my rookie pc build list...opinions?

[Miyagi-san]

This will be my 2nd build and the first one was more me watching a buddy of mine build it for me 8 years ago so...needless to say: this is basically my first one.

I wanted a bit of flash I'll admit, thus my selection for case and ps...but I think they are both good and functional as well. Also I know the trend lately seems to be intel but for some reason I can't let go of AMD...probably just haven't seen the light yet? I'd like to stick with AMD and ASUS as much as possible though.

If anyone has a few minutes to look this over and let me know what you think, that would be VERY helpful! I tried to read all comments in newegg to help my selection process and think I came up with a pretty good system but again I'm new to the more technical side of all this PC stuff yet....

PC will be mainly be for everyday tasks for the wife (internet/email) and the same for me as well along with photo editing as well as video in the future. Although video editing will be pretty light stuff. Will add more eventually (hdds, optical drives....)

THANKS!

Antec Nine Hundred Case

ASUS M3N78 Mobo

AMD Phenom 9850 Processor

ASUS GeForce 960 VidCard

Rosewill 500W

G.Skill 4X2GB RAM

WD 1TB HDD

ASUS DVD RW

Vista 64 OS

[Miyagi-san]

oh, forgot to add.....total cost for all items above is $919.92 which includes the hundred bucks for vista

[OdiN1701]

Why AMD vs. Intel?

[0(ʹͦˋ¿ˊͦˋ)0]

I am an AMD user too. I know pretty well that AMD is not at Intel level but AMD prices allow me to upgrade my processor every 4-6 months, besides they don't change to much the socket.

Phenom 9850 great CPU (I'm using it right now)
The mother board is your call I like better Abit, but Asus are great too
I'd change your GSkill for OCZ Platinum Ed. 8Gb (4x2Gb)
HD I'll get 2x500GB instead of just one big HD

I don't like the case really. Maybe some Antec or Coolermaster? I'm looking to replace my case too, but I can't find anything I like either.

don't forget to get some Artic Silver or Ceramique!!!

[Lukipooh]

i am a bit iffy on the 500w power supply....go for more

i also like AMD and currently running the 9850 on MSI mobo with MSI/ATI video card.

[Motley]

I was like you, an avid AMD fanboy, but 2yrs ago I now I "see the light" Why not go with best performance for the money which is Intel right now, and there are no signs of them slowing down.

I spent $180 for my E8400 OC'd to 4.1GHz, and in comparison to AMD, well AMD doesnt' have a chip that even comes close.

Other than the AMD, good choice in components, stick with the GSkill, and get a 650w PS.

[OdiN1701]

Well I'm just for whatever is best.

CPU - it's not a bad processor. Intel is the best right now. When AMD was the best, I was using AMD's. I just go with what's the best, but you just cannot beat Intel right now, especially with their chipsets - you get very stable boards.

Mobo - I'd also go with Asus. Abit had been going downhill when I switched to using Asus and Asus has been great since. Abit might have gotten better lately, but I tend to stick with what works until I have a reason not to. Asus are solid boards.

PSU - I would look at an Antec PSU honestly. Something like the following:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371016

Then if you stick with your case, you get an extra $20 off, so it's not much more than that rosewill, and a MUCH better supply IMO. 550W is plenty for your setup.

DVD Burner - I wouldn't get the Asus. The reason why is it looks just like a re-badged Lite-On drive, but more expensive. For a little less you can get a Lite-On either with or without Lightscribe:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106229

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106228

HD - If you want 1TB of HD space -get two of them and put them in RAID1. It's well worth the extra cost IMO. If one drive dies, you can RMA it and put the new one in and still use the system in the meantime. And you don't lose data. I recommend a smaller HD (like a cheaper 80GB or if you want, a 74GB Raptor) for the OS, and then a seperate, RAID-ed data drive. This way, the OS can get hosed, you can format/reinstall and still have all your data on the other drives.

Definitely stick with Western Digital.

[MaxxuM]

Originally Posted by Miyagi-san

This will be my 2nd build and the first one was more me watching a buddy of mine build it for me 8 years ago so...needless to say: this is basically my first one.

I wanted a bit of flash I'll admit, thus my selection for case and ps...but I think they are both good and functional as well. Also I know the trend lately seems to be intel but for some reason I can't let go of AMD...probably just haven't seen the light yet? I'd like to stick with AMD and ASUS as much as possible though.

If anyone has a few minutes to look this over and let me know what you think, that would be VERY helpful! I tried to read all comments in newegg to help my selection process and think I came up with a pretty good system but again I'm new to the more technical side of all this PC stuff yet....

