Buildquest!

[stormhawk31]

Ok, so I'm finally ready to begin my build. My system is to be a basic, but powerful, gaming/general use rig. It should be able to run the latest games, at reasonably high settings, without choking. It should be an enjoyable HTPC (though it won't have all the bells and whistles yet). It should more than suffice for general use (web, writing, etc). It should be able to do some light graphics work (digital painting, video editing). It should have sufficient initial storage so that HD space is not an immediate concern. And, lastly, it should be easily upgradable (I put my parts together with the thought in mind that this was just a starting point). So...here are my choices:

 

1. Case/Power Supply: COOLER MASTER HAF 922 / COOLER MASTER Silent Pro RS850.

 

I found a good deal on a case/power supply combo at Newegg. The case is basic but decent, and the PSU is modular and should provide plenty of power, with some room for expansion. Bonus: they are made by the same company.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1020683

 

2. Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair V Formula.

 

3 PCIe slots. Really decent onboard audio. 4 memory slots (up to 32 GB RAM). Crossfire ready. Designed with overclocking in mind. What's not to like? Well, for one, I wish it could handle more RAM. RAM's cheap, and call me crazy, but I dream of a system with 128 GB of RAM. Also, I wish there were more PCIe slots - like, 3 more. Oh well...

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131735

 

3. Processor: AMD FX-8150 Zambezi

 

What can I say? At this point, it really doesn't get a whole lot better than this!

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103960

 

4. Graphics: VisionTek 900447 Radeon HD 6770

 

Not top-of-the-line, but not bottom-of-the-barrel either. Crossfire ready. Should handle pretty much whatever I throw at it...and will be among the first upgrades, either by crossfire, replacement, or both.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129259

 

5. Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB)

 

Not much to say here, I guess; memory is kind of memory. 16 GB should be good to start, but my FIRST upgrade will be to add 16 more. Again, I wish the board could handle more than 32 GB.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231486

 

6. SSD: OCZ Agility 3 90 GB SSD.

 

I like the idea of running my OS (Windows 7 Ultimate x64) from its own SSD. And 90 GB for less than $70 is pretty cool, especially when I really only need ~50 GB, give or take.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227757

 

7. Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 3 TB.

 

I figure 3 TB should be enough to get me started, but I know I'll need more within the year - I devour storage space faster than I can add more. Out of 2.25 TB I currently have, I have only 150 GB free. Yeah. So...3 TB is just a start. I like Seagate; I have one of their external HDs, and I've had no problems with it.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844

 

8: Optical drive: LG blu-ray combo drive.

 

Optical drives are pretty cheap these days, so I figured I'd go with a decent one.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136250

 

9. Various and sundry.

 

I'll need a WiFi card and a wireless keyboard and mouse. No need for a monitor, as I'll be using my 42" flat screen TV.

 

WiFi: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166020

KB&M: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126197

 

TOTAL PRICE: $1,161.89 + $21.39 S&H.

 

Ok. So, that's my rig. Have I left anything out? (I know I'd like a TV tuner card, for example...) Made any glaring errors? Are there better combinations than I've come up with? Advice? Above all, is it possible to build this system (or a comparable one) cheaper? The truth is, I could afford to spend this much, but I'd rather spend around $750 - $800. I just don't see how. I'm not opposed to using good used parts, especially since this system is designed and intended to be upgraded, but I don't know where to find good used parts anymore. Ebay isn't exactly good for that anymore. Anyway, thoughts?

[Stonerboy779]

You could spend $800 by going with an i3 a far cheaper mobo, ditching wireless unless it is impossible to run cat5e to your pc and then going back down to 8GB of ram.

Then get a cheaper case and PSU, for what your doing an 850watt PSU is way over the top.

 

However with all the money saved you could settle for a middle ground at around, what $900 and then get a 7850 instead of the 6770 and be far happier with gaming performance.

 

Edit: Dont know if you would be open to it but a little ~$950 including shipping after MIR build i put together.

