"I need a New PC!" 2011 Thread of reading the OP. Seriously. [Part 2]

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A fellow co-worker wants to buy these parts from me. $150 for both. Is this a good deal for me? What do you all think?


Corsair TX 750W Power Supply w/ 140mm Fan PSU
X4 955 BE CPU
 
Modular power supplies: worth it? I took a look at my current build (non-modular) and it wasn't too big of a deal to keep things tidy, despite the extra plugs...
 
snack said:
A fellow co-worker wants to buy these parts. $150 for both. Is this a good deal for me? What do you all think?


Corsair TX 750W Power Supply w/ 140mm Fan PSU
X4 955 BE CPU
Click to expand...

You already have a motherboard?
 
snack said:
Oops. Forgot that my co-worker wants to buy these parts from me.
Click to expand...

Well i looked up how much they go for on newegg and the psu goes for $120 and the processor goes for $120 too.

Parts being used, I would say $180, but see if you can and try to sell it for $200.
 
knitoe said:
Actually, you are running 4.7GHz@ 1.46V (HWmonitor). Max voltage is what people refer to when talking about their overclock. I wouldn't mind seeing a screenshot of you running Prime95 small fft for at least 15 min with same monitoring programs.
Click to expand...

That and IntelBurnTest are what I ran for hours (12+) before calling it stable. Those temps and voltage represent the system under load. It runs all the time, like I said...so while I play SCII and other games it's logging.

There's just no proof that higher voltages lead to a shorter lifespan of a processor - that is, if the temperature is kept in check. I have an aftermarket cooler with excellent thermal paste and I applied it perfectly.

Like you said, it's my setup, it's my money, etc. but I just think you're being a bit too cautious if you are building a computer to game and have fun. But that's me. Mission critical stuff? Sure. I'm with you.
 
I feel like with the cooler and case I have I should be getting lower cpu temps idling but maybe I just overestimated or didn't do a good job installing the cooler or something.
 
Yep. It's in a Dell case with next to no ventilation, but I have no choice atm. I didn't know what I was doing when i got the thing. Knew next to nothing about comps, cept that i could use a beefier card in this stock case. I was dumb. Never had problems in the last year to year and a half.
 
MadraptorMan said:
I feel like with the cooler and case I have I should be getting lower cpu temps idling but maybe I just overestimated or didn't do a good job installing the cooler or something.
Click to expand...

Run prime95 for a while. See what temps it gets to. Generally speaking you want it under 75c.
 
All right GAF...after several weeks of mulling over parts and a lot of assistance from you guys, I think I've finalized my build! Probably going to pull the trigger tomorrow, unless anybody has any better recommendations. Here's what I got:

build3.png


Total of $664.43 after discounts. I already have RAM and a HDD. Seems like a great deal for the performance I think I'll get out of that. (Plus another $65 back in a few months if the rebates go through...which I never can count on. Heh.)

So to sum it up, I've got:

8GB G.Skill Sniper RAM
Intel Core i5-2500k
Hyper 212+ Cooler
Cooler Master HAF 922
Cooler Master 650W PSU
MIS P67A-G45 LGA 1155 Motherboard
Sapphire Radeon HD 6870
SAMSUNG F4 HD204UI 2TB HDD

Any recommendations for last minute changes?
 
Can someone please recommend a suitable power supply that will comfortably manage two 480s in sli with an i7-920 OC'd to 4.2ghz? Thanks.
 
Hours later... got my PSU flipped, added a side fan, and lowered my idle temps about 10c on GPU and maybe 5c on CPU. Load temps are down 15-20c.

I think the side fan is making more difference than the improved cable management. Either way, I was at 75-80c load on my GTX 580 in game, and now I'm seeing more like 60c. I'm happy enough with my results.

I guess the moral of this story is: Don't buy the Antec 1200. My back...my poor back...
 
LordCanti said:
Hours later... got my PSU flipped, added a side fan, and lowered my idle temps about 10c on GPU and maybe 5c on CPU. Load temps are down 15-20c.

I think the side fan is making more difference than the improved cable management. Either way, I was at 75-80c load on my GTX 580 in game, and now I'm seeing more like 60c. I'm happy enough with my results.

I guess the moral of this story is: Don't buy the Antec 1200. My back...my poor back...
Click to expand...

I've heard awesome things about that Antec 1200. You wanna get rid of it? :)
 
sk3tch said:
I've heard awesome things about that Antec 1200. You wanna get rid of it? :)
Click to expand...

