|
Advice on First PC build
|
|
|
Strum22
Newbie
|
8. December 2007 @ 19:17 |
Link to this message
|
Hey, I'm from Canada and want to build up a sufficient PC for gaming, photoshop and schoolwork. I have a usable knowledge (not that great) of computers, but would rather have help.
I have a budget that caps off at 1000CDN, but hopefully less than 800.
So far I have these components in mind, but would like a review on them. (I've been swapping parts, but I don't think there are any incompatibilities)
BTW I would like to be able to play TF2, SC2, and possibly Crysis, maximum settings not req'd.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ (65W) Dual-Core Socket AM2, 2.5GHz, 512KB x2 L2 Cache, 2000MHz HT, 65nm (ADO4800DDBOX) $106.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...314&cid=CPU.907
NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT / 512MB DDR2 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / DVI / VGA / TV Out / OEM / Video Card $79.99*
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...8204&CatId=1558
Seagate Barracuda (ST3320620A) 7200.10 320GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM 16MB Cache (OEM) $83.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...&cid=HD.443.399
LiteOn LH-20A1S 20x DVD Writer, SATA, OEM $33.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...2840&cid=CR.184
OCZ (OCZ2P8004GK) DDR2 PC2-6400 Vista Performance Platinum 4GB (2x2048) Kit Dual Channel $104.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...cid=RAM.346.307
Asus M2A-MVP Socket AM2 AMD 480X CrossFire Chipset + ATI SB600 Dual Channel DDR2 800/667/533 1394a Firewire $90.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...3744&cid=MB.526
Cooler Master Elite 330 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front USB and Audio Ports
$48.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...1413&CatId=1509
Ultra / X-Connect V-Series ( XVS) / 500-Watt / ATX / 120mm Fan / 20/24-Pin / Modular Power Supply $59.97
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...ku=ULT33135%20K
Any advice, help and reviews is greatly appreciated.
|
|
Advertisement
|
 |
|
|
|
AXT
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
8. December 2007 @ 20:40 |
Link to this message
|
Ok. When picking out computer parts ALWAYS make sure everything fits correctly. Your Hard Drive should be SATA 3.0Gb/s and NOT ATA unless you want headaches later down the road. Me personally would reduce the amount of ram to 2Gb and invest more on a power supply or a video card. As far as power supplies are concerned stick with Enermax, Thermaltake, Corsair, and PC Power & Cooling. If you want to play games then I would naturally suggest a HD3850, but as far as cheap card go the Radeon X1950 Pro is far superior to the 8500GT so get that instead. If you are buying the 8500GT, then change your motherboard to something else such as this:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...9639&CatId=2320
|
|
Strum22
Newbie
|
8. December 2007 @ 22:26 |
Link to this message
|
Alright thanks for the help AXT,I made some changes acording to your reference and correction of my dumb mistake with serial ATA. So I stretched closer to the limit on my budget and came up with the following:
Sapphire ATI RADEON HD 3870 512MB GDDR4 Dual Dual-Link DVI HD Audio Shader Model 4.0 320 Unified Shaders PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card $259.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...cid=999.243.272
Asus M2A-MVP Socket AM2 AMD 480X CrossFire Chipset + ATI SB600 Dual Channel DDR2 800/667/533 1394a Firewire $92.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...3744&cid=MB.526
ThermalTake / PurePower W0129RU / 600-Watt / ATX 2.2 / 120mm Fan / SATA-Ready / PCI-E Ready / Active PFC / Power Supply $84.99*
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...2372&CatId=1483
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (65W) Dual-Core Socket AM2, 2.6GHz, 512KB x2 L2 Cache, 2000MHz HT, 65nm (ADO5000DDBOX) $119.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...314&cid=CPU.907
Seagate Barracuda (ST3250410AS) 7200.10 250GB SATA2 8.5MS 7200RPM 16MB Cache Hard Drive $74.99
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...&cid=HD.443.877
LiteOn LH-20A1S 20x DVD Writer, SATA, OEM $34.69
http://www.canadacomputers.com/main.php?...2840&cid=CR.184
Corsair XMS2 DHX 2048MB Dual Channel PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB) $39.97*
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...9875&CatId=2261
Cooler Master Elite 330 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front USB and Audio Ports
$48.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/S...1413&CatId=1509
TOTAL 757CDN
Some questions-
1. Is it worth the 10$ to change from the X2 4800 to the X2 5000?
2. Will the HD 3570 perform fine with the power supply and MOBO I have listed? I'd assume it would, but because it's such a high end video card, I'm not sure if it needs something else in the MOBO.
