New Computer (Time for a)

[EyeOfThe]

Anandtech... I havent been on here for a long long time. I'm still a noob.

My current box is getting old and I'm thinking now might be the time to replace.
I want to be taking advantage of the bad economy prices.
Not sure about my price range, for each item I'd probably want to go with the sweet spot right before it has a big jump to the next level. If that's $800, great. If it's $3000, well maybe. (total)

I'm looking for a desktop. I'm not a big time gamer, but I may want to play WoW or Diablo 3 or Fallout 3. I would like to edit video. I've always wanted to take a movie and a song and cut them into a music video. I tried that on my current box and it took 5 minutes for every click.

Despite having a EE degree, I am not very fond of assembling machines. I'm always afraid part A won't work with part Z, because of some bug I didn't read about in the fine print. I like stories that really give good details on how to put everything together.

I goofed big time on my current machine, choosing a bunch of highly recommended fans that made my box louder than heck. (And I'm too lazy to change it.)

Any advice?

Links to recent stories about building a great system for $X appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[jae]

Would you prefer AMD or Intel? (Intel still has the edge when it comes to media creation, but AMD (still fast) gets you the 'best bang for your buck')

 

[alteredform]

You seem to be in a similar situation that I am in. I look forward to reading the responses...

 

[ZanatosFox]

Very similar to me as well. My system is 5 years old and showing its age (and I've been out of the loop since then!!) Since I have some extra cash, and with the decent prices right now, I had been contemplating building a system around an i7 920. This may be just over the price/performance threshold you were looking for though, and one of the higher end C2Q's may be more what you'd want. (it's the mobo prices that kill the i7's value) I'm not as familiar with the current AMD offerings yet, so won't comment there.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Phenom 720BE / Asus 790gx AM3 combo: $180 AR

G.Skill 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600: $95

2 X Western Digital Caviar 320GB: $110

Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB: $100

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600w: $60 AR


Your discreet vid card depends upon your monitor resolution - at 16x10^ take a look at the Sapphire HD 4870 1Gb for $160 AR.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Phenom 720BE / Asus 790gx AM3 combo: $180 AR

G.Skill 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600: $95

2 X Western Digital Caviar 320GB: $110

Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB: $100

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600w: $60 AR


Your discreet vid card depends upon your monitor resolution - at 16x10^ take a look at the Sapphire HD 4870 1Gb for $160 AR.

Why not just get the 640GB WD drive?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Phenom 720BE / Asus 790gx AM3 combo: $180 AR

G.Skill 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600: $95

2 X Western Digital Caviar 320GB: $110

Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB: $100

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600w: $60 AR


Your discreet vid card depends upon your monitor resolution - at 16x10^ take a look at the Sapphire HD 4870 1Gb for $160 AR.

Why not just get the 640GB WD drive?

Use the first drive for OS/Apps, second for capture, third for output/storage.

 

[EyeOfThe]

I'm impartial to Intel/AMD.

I've never had an AMD before but I wouldn't hesitate getting one. On the other hand I haven't read anything about cpu's in like 5 years.

The question would be how much "edge" and how much "bang?"

I'm not going to be rendering the next Pixar movie. On the other hand maybe I might want to (try to) rip a HD-DVD, cut it into a music video, then burn it to a disc watchable on a big HDTV.

 

[EyeOfThe]

Wow, I searched myself and found the post asking about my current PC parts. 6 years ago. I went with some pretty high end parts at the time.
---------------------------
07/03/2003 09:27 AM
I ended up going with this setup

Mobo: Asus P4C800 Deluxe
CPU: Intel P4 3 Gig (800MHz)
RAM: (1G: 2 x 512) Corsair LL (TwinX) 512MB 64MX64 DDR467 CMX512-3700 With Heat Spreader. Hard Drive: 2 x Seagate 160 GB SATA RAID 0
Video Card: Gainward GeForce 5900 Ultra
Sound Card: Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2 Platinum
CD-RW: Plextor PlexWriter Premium 52x32x52x CD-RW (ATAPI)
DVD: Toshiba 16x DVD Drive IDE INT
Case/PS: Antec 1080AMG Performance Plus ATX 430W
Fans 2 x Antec SmartFans
Speakers: Creative Labs MegaWorks 550 THX 5.1 Dolby 5.1
Keyboard/Mouse: Logitech Cordless MX Duo
OS: Windows XP Professional

