1. #1

    Building a new computer! Help!

    Yeah, it's about that time again. The rig I'm on now is several years old (fall of '06) and I'm starting to notice the limitations it has. It's running a 7950 video card, core 2 duo @ 2.13gHz, 2 gigs DDR2, etc. Runs most things okay, but with my new monitor and high resolution I can't even watch a full screen hulu stream without it looking choppy.

    I'm not new to having custom built computers (this is my 2nd one that I'm using now), but I have never actually built one myself, and have always had a friend build it for me. Now I want to learn and do it myself. I don't have much money to spend, so looking to make a mid level machine. Here's what I am thinking about picking up:

    Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
    Mother Board: GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard w/ USB 3.0 & SATA 6 Gb/s
    Processor: Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor
    Video Card: XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
    Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
    Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
    Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
    Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

    I am already using monitor: ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers



    I've already done quite a bit of checking to make sure things are compatible with others, and had to change many parts out to make sure they were. Mobo that works with ram and processor, etc. But as I'm really new to the process there is easily something I could have overlooked.

    If anybody could look over those parts and give your opinion? Something that won't work, or a suggestion for an alternate piece of hardware?

    I also have these questions for anybody able to answer: Is 750 watt power supply necessary? Or can I safely get a cheaper, less powerful one with this setup? I'm intending to leave room open for doing SLI with a 2nd video card, as well as putting in more RAM. And on that note, is only 4GB of ram sufficient? Would I notice huge slowdown with Windows7?

    Thanks a ton for any support!
    Last edited by NonMagical; 2010-06-12 at 11:16 PM. Reason: Updated Graphics Card.
    "Our logic is actually pretty simple. If hybrid classes can do the same dps as pure classes, then why have pure classes in the game? So we design the pure classes to do slightly higher dps." -Ghostcrawler 3/22/2009
    http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=15864857264&pageNo=4&sid=1#66

  2. #2
    If you plan on running SLI I would leave the 750 watt PSU. 4 gigs is sufficient I see people running 6 but I don't see a reason. I run 4 gigs and windows 64 loads in about 30 seconds from post. Only thing I might add is to grab a 1366 mobo instead of the 1156. This is the one I have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128422 and it is a really good product.

  3. #3
    That's a $100 more, and would mean I would have to upgrade my processor too to be 1366 wouldn't I? Even more money I don't have to spend.

    I've also switched my video card to XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

    I heard the 200 series nVidia isn't so good, and the ATI cards of the same generation out perform usually.
    "Our logic is actually pretty simple. If hybrid classes can do the same dps as pure classes, then why have pure classes in the game? So we design the pure classes to do slightly higher dps." -Ghostcrawler 3/22/2009
    http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=15864857264&pageNo=4&sid=1#66

  4. #4
    Moderator Cilraaz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NonMagical View Post
    That's a $100 more, and would mean I would have to upgrade my processor too to be 1366 wouldn't I? Even more money I don't have to spend.

    I've also switched my video card to XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

    I heard the 200 series nVidia isn't so good, and the ATI cards of the same generation out perform usually.
    Yes. An 1156 CPU won't work in a 1366 motherboard.

    Also, good choice in bumping up the video card. The 5770 should be a fair bit ahead of the GTS 250, though either would work fine if WoW was the only requirement.

  5. #5
    Thanks for the confirmation Cilraaz.

    Does anybody happen to see any pieces that aren't compatible with each other? That's probably my biggest concern.
    "Our logic is actually pretty simple. If hybrid classes can do the same dps as pure classes, then why have pure classes in the game? So we design the pure classes to do slightly higher dps." -Ghostcrawler 3/22/2009
    http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=15864857264&pageNo=4&sid=1#66

  6. #6
    Moderator Cilraaz's Avatar
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    Nope. That should all work together.

  7. #7
    I didn't realize the price difference was so much. Yeah everything you listed is compatible.

  8. #8
    I actually bought most of that stuff u listed today (CPU, Case, Mobo, possibly same PowSup, and 4Gb Corsair), before knowing about this post, lol, but a Radeon 5750 instead. Also, I decided it's time to stop using my 10 year old SB Audigy.

    Assembling really isn't that hard if u study a little bit and read your installation manual carefully and understand it before you assemble. It's always a pain for me after not worrying about that stuff(my pro terminology) for years at a time (my comp has some really old stuff besides just the sound card), but it all comes back .

