Upcoming system build
By
Father Xmas,
Posted on: 2009-11-27 13:39 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
First, all your links won't work because they are your private links attached to your NewEgg account. That's OK, the Wish List ID can be cut and pasted into a public wishlist link. So if others want to see here:
Foundation - http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=12267192
AMD - http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11258865
Intel 1156 - http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=11258885
Lets start with the common parts. My only comment, the video card is a 192 SP version of the GTX 260 and not the newer 216 SP version. As long as you are aware of that fact then fine.
AMD Vs Intel - Well off hand the i7-860 will eat the Phenom II X4 955 for lunch. The only reason the prices of these lists are remotely close is the fact you chose more expensive memory and motherboard for the AMD build over the Intel.
First lets take a look at the memory. I'm going to guess you prefer Corsair. Problem with that is that compared to these they are slower (Cas 9 Vs Cas 7) and are more expensive. Yes the Crucial Tracer memory has the silly (IMO) das blinkenlights and ground effect LEDs but that doesn't change the fact that they have lower latency than the Corsairs and are still less expensive.
Are you aware that the motherboard on the AMD build can't do nVidia SLi but only ATI Crossfire? That's OK, neither can the motherboard from the Intel build and it's Crossfire support is poor (2nd video slot is 1/8th the bandwidth of the primary). I'm pointing this out because you are paying a premium on the MSI motherboard to have two x16 or four x8 Crossfire support. Using a nVidia card kind of makes all that superfluous. If you were interested just in overclocking the Phenom II and not extreme Crossfire configurations then a motherboard based a 790GX/SB750 configuration is a lot less expensive and still have Advance Clock Calibration for improved overclocking.
Well those are my comments and thoughts.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
Thanks, fatherXmas.
Video card - No problem updating. Again, my main thing is that I'm not paying $400 or more for a card - hovering around $200 is fine. (Of course, if I want to stick with XFX - who's been reliable for me for a good 3-4 video card updates now - they seem to only have the older ones. Looking at evga, it seems hit and miss as to if it'll keep working or not. Then I swing into brands I've never dealt with either at all, or regarding video cards with.)
Memory, I'm actually only semi-picky about brand. And with a closed (no window, thanks) case door, the things can have lights, flash, copy the times square scroll for all I care, I won't see it 
I've got Corsair in one system, OCZ in the other, and haven't noticed a difference in reliability. Main reason for Corsair on the Intel build is going through its QEV list, that set was listed. Starting to go through lower latency stuff gave "not in stock," "obsolete" and the like. It was pretty much "This is the only 2 piece 4 Gb kit available from this list" (1156 side.) I am a little more picky (or gunshy *shrug*) on the 1156, as I haven't done an Intel build in.. hmm... let's just say "a long time" (as in pentium 90-ish days.)
As I kind of hinted, I'm not actually worried about SLI or crossfire support. I just don't find myself using it. Things start getting slow, I pick up a newer card (Assassin's Creed, IIRC, was what finally did it for me on this system.)
Parts lists tweaked some (And those links updated - for some reason, using yours they came up as empty. >.< ) Still, looking at (AMD) $387 now vs (1156)$504. Difference mostly eaten up by what I saved / rebates I'll get back on the power supply.
Didn't think you cared about multiple video cards but I was confused since you listed the premium gamer motherboard from MSI. 
My link problem, trying to bold them corrupted the URL. 
Everything looks good to me.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
Well, since my current gaming rig is now upgraded (CPU wise) almost as far as it can go (it can take up to a Phenom II - but the one it can take isn't stocked anywhere any more, and anythign higher/newer is unsupported,) it's been time for me to start looking into building a new system. When I built this one, about 3 1/4 years ago, I planned to be able to upgrade it for a while - bought an SLI-capable, wireless-ready board that could handle AMD's AM2/AM2+ processors and pretty much whatever I could throw at it.
and given my 9800 handles my other games pretty nicely - no sweat. I'm not paying $400+ for a video card.
I probably overspent. I used the wireless, yeah. Then replaced it with an 802.11n spec card. Which was later removed when I could directly cable myself to the router. I've never thrown SLI in here. I've upgraded the CPU once (from an Athlon x2 4000, 2ghz dual core to a 5600, 2.8ghz dual core.) Bumped the video card up from a Geforce 7900 to a 9800. Haven't had power problems, and it's generally been pretty good - it'll be getting moved to act as my MCPC when the new system is built.
