New Build -- Please review!

[Deku Scrub]

Hey everyone,
Since you were all so helpful in my last thread, can you please take a look at these parts and let me know what you think?

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 Quad Core
GPU: Radeon HD 4650 PCIe
HDD: WD 750 GB (will add bigger drive later)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V
Optical: LITE-ON Black 4X Blu-ray Disc Reader SATA Model iHOS104-08
MB: GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM: OCZ Obsidian 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3
Case/Cooling: Still not sure about this one. Any thoughts/recommendations would be welcome.

Thanks so much for the help

[budz]

Are you looking for a full tower or mid tower computer case? What's your budget for a case?
Here's a few suggestions:

Cooler Master 590, $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

Cooler Master 690, $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel, $99.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197

LIAN LI Lancool PC-K7B Black Aluminum, $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112154

LIAN LI PC-7F Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower, $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112194

Just my 2 cents!

EDIT: I thought this thread was in the computer section....but those cases could be used as a media center if you'd like.

[redwudz]

Probably better in the Computer Forum, even if it concerns a HTPC build. Moving you.

[Deku Scrub]

my bad, thanks for moving.

$100 ish is my case budget, but I can be talked into things.

Thanks again

[lordsmurf]

Looks fine to me.

[JimmyS]

my bad, thanks for moving.

$100 ish is my case budget, but I can be talked into things.

Thanks again

I have built several systems using this case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

The users that I built them for, have been very satisfied with them.

[deadrats]

Hey everyone,
Since you were all so helpful in my last thread, can you please take a look at these parts and let me know what you think?

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 Quad Core
GPU: Radeon HD 4650 PCIe
HDD: WD 750 GB (will add bigger drive later)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V
Optical: LITE-ON Black 4X Blu-ray Disc Reader SATA Model iHOS104-08
MB: GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD4P LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
RAM: OCZ Obsidian 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3
Case/Cooling: Still not sure about this one. Any thoughts/recommendations would be welcome.

Thanks so much for the help

my advice is to not worry about the case all that much, it doesn't actually do anything other than act as a storage for all the other parts; i currently use the cheapest piece of garbage money can buy (i think i spent $30 on it) and there are no problems.

for the power supply i prefer cooler master, but corsairs are also good. everything else looks good, i'm sure you'll be very happy with this build, for about a year and then you'll probably get the upgrade bug again. (isn't that the way it always works).

now, if you are on a tight budget and/or plan on upgrading again when the sandy bridge based cpu's arrive, you might consider going with an AMD based system, something built around the X4 620 and one of the cheap 785g based motherboards, the performance delta won't be that great and you can put the money you save towards a better video card, or perhaps in a fund for your next build.

i know i'm probably in the minority on this, but i would feel like a sucker paying $170 for a i5 750 and another $170 for a supporting motherboard plus another $100 on the DDR3 you specified when i can spend $90 on an amd quad core and $80 for a 785g based motherboard and about $50 for 4 gigs of DDR 2 1066, for what amount to about a about 10-20% performance delta under most circumstances:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3638&p=4

under x264 encoding the difference between the x4 620 and the i5 750 is all of 5 frames per second and under divx its 13 fps, for me its not enough of a performance advantage to justify the higher cost.

you have to decide whether you consider the handful of extra frames per second worth paying twice as much.

either way, good luck and enjoy your new build.

[Jim44]

I've used cases from Antec and Gigabyte for the last two builds, both good. It usually boils down to what front-panel connectors I want - last one I wanted a Firewire connector on the front for easy MiniDV cam & DVR connections when needed.

[budz]

i know i'm probably in the minority on this, but i would feel like a sucker paying $170 for a i5 750 and another $170 for a supporting motherboard plus another $100 on the DDR3 you specified when i can spend $90 on an amd quad core and $80 for a 785g based motherboard and about $50 for 4 gigs of DDR 2 1066, for what amount to about a about 10-20% performance delta under most circumstances

Ummm....ram prices have skyrocketed in the last few months!!! I haven't seen any DDR2-1066 Ram for $50.00....That was probably a few months ago. Today's prices are in the $100.00 range for 4gbs of DDR2-1066.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147+1052108080+1052...e=&srchInDesc=

IMHO a computer case with good cable management and airflow is important. I've been there done that with cheap cases. If you can mod a cheap case to provide good cable management and airflow then by all means buy it. I used to only use Antec cases until I switched over to Cooler Master. The CM cases I posted are great with cable management and airflow. If I had lots of money to burn I'd buy a Lian Li case. If you're going to spend big bucks on hardware, then buy a good computer case. If you wanna buy a cheap case, it's like buying parts for corvette but you wanna use a dodge valiant for the body. LOL!!!!
Just my 2 cents!

[mrswla]

I have built several systems using this case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

The users that I built them for, have been very satisfied with them.

I second that choice. That's what I used for my last build and have been completely happy with it.

[ocgw]

I have built several systems using this case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

The users that I built them for, have been very satisfied with them.

I second that choice. That's what I used for my last build and have been completely happy with it.

That Antec is nice for gamers and overclockers, but if you are building a simpler PC you don't need that high-tech of a case

I bought my daughter this Cooler Master case for half the price and was able to spend more on hardware accordingly

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119161

ocgw

peace

[usually_quiet]

The memory you are buying is only going to run at 1066 MHz or 1333 MHz, unless you overclock. From what I read, even using 1333 MHz memory at its rated speed with a core i7 sometimes requires a bit of tweaking.

I know it's part of a combo deal at NewEgg, but look into one of the other recommended memory kits on the motherboard manufacturer's website to see if you won't save a little money by buying something that runs at 1066 MHz or 1333 MHz. With the core i7, there's supposed to be a small performance advantage to using triple channel memory. That might be a better use of your money, if you are not planning to overclock.

[Edit] Oh darn, forget about triple channel. I just looked at the motherboard specs, and I see it only supports dual channel, and only 1066 MHz w/o overclocking.

[Edit 2] I shouldn't have bothered with this suggestion. I just looked at memory prices, and the 1066 MHz DDR3 modules were more expensive for 2 X 2GB. Seems strange.

[usually_quiet]

Duplicate post removed

[lordsmurf]

I think too much emphasis is put on RAM speed when it's not really a bottleneck.

[Deku Scrub]

Thanks for the input everyone. I went ahead with the specs.
I took advantage of a CPU/mobo combo deal at Newegg and I think I got a pretty decent price.
After I buy an OS I will be in about $920.
The same specs configured at the Velocity website put the total in the $1300 range, so I think I'm doing pretty well!

Now comes the fun part of assembling.....

[budz]

^^^What computer case did you buy? I'm just curious!

[Deku Scrub]

^^^What computer case did you buy? I'm just curious!

I went with the Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower.

[fritzi93]

^^^What computer case did you buy? I'm just curious!

I went with the Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower.

You couldn't resist that cool-looking gamer case, huh? Apparently it has good air flow and adequate room for your purposes.