PC will be mainly be for everyday tasks for the wife (internet/email) and the same for me as well along with photo editing as well as video in the future. Although video editing will be pretty light stuff. Will add more eventually (hdds, optical drives....)

THANKS!

Antec Nine Hundred Case

ASUS M3N78 Mobo

AMD Phenom 9850 Processor

ASUS GeForce 960 VidCard

Rosewill 500W

G.Skill 4X2GB RAM

WD 1TB HDD

ASUS DVD RW

Vista 64 OS

Looks like a fine setup... two things I would change however are the motherboard and memory. Asus is a very good company... however, if you are going 64bit I would opt for a system that could get up to 16Gb of memory. This is my reasoning. 8Gb IMO is minimum for 64bit OSes because they address larger blocks than 32bit. 8Gb for me was used up way too quick when I was rendering movies in After Effects due to the per CPU usage. Also, having all 4 banks filled will increase latency on the bus (it takes a little more time to find what software is looking for in memory). Having 2x4Gb sticks of memory will be slightly faster than 4x2Gb sticks. Of course, motherboards that can address that much memory are more expensive as are 4Gb sticks which will trample any cost savings you likely are looking for by staying with AMD. Here are the examples:

Motherboard

Memory

Just my 2 cents

[Miyagi-san]

Some great recommendations....thanks everyone this helps a lot.

Any comments on my video card selection?

[OdiN1701]

Well for the video card you're fine. If you're not concerned with playing games or anything, and it would even do that fine for some time.

[Motley]

If you're gonna play any games, I would suggest the GTX260, which is the best card out their for the money. You can get one for around $240. I just got one, and it runs all my games at max settings at 1920x1200.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127361

[Zepher]

Originally Posted by Lukipooh

i am a bit iffy on the 500w power supply....go for more.

500watts is fine, but I would go with a different brand PSU.
OCZ, Antec, Thermaltake, Seasonic, PC Power & Cooling, Coolermaster.

I am currently running an Antec True Power II 550watt in my system, and I got a lot of **** in mine.

[Jimmer411]

Nothing wrong with the setup, Im running something very similar being:

9950BE 140w @ 3.2ghz
Asus M3A78-T
4gb Gskill DDR2
Asus 4870
Silverstone 650W
watercooled etc in a mountain mods ufo case.


Im running vista 64 and have no problems using 4 gb of ram, right now its pretty much overkill. My computer is primarily a gaming system and in all honestly Id like to find 1 person that can tell the difference between the current intel and amd computers just sitting at them. The only difference is in synthetic benchmarks and a few seconds of video encoding time.

[MaxxuM]

Originally Posted by Jimmer411

Nothing wrong with the setup, Im running something very similar being:

9950BE 140w @ 3.2ghz
Asus M3A78-T
4gb Gskill DDR2
Asus 4870
Silverstone 650W
watercooled etc in a mountain mods ufo case.


Im running vista 64 and have no problems using 4 gb of ram, right now its pretty much overkill. My computer is primarily a gaming system and in all honestly Id like to find 1 person that can tell the difference between the current intel and amd computers just sitting at them. The only difference is in synthetic benchmarks and a few seconds of video encoding time.

True true... Most people would never notice the difference for common browsing, office programs and light gaming. Your system however is not normal either. A Q6600 can get to 3.2Ghz-3.6Ghz with a Freezer Pro 7, 3.8Ghz with cheap water cooling and 4Ghz with expensive water cooling (G0 stepping) and never peek above 60 degrees C running Prime. Intel has better thermals than AMD which is at their limits. I ran AMD for 6 years and love them, but they just don't have the FAB plant power than Intel does.

Clock for clock, I will always recommend the better deal between the two which is usually AMD these days, but its close. If you tell me you plan on overclocking then I'll almost always recommend Intel.

I look at it this way:

AMD Phenom 9850 2.5GHz ($210) - OC 3.2Ghz (getting hot)
Semi-Good Water Cooling Kit ($150)
$360

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz ($320) - OC 3.8Ghz (still cool)
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro ($27)
$347

I don't know of any really good water cooling solutions for under $200, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I also don't know many people that are getting higher than 3.2Ghz on air and those that I have read are doing it on expensive HS that are lapped.

I've lapped my CPU/Cooler (Q6600 & Freezer 7 Pro) and now run at 3.6Ghz @ 32C idle/58C full load which ran me a total of $220. I can only imagine what I could do on water

I'm not a typical user though. Just my .02 cents...

[Moppie]

Just one note, if your building a computer for professional photo use, I would advise staying away from over clocking.

Any time you operate something beyond it's designed limits you increase the chance of failure.
This is true for modifying cars, computers, or anything else that people like to modify to increase performance.