Current spec:
Antec Sonata II case
600w power supply (Antec Trupower trio)
Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe (Wireless edition) mainboard.
AMD Athlon x2 5600 65w dual core, 2.8ghz CPU
Zalman 9500 cooler
DVD-RW
1xSeagate 250Gb SATA drive (system)
1xSeagate 500gb SATA drive (media/data)
4 Gb DDR2-800 RAM (4x1Gb) - yes, I could expand this farther.
Hauppage WinTV HVR 2250 (dual tuner TV card, recent addition.)
Win7 Home Premium 64 bit
So it's still a perfectly capable system - but it's time to look for something with some growth. (Plus... hell, I just like building them.)
Foundation components
These are the things that I doubt will go down in price, or that it doesn't really matter what board or CPU I go with.
Cooler Master Cosmos case - I like this case. I may go with another. I considered the CM 690, which is a nice case (and about 1/3 the price.) After looking at it, though, and as much as the side power/reset buttons would be, I think (since the case sits up next to my desk,) I decided against it. Despite all the nice cooling and airflow considerations, the killer for me was the USB connection up top. I don't want stuff either sticking up off the top - or falling into the ports.
Of course, I might still go with a Stacker 830 (also coolermaster) - I've liked it for a while, it's great on cooling, and it falls right between the two others I was considering, price-wise, at the moment (sale.)
Corsair power supply - THey're newer to the power supply business, but this has great reviews, Corsair's been in the component business for a while - and what finally got me getting this as opposed to the (same price, 700w) Cooler Master (no longer on the list) was a sale. The $160 power supply was down to $90, and there's an additional set of rebates. Yes, please! Already on its way to me.
Drives - not much to say. Still a dual-drive solution, system vs data/application. I'd love to throw an SSD in here, but I'm not paying $400-$800 for far less capacity (and a slightly fiddly technology, still.) Maybe later.
Geforce 260 - Well, it'll run Ultra mode
The only iffy thing with it is the video card, really - if I want to run SLI, I can only do it with one of my selected configurations.
Now for the choice... I will, at some point, end up doubling the RAM on these, both are showing 4 Gb right now.
AMD based components
This hasn't changed since I threw it together initially. AMD's nice and stable with their sockets, I'll probably be able to throw a six (or more) core chip in this in two years when I feel like upgrading... but the Phenom's more power hungry than the Intel, and has lower performance. Good cost, though. Just under $500 for these.
Intel socket 1156 based
This one HAS gotten changed. I used to have a Maximus III in here (mainboard) at double the cost - but looking at it, and thinking about my current mainboard, I stepped down to one that's less than half the cost, but still has everything I need. Great performance in this CPU, lower wattage (so lower power, and cooler running, just from my current system's experience.) But, for me Intel's a gamble. I know it won't run the 6 core chips due in 2010 (those go to the pricier 1366 sockets.) And as often as Intel changes sockets, I don't know what upgradability will be like in three years. OK, probably not as bad as I worry about, but still, it makes things more complicated and less stable. This does also preclude me going SLI (the board seems to just handle Crossfire,) but as mentioned - I dont' go SLI even when I have the capability, typically.
But at just *over* $500 - less than $50 difference between the two - it's not such a "duh, go AMD" no brainer solution for me. I suspect, unless AMD pulls something out of their hat,a nd soon, I'll be going Intel this round.
What's not shown:
Monitor. Yes, I'll be picking up another 21" widescreen, probably an Acer to match my work monitor, and moving the current Viewsonic to be the "tv." $169, unless I find a sale.
OS. It'll be Windows 7. Just haven't decided yet if I'm going with the family pack - which I might, 3 upgrade licenses for home premium for $150, upgrading the work system at the same time - or an OEM Win7 Pro 64 bit. Probably go with the 3 licenses and unlock the pro stuff for the work system separately.
Power-wise, most of the calculators I went through brought me up to a hair over 500w. So the 650 (which does give good voltage on the various rails, from what I've been reading) gives me a bit of headroom for later use.
Comments, thoughts?