Hi guys, I know I've annoyed you over the last few days about new build advice. Well I've taken all your advice into consideration and voila, my new build. Please feel free to comment on it as I will be buying the parts sometime this week and assembling it myself (first time). Case: Coolermaster Cosmos Full Tower (PMed to $182) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26047&vpn=RC-1000-KSN1&manufacture=COOLERMASTER Mobo: ASUS P5Q Pro (140$) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=30418&vpn=P5Q Pro&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1014 PSU: Corsair TX750W 750W ($105) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26415&vpn=CMPSU-750TX&manufacture=CORSAIR CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 (PMed to $350) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=30576&vpn=BX80569Q9550&manufacture=Intel RAM: Mushkin HP PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-800 CL5-4-4-12 240PIN ($85) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23895&vpn=996587&manufacture=MUSHKIN HD: WD 640gb x2 ($75x2 = $150, PMed) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=30004&vpn=WD6400AAKS&manufacture=Western Digital WD GPU: Diamond HD4870 512mb (PMed to $270) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=30819&vpn=4870PE5512&manufacture=Diamond Sound card: HT Omega Striker 7.1 (PMed to $66) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22973&vpn=STRIKER_7.1&manufacture=HT Omega OD: Pioneer DVR-216DBK (PMed to $27) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=31942&vpn=DVR-216DBK&manufacture=Pioneer Heatsink: OCZ Vendetta 2 (PMed to $30) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29311&vpn=OCZTVEND2&manufacture=OCZ Technology Total: ~$1400 Couple of comments: - went with quad core because i won't only be using it for gaming - will not probably be OC'ing - will be crossfiring as soon as $$$ for 4870 drops - native rez of monitor is 1680x1050 What do you guys think? What are the weakest components that I should change? Is it worth going to the p5q Deluxe or stick with the Pro? Can I get a better system for cheaper? Are there any better components that will cost a little more but add substantial increase in performance? Thanks for your help guys. I'm really psyched to buy this beast.
If you want crossfire, DO NOT use the P5Q boards, the P45 chipset isn't high enough bandwidth, use this board instead. http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29821&vpn=GA-X48-DS4&manufacture=Gigabyte Yes it's more expensive, but for crossfire, you need a good motherboard.
I realize that the P5Q will only allow x8/x8 in crossfire, and I debated for a long time about getting an x48 board. However, I heard that x8 bandwidth is never filled anyways, and since my monitor is only 1680X1050 a crossifre setup in x8/x8 should suit my purposes fine for the next couple years. I'm definitely open to the Gigabyte X48-DS4 suggestion, but in my case would it be needed? Also, how reputable is Gigabyte compared to Asus. In these forums it seems as though both companies are tops in making motherboards. Thanks
I don't know whether it's still the case, but with the older chipsets, having reduced PCIe bandwidth not only affected the performance of crossfire, but also the stability of it too. You also have to bear in mind that merely by the second card being there, even if you disable crossfire, the performance of the single card will be stunted. Try and track down an older X38-DS4 if you can, it's what I use and works fine with crossfire. Gigabyte make superb boards, I've owned two and have been greatly satisfied with both. They aren't quite as packed with overclocking features, but they have an overall higher standard of build quality than Asus boards.
Thanks Sam, you sold me. Replacing the P5Q Pro with the GA-X48-DS4. Here it is so far: Case: Coolermaster Cosmos Full Tower (PMed to $182) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s...re=COOLERMASTER Mobo: Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 (220$) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=29821&vpn=GA-X48-DS4&manufacture=Gigabyte PSU: Corsair TX750W 750W ($105) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s...facture=CORSAIR CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 (PMed to $350) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s...nufacture=Intel RAM: Mushkin HP PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-800 CL5-4-4-12 240PIN ($85) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s...facture=MUSHKIN HD: WD 640gb x2 ($75x2 = $150, PMed) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s... Digital WD GPU: Diamond HD4870 512mb (PMed to $270) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s...facture=Diamond OD: Pioneer DVR-216DBK (PMed to $27) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s...facture=Pioneer Heatsink: OCZ Vendetta 2 (PMed to $30) http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?s...CZ Technology I got rid of the soundcard because I want to test out onboard sound first. Also, is there a point in getting the vendetta 2 if I don't plan on OC'ing?
Not really, but you will be able to turn the fan down for lower noise, which you may like. You are wise to choose the TX750 if you are planning on using two 4870s down the line. You don't need 750W of power, but only the TX750 comes with the four required PCIe power connectors. One word of warning, you have two identical drives there, leave them as they are, don't use RAID.
You suggest leaving them as they are. Is that because they're both likely to fail at the same time? I know the 640gb are built on 2 platters, making seeking time much faster. Wouldn't putting them in RAID make it even quicker?
That's a possibility, but I mainly suggest it because in RAID0, if one drive goes, you lose ALL the data from both drives, and in RAID1, you only get half the space. The minor performance gain is outweighed by these heavy disadvantages.
from what i have seen 8/8 vs 16/16 only is affteced at 1920 and above and at 1680 dont bother with CF as at that res you CPU will bottle neck the massive overhead CF needs. a very good OCing and stable P45 board, such as the one you chose or the GA-EP45-DS3R would work much better. one single 4850 will spit up and chew anything not named crysis at that res with piles of AA/AF.
The X48-DS4 is not a bad overclocker by any means, and I doubt the P45-DS3R will be that much better for OCing, but with the new generation of GPUs, you don't even need crossfire until 1920x1200 anyway.