You heard wrong. Without drilling a hole in the side, cable management is a nightmare. It weighs a metric ton, the fans barely move any air (due to the dust filters, but also the poor quality fans), there aren't enough holes cutout in the motherboard tray, etc. When you want to change the dust filters, you have to completely remove the HDD cage, which requires the removal of both side panels, a bunch of thumbscrews, and potentially your SATA cables (depending on how much slack you've got). If you want to install a new HDD, the cage has to come completely out, which means disconnecting any HDD's already installed.

The case may have been cutting edge years ago, but now it's a broken down piece of junk. There is a revision 3 out there with some of the issues taken care of (how many I'm not sure) but sadly I don't have that model.
 
LordCanti said:
You heard wrong. Without drilling a hole in the side, cable management is a nightmare. It weighs a metric ton, the fans barely move any air (due to the dust filters, but also the poor quality fans), there aren't enough holes cutout in the motherboard tray, etc. When you want to change the dust filters, you have to completely remove the HDD cage, which requires the removal of both side panels, a bunch of thumbscrews, and potentially your SATA cables (depending on how much slack you've got). If you want to install a new HDD, the cage has to come completely out, which means disconnecting any HDD's already installed.

The case may have been cutting edge years ago, but now it's a broken down piece of junk. There is a revision 3 out there with some of the issues taken care of (how many I'm not sure) but sadly I don't have that model.
Click to expand...

lol...I thought you were talking about the PSU!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371043

Sorry. :)
 
sk3tch said:
lol...I thought you were talking about the PSU!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371043

Sorry. :)
Click to expand...

Oh lol. I didn't know Antec made a PSU with 1200 in the name. I can see how that would be confusing.

One last gripe about the Antec Twelve Hundred case: It's so tall, that even on my excellent Seasonic X750 PSU, the cables are too short and barely reach the top of the case when fed through the back.

If I could magically trade this 1200 for the P183 I was going to buy, I would in a heartbeat.

Oh, and for anyone wondering, I really liked the quality on the NZXT 8-Pin CPU Power extension cable I bought ($7 on Amazon). Each wire is individually sleeved, which seems to help flexibility.
 
Darkman M said:
What does your voltage look like?
Click to expand...

I'm at 4.4 ghz 1.296 - 1.308 full load. I got a great deal at microcenter :) The Mobo is normally 100+

00121 INTEL BOX INTEL CI5 2500K 1 179.99
484881 ECS P67H2-A3 1155 ATX 1 32.99
489419 CRUCIAL 4GB 2X2 D3 1333 CL9 D 44.99
Subtotal » 257.97

Tax » 16.12

Sale Total » $274.09
 
Tom Penny said:
I'm at 4.4 ghz 1.296 - 1.308 full load. I got a great deal at microcenter :) The Mobo is normally 100+

00121 INTEL BOX INTEL CI5 2500K 1 179.99
484881 ECS P67H2-A3 1155 ATX 1 32.99
489419 CRUCIAL 4GB 2X2 D3 1333 CL9 D 44.99
Subtotal » 257.97

Tax » 16.12

Sale Total » $274.09
Click to expand...


Nice, you got a sweet deal there.
 
SenseiJinx said:
All right GAF...after several weeks of mulling over parts and a lot of assistance from you guys, I think I've finalized my build! Probably going to pull the trigger tomorrow, unless anybody has any better recommendations. Here's what I got:

build3.png


Total of $664.43 after discounts. I already have RAM and a HDD. Seems like a great deal for the performance I think I'll get out of that. (Plus another $65 back in a few months if the rebates go through...which I never can count on. Heh.)

So to sum it up, I've got:

8GB G.Skill Sniper RAM
Intel Core i5-2500k
Hyper 212+ Cooler
Cooler Master HAF 922
Cooler Master 650W PSU
MIS P67A-G45 LGA 1155 Motherboard
Sapphire Radeon HD 6870
SAMSUNG F4 HD204UI 2TB HDD

Any recommendations for last minute changes?
Click to expand...


You could get the I5 chip for cheaper like at microcenter or somewhere else.

Newegg sells the Intel chips fullprice most of the time.
 
sk3tch said:
The mobo will give the CPU more voltage as needed. I forget the name of the BIOS setting now but it's perfect. Helps you get that last nudge for stability. It's set to 1.41v. And yes, typically is uses a tad more.