 

 

cpu - i3 2100 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078 - $120

mobo - asrock z68 pro 3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157279 - $105

gpu - xfx 7850 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150617 - $220

ram - crucial balistix 8gb (2x 4gb) 1600 cas 9 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148544 - $44

psu - PCP&P 750watt silver psu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703027 - $90

case - CM Elite 430 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227 - $50

cooler - CM 212+ - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 - $20

op drive - LG blu ray drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136250 - $70

ssd - vertex 3 120GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706 - $80

hdd - seagate barra 3tb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844 - $158

 

comes to $957 shiiping included after MIR

 

 

[90sgamer]

I'd go intel sandy/ivy if I were you. For gaming, The FX 8150 really doesn't do as well as Intel's quad cores. (Although its not a HUGE difference). I'd only go for a Zambezi if you were looking at doing video encoding/photoshop or something like that that can use all of the cores 24/7. Lightly threaded app performance is pretty poor with this line, and that is where gaming and general use come in.

Edited August 4, 2012 by 90sgamer

[Tjj226_Angel]

Not bad to start with.

 

I have my vote linked.

 

Just FYI, the 64GB SSD is for cashing with SRT. If the OP uses that much storage, it might be the best way to go.

[Black64]

Only word of advice, go intel.

[Tjj226_Angel]

I do have a bit of a question. When you say light video editing, what do you mean? Are we talking about an hour a week on sony vegas, or like an hour or two a month on some video editing software provided by microsoft?

[Savan]

this is a little more expensive, but I'd recommend it over the agility 3

 

also, I wouldn't get a 90gb ssd, they fill up too fast, get a minimum of 120

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820227791

[stormhawk31]

Wow, Stonerboy; that reply is EXACTLY the kind of reply I was hoping for - not to mention that the system you describe is both cheaper and better than mine. DEFINITELY worth considering! Thanks! Keep 'em coming!

[stormhawk31]

"Light video editing" = occasional cleaning up/editing of video shot for private use/podcasting. Maybe...2 or 3 times/month.

 

Ok...also, hopefully, building a digital short film using Cryengine 4. Not exactly "light" I know, but there it is...

Edited August 4, 2012 by stormhawk31

[stormhawk31]

Also, everyone seems staunchly Intel. Not that I'm anti-Intel - it doesn't matter to me one way or the other - but, why? Is there a particular reason?

[vandreadstriker]

"Light video editing" = occasional cleaning up/editing of video shot for private use/podcasting. Maybe...2 or 3 times/month.

 

Then I'd say you wouldn't need 16GB or RAM, let alone 32GB. RAM doesn't magically speed up your System. It just doesn't work that way.

 

Also, everyone seems staunchly Intel. Not that I'm anti-Intel - it doesn't matter to me one way or the other - but, why? Is there a particular reason?

 

As of right now, Intel provides much better Price/Performance ratio then AMD. The i5 2500K still performs better overall compared to the FX-8150.

 

 

Here's what I've got for ~$1140 ($1095 after MIR)

-The 60GB Force3 SSD is for ISRT. Like TJ Said, it might be the best way to go..

-Also you can always sell that DiRT Showdown coupon to a friend for $60

 

I'll try coming up with a sub $900 Intel system if you like..

 

[Stonerboy779]

Also, everyone seems staunchly Intel. Not that I'm anti-Intel - it doesn't matter to me one way or the other - but, why? Is there a particular reason?

Because amd bombed with their fx series. Amd used to be great with value and so on and the phenom chips are still good but bulldozer wasn't really a step in a direction anyone wanted.

Their multicore chips are like intel chips with broken hyperthreading and they really really get hot and become power hogs under load.

 

Intel didn't do fantastically with ivy bridge after the succes of sandy bridge but it was still an improvement it's just anouilh that the IHS was not soldered to the die but rather connected with TIM.

 

In terms of gaming intel walks all over the fx CPUs and as it stands there isn't many things that can make good use of the weird architecture of bulldozer.

 

Apparently windows 8 plays nicer with it but again in a lot. Of people's opinions that has also failed and failed real hard.

 

I hope some of this helps.

 

If you want a better CPU than the 2100 and want to try some overclocking my recommendation is most definately on the intel core i5 2500k it is just an amazing little beast and does well with the cooling from a CM 212+

 

Good luck with your build buddy.