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[Broseybrose]

every enthusiast should be using a 64 bit OS in 2009.

man, youre making me feel inadequate for running vista32 :lol

its all good tho, AMD X2 5000+, 2GB DDR2, and 8800GTX have served me perfectly for the past two years and still to this day. At 1920x1200 too.

Gotta love that 384-bit bus and 768MB of VRAM! (using 07 tech, but new games still look perfect, supersampling and all :lol )

 

[vertopci]

A nice 12MB L2 cache, 95w Q9550 is a pretty good deal at $220:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041

I'd add a custom cooler to your order as well and clock that thing to 3.4-3.6ghz and you'll have enough CPU power to last you a long, long time.

Yea my cheap Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 lets me OC my Q9550 to 3.8 GHz easily. I could probably go higher but there's really no reason to :lol

Speaking of which, hows the Freezer 7 compare to the cooler listed in the $800 rig?

 

[Firestorm]

Hope it's okay for me to repost this here: http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=760568

Edit: Originally in that topic I said that upgrading to a 4890 from the 4870 was a good cheap option on the $650 CAD build. But I notice the $1000 build has a different case and didn't know if it would fit / cooling would be alright. Is it okay to just exchange the 4870 for the 4890 on the first option?

 

[TunaMarshmallow]

Oh, question.

Based on the setup I'm getting (which I posted about a couple of pages ago), what OS should I be using? I have copies of XP and Vista (Business Edition). Should I use one of these?

Or should I get a different OS?

Also, what is a "64-bit OS"?

 

[sykoex]

Oh, question.

Based on the setup I'm getting (which I posted about a couple of pages ago), what OS should I be using? I have copies of XP and Vista (Business Edition). Should I use one of these?

Or should I get a different OS?

Also, what is a "64-bit OS"?

Unless you want most programs to be incompatible, you want don't want 64-bit.

 

[Firestorm]

Oh, question.

Based on the setup I'm getting (which I posted about a couple of pages ago), what OS should I be using? I have copies of XP and Vista (Business Edition). Should I use one of these?

Or should I get a different OS?

Also, what is a "64-bit OS"?

XP-64-bit sucks so don't use it. Only use Vista if you don't feel like reformatting for the full release of Windows 7 or if you only have 32-bit Vista. Otherwise I'd recommend just downloading 64-bit Windows 7.

The major advantage of a 64-bit operating system is it'll let you access more than 2.5 - 3.5 GB of RAM.

I don't know enough about the technical mumbo jumbo behind it, but you have a 64-bit CPU so I'd get a 64-bit OS.

Unless you want most programs to be incompatible, you want don't want 64-bit.

This is 2009 man. The 64-bit problems ended with XP. Vista and 7 are fine.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Interesting thread! I was just starting to think about a PC upgrade with Windows 7 around the corner and my seriously aging system.

I'm in Canada. I can order from NCIX. I'm in Ontario, but shipping actually isn't that ridiculous and their assembly for a small fee is really appealing.

Any upgrades to the Canada system that's posted? Is the Radeon 5870 1GB a worthwhile upgrade? Is there room to upgrade in the system? Would the PSU allow for adding another 5870 or upgrading the video card at some point in the future? I definitely would like to keep the cost close to what is shown here, but if there's something really worthwhile for not too much more I'd certainly like to know.

Any extra tips, info, things to look out for--whatever--are appreciated! Very helpful thread. I'd be looking for something pretty soon.

Things seem to have changed a lot. It has been awhile since I thought about upgrading, but last I checked everything was Nvidia cards and Intel chips. These builds all use ATI and AMD though. Things really change fast.

 

[Kamillio]

Okay, I'm on a serious budget and looking to upgrade my aging desktop. I decided to shell out the cash for a HD4870, 4GB DDR2 RAM and a new MOBO but I'm conflicted when it comes to my CPU.

Right now I have a seriously outdated Athlon 64 3200+ and am looking to get a decent dual or quad core Intel chip. I want to keep my upgrade price as close to $500 (US) as possible but I want a CPU that can perform decently. I was looking at the E5200 Pentium Dual-Core as its only 70 bucks on newegg. Okay, its a relatively weak card, but I was thinking, a 2MB cache won't effect my gaming that much, right? Also, the card is notoriously good at overclocking and with a $30 CPU cooler I can potentially push 4 GHz. So, GAF, good decision? Should I go with the E5200 or pony up some extra cash and go with something better?

