New build, need advice please.

Ramen · January 4th, 2009, 02:25 PM

I'm looking to put together a new build and I'm in need of some advice. I've picked out all the parts and wanna run them by you guys since I trust your judgment and knowledge. :-)

Here are the parts I'm looking to purchase and the links to listings on Newegg.com for reference:

And here are the parts I have that will be used to round things out:

I'm not looking to get too far away from what I've listed, but I wanna know if the RAM is what I need to run AM2. I know you are supposed to run a certain type, but can't remember if it's PC 6400 or not. If you want to make some suggestions for different RAM then by all means please do, but I don't want to get too expensive because I'm not looking to OC my stuff. I can't really tell if I need an IDE to SATA cord for my older DVD drive but I think there's one in the house some where.. hehe.

Ramen · January 4th, 2009, 02:41 PM

Oh yeah.. I forgot to ask one thing.. If I go with AM2 will I be able to use two of those OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 sets for the max load of 8GB RAM on the board? I know some boards say they can use 8GB, but they usually can only do one set of them.

Ramen · January 4th, 2009, 10:01 PM

I was going through some threads around the web and people were saying that 1066 is for the AM2+ core. Is this true? I'm only wanting to run the AM2 core so I guess I have to go with 800's.

How's these look?
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

pullmyfoot · January 4th, 2009, 10:44 PM

Those are very wrong parts to have picked out man. First things first, you don't need anywhere near 1kw to power that system. That is a total waste of money when $150 could have gone to the mobo + CPU instead (which is lacking, but I'll talk about that in a minute). Realistically, your system needs 450W tops. I know an e7300 with a 4830 uses 300W at load. Your system doesnt take that much more. I'm even guessing 350W - 400W at very most.

You need to keep in mind that you should always get a PSU that fits your system requirements. PSUs usually peak in their efficiency at around 40%-70% of their max load. Getting that PSU will mean that you are realistically running your PSU at a very low efficiency since only when you have everything fully powered up do you start to hit the higher efficiencies. Most of the time your computer will be idling at 20% or 30% of your PSU load, and the efficiencies at that range can really start to get pretty crappy.

To make matters worse, that PSU you chose is not that great to start with. You could find cheaper PSUs from better brands that actually perform much better (in terms of efficiency and regularity of its voltage supply to your components).

For a more detailed explanation of what I was trying to explain, check this out.

AnandTech: Debunking Power Supply Myths

This is a much better choice. It also has a whopping 41amps on one single rail, which I personally prefer. It also lets you spend $150 on a better CPU and mobo.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Next is your CPU and motherboard. By no means is the 6400+ X2 a slouch, but its really by no means a fast CPU anymore by today's standards. Your graphics card is also rippin fast, which might be limited in games by your limited CPU power.

I suggest this.
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

And this motherboard to accompany
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

You could also consider going for a quad core CPU. This Q6600 a little slower (maybe 6 or 7fps slower in CPU intensive games) but will pay off in the year ahead when more applications start to make use of the extra cores in the thing.
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Lastly, may I suggest this ram? I think it looks much better than that gold thing you chose
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Oh and may I suggest this ram? I think it looks much better than that gold thing you chose

Newegg.com - OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

As for the hard drives you have, I suggest you use the 500gb one as your boot (and game) drive and the 250gb one to store whatever else like pictures and things. This is simply because the 500gb WD drive drive is faster.

pullmyfoot · January 4th, 2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramen

I was going through some threads around the web and people were saying that 1066 is for the AM2+ core. Is this true? I'm only wanting to run the AM2 core so I guess I have to go with 800's.

How's these look?
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

AM2 can run a variety of ram speeds, its up to the chipset on the board, no the socket. It will run your basic speeds like 800mhz and 1066mhz just fine. Anyway, as I explained in my previous post, you don't wanna be going AM2. Even if you wanted to go for AMD, the AM2+ chipset is the newer standard of AM2 which you want to be going for instead.

JPMiller · January 4th, 2009, 10:57 PM

Well a few obvious things that stick out would be...

