Brandnew member, First build needs advice!!!

[pantaloc]

I did alot of search and have chosen 2 best builds. I want to find which one is better for gaming and more efficient, or even a new build you may recommend (price as low as possible) I'm currently living in Australia so everything will be in AUS dollars.

Build no.1:
Case: NZXT LEXA Blackline $159
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 CPU 2.66 GHz $339
GPU: Inno3D GTX 275 Overclocked PCI-E 2.0 896MB GTX275 $419
Monitor: Acer V203H 20" Widescreen LCD Monitor *$159 After Cash Back
RAM: OCZ OCZ2RPR10664GK PC2-8500 (2X2GB) REAPER C5 $145
Mobo: Asus P5N-D nF750i-SLI Motherboard $209
Optical: Asus DRW-22B1ST 22x DVDRW SATA Retail Black NERO8 $35
PSU: CoolerMaster Extreme Power+ Plus 650W ATX PSU Power Supply $109
HDD: WesternDigital WD1001FALS 1TB 1000GB 32MB 7200RPM SATA 2 $175
CPU Cooler: Asus SILENT KNIGHT II FAN CPU COOLER $65
Speakers: Altec Lansing BXR1121 2.1 Speaker System $28

Total: $1871

Build no.2:
Case: Thermaltake V9 Mid Tower Case VJ40001W2Z $119
CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Processor LGA1366 CPU 2.66GHZ $459
GPU: Palit GTX260+ 216SP Sonic 1792MB DDR3 PCI-E GTX 260+ $359
Monitor: Acer V203H 20" Widescreen LCD Monitor *$159 After Cash Back
RAM: Corsair TR3X3G1333C9 3GB (3 x XMS3 1GB) PC-10600 (1333MHz) XMS $89
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R Intel X58 Motherboard $315
Optical: Asus DRW-20B1LT 20x DVDRW SATA LightScribe Retail Black/White $28
PSU: CoolerMaster Extreme Power+ Plus 650W ATX PSU Power Supply $109
HDD: WesternDigital WD5002ABYS 500GB 16MB 7200RPM SATA2 RE3 $129
Speakers: Altec Lansing BXR1121 2.1 Speaker System $28

Total: $1820

Sorry about the long post but its necessary. I'll take every opinions seriously.

 

[BradleyKZN]

This is just my personal opinion here but i would swap graphics cards around and have one system that totally pwns and one that almost totally pwns. But thats just me. The 260 might also cause a bottleneck in the i7 but im not sure

 

[pantaloc]

This is just my personal opinion here but i would swap graphics cards around and have one system that totally pwns and one that almost totally pwns. But thats just me. The 260 might also cause a bottleneck in the i7 but im not sure

Thank you for your advice but juz wondering whether the case and RAM and HDD in the 2nd build can keep up with the ones in the 1st build.

 

[BradleyKZN]

I would have the 1000gb Hdd in the i7 as well. Otherwise looks good.

 

[Mussels]

My suggestions would be different, for the builds.

• Case: do as you wish. just make sure it has enough intake fans, especially one blowing on the HD's.
• CPU: Quad isnt neccesary. Check this option out 400 FSB (an easy OC) is 3.8GHz on this. (its the same as an E8500, only cheaper and potentially OCing better)
• Mobo: Nvidias chipsets arent that great. Go for a P45 or x48 (DFI or asus)
• Monitor: i's suggest samsung, but whatever you do get the highest viewing angles possible, Dont even bother with a screen thats only 160/160.
• ram: Dont be fooled. If you get 2x2GB of cheap 800MHz stuff, it wont hold you back compared to paying twice as much for a pissy performance increase. You can spend the money elsewhere. 800MHz ram gets you 400FSB when OCing, possibly upto 450 if you raise teh voltages.
• PSU: corsair. Just get a decent corsair now, save yourself trouble later.
• HDD: doesnt really matter, my vote goes samsung as does a lot of members here.
• Video card: 4870's are cheapish here in AU, and if you're getting an intel chipset board the crossfire option is very good for a long term plan.
  Speakers: Go logitech. and spend at least $100... the cheap ones always sound like total arse.

 

[tzitzibp]

the choice of case is up to u!

Build no.1:
Case: NZXT LEXA Blackline $159
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 CPU 2.66 GHz $339
GPU: SAPPHIRE RADEON VAPOR-X HD4870 2GB GDDR5 PCI-E $???
Monitor: Acer V203H 20" Widescreen LCD Monitor *$159 After Cash Back
RAM: G.SKILL F3-16000CL9D-4GBGT1 4GB (2X2GB) DDR3 PC3-16000 2000MHZ GT1 SERIES DUAL CHANNEL KIT(2X2GB) REAPER C5 $???
Mobo: DFI LANPARTY UT P45-T3RS$???
Optical: Asus DRW-22B1ST 22x DVDRW SATA Retail Black NERO8 $35
PSU: CoolerMaster Extreme Power+ Plus 650W ATX PSU Power Supply $109
HDD: WesternDigital WD1001FALS 1TB 1000GB 32MB 7200RPM SATA 2 $175
CPU Cooler: ASUS TRITON 88 $??
Speakers: Altec Lansing BXR1121 2.1 Speaker System $28

Total: $????