 

[Guled]

I'm wondering with the new 13" macbook pros, are steam games the most I'm looking for when it comes to pc gaming? It should be able to run starcraft 2 right?

 

[Firestorm]

brain_stew, what do you think about this solution someone posted in the topic I posted on RFD (Canadian solution):

Here's a decent system IMO from Newegg that you can build yourself for about a grand; I mention it mainly because I'm bored, but also because I think its better than the two other builds mentioned. it should tear thru games just fine, and if you don't plan on overclocking too much, it should be a stable and relatively quiet system also. It could use a solid-state drive and a better cooling solution (for overclocking) down the road, if one were looking for a cheap way of getting a bit more performance out of it all.

Intel Core i7 i920 CPU - $319.99
MSI X-58M Crossfire/SLI mATX Motherboard - $189.99
Crucial 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 - $95.99
XFX Radeon HD 4870 1GB GPU - $165.28
LITE-ON Black 4X Blu-ray DVD ROM SATA - $79.99
Samsung 500GB Super Quiet 5400RPM HDD - $69.99
Black Mini-Tower mATX Steel Case /w solid 500W PSU - $69.99

Subtotal: $998.72 (excluding taxes, shipping, 64-bit OS, and assembly)
All parts rated 4 stars or greater.

 

[AdawgDaFAB]

Hey PC GAF, I am thinking about ordering this tonight when I get out from work. How does this look for a 1080P Gaming Rig? Is the GPU good enough for that?:

[DVD $24.99 (LG GH22NP20 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL - OEM)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144

[Case/PSU $29.99 (DYNAPOWER USA Titan C2914.25.M158 Black SGCC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case PEAK: 430W Power Supply - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811138075

[HDD $129.99 (Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5")]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148337

[Motherboard $79.99 (ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381

[GPU $129.99 (PNY VCG981024GXEB GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133243

[CPU $194.99 (AMD Phenom II X4 905e Deneb 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 65W Quad-Core Processor - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103682

[RAM $45.99 (Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664AA800 - Retail )]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148160


Subtotal - $635.93 + $40 MIR + Free game (CoD:WaW)
Shipping - $ 26.28
Total - $662.21 + $40 MIR + Free game (CoD:WaW)

Possible change:
[HDD $89.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

I am thinking I might get a 1 TB HD instead to save $40, but besides that am I overpaying for anything/missing any vouchers/addition discounts or does it all look good and I should place the order?

 

[Fredescu]

Unless you want most programs to be incompatible, you want don't want 64-bit.

That's just silly. Unless you want to never upgrade your RAM, you don't want 32-bit.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Unless you want most programs to be incompatible, you want don't want 64-bit.

is this a post from the past? I really thought Vista/7 handled this with almost no issues.

 

[Ephemeris]

Hey PC GAF, I am thinking about ordering this tonight when I get out from work. How does this look for a 1080P Gaming Rig? Is the GPU good enough for that?:


[HDD $129.99 (Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5")]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148337

Possible change:
[HDD $89.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

I am thinking I might get a 1 TB HD instead to save $40, but besides that am I overpaying for anything/missing any vouchers/addition discounts or does it all look good and I should place the order?

Personally, I wouldn't go with the Seagate 1.5TB, especially as the boot drive.

 

[brain_stew]

Okay, I'm on a serious budget and looking to upgrade my aging desktop. I decided to shell out the cash for a HD4870, 4GB DDR2 RAM and a new MOBO but I'm conflicted when it comes to my CPU.

Right now I have a seriously outdated Athlon 64 3200+ and am looking to get a decent dual or quad core Intel chip. I want to keep my upgrade price as close to $500 (US) as possible but I want a CPU that can perform decently. I was looking at the E5200 Pentium Dual-Core as its only 70 bucks on newegg. Okay, its a relatively weak card, but I was thinking, a 2MB cache won't effect my gaming that much, right? Also, the card is notoriously good at overclocking and with a $30 CPU cooler I can potentially push 4 GHz. So, GAF, good decision? Should I go with the E5200 or pony up some extra cash and go with something better?

