building new computer

[Beta-guy]

here's my current plans to build a new computer:

Case: Aspire X-Discovery Case w/ Side Window, Black
Power Supply: Corsair TX 750W
Motherboard: Intel Desktop Board DX38BT
CPU: Intel Core™2 Quad Processor Q9450
RAM: OCZ 2GB PC3-10666 Gold Edition
Video Card: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4850 512MB
Hard drive: SEAGATE 1TB Barracuda 7200.11

if you have any ideas I'd be happy to hear it

[JesterJ.]

Just out of curiosity, how much is that running you?

[Sable]

That's a pretty screamin' rig, Beta. The only thing I'd change is bump up to 4.0GB...32-bit OS' can only really use 3.5ish, but RAM is so, so cheap.

[Cheeseonfire]

I'd recommend an Nvidia 9800 GX2 instead but.. that's just me.
I would also like to know how much this is gonna cost you.

[Beta-guy]

Just out of curiosity, how much is that running you?

with tax $1,626.71

[Beta-guy]

That's a pretty screamin' rig, Beta. The only thing I'd change is bump up to 4.0GB...32-bit OS' can only really use 3.5ish, but RAM is so, so cheap.

Since I'm replacing a dead PC, I'm going to reuse my copy of Windows XP X64/Vista Ultimate X64 might upgrade to the ram later on, but it's getting a bit pricey ATM :p

[JesterJ.]

Definitely go with 4 gigs, especially if you're planning on using Vista sometime in the future (you are.)

[jtaylor]

I have had issues with defective OCZ RAM.
Check out NZXT cases. Consider how you are going to back up 1TB of data. That is all I can think of right now.

[Beta-guy]

I have had issues with defective OCZ RAM.
Check out NZXT cases. Consider how you are going to back up 1TB of data. That is all I can think of right now.

ok, what's your thoughts on Corsair 2GB XMS3-1333C9 memory? the 1 TB drive is the backup... for now, I have a Blu-ray burner I'll be adding to the computer (since I already own it, it's no on the list) this should make it easier to backup to discs.

[jtaylor]

Corsair is fine. I replaced my OCZ with Corsair somethingorother and have had no problems.

[The Happy Friar]

looks like a good rig for the price. but why do you need that kind of power supply? Unless you're using it, you're wasting $$$ on power that won't go but compare specs:
http://www.hardware.info/en-US/productd ... iamJPKacg/

you're willing to spend an extra ~$130 from a q6600 for a few extra FPS. I have a Phenom 9600 & it's less them 1/2 the price of your CPU & still a fraction slower. There's nothing I can't run now (unless it needs vista). Don't waste your $$ on state-of-the-art crap that will be 1/2 the price in two months. Buy the stuff that was state of the art a few months ago for 1/2 the price. Put that $$ someplace better.

[Beta-guy]

looks like a good rig for the price. but why do you need that kind of power supply? Unless you're using it, you're wasting $$$ on power that won't go but compare specs:
http://www.hardware.info/en-US/productd ... iamJPKacg/

you're willing to spend an extra ~$130 from a q6600 for a few extra FPS. I have a Phenom 9600 & it's less them 1/2 the price of your CPU & still a fraction slower. There's nothing I can't run now (unless it needs vista). Don't waste your $$ on state-of-the-art crap that will be 1/2 the price in two months. Buy the stuff that was state of the art a few months ago for 1/2 the price. Put that $$ someplace better.

I do distributed computing, I have the HW stressed 24/7 trying to find prime numbers, if I could afford it, I'd get the best of the best of everything, but I have to stretch performance with bang for the buck, I get larger a PSU than I need for 2 reasons 1. it gives me future expandability, and 2. as parts get older they works less efficiently, and I want to give it room to get old without it suddenly dying. I have to save up so it will be a while yet before this is put together so the price should come down a bit.

[Wraith]

I'd add a 10kRPM SATA drive with 3GB/S DTR for the system drive and use the 1TB drive for data.

Also, what are you doing for sound? Seems a shame to put that much into your system and then settle for integrated for sound.

I'd also personally prefer a nVidia card, but I play a lot of games that are optimized for it.

[Beta-guy]

I'd add a 10kRPM SATA drive with 3GB/S DTR for the system drive and use the 1TB drive for data.

Also, what are you doing for sound? Seems a shame to put that much into your system and then settle for integrated for sound.

I'd also personally prefer a nVidia card, but I play a lot of games that are optimized for it.

I'll look at the prices for 10K RPM HDD's.

ATM it looks like it'll be just integrated, might look at upgrading in the future.

I know alot of people here like NVIDIA, I think they do good cards and from what i hear they'll soon do Folding@home like the ATI cards, the one reason I don't use them is ultimately price, my use of the video cards these days is mainly watching Blu-ray movies, and playing demos like the ones found at http://scene.org/ so my needs are powerful, and inexpensive ATI fills this need nice thing about ATI is I can get thier top end card for $200.

[Wraith]

Fair enough. If you go with the 10krpm drive, be sure you get the 3GB/S speed. The initial set of Raptors only had 1.5GB/s.

[The Happy Friar]

I get larger a PSU than I need for 2 reasons 1. it gives me future expandability, and 2. as parts get older they works less efficiently, and I want to give it room to get old without it suddenly dying.

take a look at this: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

I'd also personally prefer a nVidia card, but I play a lot of games that are optimized for it.

every game that has said "works best with nvidia" works just as good with ATI. unless something was purposely changed (IE they ditched non-nvidia support, which is rare). I've also seen ATI's work better with older games. pretty much anything pre-DX8.

[Wraith]

Not really. See, the games that carry the nVidia logo work best on nVidia cards because they were developed on nVidia-based machines, so not only were the graphical effects designed with nVidia-based chip sets in mind, but the nVidia drivers actually have built-in profiles for them, so that when the game launches, it automatically adjusts color and brightness to suit that particular game.

[Beta-guy]

I just ordered it here's the final specs.

Case: ANTEC Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case
Power Supply: Corsair HX 1000W Modular Power Supply
Motherboard: Asus P5Q3 Deluxe/WiFi-AP @n w/ DualDDR3 1600
CPU: Intel Core™2 Quad Processor Q9450
RAM: Corsair 2GB XMS3-1333C9DHX TWIN3X
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5
Hard drive 2 500 GB HDD's (Seagate)
Cooling Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
Optical Drive: 1 DVD burner, and 1 Blu-ray Burner

total with tax is $1890

[Wraith]

hmmm...

Yeeea, Yeeea, that COULD work, but just to be on the safe side, when it arrives, send it to me, and I'll go over it to make sure it's up to par. Totally free, of course, because that's just the type of generous guy I am. Once I've looked it over, I'll send it back to you, and you can be assured that what you get back will be the exact same thing, and not a hastily tossed together Frankenstein pc made from the discarded parts of client's machines. Honest.

[scorpkahnpoop]

What will you use this for?

[Beta-guy]

What will you use this for?

Blu-ray/DVD playback, Distributed Computing, and gaming/Graphics demo's like the ones found here http://scene.org/ I'll probably get a couple 1 TB drives when the price drops, turn the computer into a network storage device as well.