3. Corsair is a reliable RAM producer, right?
4. Is the HD 3850 viable for newer games? Wondering because it only has 256MB of video memory and newer games recommend 512. If so I may end up switching out the 3870 for the 3850
The more advice, comments and help the better.
Thanks in advance
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. December 2007 @ 22:31
|
|
AXT
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
9. December 2007 @ 02:02 |
Link to this message
|
Yea the power supply will do fine and will be able to run everything just fine. As far as CPU is concerned you will not gain much by getting a X2 5000. The RAM is good. Corsair RAM is one of the best in the market so you should be fine in that department. As far as video card goes you will be fine using a HD3850 if and only if you keep your resolution below 1400 x 1050.
Before making your decisions, however, wait for other people other than myself to give you some advise. Also go to other tech forums and see what people there have to say. Some good ones are tom's hardware, extreme tech, and overclock.net
Just do as much research as possible before spending money. Since you are on a tight budged it is harder to give advice.
Good Luck
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
9. December 2007 @ 08:52 |
Link to this message
|
All I can add to this is to say avoid the 8500GT, it is by no means a gaming graphics card, and would be utterly hopeless at running Crysis. The HD3870 will have no trouble though.
|
|
REAM
Suspended permanently
|
9. December 2007 @ 15:44 |
Link to this message
|
you are using PS, so i recomend Vista 64 and 4GB of RAM.
i would use the Hd3850 if you gaem under 1440 x 900. anything more and i would either get the 512 version or the 3870.
also, i would suggest goign for a Q6600 and an intel P35 chipset mobo. this is becuase you use PS, and PS ultilizes multicore setups.
|
|
Strum22
Newbie
|
10. December 2007 @ 18:09 |
Link to this message
|
|
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
10. December 2007 @ 18:51 |
Link to this message
|
|
That's a reasonably good build, but If you should ever want to go Crossifre (although heaven knows why, it's rubbish) I'd recommend you upgrade the PSU to a better one. Thermaltake Purepower PSUs are fine for low power builds like that, but in multiple GPU setups I'm not sure I'd want to be using one.
|
|
troybunda
Junior Member
|
11. December 2007 @ 13:50 |
Link to this message
|
dont use the Lite-On Drive (Peace of crap!), Go with Sony, LG, Samsung, a good brand. Good Luck!
|
|
REAM
Suspended permanently
|
11. December 2007 @ 14:00 |
Link to this message
|
|
actually, LiteOn are a very good mauafacturer.
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
11. December 2007 @ 15:04 |
Link to this message
|
Liteon make some good stuff actually. Their quality was a bit suspect in the past but they seem to be improving well. Sony drives are OK now they've merged with NEC, and LG drives are quite good. Samsung drives are pretty naff though, and are to be avoided.
|
|
troybunda
Junior Member
|
12. December 2007 @ 00:09 |
Link to this message
|
Lite-on maybe good but not at optical drives trust me i know from experience. And Samsung may not be great but i trust them over Lite-on! But its all based on the luck you've had with certain manufacturers. I have 2 LG's and love 'em!
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. December 2007 @ 07:53 |
Link to this message
|
I'm in your boat there, I own two LG drives and they were excellent. I've had no problems with my NEC drive either (before it got starforced) and would happy to buy another of either. One brand I certainly didn't get on with was acer/benq, two of their drives (one under each name, but same drive underneath) both failed after less than 3 weeks of use.
|
Senior Member
|
12. December 2007 @ 13:06 |
Link to this message
|
i always buy stuff without thinking properly and i always regret...like i bought a Benq drive...its bad quality...i burn lots and lots of dvd and sometimes when it spins too quick it shakes and make damn loud noise...
SEX
Now Ive got your attention please read my post above
Own: Computer, PS2, PS3, PSP and Asus UX32VD i5 Ultrabook
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. December 2007 @ 13:18 |
Link to this message
|
Recently? Benq drives I owned in the past were terrible quality, but people keep trying to tell me that's all fixed now and Benq drives are good. You say different?
|
Senior Member
|
12. December 2007 @ 13:27 |
Link to this message
|
Ok i shouldn't say Benq is bad...b/c i bought this drive last year...so i didn't know that they've improved...
Sorry BenQ!...
SEX
Now Ive got your attention please read my post above
Own: Computer, PS2, PS3, PSP and Asus UX32VD i5 Ultrabook
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
12. December 2007 @ 15:04 |
Link to this message
|
|
Last year still counts as the current tech, so your point is still valid. The drives I had issues with were bought 5 years ago. I meant 'in the last few years' improved, not 'in the last few months' improved
|
