Pre checking a build (Video advice needed)

[Russ02w]

Hi all,

I am getting ready to replace my wife's Dell within a few days, I would like to order the parts tomorrow. She uses mostly email/surfing/pogo games and Ultima Online, more often recently to include streaming netflix and gaming (she likes Dragon Age (on my laptop) and if Diablo 3 doesn't release soon I think she is going to explode. She likes her keyboard/mouse and LCD monitor so we will keep those. So far I have picked all the parts from newegg, but it is not required, that is just where I started piecing it together. No plans to overclock, or use blue ray but Crossfire will most likely be needed. Here is what we found:

Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B. Intel CPU Heatsink (adding 1 fan to it)
ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Mobo
Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600Model 998692 w/cooling
Seagate Barracuda 750Gb ST3750528AS
Sony Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B - OEM
Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model AD-7241S-0B - OEM
Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1250 Hybrid TV Tuner/Video Recorder 1196 PIC-E x1
Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC "compatible with Core i7" Power Supply
Certified Active PFC Power Supply
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Windows 7 Home Premium x64

We would like to stay mid tower so it will fit where here PC is now, So far we are at $1330 and still need video card, we have been looking at the following 3:

DIAMOND 5850PE51G Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail ($299.99)

VisionTek 900285 Radeon HD 4890 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail ($199.99)

I was looking at the BFG Tech BFGEGTX2951792E GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support but they are $519 and we plan on using dual cards.

So this is where I need a little help on the video, there are so many cards out there and so many reviews with differing opinions its overwhelming. This should be a good enough PC to last at least 4-5 years, eventually I would like to upgrade to a solid state drive but that is a large cost right now also.

Any advise would be helpful, it has been about 10 years since I have pieced together one and I am way out of the loop.

Thank you very much for your input, and have a good night.

[Russ02w]

bump

please give your input.

p.s. we prefer 1920x1600 for our games.

[RickyTick]

Hi all,

I am getting ready to replace my wife's Dell within a few days, I would like to order the parts tomorrow. She uses mostly email/surfing/pogo games and Ultima Online, more often recently to include streaming netflix and gaming (she likes Dragon Age (on my laptop) and if Diablo 3 doesn't release soon I think she is going to explode. She likes her keyboard/mouse and LCD monitor so we will keep those. So far I have picked all the parts from newegg, but it is not required, that is just where I started piecing it together. No plans to overclock, or use blue ray but Crossfire will most likely be needed. Here is what we found:

Hey Russ and welcome to the MySuperPC forums.
Several things here.
From what you described as your "needs" for a computer, your build is waaaaaaay overkill. But that's ok, I like overkill to a certain degree if it fits in your budget. I just don't want to see you waste money. With that said, I have a few sufggestions.



Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B. Intel CPU Heatsink (adding 1 fan to it)
ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Mobo
Mushkin Enhanced Redline 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600Model 998692 w/cooling
Seagate Barracuda 750Gb ST3750528AS
Sony Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B - OEM
Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model AD-7241S-0B - OEM
Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1250 Hybrid TV Tuner/Video Recorder 1196 PIC-E x1
Antec CP-850 850W Continuous Power CPX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC "compatible with Core i7" Power Supply
Certified Active PFC Power Supply
COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Windows 7 Home Premium x64

If you're not overclocking at all, there's not a good reason to buy the Prolimatech heatsink. Put that $70 into something else.
That Asus motherboard is an "Extreme" version. It's a great mobo, but still offers bells and whistles that you don't really need.
Same goes for that Mushkin ram. It's rather expensive.
You don't need 2 optical drives. They're not terrible expensive, but one should be enough, unless you're playing and ripping at the same time.
That Antec power supply will not work in the case you listed. That particular psu is designed exclusively for the Antec 1200, P183, or P193 cases.



We would like to stay mid tower so it will fit where here PC is now, So far we are at $1330 and still need video card, we have been looking at the following 3:

DIAMOND 5850PE51G Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail ($299.99)

VisionTek 900285 Radeon HD 4890 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail ($199.99)

I was looking at the BFG Tech BFGEGTX2951792E GeForce GTX 295 1792MB 896 (448 x 2)-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support but they are $519 and we plan on using dual cards.

So this is where I need a little help on the video, there are so many cards out there and so many reviews with differing opinions its overwhelming. This should be a good enough PC to last at least 4-5 years, eventually I would like to upgrade to a solid state drive but that is a large cost right now also.


I don't know if you're dead set on going Crossfire/SLI, but I would suggest starting with one video card and see how it plays. If you ever start to notice any lag or low Frames Per Second, then you can add the second card then. That 5850 video card is great.



Any advise would be helpful, it has been about 10 years since I have pieced together one and I am way out of the loop.

Thank you very much for your input, and have a good night.

I hope that's helpful. I'm sure you have more questions, so don't hesitate to ask. I'm sure there are other member here that might like to add their 2 cents too.

[Russ02w]

Unfortunately I already ordered that case and power supply from another recommendation. The antec cases are twice the price of the coolmaster. I ordered from newegg and need to get one or the other changed. Can you recommend a power supply that will fit? I made the other appropriate changes but missed that little "exclusively for"

Thanks for your suggestions they helped a lot.

[RickyTick]

Try THIS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006).

[Russ02w]

RickyTick, thanks for the quick reply. I am only home five days a month, but my wife is looking at the other cases and power supply deciding which she likes better. The we will have to contact newegg for an exchange. I will be. back home on Friday to put it together, so we should have enough time to get it changed.

[RickyTick]

That HAF922 case is great. You won't be disappointed.

[Russ02w]

She decided she liked the P183 case better, so I guess we are keeping the power supply and getting a new case instead. She likes the usb ports more on the front than the top, and It Is suppose to be a quieter case, which to me means we may have to add another fan if It locks in to much heat, but it was designed that way it should be ok.

Thank you again for all your help!

[RickyTick]

Glad to help.

The P183 is a superb case. It is known for being quiet and you shouldn't have any problem with overheating either.

Best of luck.