I assume you've already bough a socket 775 motherboard then? Just AMD are a better choice in your pricerange.
(
A E5200 is a decent enough gaming CPU once clocked (use one myself), though you're not going to get 4ghz out of one, something like 3.5ghz is a much more realistic target.

 

[brain_stew]

brain_stew, what do you think about this solution someone posted in the topic I posted on RFD (Canadian solution):

Terrible PSU, m-ATX motherboard and case (huge downer for anyone that wants to upgrade in the future), 5400RPM HDD, no DVDRW, yeah, I wouldn't recommend it at all. You're compromising on pretty much every other component just to fit in that Core i7 which won't have any benefit in games.

If you're building an i7 rig, then budget for an i7 rig. $1000 CAD doesn't cut it.

 

[brain_stew]

Hey PC GAF, I am thinking about ordering this tonight when I get out from work. How does this look for a 1080P Gaming Rig? Is the GPU good enough for that?:

[DVD $24.99 (LG GH22NP20 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL - OEM)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144

[Case/PSU $29.99 (DYNAPOWER USA Titan C2914.25.M158 Black SGCC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case PEAK: 430W Power Supply - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811138075

[HDD $129.99 (Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5")]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148337

[Motherboard $79.99 (ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381

[GPU $129.99 (PNY VCG981024GXEB GeForce 9800 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133243

[CPU $194.99 (AMD Phenom II X4 905e Deneb 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 65W Quad-Core Processor - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103682

[RAM $45.99 (Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664AA800 - Retail )]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148160


Subtotal - $635.93 + $40 MIR + Free game (CoD:WaW)
Shipping - $ 26.28
Total - $662.21 + $40 MIR + Free game (CoD:WaW)

Possible change:
[HDD $89.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

I am thinking I might get a 1 TB HD instead to save $40, but besides that am I overpaying for anything/missing any vouchers/addition discounts or does it all look good and I should place the order?

Honestly, its pretty fucking terrible and you're likely going to witness a nice big explosion and some cut wrists going with that PSU/Case combo. The $500 rig in the op is a much, much better gaming rig, and isn't filled with lots of shitty parts.

If multi threaded performance is important to you then swap in a X3 720 and you'll still come in much cheaper than your config.

 

[AdawgDaFAB]

Honestly, its pretty fucking terrible and you're likely going to witness a nice big explosion and some cut wrists going with that PSU/Case combo. The $500 rig in the op is a much, much better gaming rig, and isn't filled with lots of shitty parts.

If multi threaded performance is important to you then swap in a X3 720 and you'll still come in much cheaper than your config.

Well originally I was going to build the US 1080p Gaming Rig setup from the OP but the DVD drive is out of stock, the HD link is to a different HD, the Case/PSU combo is no more, and the MBSALE10 code didn't work. So I talked with a friend who helped me make that build. What would be a better replacement parts to get if I were to stick closer to the OP then? This is what I came up with last night before talking with my friend:

[DVD $24.99 (LG GH22NP20 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL - OEM)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144

[Case $54.95 (Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

[HDD $89.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

[Motherboard $74.99 (GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

[GPU $189.99 (HIS H489F1GP Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161276

[PSU $59.99 (Antec Basiq BP500U 500W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.01 Active PFC Power Supply - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371004

[RAM $44.99 (OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

[Processor $114.99 (AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor - Retail)]: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

That would be $$654.88 (before shipping, $682.27 after) and have $20 in rebates + Stormrise.
What changes should I make to that?

Is this the processor you recommended if I wanted something more than a Dual: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

 

[Kamillio]

I assume you've already bough a socket 775 motherboard then? Just AMD are a better choice in your pricerange.
(
A E5200 is a decent enough gaming CPU once clocked (use one myself), though you're not going to get 4ghz out of one, something like 3.5ghz is a much more realistic target.

Thanks for the advice. I already purchased the E5200 but I'm hoping to get E8XXX stock speeds from it. If it doesn't run quite as well as I'm hoping, I can always upgrade a few months down the road.

One other thing I was curious about was the L2 Cache. I know the E5200 has 2MB, which today is relatively small, but how much does the affect regular internet browsing/gaming? I don't encode any video so I'm not worried about that. Either way its an upgrade from my current 512KB cache.

