Feedback on my new computer build

Bay_Wolf · Post by **Bay_Wolf** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:03 pm

I haven't chosen a heatsink and fan for the processor yet. I'm going to stick with the AMD Phenom (no ifs, ands, or buts).

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Publi ... er=8981346

I'll be adding an HD 4850 graphics card at a later date.

Regards,
Bay_wolf.

Ben Cebhrem · Post by **Ben Cebhrem** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:21 am

Are you going with a 32 bit OS or a 64 bit OS? If the latter, I can definitely recommend 4 GB RAM.

Other than that, looks very nice. I'm very jealous, I have to admit.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:26 am

Phenom? Whatever.

Apparently, for 99% of most everyday programs and games (which don't utilize all four cores), an E8500 dual core processor keeps pace with it, and a Q9300 outpaces it almost every time. (And if you're into that kind of thing, Intel's processors run a lot cooler and generally have far more overclocking potential.) I think the only place it edged out the Core 2 Quad was in 3DS MAX, Autodesk's really high-end 3D modeling software, and video encoding.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2 ... 395,00.asp

I don't recommend ATI anymore, not until they fix their OpenGL support.

That hard drive's not a very good buy. You can get a 500 gig Western Digital from Tiger Direct for $10 more.

Bay_Wolf · Post by **Bay_Wolf** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:18 am

I realize that I could go the Intel route and get a dual core that would beat the phenom in most things but eventually quad core will get support. Also the phenoms (now with ACC) can overclock up to 3.2 ghz, even some can get them to 3.4. The hard drive of choice is due to it being a single platter drive thus reducing noise and making it quicker, also because I love Westren Digital drives (haven't had one fail yet).

Regards,
Bay_wolf.

Bibin · Post by **Bibin** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:57 am

Oh no, AMD? That overheating overpriced sheith? I hate to tell you this but AMD stopped being good years ago - go with a Core 2 Quad or similar. You shouldn't need to overclock - the performance will be better than an OC'd Phenom, and that's without overclocking.

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:26 am

Bibin wrote:Oh no, AMD? That overheating overpriced sheith? I hate to tell you this but AMD stopped being good years ago - go with a Core 2 Quad or similar. You shouldn't need to overclock - the performance will be better than an OC'd Phenom, and that's without overclocking.

Everyone knows that AMD has fallen out of PC-making favor, but it is still somewhat cheaper in the quad-core area, and some people (for some reason) believe that the four individual core system AMD uses is better then the intel route of two dual-core processors in one package, although in Reality, four is four no matter how much you argue, it's not common enough in usage to be important yet.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:00 am

AMD and Intel take turns having the best crap around. What I hate is that people seem to form an opinion at one point in time and then stick with it forever.

Back in the days of Athalons and crap, AMD was pretty good. In the days of the Prescott, I couldn't recommend a P4 to anyone. Now Intel has a clear lead again.

AMD graphics cards took a beating in the benchmarks a while ago, but now not as much, and Nvidia just had a huge scandal involving parts of the 8000 series of cards to be defective.

So if you are clever you wont try to build a computer based on fanboyishness. Any claims that "AMD runs hot" is rubbish, which architecture are you talking about? Something from 3 years ago? Thats not a personal attack but I thought it was a good example of what I mean.

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:08 am

Bibin wrote:Oh no, AMD? That overheating overpriced sheith? I hate to tell you this but AMD stopped being good years ago - go with a Core 2 Quad or similar. You shouldn't need to overclock - the performance will be better than an OC'd Phenom, and that's without overclocking.

Overheating? What planet are you on? AMD processors run cooler per clock cycle then Intel chips.

On a architecture level AMD's multi core solution is more bullet proof and native. Intel just strung a bunch of cores together with a FSB linking them. The only reason Intel is beating AMD at the moment is because Intel just ramps the FSB up which generates a crap ton of heat. This is why AMD still dominates Intel in the server market.

Bay_Wolf · Post by **Bay_Wolf** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:57 pm

For all the Intel "fanboys":

Find me a quad-core processor and a motherboard that includes a decent IGP (includes HDMI), 2 PCIe 16x slots, 3 PCIe 1x slots, a minimum of 6 SATA ports, & has RAID 5 support. Also it needs to be very close to the cost of my current motherboard and processor.

Regards,
Bay_wolf.

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:15 pm

BAM!

It's got everything you listed except onboard HDMI (which you can get very easily with a $15 DVI adapter) and 3 PCIe x1 slots (it only has two, BUT it has 3 x16 slots, and x1 cards will work in them). (The motherboard HDMI connection would probably be useless anyway once you put a real video card in.)

The bundled processor (2.66 ghz C2Q Q6700) not only runs at a higher clock rate than your Phenom, but also scores noticeably higher on PC World's benchmarks. (source). You could always cheap out and get a Q6600 instead, and still get marginally better numbers. (The Q9550 is way ahead of the rest, but it's about $570.)

As for a video card, get an 8800. On paper, they're great for the money, and they don't have garbage OpenGL support like ATI does. (I used to like ATI, but they let us down.)

Bay_Wolf · Post by **Bay_Wolf** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:26 pm

EDIT: I guess TigerDirects specifications are off because it says 4 SATA ports but it has 6. That motherboard doesn't have an IGP like the 790gx from AMD (I won't use the IGP for ever but I can't afford a HD 4850 right now and need something until I get that money saved up.) It also costs $5 more for that combo (not a huge complaint but I'm on a tight budget).

Regards,
Bay_wolf.

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:30 pm

No, it has 6 SATA ports. The four you see in the first picture, and 2 more at a right angle to the motherboard. It may or may not have RAID 5 capabilities, but several sources say it has RAID 0+1. (And if you're on as tight a budget as you say you are, you shouldn't worry about RAID anyway.

)

http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.a ... &family=20

Getting a board with built-in graphics now would be a waste, because once you put real hardware in there, it will be dead weight.

EDIT: Here's another setup. It's got the same processor, and definitely has RAID 5 capabilities, but it's got one or two fewer PCIe slots.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1599

Bay_Wolf · Post by **Bay_Wolf** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:41 pm

Yeah, I noticed that it has 6 SATA ports after. Even knowing the IGP will be a dead weight within months I need it to start out (PS: the 790GX has the best IGP ever). I currently on a tight budget but will be getting more money later (and at Christmas) and look to get some 1 TB drives for storage.

Regards,
Bay_wolf.

EDIT: Also are the PCIe slots PCI Express 2.0?

EDIT2: It may also be because I'm pretty dead set to go with my original build

.

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:33 pm

If you are only temporarily utilizing the IGP, why does its strength matter? The weakest can barely run an OS (but can), the strongest can barely run old videogames.

Bay_Wolf · Post by **Bay_Wolf** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:41 pm

totokan wrote:If you are only temporarily utilizing the IGP, why does its strength matter? The weakest can barely run an OS (but can), the strongest can barely run old videogames.

Actually the one in the 790gx motherboard can run a fair amount of new games at decent FPS and resolutions. It's a temporary solution for a few months & this machine isn't meant for just gaming (as I don't play games as often as most people). It's also for heavy multitasking, video encoding, and HTPC related tasks.

Regards,
Bay_wolf.