Rate my new build

[Vietster10]

It started out as a simple upgrade to my existing machine, then decided to go crazy. Many of you know me as Vietster1. Had to start a new account. I am really into gaming, i decided I have it like that so what the heck. gimme your opinion.



RAIDMAX FUSION ATX-806WB Black/Gray 0.6mm STEEL SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive


LG CD/DVD Burner Black IDE Model GH22LP21 LightScribe Support - OEM

HIS H697F2G2M Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

AMD Athlon II X4 620 2.6Ghz AM3 CPU (A79-0620 )

Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply - ATX, SATA-Ready, SLI-Ready, 135mm Fan, Lifetime Warranty w/ Registration

[Vietster10]

BTW my current machine is:

Biostar MC6P6 M2+ mobo

AMD Athalon 64 X2 5200 @ 2.7 GHz

4GB Corsair 800MHz Dual Channel RAM

HIS ATI Radeon HD4670 with IceQ Cooling

1TB 7200 RPM HDD. Hitachi, I think.

TV Tuner card.

Windows 7 64Bit What I will be running on the new rig.

[JPMiller]

The CPU seems a bit weak, I guess because I usually only look at 3GHz or higher in AMD,,,
And the Power Supply is garbage, other than that it looks solid...

[Vietster10]

The processor was going to be an upgrade to my existing machine. I decided to go crazy and do a whole new machine. I got good reviews on that psu. so it was cheap, decided to go with it. Has a lifetime warranty. Had this started as a new machine in the first place, it would have been a 6 Core.

[stroyal]

If there is a part not to go cheap on it is the power supply.

If that power supply got good reviews, the reviewer, didn't know what he was talking about.

Even if they honor the warranty, they won't replace your components, that the power supply could take with it.

What do you call cheap, and you don't need one that big, for 1 card, if you get a good one.


Power Supply Info

[Vietster10]

There is a cool video from Computer TV on this site about about the LSP series. The quality seems very high. There is no way I am going to Crossfire a video card like that. I think I am going to be good with this PSU, at least for now.

Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply - ATX, SATA-Ready, SLI-Ready, 135mm Fan, Lifetime Warranty w/ Registration at TigerDirect.com

[stroyal]

Yet for a few dollars more, you could have a good brand name.
Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Less, after the rebate.

[ShyguyXPC]

It started out as a simple upgrade to my existing machine, then decided to go crazy. Many of you know me as Vietster1. Had to start a new account. I am really into gaming, i decided I have it like that so what the heck. gimme your opinion.



RAIDMAX FUSION ATX-806WB Black/Gray 0.6mm STEEL SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive


LG CD/DVD Burner Black IDE Model GH22LP21 LightScribe Support - OEM

HIS H697F2G2M Radeon HD 6970 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

AMD Athlon II X4 620 2.6Ghz AM3 CPU (A79-0620 )

Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply - ATX, SATA-Ready, SLI-Ready, 135mm Fan, Lifetime Warranty w/ Registration

BTW my current machine is:

Biostar MC6P6 M2+ mobo

AMD Athalon 64 X2 5200 @ 2.7 GHz

4GB Corsair 800MHz Dual Channel RAM

HIS ATI Radeon HD4670 with IceQ Cooling

1TB 7200 RPM HDD. Hitachi, I think.

TV Tuner card.

Windows 7 64Bit What I will be running on the new rig.

Had it been me, I would of gotten only 4GB of DDR3 1600MHz for now.

Grabbed a Factory OC'd 6950 and flashed it to a 6970 if needed.

At Least a 3GHz AMD Phenom II X4. (or at least an Athlon II X4 at 3GHz)

And An Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, or similar Quality Brand PSU over that Ultra Brand unit, any day.



Otherwise, Assuming the PSU holds up, the over all system specs seem to be good, but the Clock speed on the Quad could limit gaming optimal performance, considering how high end the 6970 is, and when dealing with games that only use 1 or 2 CPU cores (Bottleneck).


If you can OC the X4 to 3GHz or more, or so, that would help with those situations if they arose though.

[JPMiller]

And you just lost 5 points for the case selection...
Bleh...
I can overlook ugly if the quality and extras in a case overwhelm it, but not in this case...
Its the most vanilla bland design out...
Why did you pick that?

[Vietster10]

The case I picked actually has camouflage on the front. it is pretty okay looking. I may just spray it black later on. Here is a link to the actual case. I love the lights in the case.