 

[EyeOfThe]

PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Surfing Web
Creating artwork
Some possible gaming: WoW, Diablo 3, Fallout 3 (but no hardcore FPS, I stink at them - or will play Halo on console)
Video editing: family videos, creating music videos from movie video, potentially wanting to do HD

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Could go to 3000, but does not mean I want to spend that much

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA, newegg probably, unless there is now somewhere else giving better deals

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Non-Fanboy

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Maybe? See list above. I guess DVD player and CD burner are still good...

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Not much

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Only if it is very EASY and very SAFE

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
By the Fall? No big rush

 

[EyeOfThe]

I found this list in a story:

Processors Price
AMD Phenom II X4 955 (3.2GHz) $250 (check price)
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz) $265 (check price)
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 (3.0GHz) $310
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9770 (3.2GHz) $1,499 (check price)
Intel Core i7 920 $280 (check price)
Intel Core i7 940 $560
Intel Core i7 950 $560 (est.)
Intel Core i7 965 $1,000 (check price)
Intel Core i7 975 $1,000 (est)

Based on this list, I'd go with i7 950


Oh... I just looked up Windows 7, I thought it was out, but looks like that won't be until October. I hear it's good. So if I get a system early, I'd install my old Win XP... but is it worth all the pain if I'll just need to install Win7 before I know it.

 

[EyeOfThe]

I fear I've broken the rules by making too many posts in a row....

 

[pg55555]

Some links for you to get into the subject:

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3563

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3552

http://www.tomshardware.com/re.../core-i7-sff,2312.html

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3542

Personally if you want an start-of-the art PC but not overspending, I'd go with an core i7 920 ($280), X58 mother with 1394a, eSata (~$200) as the ASUS P6T, a 6 GB 1333 DDR3 memory kit (~$90) good 700 w PS(~$100)
For your video needs a Radeon 4850 ($110) or GeForce GT250 ($140) should more than suffice

Hard disks and optical units, as you like

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: EyeOfThe
I found this list in a story:

Processors Price
AMD Phenom II X4 955 (3.2GHz) $250 (check price)
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz) $265 (check price)
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 (3.0GHz) $310
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9770 (3.2GHz) $1,499 (check price)
Intel Core i7 920 $280 (check price)
Intel Core i7 940 $560
Intel Core i7 950 $560 (est.)
Intel Core i7 965 $1,000 (check price)
Intel Core i7 975 $1,000 (est)

Based on this list, I'd go with i7 950


Oh... I just looked up Windows 7, I thought it was out, but looks like that won't be until October. I hear it's good. So if I get a system early, I'd install my old Win XP... but is it worth all the pain if I'll just need to install Win7 before I know it.

I mean the i7 940 (the 950 isn't out yet) is a great chip and all, but there's no need to spend that much for the occasional movie encoding. If you got the i7 920 which is only a smidgen slower, so that once a month that you did a movie rip, it'd be 12 minutes instead of 9 minutes. Not a big deal. And you'd never notice the difference any other time.

You could go down to a cheaper quad core if you want, since you're only doing the occasional encoding, but since you seem to want something closer to high end then maybe the i7 920 is perfect.

I would definitely recommend you stay under $1000 in this build -- you're just not going to notice the computing difference if you dropped more money on it. The only thing you might notice, if you feel like throwing down extra money, is putting an Intel x25-m or OCZ Vertex SSD in there. But that's a matter of taste -- they're small capacity and high $/GB right now, so you have to fuss around with a separate drive for all your data and some applications perhaps.

