EPTSo basically...
Core i3 + 240, OR
Phenom X4 + 5770, OR
Core i5 + 240? or whatever video card
Pros, cons?
Thanks again
New SC2 Computer - Please critique - Page 3
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TheosEx
United States894 Posts
So basically... Core i3 + 240, OR Phenom X4 + 5770, OR Core i5 + 240? or whatever video card Pros, cons? Thanks again | ||
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FragKrag
United States11556 Posts
The i3, while it's capable of insane overclocks (if you give it a voltage boost) due to its 32nm architecture, is still just a dual core. As of now, there are still many games that are just optimized for dual cores, but as games become more optimized for quad cores, that i3 will lose performance even if you overclock it. The Phenom II X4 955/965 are two very good processors, and generally perform on par with the i5 750 (sometimes a bit above, sometimes a bit below, depending on the benchmark and benchmarker). Most newer Phenom II X4 955/965s are capable of producing 4Ghz on stock volts. They are easy to overclock because they have an unlocked multiplier. The Phenom II X4 is a quadcore, and it performs better in just about every single application than the i3, at around a $40 premium. The biggest issue with this core is the relatively high TDP (125W TDP) and power usage. It is easily the most power hungry of the three. However, AMD plans to release a 95W TDP Phenom II X4 955, but how it overclocks is a completely different case altogether. Now, with the i3 and i5, there is the problem of PCIe lanes on the motherboard. The i3 will only allow you to run one graphics card. EVER. The i5 will allow you to run two, but at your price range, the best it can do is either x8/x8 or x16/x4, both are not optimal, and the x8/x8 provides better performance at a premium. x8/x8 is fine for lower end to mid end graphics cards like the 5750, but once you get into higher performing cards, the lower bandwidth will probably begin to bite into your FPS. With the AMD Phenom II X4, that problem is nullified by the existence of the 790FX chipset which lets you run both graphics cards at a full bandwidth of x16/x16. As for graphics cards, if you are not going to run with OS X, you will definitely want an ATi 5770, or you will want to wait 3-4 months for Nvidia to release their midend 4xx Fermis. + Show Spoiler [Phenom II & i5] + Lets take the AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3763&p=12 However, there are times when the performance difference will show ☹ http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3763&p=13 other times, it will surprise you with its amazing performance. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-980x-gulftown,2573-8.html cut from my thread :D | ||
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Redshirt
434 Posts
With graphics cards, all you should care about is energy consumption, heat production, graphical power, and size unless its a top tier graphics card. Just one suggestion since no one really touched on this in depth... The PSU is probably too much for what you're doing. A properly done stock configuration with an HD5850 only consumes around 400W total so all you need is a 500W PSU to power most single GPU machines. You also have to be careful of the model you buy because all PSUs are OEM - someone else makes the actual PSU, it gets the Corsair label slapped onto it, and its sold as a Corsair PSU. OCZ have improved since they own PC Power and Cooling (awesome PSU manufacturer) but that doesn't help you since PC Power and Cooling only make the really top tier PSUs (1000W PSU LOL). The best PSUs (and this is not debatable) are made by Seasonic. The PSU is the only part of the computer than can actually destroy everything else in the box so don't skimp on it. If you're looking for a lower power PSU, get a Corsair HX-520 or an Antec NeoPower 500W PSU. They're both modular Seasonics, which means they'll be quiet, efficient, produce less heat than other PSUs, as well as be reliable. | ||
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FragKrag
United States11556 Posts
Just as a note to the OP: If you plan on getting the GTX 260, you will need 2x6pin PCIe connectors on your PSU. Most lower end-mid end PSUs only provide 2 6 pins. This isn't a problem with cards like the HD 5770 because it only needs 1 6 pin. Antec EarthWatts 650W (2x 6pin) $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015 Antec EarthWatts 650W + Antec 300 combo (-$20 overall) http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345228 I really like this combo because you are getting a decently high quality PSU with one of the best cases on the market. SeaSonics are great, but far too expensive imo  | ||
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Redshirt
434 Posts
Yeah Seasonics are expensive but you really do get what you pay for. The Antec EarthWatts series are pretty darn good too since Delta Electronics make more than acceptable quality PSUs. | ||
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FragKrag
United States11556 Posts
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TheosEx
United States894 Posts
I also do appreciate the information on PSUs Redshirt. At this point, I think I will just stick with the Core i5 for the following reasons: 1. You said it would perform well for the next few years 2. Since this computer will be on all the time, I am seriously worried about my electricity bill. I do plan on playing SC2 on maximum settings and not have to worry about choppiness, something that SERIOUSLY bothered me on WC3 (except I actually like SC enough to get a computer for it). To be honest, the only other games I anticipate playing will be SC2, Counter-strike, and Diablo 3 when it comes out. I do play WoW occasionally, but not enough that choppiness on it will bother me. If this is the case, will I really need to go SLI/Crossfire? Will the 260 handle these games fine on maximum settings, and if so, I am assuming the PSUs Redshirt suggested would be good enough? I know I originally said my budget was 1000~1100, but if I have to spend extra to get quality, I don't mind. | ||