 

[Melvis]

What do you do mostly on the computer? Gaming or? and do you only want Intel/Nvidia?

 

[AsRock]

I'd get 2 500GB and the PC & Power 750w PSU. Kinda wondering why it so expensive though. I know i would not spend that much on a system.

Were you from ?.. If in the US maybe try Newegg.com.

 

[BradleyKZN]

Guys! We are being so rude welcome to TPU!

 

[pantaloc]

Thank you all very much for your advices! The thing is the maximum budget for me is $1900 I just want parts that will supply best gaming performance so is 4890 another good choice? For the speakers, I'll get the Sennheiser HD555 or HD595 sooner or later so wouldn't bother much about good speakers. And thank you Bradley for the warm welcome

 

[tzitzibp]

BradleyKZN is so right.... sorry for being rude...

Welcome to TPU!

 

[Mussels]

Thank you all very much for your advices! The thing is the maximum budget for me is $1900 I just want parts that will supply best gaming performance so is 4890 another good choice? For the speakers, I'll get the Sennheiser HD555 or HD595 sooner or later so wouldn't bother much about good speakers. And thank you Bradley for the warm welcome

i've had 555's since about 2000/2001. Still working, although the paddings stuffed. (you CAN buy new parts for them from sennheiser, which is awesome)

 

[alexp999]

I'm guessing that with a budget of this size you are expecting it to last?

If you want say 5 years out of it, I'll say what I have been saying to some of my other friends, wait until the DX11 cards come out, thats what I'd do, i5 and a GT300 or 58xx will be my next upgrade.

 

[pantaloc]

Yeah agree with the HD555, tried it once love it so much! Oh will the AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition or the Intel Core2 Duo E8500 do any good over the Intel Core2 Quad 9400 ???????

 

[pantaloc]

I'm guessing that with a budget of this size you are expecting it to last?

If you want say 5 years out of it, I'll say what I have been saying to some of my other friends, wait until the DX11 cards come out, thats what I'd do, i5 and a GT300 or 58xx will be my next upgrade.

Well I want it to last at least for 3 years and I have 2 months more until I order the parts (wai for cash ) but I can hardly wait longer than that bcuz my current laptop sux which makes my games and other graphic programs crash after 1 hour of using

 

[Melvis]

Both systems you have presented to us are pretty good systems, the only things that you might want to change since its going to be a gaming machine mostly would be.......

Maybe go with a high end Dual core (E8400/8500/8600) these will do almost as good for gaming and save you money for a better GPU.

Or go with a AMD Phenom II as these CPU's are very good for gaming, costs less ($330ish) and this will also make the Motherboard cheaper so you will have spare cash once again on a better GPU.

Also with the saving of money i would also go with a corsair PSU, as these are excellent PSU's and have great warranty/high quality.

Nvidia/ATI are both great at the moment, only thing would be that ATI might be a bit cheaper for similar performance.

If you are going to over clock then a ASUS mobo is what you want, if not id save ya money and get a nice Gigabyte Mobo.

Hope this help? ether way your system is going to be very nice indeed

 

[pantaloc]

Thank you so much for all of your advices guys !!!! Sorry for the late response cuz I got so much school works to do these days .... According to most of opinions, I think I will go for the Phenom II build with a better monitor :X How about a Samsung 2233SW-BL 22" with max res of 1920x1080? Btw for the Phenom, should I get a 945 or 955 cuz the 955 is $400+ .... If i wanna get the 955, then which part should i save money on? And also can you guys recommend me any good mobo for Phenom?? Also I'll get cheaper corsair RAM with 800mhz and a 650w corsair PSU. Will that do any good ?

 

[Melvis]

Well i found the Phenom 955 for as low as $379 http://www.austin.net.au/ProductList/ProductDetail/tabid/104/ProductCode/CPU-AM3P2-955/Default.aspx

But the Phenom 940 will do you just as good and i found that as low as $337 http://www.megaware.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195_197&products_id=86025

All depends if you want to go AM2+ or AM3? (AM2+ would be cheaper and i would use the Phenom 940)
I would have to look up the AM3 Motherboards as i haven't looked into them as yet sorry.

But im guessing you would go AM2+ since you will be going with 800MHz RAM? as DDR3 is more expensive.

Yes that PSU is fine

Did you want to overclock?

 

[n-ster]

hm... for GPU wait for end of July... DX 11 cards are coming out... I suggest an AM3 ddr3 system or i7...

for i7 cheap 6gb ddr3 1066 or 1333 from crucial or supertalent OC incredibly and are a best buy...

Cooler: s1283V from Xigmatek is very good
HDD: 7200.12 500gb from seagate is only one platter, is usually cheap and performs good

 

[h3llb3nd4]

I'm guessing that with a budget of this size you are expecting it to last?

If you want say 5 years out of it, I'll say what I have been saying to some of my other friends, wait until the DX11 cards come out, thats what I'd do, i5 and a GT300 or 58xx will be my next upgrade.

Awesome...You stole my favorite line:shadedshu