 

[brain_stew]

Thanks for the advice. I already purchased the E5200 but I'm hoping to get E8XXX stock speeds from it. If it doesn't run quite as well as I'm hoping, I can always upgrade a few months down the road.

One other thing I was curious about was the L2 Cache. I know the E5200 has 2MB, which today is relatively small, but how much does the affect regular internet browsing/gaming? I don't encode any video so I'm not worried about that. Either way its an upgrade from my current 512KB cache.

Its around 10% slower clock for clock, nothing major.

AdawgDaFAB I'll try and update the $500 rig today, its hard to keep it upto date as Newegg change their prices all the time, and yes, that's the CPU I recommended.

Don't go with a Segate HDD, if you want a 1TB drive, pick up a Samsung F1 instead.

Edit:

Buy this combo for a start:

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx?submit=ChangeItem

 

[TunaMarshmallow]

Durg!

I just finished putting my computer together. Things went swimmingly!

But, just as I was installing Windows, I realized something obvious -- I don't have any wifi device in the system! (I guess that these days, with PS3s and Wiis and DSs, etc., I just assume that everything has integrated WiFi. Silly mistake on my part.)

Anyway, there is no way that I'm going to drag a cable from my router (half-way across the apartment) to my system. So what is my best option for getting WiFi on this shit?

Thanks guys!

 

[Minsc]

Durg!

I just finished putting my computer together. Things went swimmingly!

But, just as I was installing Windows, I realized something obvious -- I don't have any wifi device in the system! (I guess that these days, with PS3s and Wiis and DSs, etc., I just assume that everything has integrated WiFi. Silly mistake on my part.)

Anyway, there is no way that I'm going to drag a cable from my router (half-way across the apartment) to my system. So what is my best option for getting WiFi on this shit?

Thanks guys!

You can run out and find a USB wifi stick for cheap probably.

 

[TunaMarshmallow]

You can run out and find a USB wifi stick for cheap probably.

Will that allow for decent speeds? Or will I need some kind of internal WiFi card?

Maybe I should hit up BestBuy. They have a decent returns policy. So if I find something better, I can return it. hmmm...

 

[Minsc]

Will that allow for decent speeds? Or will I need some kind of internal WiFi card?

Maybe I should hit up BestBuy. They have a decent returns policy. So if I find something better, I can return it. hmmm...

Naw, the USB sticks are just as good speed-wise. Most of it depends on your router, a/b/g/h/whatever the heck letters they're upto. Some letters go a lot faster than others.

 

[TunaMarshmallow]

I've got a Linksys "Wireless G" router. It supports 'B' and 'G', it seems. Any recommendations for USB WiFi adapters (specific, or general types)?

Also, one last question:

I just realized that my copy of Windows Vista is only a 32-bit version. What are my options? Should I:

- Use the 32-bit version of Vista?
- Go purchase a copy of the 64-bit version of Vista
- Get on the 64-bit Windows 7 RC thing? (My only worry about this option: how much will it cost to buy Windows 7 when it comes out?)

 

[vertopci]

After seeing people ask about their builds in this and seeing their RAM, I'd like to throw out that you should NOT get Crucial memory. Their quality have been degrading greatly the past couple years. Stick with a brand like OCZ or Corsair.

 

[Great King Bowser]

Tempted by the 1080p capable UK just over £400 edition, though I don't need a monitor. Anything changed since that list was made or should I just get those components?

This will be my first PC build, hell, my first PC for the past 6 years (i've just been using laptops - I'm on a 1.7ghz Pentium M laptop right now in fact, hooked up to a 22" monitor and USB mouse and keyboard. :lol)

Edit - Shit, the [GPU (XFX 4870 1GB)]: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/155500 is out of stock at ebuyer...

 

[AdawgDaFAB]

Its around 10% slower clock for clock, nothing major.

AdawgDaFAB I'll try and update the $500 rig today, its hard to keep it upto date as Newegg change their prices all the time, and yes, that's the CPU I recommended.

Don't go with a Segate HDD, if you want a 1TB drive, pick up a Samsung F1 instead.

Edit:

Buy this combo for a start:

http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/ShoppingCart.aspx?submit=ChangeItem

Thanks I look forward to seeing the update. Also that link you posted didn't show me anything.

 

[Sleeker]

is it possible to backup or store some of my dvd movies onto my computer so i can watch them when travelling?

