks later.

 

But seriously, I think it's been said here before but the HDD is one of the limiting factors in todays systems. An SSD is one of the most economical upgrades you can perform on your computer in overall response time and snappiness.

What if my programs folder is already 130GB? Thats the main reason I dont want to get the SSD.

 

Then spend more and get a bigger one .

 

I look at it this way .

Windows 7 10-15Gb BF2 + PR 8-10Gb = 18-25 GB .

Plentry of room for the pR0n folder and the latest spamshooter DL.

:hi:

or you can do wat i did which was get a 250gb 10,000 rpm HDD for OS and main app's, 2 320gb HDD's (one for fraps, one for xfire), and a 1.5TB for steam and any other program i remember to change directories for..

IMHO

Next month is the release of a few things that will knock down prices significantly. They are the GTX580 and the SF2000 SSD controler this may not have any effect on a low end machine costs, but will for any1 buying mid to high end.

Also AMD 6xxx cards are coming soon, which will drop the more than capable 5xxx series cards prices.

The 6000 series cards are already out

Ok, time to get back to my rock:db:

The 6000 series cards are already out

 

Only the 68xx series which are the replacement for the 57xx series... gotta wait till the 69xx come out so the higher end 58xx cards fall in price (if they indeed do... which I'm not too sure about)

they wont fall by much cos people still need to make their margin on them..