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KOFgokuon
United States14908 Posts
If you get an i5, oc'ing is definitely very easy. My voltage is at 1.3V (higher than normal so more electricity) but I can easily overclock to 3.5 ghz with only a $25 cpu cooler, and my temps are pretty safe at full load (mid 50's). Even if you don't overclock, for an additional $25 you can drop your idle temps quite a bit.To be honest I used the stock heatsink for a couple of days and my full load temperatures were really high even before overclocking. This may have been due to poor application of thermal paste, or maybe because it took me 2 tries to mount the heatsink, but regardless the stock one kind of sucks | ||
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TheosEx
United States894 Posts
Also, should I go with the 260 or the 5770? | ||
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FragKrag
United States11556 Posts
I would go for the ATi HD 5770. The two heatsinks I really like for the Core i5 are the Scythe Mugen-2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185142 and the Cooler Master Hyper 212 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065 A cheaper heatsink that will also work quite well if you do light overclocks is the Cooler Master TX3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064 | ||
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KOFgokuon
United States14908 Posts
If you want the heat sink now, it's on sale at ewiz http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1947864 just apply the coupon code and you can get it with free shipping for $24 I'd get the 5770 because it can handle SC2 easily, and probably D3 when it comes out (blizzard is really good about making their specs pretty user friendly), and then if some other came comes out in 2012 that you want to play but your comp can't handle, then save now and upgrade later | ||
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Boblion
France8043 Posts
On March 31 2010 09:59 Jlab wrote: Seriously don't suggest AMD chips. Mac OS X will pretty much not run on an AMD chip. I thought he wanted to run linux :o sry | ||
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TheosEx
United States894 Posts
DVD Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM $24.99 HDD SAMSUNG EcoGreen F2 HD154UI 1.5TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $89.99 VIDEO CARD XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail $159.99 RAM G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail $105.99 MOTHERBOARD GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $134.99 CPU Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail $199.99 HEATSINK COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long ... - Retail $34.99 HDD SDD OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX30GXXX 2.5" 30GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - Retail $119.99 PSU COMBO Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified ... - Retail CASE COMBO Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $129.98 COMBO Logitech MX518 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Gaming Mouse - Retail $39.99 Logitech G15 USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard - Retail $79.99 TOTAL: $1120.88 Not as bad as I thought, and I think I kind of splurged a little by getting a little bit better RAM and an SSD. What do you think now? | ||
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Boblion
France8043 Posts
However i don't really know if you need that extra venti rad. Stock rad should be enough if you don't plan to OC. | ||
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mlee
United States116 Posts
get to a MicroCenter NOW!!! i7 920 = $169.99 GTX 260 = 159.99 Other changes: - Go DDR3 Ram for slightly more $$ (well worth it) - Better quality MB that will handle the i7 - Don't mind ppl saying ur PSU is too powerful.. Having a good PSU is worth it in the long run if u ever decide to go SLI.. To be honest, I would go higher. To save even more money get a case that combos with a PSU. Overall in terms of pricing.. you just have to be lucky. This past year on newegg, i got a sick combo deal with an Antec 1200 case, 750w PSU, 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm for $250 shipped. | ||
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Boblion
France8043 Posts
On April 01 2010 06:51 mlee wrote: i7 920 = $169.99 O,o o,O | ||
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FragKrag
United States11556 Posts
The Intel X25-V is $5 more, has 10 GB more, but has lower sequential read/write speeds. The really only negative about the X25-V is the sequential write, but where it comes out on top is the random write. The Intel X25-V 40GB is based on Intel's SSD controller, which at this moment is far superior to the other controllers (except the relatively untested Sandforce) on the market when it comes to random access (which is generally most of what you want to do on a small drive anyways). | ||
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mlee
United States116 Posts
yup. but only for people that have a store near them since its pick up only. http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727 | ||
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Boblion
France8043 Posts
On April 01 2010 08:05 mlee wrote: yup. but only for people that have a store near them since its pick up only. http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727 Time to get a green card :p | ||
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FragKrag
United States11556 Posts
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