 

[Firestorm]

I've got a Linksys "Wireless G" router. It supports 'B' and 'G', it seems. Any recommendations for USB WiFi adapters (specific, or general types)?

Also, one last question:

I just realized that my copy of Windows Vista is only a 32-bit version. What are my options? Should I:

- Use the 32-bit version of Vista?
- Go purchase a copy of the 64-bit version of Vista
- Get on the 64-bit Windows 7 RC thing? (My only worry about this option: how much will it cost to buy Windows 7 when it comes out?)

I bought a USB adapter from Monoprice for a friend and she hasn't had any issues with it. Comes with the CD to install the drivers (don't install the software). It's not the same one, the one I got is out of stock, but the version without an antenna is there:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10501&cs_id=1050105&p_id=5336&seq=1&format=2

It works better and easier than the shitty $50 Linksys one I got for my dad's boss =( Ugh.

As for Windows, I'd use Windows RC1 for now and pre-order Windows 7 Home or Pro right now while you still can for 50% off. Unless you're a student in which case check out what your school offers.

 

[AdawgDaFAB]

is it possible to backup or store some of my dvd movies onto my computer so i can watch them when travelling?

I would probably just make an image of the disc, then mount that with daemon tools lite and run it like normal. That will probably take a lot of space tho. I am sure there are other ways like encoding them to avi/mkv or something but I don't know how to do all that lol.

 

[Firestorm]

is it possible to backup or store some of my dvd movies onto my computer so i can watch them when travelling?

http://www.formatoz.com/index.html

 

[AdawgDaFAB]

Newegg has a 24 hour sale on a Quad Core and MB set:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...EMC-IGNEFL070709-_-Combo-_-LM1A-_-Combo209473

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - Retail
+
BIOSTAR TA790GXB A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

for $209.99 w/ a $20 MiR

IDK if that is a good deal or not (seeing as the Gigabyte UD3 770 from the OP seems like a better MB), but I just saw them and thought I should post it here due to the price and it being the Quad equivalent of the Dual Core from the OP (unless I am mistaken).

 

[Great King Bowser]

Is this a better alternative to the XFX 4870 1gb?

It's £136 in their deal of the day. (Adds to basket at new price)

Or what about PowerColor HD 4870 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card?

Now the Phenom ii X2 550 is out of stock at ebuyer. Just my luck... :lol

Edit - CPU back in stock at ebuyer. Think I'm going to bite the bullet ordering everything from ebuyer.

 

[matmanx1]

I have a question or two regarding Windows 7. The Newegg $49 upgrade deal is pretty sweet and I'd like to take advantage of it. Do I still qualify if I want to go 32bit to 64bit? I'm running WinXP 32 and I'd ideally like to go Win7 64 to take advantage of the extra RAM. I know you cant upgrade a 32bit to a 64bit OS but could I format and then use the upgrade disk for a fresh install? Is the installation like the old Windows installs where it just asks you to insert the disc of a qualifying product or have they changed all that?

And the Newegg upgrade offer doesnt specify 32bit or 64bit. Does Windows 7 have both versions in the box? Thanks folks.

 

[longdi]

Newegg has a 24 hour sale on a Quad Core and MB set:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...EMC-IGNEFL070709-_-Combo-_-LM1A-_-Combo209473

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - Retail
+
BIOSTAR TA790GXB A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

for $209.99 w/ a $20 MiR

IDK if that is a good deal or not (seeing as the Gigabyte UD3 770 from the OP seems like a better MB), but I just saw them and thought I should post it here due to the price and it being the Quad equivalent of the Dual Core from the OP (unless I am mistaken).

do not get the biostar board afaik many of their board are single power plane, which do not conform to amd phenom2 requirements, those need dual power plane circuits! you will end up running over the thermal specifications on single power plane!

 

[TouchMyBox]

I've got a Linksys "Wireless G" router. It supports 'B' and 'G', it seems. Any recommendations for USB WiFi adapters (specific, or general types)?

Also, one last question:

I just realized that my copy of Windows Vista is only a 32-bit version. What are my options? Should I:

- Use the 32-bit version of Vista?
- Go purchase a copy of the 64-bit version of Vista
- Get on the 64-bit Windows 7 RC thing? (My only worry about this option: how much will it cost to buy Windows 7 when it comes out?)