Too expensive a power supply..
Even if you were running 2 4870 X2's and a half dozen harddrives you wouldnt have to spend that much on a PSU..
This will more than suffice WITH headroom for the build you listed...
Newegg.com - Antec True Power Trio TP3-430 430W ATX12V Active PFC Power Supply with Three 12V Rails - Power Supplies

You dont have to buy 800 rated ram, buy the 1066 since its cheap, and then if you upgrade youll already be set...
memory is cheap now so don't skimp

That Asus is nothing special, so save a little money and double the memory cap with this Biostar....
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TForce TF720 A2+ AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 720a ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

if it were me I wouldnt waste money on Vista period right now, but ESPECIALLY not Ultimate...
If you have to buy Vista, get home premium OEM...
Windows"7" or whatever will be out in a month or 2 likely and youll be stuck with an overpriced POS that youll be wanting to rid yourself of

I would personally invest in a better case than that, with the money saved from the PSU...
An Antec 300 is cheap and has amazing cooling...

If not a new case then a tinsnips and some bigger fans...
take that stupid swirl off the side of the case with the tinsnips or a dremel, and replace the window with stiff mesh and mount a 120 - 140mm fan there

pullmyfoot · January 5th, 2009, 12:13 AM

Yeah, I would do what he said about the case too. The Antec 300 is only 60 bucks. And way better than that Raidmax.

Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

If you want something a little flashier like the Raidmax case you havem check out the Antec 900.

Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

As JP also said, Vista Ultimate is a complete waste of money. With the money saved, you actually have the money for a better case so do yourself a favour and get the Antec 900.

Ramen · January 5th, 2009, 12:17 AM

I guess I've been going about it the wrong way.. lol. For whatever reason I assumed having more watts would be a great idea, but like both of you have said I'd have to run a ton of stuff to utilize it completely. Would that PSU cover another video card and maybe some more HDs when I get around to putting a few others in?

I'm not a big fan of Intel. From personal experience I've enjoyed AMD and would prefer to stick with it. So, is there that much of a difference from AM2 and AM2+ because I've seen that AM2+ doesn't have anything above 2.7GHz for AMD.

Quote:

As for the hard drives you have, I suggest you use the 500gb one as your boot (and game) drive and the 250gb one to store whatever else like pictures and things. This is simply because the 500gb WD drive drive is faster.

That's how I've been running it.

Quote:

if it were me I wouldnt waste money on Vista period right now, but ESPECIALLY not Ultimate...
If you have to buy Vista, get home premium OEM...
Windows"7" or whatever will be out in a month or 2 likely and youll be stuck with an overpriced POS that youll be wanting to rid yourself of

Ramen · January 5th, 2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pullmyfoot

Yeah, I would do what he said about the case too. The Antec 300 is only 60 bucks. And way better than that Raidmax.

Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

If you want something a little flashier like the Raidmax case you havem check out the Antec 900.

Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

As JP also said, Vista Ultimate is a complete waste of money. With the money saved, you actually have the money for a better case so do yourself a favour and get the Antec 900.

Probably a great idea from both of you regarding the OS. I think the main reason was just to get something new looking.. lol.. My bro just built himself a new system and installed Vista but I hate all the damn pop-ups you get asking if this and that is okay. Maybe I'll just stick with my XP Pro and go with the Antec 900 because I love the USB access on top.

**RicheemxX** · January 5th, 2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramen

Probably a great idea from both of you regarding the OS. I think the main reason was just to get something new looking.. lol.. My bro just built himself a new system and installed Vista but I hate all the damn pop-ups you get asking if this and that is okay. Maybe I'll just stick with my XP Pro

Vista's UAC is easy enough to turn off, but as mentioned Windows 7 will be out soon (the first beta has already been leaked). So you might hold off on buying a new OS for the moment.

As for the AM2+ part, forget the old hat thinking of clock speed vs clock speed. The AM2+ chips for the most part are triple-quad core, the x2 7750 being the only current exception. Am2+ and now AM3 are the newest sockets from AMD. AM3 is out now and will be shipping soon and will support DDR3 and (hopefully) faster better 45nm phenom II chips