For video cards, there's lots of great cards to be had for cheap now -- look on the AT main page, there's a video card roundup for you there. Something in the ballpark of a 4850 or 4870 would be more than adequate even for more than occasional gaming.

As far as PSU goes, don't let people scare you. You do not need a big honking 600+ W thing just to run one video card.
@heyheybooboo: I remember some less-than-stellar reviews of the OCZ ModXStream psu, and for $60 AR that's no steal. I think there's better deals on quality psus to be had.

 

[jae]

Originally posted by: pg55555
Personally if you want an start-of-the art PC but not overspending, I'd go with an core i7 920 ($280), X58 mother with 1394a, eSata (~$200) as the ASUS P6T, a 6 GB 1333 DDR3 memory kit (~$90) good 700 w PS(~$100)
For your video needs a Radeon 4850 ($110) or GeForce GT250 ($140) should more than suffice

Hard disks and optical units, as you like

I agree with this build. 500-600w PSU. Two WD Black drives.

 

[z1ggy]

If you search hard... you can find a 4850 for under $100. You shouldnt really need more than 500w either, that can save you some money. And two nice WD blacks 320's should be just fine, I dont think you will need 3. Also, what case are you considering?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: magreen

@heyheybooboo: I remember some less-than-stellar reviews of the OCZ ModXStream psu, and for $60 AR that's no steal. I think there's better deals on quality psus to be had.

Over the last six months or so I've used 3 of them without any problems - runs cool and quiet at stated voltages.

If you have a better recommendation ... post it.

 

[alkemyst]

bang for buck I just went with the Phenom 720 as well, I picked a different motherboard as I didn't want onboard video at all and a better audio chipset. I am running 4GB for now (2x2GB)...my Ultra 120 Extreme heatsink can be carried over.

I went with a 4890 as well. Remember bing cash back and ZZF has deals on videocards and offering $30 cash back with ebillme later, and newegg has two 10% off codes right now. One for vga cards the other for motherboards.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Phenom 720BE / Asus 790gx AM3 combo: $180 AR

G.Skill 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600: $95

2 X Western Digital Caviar 320GB: $110

Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB: $100

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600w: $60 AR


Your discreet vid card depends upon your monitor resolution - at 16x10^ take a look at the Sapphire HD 4870 1Gb for $160 AR.

That combo died it was a great deal...I am kicking myself for not ordering it just to resell the motherboard.

For about $169 AR you can get the MSI 4890 OC or for about $10 less the HIS.

Edit: new phenom 720+MB deal $189 AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.205337

 

[NA1NSXR]

You also need to pick a form factor. I have always built full size ATX towers packed with stuff but for my latest computer I discovered micro ATX can finally support everything I want at a reduced footprint without compromising performance. Even such trivial things like floppy drives and dual optical drives are no longer needed and save space. Stuff which used to require motherboard slots are mostly integrated on motherboards now. I also would not reuse your optical drives. You can save a drive bay and probably increase the quality of your burns with a new one.

You sound kind of like me in that we build "proper" systems at longer intervals instead of cheaper machines which constantly get upgraded. Therefore, I suggest you take a look at the product roadmaps for CPU and GPU. Of all CPUs Core i7 looks to offer the best longevity today. For GPU's there is introduction of new technology next year. You may want to either hold off on this new computer until then or buy a very cheap video card to hold you over in the meantime (there are good options for that purpose at the $100 price point currently).

 

[Trevelyan]

Yeah I would go with an i7 920 cpu and an entry level X58 motherboard, like the Gigabyte UD3R that I just bought

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Trevelyan
Yeah I would go with an i7 920 cpu and an entry level X58 motherboard, like the Gigabyte UD3R that I just bought

Yeah if budget allows that it would be the best choice IMHO...

It's more than double a typical E8400/Phenom 550/720 though and at those levels GPU is much more important than CPU.

Editing video though is specialized thing to do right...a buttload of ram, 64bit OS and a few drives.

Seriously it's going to be night and day your upgrade even if you did it cheap.