    Anyone know if I should really get the 5770 over 5750 Radeon? I basically went with Anandtech's much more positive note on 5750 with power saving and smaller size, whereas they compared 5770 to 4870 rather unfavorably. I also read numerous reviews at Amazon and NewEgg of Satisfaction with the 5750 by XFX.

    Edit: I seriously considered the 5850, but I am on a tight budget, after all, and I realized all I really want is to run SC2 and Deus Ex: HR on my sad 19" LCD.
    Last edited by Achtalon; 2010-06-12 at 01:56 AM.

  9. #9
    Its a very decent setup, the psu can be changed to the 650 without worries saving a few bucks, and I would never go for that graphics card.. not even when it was launched, in that price range the 5770 in my opinion is basicaly the card to go.

  10. #10
    Stood in the Fire Erik765's Avatar
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    I see people running 6 but I don't see a reason
    The reason people run 6 instead of 4 is typically to utilize DDR3 triple channel.

  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Erik765 View Post
    The reason people run 6 instead of 4 is typically to utilize DDR3 triple channel.
    This


    I have no need for 6GB's of Ram on my computer but to get maximum performance from my RAM I went with 6 due to my system supporting Triple channel memory.

  12. #12
    I would suggest one of these HDD over the Wester Digital one:
    Spinpoint F3 500gb
    Spinpoint F3 1TB
    Seagate 7200.12 1TB
    Seagate 7200.12 500gb

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Achtalon View Post
    Anyone know if I should really get the 5770 over 5750 Radeon? I basically went with Anandtech's much more positive note on 5750 with power saving and smaller size, whereas they compared 5770 to 4870 rather unfavorably. I also read numerous reviews at Amazon and NewEgg of Satisfaction with the 5750 by XFX.
    Are you saying you heard the 5750 is a better way to go than the 5770? The reviews for the 5770 I posted are pretty good.

    Quote Originally Posted by Enola View Post
    Its a very decent setup, the psu can be changed to the 650 without worries saving a few bucks
    You think 650w is enough even down the road if I add a 2nd video card and more ram? Just would like to make sure that window is open.



    New question: I was reading on some other forums that perhaps going with an AMD processor would be better than the i5 Intel one for the same price. They pointed out these two:

    AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor
    AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor

    Anybody have an opinion on that? What would be a good AMD mobo to go with it? There doesn't seem to be as good of selection compared to the Intel ones.
    Last edited by NonMagical; 2010-06-12 at 11:52 PM.
    "Our logic is actually pretty simple. If hybrid classes can do the same dps as pure classes, then why have pure classes in the game? So we design the pure classes to do slightly higher dps." -Ghostcrawler 3/22/2009
    http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=15864857264&pageNo=4&sid=1#66

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by NonMagical View Post
    That's a $100 more, and would mean I would have to upgrade my processor too to be 1366 wouldn't I? Even more money I don't have to spend.

    I've also switched my video card to XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

    I heard the 200 series nVidia isn't so good, and the ATI cards of the same generation out perform usually.
    The 200 nvidia series is very good, the GTX 260 is about on par with an ATI 5770. The thing is, the 200 nvidia series is not current tech, they're DX10 cards. If all you play is WoW though that won't make a difference. But you made an excellent choice with the 5770, it's a good solid DX11 card which is great for games like WoW. Now if you play other newer games like BFBC2, Metro 2033, etc etc, the 5770 isn't the best performer. You'd probably want an ATI 5870/5850.

    ---------- Post added 06-15-2010 at 08:21 AM ----------

    Also, I'd swap out the WD HDD with a Samsung Spinpoint F3. They've been benched to be a good bit faster. IMO it's a better choice since youre not including an SSD in your build.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185
    Last edited by Jiran; 2010-06-15 at 08:22 AM.
    2x Intel Xeon 5680 12 Cores (2x6 Cores)@ 5.0ghz.* EVGA Classified SR-2 Motherboard.*Kingston Hyper-X 48gb(12x4gb) DDR3 1600.* 3x OCZ Colossus SSD 1.5gb (3x500gb) Raid 0.* 2x Enermax 1250W PSU. 4x EVGA GTX 480 Quad-SLI.* Samsung F3 1TB Storage Drive.* Custom Watercooled (EK 2xCPU/4xGPU Blocks, 2xMCP655 Pumps, 3xXSPC Dual Bay Reservoirs, 3x480 GTX Radiators, 24x Scythe GentleTyphoon AP15 Fans in Push/Pull).* 3x Dell 3008wfp 30" IPS Monitors.* ASUS Xonar D2X 7.1 PCIe

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