kinger Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 Hi folks, I've been reading this and other forums for some time and decided to join and get your opinions. I'm in the process of building my first system and I need some advice. So far, I have: Western Digital Caviar SE16 Hard Drive WD5000AAKS Antec Three Hundred ATX Computer Case Corsair TX CMPSU-650TX SAPPHIRE 100243TXSR Radeon HD 4870 512MB I've developed brain freeze over the CPU/Mobo/RAM combo. My first thought was go 720BE with the GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P mobo and G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel RAM. Then I got to thinking...for a few bucks more I might be able to put myself in a position to extend the time till the next upgrade by going 720BE with the GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X or the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX mobo and G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel memory. In addition, I'm adding the SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD and the XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler. I don't need a monitor and I currently have XP pro. If I need to upgrade the OS I'll definitely go to Vista 64. So...and suggestions? DDR2 or DDR3 will determine the mobo/RAM. If I go DDR3 is there any real advantage to the UD5P mobo? Thanks for any advice/help you can give me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted March 22, 2009 Posted March 22, 2009 (edited) Hi folks, I've been reading this and other forums for some time and decided to join and get your opinions. I'm in the process of building my first system and I need some advice. So far, I have: Western Digital Caviar SE16 Hard Drive WD5000AAKS Antec Three Hundred ATX Computer Case Corsair TX CMPSU-650TX SAPPHIRE 100243TXSR Radeon HD 4870 512MB I've developed brain freeze over the CPU/Mobo/RAM combo. My first thought was go 720BE with the GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P mobo and G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel RAM. Then I got to thinking...for a few bucks more I might be able to put myself in a position to extend the time till the next upgrade by going 720BE with the GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X or the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX mobo and G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel memory. In addition, I'm adding the SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD and the XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler. I don't need a monitor and I currently have XP pro. If I need to upgrade the OS I'll definitely go to Vista 64. So...and suggestions? DDR2 or DDR3 will determine the mobo/RAM. If I go DDR3 is there any real advantage to the UD5P mobo? Thanks for any advice/help you can give me. What resolution is your monitor? DDR2 is better since there is no real life speed differences between the two, except you'll see more money in your pocket. The Xigmatek is a good cooler, I'd also check out the sunbeam core contact too, and if you are in the US then I'd look at the biostar 790gx on newegg (they have an open box priced at 71 dollars) because I think the biostar's can unlock the 4th core on tri core amd chips. Just somethings to consider but definitely get the AM2+ board and stick with DDR2. And most importantly welcome to OCC :thumbs-up: Edited March 22, 2009 by IVIYTH0S Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MykC Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Compared to some of the other deals your passing up, you paying $45-75 for the AM3 board plus the cost in ram which is $30-40. To be honest, at best I'd figure you to break even. I don't think it worth the money. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewy_fallingup Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Plus!!!! the memory controller on the Penom II's are having problems with running DDR3 at DDR3 speeds so just go DDR2. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheConqueror Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Exactly. Personally I would wait with an AMD build since the Phenom II 955 is supposed to be released, and will top everything they have right now, and AMD needs something extreme to come back to the competition Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savan Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 you wont be able to use all your memory in xp. 32bit OS's only support 3gb of ram. to get all 4gb you will need a 64, so you may as well just go to vista 64, either home premium 64 or ultimate 64 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewy_fallingup Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 yeah id go for vista 64 WAY more stable than XP 64 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fogel Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Stick with DDR2 if you go AMD. Stick with XP Pro (even if you go 4GB RAM, I did) Why waste money on a O/S that was retarded from birth when Windows 7 is right around the corner? Sure XP Pro only recognizes 3.2GB but whatever, it doesn't really need it like Vista does. Windows 7 is still in Beta but early reports show its speed makes XP look slow. So no need to speed $100 on Vista and then another $100-$150 on W7. Unless you can get it free and just like tinkering with crap, then by all means go Vista. But I wouldn't recommend Vista for a gaming rig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 (edited) Stick with DDR2 if you go AMD.Stick with XP Pro (even if you go 4GB RAM, I did) Why waste money on a O/S that was retarded from birth when Windows 7 is right around the corner? Sure XP Pro only recognizes 3.2GB but whatever, it doesn't really need it like Vista does. Windows 7 is still in Beta but early reports show its speed makes XP look slow. So no need to speed $100 on Vista and then another $100-$150 on W7. Unless you can get it free and just like tinkering with crap, then by all means go Vista. But I wouldn't recommend Vista for a gaming rig. Vista was never retarded from birth unless it's user is retarded. what's so hard about disabling UAC? I have 4GB in my computer so I'm glad that there is a reason for that, why have the memory if the system wont use it, XP is just a virus ridden, bland OS that has overstayed it's welcome (other than benchmarking, but bah to that) Vista uses more resources but does more so I don't see the issue. Win7 is free right now, and even faster than vista (and XP ) so I agree to wait for Win7 directly since it's Vista perfected. Also Vista is a proven better gaming OS FYI Heck this Win7 beta Release Candidate is better than an XP SP3, there are just a few companies that need to update their drivers but of course since the OS isn't official yet there wouldn't be full support yet. For a beta it runs amazing though Edited March 23, 2009 by IVIYTH0S Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fogel Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 In the end your reply still ends with... Heck this Win7 beta Release Candidate is better than an XP SP3,... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_bowtie Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Stick with DDR2 if you go AMD.Stick with XP Pro (even if you go 4GB RAM, I did) Why waste money on a O/S that was retarded from birth when Windows 7 is right around the corner? Sure XP Pro only recognizes 3.2GB but whatever, it doesn't really need it like Vista does. Windows 7 is still in Beta but early reports show its speed makes XP look slow. So no need to speed $100 on Vista and then another $100-$150 on W7. Unless you can get it free and just like tinkering with crap, then by all means go Vista. But I wouldn't recommend Vista for a gaming rig. I have to agree with this poster... I have a Quad core Intel rig with 4gb of ram and I see NO difference other than minor benchmark differences between XP x86 and Vista x64 and Win7 x64 even though XP x86 only sees between 3.25gb and 3.5gb it's still there and it still uses it...but only when it needs it... the only way you'll see a performance gain is letting the Prefetch in Vista and Win7 take all the ram it wants...takes longer to load the OS from a cold boot or reboot to load all the info in the ram but once it does then it flies... I have to agree with waiting for Win7 and just using XP in the mean time...Win7 so far is way superior to Vista.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 In the end your reply still ends with... hmm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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