You can pre-order the upgrades right now for $65 CDN, that requires a copy of vista or xp i believe, get the RC1 now, and pre-order the 7 upgrade. Apparently the price will go up once 7 comes out.

 

[Great King Bowser]

Ordering in the next 30 minutes unless someone stops me.

Edit - Sonuvabitch, the CPU is out of stock again. Lesson learned re: dilly-dallying.

 

[Mareg]

Finished assembling a Phenom X2 550 BE to a Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P.

I got lucky at the lotery. This champ unlocked to X4 and overclocked very easily to 3.7Ghz on stock voltage. It should definitly not be that easy to unlock/overclock a low-end chip to the high-end level performances price lineup. Best «kept» AMD secret.

Huge bang of my bucks (200$ CPU/mobo).

 

[brain_stew]

Will that allow for decent speeds? Or will I need some kind of internal WiFi card?

Maybe I should hit up BestBuy. They have a decent returns policy. So if I find something better, I can return it. hmmm...

I'd always recommend an internal PCI device personally.

 

[brain_stew]

Finished assembling a Phenom X2 550 BE to a Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P.

I got lucky at the lotery. This champ unlocked to X4 and overclocked very easily to 3.7Ghz on stock voltage. It should definitly not be that easy to unlock/overclock a low-end chip to the high-end level performances price lineup. Best «kept» AMD secret.

Huge bang of my bucks (200$ CPU/mobo).

Holy shit!

You've just bagged yourself around $500 worth of performance for a mere $200, congrats!!

Is this a better alternative to the XFX 4870 1gb?

It's £136 in their deal of the day. (Adds to basket at new price)

Or what about PowerColor HD 4870 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card?

Now the Phenom ii X2 550 is out of stock at ebuyer. Just my luck... :lol

Edit - CPU back in stock at ebuyer. Think I'm going to bite the bullet ordering everything from ebuyer.

Yes that's (4890) about 25% faster. A huge steal at that price. If you're a member of AV Forums you'll get free delivery at Scan as well.

Still, the Powercolour 1GB 4870 is a decent deal as well.

I'm going to try and upfate these configs later today, been too busy lately.

 

[Minsc]

I'd always recommend an internal PCI device personally.

The external ones are great for sharing across multiple computers or if you need to let someone borrow one. Plus the internal ones stick out of your computer anyway.

I have a question or two regarding Windows 7. The Newegg $49 upgrade deal is pretty sweet and I'd like to take advantage of it. Do I still qualify if I want to go 32bit to 64bit? I'm running WinXP 32 and I'd ideally like to go Win7 64 to take advantage of the extra RAM. I know you cant upgrade a 32bit to a 64bit OS but could I format and then use the upgrade disk for a fresh install? Is the installation like the old Windows installs where it just asks you to insert the disc of a qualifying product or have they changed all that?

And the Newegg upgrade offer doesnt specify 32bit or 64bit. Does Windows 7 have both versions in the box? Thanks folks.

Windows 7 ships with both 32-bit & 64-bit on the same disc, and you can upgrade from XP 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit.

So far, all that's been confirmed is Windows 7 will verify your previous installation to be genuine before upgrading. Going from a 32-bit OS > 64-bit OS requires a fresh install, you cannot upgrade over the existing 32-bit OS.

I wouldn't format prior to running the upgrade. They may have changed things this time around. It will let you format in the upgrade process, and there's a good chance you will need to actually have XP installed & authenticated to do the upgrade. Simply inserting a disc has not been confirmed to work.

 

[brain_stew]

Is this a better alternative to the XFX 4870 1gb?

It's £136 in their deal of the day. (Adds to basket at new price)

Or what about PowerColor HD 4870 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card?

Now the Phenom ii X2 550 is out of stock at ebuyer. Just my luck... :lol

Edit - CPU back in stock at ebuyer. Think I'm going to bite the bullet ordering everything from ebuyer.

X2 550 in stock at novatech for £80 with free delivery:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AMD-X2550

 

[Great King Bowser]

Nice one brain_stew. I'll wait on those updates in case anything's changed.

Actually, ordering that card from Scan (I've been registered with AVForums for years but never post :lol) because it's a deal of the day...

