Another Semi-Newb Monster Build

[Ashkitty]

Hello everyone. Mayhap ya'll can help me see if I've made the right choices. I haven't built a computer since I was sixteen, now my boyfriend is in the market for a new desktop so I thought I'd offer to save him some money. I researched at Vigor Gaming what a nice desktop could be, then found comparable parts at Newegg - saving a cool $1000.

The PC will be used for gaming(!) and 2d art software such as Photoshop and Painter. No 3d planned at this time. I want it to stand the test of time as well as it can. Also this will probably be the system I eventually run my home business on, but that doesn't need much. I just want this guy to be a monster! <3

Budget is around $4000, will be buying from USA, no current brand preference really. On overclocking, I don't know anything about it so I more than likely won't. Too risky. As for when, I'm planning on building it within the next month or so.

What I'm looking at now...

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16811129021

ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16813131224

(x2) VisionTek 900228 Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16814129111

Open Box: Tagan TG1100-U96 1100 Watts ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, CB, cUL, FCC, TUV
http://www.newegg.com/product/...?item=N82E16817714001R

SIIG JU-91RW12-S4 9-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader/Write + Floppy - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16815150058

AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16819103249

(x2) OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16820227289

(x2) Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16822136012
-...or maybe just one, for the OS and program files.

(x2) HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 HDS721075KLA330 (0A35154) 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16822145166
-For other storage, again, maybe just one.

Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 400 cd/m2 3000:1 ACM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16824009125

SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16827151153

Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16829102005

Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16832116159

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16832116215

ZEROtherm BTF90 92mm Silent UFO CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16835887002

Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16836121120

Whew! There we go. So did I by chance make any stupid mistakes? This won't fit with that, and whatnot? I really want to make sure the parts work together to make my life easier when it comes to, well, putting them together.

Thanks in advance for any light you can help shed on this!

 

[chinaman1472]

The easy changes first:
Go with the Samsung Spinpoint F1 750GB over the Hitachi Deskstars and skip the Raptors.
Drop the sound card.
Get cheaper DDR2-800 RAM since you're not overclocking. Check out the Mushkin kits for $67AR.

Now, switch to an Intel build.
Get a simple P35 chipset motherboard, Gigabyte P35-DS3L, for about $100.
Pick up the Q9450 for about $280.
Drop the Crossfire setup, pick up an eVGA card. The 8800GTS is probably the best bang for your buck. The 9800GTX is slightly better but costs an extra $80. The eVGA card I'm recommending because it's rumored nVidia might be releasing their next-gen cards soon and eVGA offers the Step Up program, which allows you to trade in your current video card for a better one and all you pay is the difference. The single card should handle most games fine if you avoid playing everything on max settings.

Oh, and drop the 1100W power supply. Pick up a Corsair 620HX.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Ashkitty
Hello everyone. Mayhap ya'll can help me see if I've made the right choices. I haven't built a computer since I was sixteen, now my boyfriend is in the market for a new desktop so I thought I'd offer to save him some money. I researched at Vigor Gaming what a nice desktop could be, then found comparable parts at Newegg - saving a cool $1000.

The PC will be used for gaming(!) and 2d art software such as Photoshop and Painter. No 3d planned at this time. I want it to stand the test of time as well as it can. Also this will probably be the system I eventually run my home business on, but that doesn't need much. I just want this guy to be a monster! <3

Budget is around $4000, will be buying from USA, no current brand preference really. On overclocking, I don't know anything about it so I more than likely won't. Too risky. As for when, I'm planning on building it within the next month or so.

What I'm looking at now...

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16811129021

ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16813131224

(x2) VisionTek 900228 Radeon HD 3870 X2 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16814129111

Open Box: Tagan TG1100-U96 1100 Watts ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, CB, cUL, FCC, TUV
http://www.newegg.com/product/...?item=N82E16817714001R

SIIG JU-91RW12-S4 9-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader/Write + Floppy - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16815150058

AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16819103249

(x2) OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16820227289

(x2) Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16822136012
-...or maybe just one, for the OS and program files.

(x2) HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 HDS721075KLA330 (0A35154) 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16822145166
-For other storage, again, maybe just one.

Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 400 cd/m2 3000:1 ACM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16824009125

SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16827151153

Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16829102005

Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16832116159

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16832116215

ZEROtherm BTF90 92mm Silent UFO CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16835887002

Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16836121120

Whew! There we go. So did I by chance make any stupid mistakes? This won't fit with that, and whatnot? I really want to make sure the parts work together to make my life easier when it comes to, well, putting them together.

Thanks in advance for any light you can help shed on this!

Inspite of the hype there is no real need for a quad-core cpu in your setup because your software will not support parallel multithreading. An OEM X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Brisbane 65W for $100 will tide you over until the 45nm's come out the end of this year. (save $135)

Drop the sound card (save $86)

The vid cards you selected will not vent heat out of the back of your case. Check out the MSI Radeon HD 3870 X2 and also save $180 after rebates.

If you add the $$$ you saved to the cost of the LCD you want you may find a 32-inch HDTV LCD flat panel (or a 40- to 42-inch if you throw in a few hundred more).

Nuthin' sez lovin' like gaming (and p0rn ) on a 42-inch LCD ....

 

[Roguestar]

No excuse for using an AMD CPU when you've got a $4000 budget.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
No excuse for using an AMD CPU when you've got a $4000 budget.

:thumbsup: I agree, I've always been an AMD fan and still have an AMD system running. But with that kind of budget you should get the best and for now and the foreseeable future thats Intel. Even lower end Intel's stuff just spanks anything AMD is making.

Here's what I would recommend for mobo and CPU

Gigabyte X48 DS4

Intel Q9550 There are many cheaper options here that still pummel the AMD phenom's in gaming Q6600, E8400, E8500, Q9300, Q9450, but assuming your budget and no overclocking I would splurge for the top (non extreme)Q9550

For ram just get the cheapest DDR2-800 2gb sticks

Quad crossfire is not a good idea, I would go with the best single card available at time of purchase, right now its the 9800 GX2

And replace the two 150gb raptors with one
WD 300gb VelociRaptor

Drop the power supply down to a 750-800w