Newegg.com - RAIDMAX FUSION ATX-806WB Black/Gray 0.6mm STEEL SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

I do have an Antec 550W PSU sitting here, belongs to my GFs dad. He is using it to power a single core athalon with a simple video card. He paid 80 some bucks for it 2 years ago and it is barely used. I just know he would take the ultra in trade. But, idk the original price on the one I ordered was a hundred. I remember looking at that sucker weeks ago, it was a hundred. was about to go with the antec green 550W when i seen this one. seen the video and said, well hell. why not. eventually I will be upgrading that to a 6 core. but, even Black Ops only needs an X3. I was actually going to be putting that quad I ordered into my existing machine, but my motherboard only pushes 2G of FSB. the processor pushes 4. I dont want to idle down a CPU over a motherboard that wont allow the full unlocking. it started there. Computers. damn they are addicting

[Vietster10]

By the way, I dont care much for overclocking. I like to keep things as they are, Overclocking can be a very dangerous addiction that can be very costly. Though depending on some careful monitoring of temps. I may look into overclocking this CPU. Btw, this is what I am running for cooling on my dual core. I am wondering, should I go with the stock fan or switch it out with this one in my existing computer?

Ultra U12-40603 X-Wind 90mm CPU Cooler - 90mm Fan, Full Aluminum Heatsink, Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1156 at TigerDirect.com

In other words, what do you think will cool better??

[Vietster10]

This think kept my dual core nice and cool. even running things like Modern Warfare 2 and Mafia 2. I read the reviews on it. Most have had no real complaints. My current PC runs most of the time. Days on end. I have never had a problem with it. Have had no problems at all. I am wondering if I should use it on my new PC. the only downfall to it, is that fact that it takes alot of dust and can be a pain in the ass to clean with canned air. I almost have to take a brush to the fins to get it clean of dust build up. that is the only con to this thing.

[nickslick74]

This one comes highly recommended: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7

Also, I have the Athlon II 620 and it is mildly to moderately overclockable, but don't expect a massive mhz jump. Mines fine at a 15% overclock on stock cooling and only had a minimal bump in temps.

[Vietster10]

I look at it this way, There is not a game out there now that will need more than this processor I have picked. Later, of course I will go with a 6 core. That is for sure. But for now, this one I have ordered will suffice. Nick, your running on stock cooling with a 15% overclock? I have no plans of overclocking. I will upgrade the cooling when I upgrade the CPU later on. I am just wondering if I should go with the stock fan and heat sink or the Ultra that has cooled my dual core this past year. One thing is for sure, I will not have to buy a video card for a very long time...

[ShyguyXPC]

I look at it this way, There is not a game out there now that will need more than this processor I have picked. Later, of course I will go with a 6 core. That is for sure. But for now, this one I have ordered will suffice. Nick, your running on stock cooling with a 15% overclock? I have no plans of overclocking. I will upgrade the cooling when I upgrade the CPU later on. I am just wondering if I should go with the stock fan and heat sink or the Ultra that has cooled my dual core this past year. One thing is for sure, I will not have to buy a video card for a very long time...

You REALLY Do not know what your saying with that comment.


As to the Cooling, it won't matter, if your not going to OC, plus I can almost guarantee that Ultra HSF doesn't cool that much more than the stock cooler, it may be lower profile, and larger diameter fan, run at lower RPM and be quieter possibly, but Cooling really isn't going to be much different between the two.

[Vietster10]

Okay, what game is going to need more than 4 cores at 2.6 GHz with that FSB? I am rather interested in knowing. Should I send the CPU back and go with the 6 core right off? Remember this started as a processor upgrade for my existing machine. if I do this, I may as well send back my case and go with one that supports liquid cooling and order that too. and maybe to top it all off I should just jump off a bridge!!!!

[JPMiller]

Funny, you came here and asked "experts to RATE your PC choices...
Were doing that... Its our opinion...
What you chose is OK, youd likely have a decent PC for the first year, maybe 2....
That Ultra PSU is the only truly bad choice, you basically have a 50/50 chance of it working fine or blowing up and taking half your parts with it...
That and it will likely have dirty power issues to boot...
You cant expect to make a blanket statement like "not a game out there now that will need more than this processor" and not expect to be called on it...
I tend to stay away from Ultra products unless its a case that's exceptionally cheap...
Theres little difference in Price from a 2.6 to a 3
You spent at least $40 on the case and for that price you could have gotten something MUCH better...
I mean You DID ask...

[Vietster10]

alright, I will use the 550W Antec PSU I am in custody of and give them the 650 Ultra, for them it is for a single core athalon, it will be significant overkill, but since you all seem to have this horrible prejudice for Ultra I will take your advice. Though the Antec I am referring to had no lifetime warranty, nor does it have the cooling system the Ultra does, nor does it have the connections the Ultra does. Furthermore, the original retail of the 2, the Ultra was actually more expensive. And I have found no clip of Computer TV that gives any good review of the Antec PSU that shows it to be higer quality than the Antec. Furthermore, I want to know what game is going to max out the CPU I am going to be using as well as not run on it? Tell me something conclusive, and I will start sending things back and spending more of what I have an almost unlimited source of.

[nickslick74]

BFBC2 taxes mine pretty good.

[Vietster10]

Damn I looked at the Vietnam BFB footage,. love the music. Though, with the video card, can I still play it on the highest settings Nick?