Oh cool, the Phenom X2 is available on Scan as well, and only £75.77 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AMD-...3-31GHz-7MB-Total-Cache-HT-4000MHz-85W-Retail

Edit - Fuck it, two separate orders from ebuyer and scan are gooooooo.

 

[brain_stew]

Prelimary new UK builds:

UK GAF'S ULTIMATE £400 GAMING RIG.

Just like the rig for US posters, I've put together a config that uses the absolute best "bang for buck" components whilst sticking to a strict £400 budget. The basic components are similar but I've used parts that are better priced at Ebuyer in order in come in on budget.

[Motherboard (ASUS M4A78 770)]: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167128 (£55.86)
[CPU (Phenom ii X2 550)]: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AMD-X2550 (£79.99)
[RAM (OCZ Titanium 4GB DDR2 800)]: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/154644 (£34.99)
[GPU (XFX HD 4870 512MB)]:http://www.ebuyer.com/product/155497 (£99.99)
[DVD (22X Samsung DVDRW)]: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145450 (£15.56)
[Case/PSU (Coolermaster Centurion 5 and Coolermaster eXtreme Power Plus 550w PSU)]: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141707 (£74.79)
[HDD (WD CAVIAR BLACK 640GB)]: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150247 (£51.79)

Total cost = £412.97 delivered

Component pictures:

Optional monitor:

22" 1680X1050 DVI-D/VGA LG: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152124#

Total cost with monitor = £412.97.91 + £119.98 = £532.95



Recommended upgrades for 1080p gaming

[GPU (XFX 4890 1GB)]: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167969 (£140.73)

Total cost of 1080p gaming rig = £453.70


Optional 1080P monitor:

Samsung 1080p Gloss Black DVI/VGA (£163.04): http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158382

Total cost of 1080p gaming rig + 1080p monitor = £616.74

 

[Great King Bowser]

Finished assembling a Phenom X2 550 BE to a Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P.

I got lucky at the lotery. This champ unlocked to X4 and overclocked very easily to 3.7Ghz on stock voltage. It should definitly not be that easy to unlock/overclock a low-end chip to the high-end level performances price lineup. Best «kept» AMD secret.

Huge bang of my bucks (200$ CPU/mobo).

Can you explain what any of that means and how to do it please :lol

 

[brain_stew]

Can you explain what any of that means and how to do it please :lol

All X2 and X3 Phenoms are actually full X4 chips but with one or two cores disabled. This is done for a number of reasons, but usually simply to increse yields, if AMD get one faulty core on their chip they can still sell it as an X3 for example and get some money back. However, demand is never flat across the lines so if there's excess demand for X2 chips then AMD may end up disabling some perfectly good cores, instead of missing out on potential sales.

Its a simple hit or miss affair, it may work, it may not, but if it doesn't you won't be doing any damage as you can just re-disable the faulty core and go back to how it was. There's actually a line at the end of the op that should help you with this. All you have to do is simply change one line in your BIOS and then stability check (with something like OCCT for example) from what I gather.

 

[THE:MILKMAN]

Gaf, i would like opinions on my pc plan...............

I have just a hour ago had to give my 2 year old rig to my brother (don't ask....) and need a pc to tide me over till next year when dx11 cards come out at a decent price.

This is the proposed rig: (already have monitor,k&m and speakers and will use win7 rc1 till next year)

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161317 case/psu
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151999 dvd drive
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152225 mobo
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148715 cpu
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/154644 memory
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150247 hdd

Total= £247.17 del

Ps3 will keep me entertained till next year and then i can upgrade the mobo/cpu and add a mid-range dx11 card.

Does that sound like a good plan?

 

[brain_stew]

Can't say I'd recommend it, no. DX11 is not something that should be factoring into your purchasing decisions, GPUS are so insanely cheap these days, another price crash just isn't on the horizon as some expect it to be imo.

Considering for an extra £150 you can have everything sorted now rather than junking a load of parts after 6 months seems to make it really hard to justify going the route you're planning.

If you want a bit more from the rig then use the new UK rig a post or two above and add a 4890 (as suggested) and a X3 720 if you feel you need them.

 

[THE:MILKMAN]

Cheers brain_stew.

I'll mull over it tonight and decide what to order tomorrow.