You guys can do what you want with your OCs. I've been doing this for over a decade and I know what I'm doing. I bench for stability for hours and monitor temps the entire time. That screenshot you saw of all the utils running? That's on 24/7 while I use my computer: gaming, browsing, etc. - dual monitor setup. I like to tweak. It's fun. If I "burn out" my $170 i5 2500k then oh well. But trust me temperature-wise under load it is well within the safety parameters Intel has set for their processor.

I've been running since March like this.




Voltage is not nearly as important as the temperature of the CPU. Obviously, as you set the voltage higher - the temperature will rise.
Click to expand...
One of the most sensible posts I've seen. I couldn't agree more.
LordCanti said:
You heard wrong. Without drilling a hole in the side, cable management is a nightmare. It weighs a metric ton, the fans barely move any air (due to the dust filters, but also the poor quality fans), there aren't enough holes cutout in the motherboard tray, etc. When you want to change the dust filters, you have to completely remove the HDD cage, which requires the removal of both side panels, a bunch of thumbscrews, and potentially your SATA cables (depending on how much slack you've got). If you want to install a new HDD, the cage has to come completely out, which means disconnecting any HDD's already installed.

The case may have been cutting edge years ago, but now it's a broken down piece of junk. There is a revision 3 out there with some of the issues taken care of (how many I'm not sure) but sadly I don't have that model.
Click to expand...
Sounds like an antec case. This is why I steer folks away from them.
 
BanditKing said:
You could get the I5 chip for cheaper like at microcenter or somewhere else.

Newegg sells the Intel chips fullprice most of the time.
Click to expand...

Microcenter doesn't ship the i5 2500k, it looks like. =( And there isn't one anywhere near me. I figure it's not too bad, though, because I'm getting $20 off with that combo.
 
mkenyon said:
Sounds like an antec case. This is why I steer folks away from them.
Click to expand...

Antec 1200 original edition. It was fine for 2008, but there are so many models with better features at the same price right now, that I can't recommend it to anyone.

The filters are the worst part. Once they clog, forget about your airflow. Even unblocked, the included fans don't move much air (and are loud at low settings), but once they are clogged, air flow goes down to nothing.

Every time I have to remove the side panels to clean the air filters, I curse at Antec a little bit for the awful design. I can stand iffy cable management, but when I have to wrangle a 50 pound tank of a case every couple of weeks to clean out dust filters, it's just aggravating.

If you are reading this and thinking of building a PC, and you don't need space for a lot of HDD's, get a mid tower. You'll thank me.
 
TheExodu5 said:
Sadly, Antec has barely progressed since 2008.
Click to expand...
They just keep selling Antec 900's to everyone and their mother, and raking in the profits.

Once people stop buying 900's, they'll be forced to update their designs to current standards.
 
Since we're on the subject of cases...

Does anyone have any good case recommendations? I'm still working on what I'd like in my build and right now I have my eye on the Cooler Master Scout.


Looking for something with a good feature set, USB 3.0 on the front if possible (though not a big deal if it doesn't) and something that isn't an eyesore. A lot of PC cases look either cheap or ugly. Budget for the case would be no more than about $120, but I'd prefer to spend $80-$100 or so.
 
CarbonatedFalcon said:
Since we're on the subject of cases...

Does anyone have any good case recommendations? I'm still working on what I'd like in my build and right now I have my eye on the Cooler Master Scout.


Looking for something with a good feature set, USB 3.0 on the front if possible (though not a big deal if it doesn't) and something that isn't an eyesore. A lot of PC cases look either cheap or ugly. Budget for the case would be now more than about $120, but I'd prefer to spend $80-$100 or so.
Click to expand...

Fractal R3. No USB 3.0 up front but it's quiet, roomy and doesn't look like it came off the set of the Fast and the Furious.
 
GREAT SUCCESS!!! After a slight delay, the new computer is up and running! Thanks all who answered my questions. Preash!

7.4 Windows Rating w/o any overclocking. Thought i'd wait a few days before trying that.
 
CarbonatedFalcon said:
Since we're on the subject of cases...

Does anyone have any good case recommendations? I'm still working on what I'd like in my build and right now I have my eye on the Cooler Master Scout.


Looking for something with a good feature set, USB 3.0 on the front if possible (though not a big deal if it doesn't) and something that isn't an eyesore. A lot of PC cases look either cheap or ugly. Budget for the case would be no more than about $120, but I'd prefer to spend $80-$100 or so.
Click to expand...
Had a Scout for a year. Only upgraded for aesthetics and slightly better cooling with the 600t. I'm still keeping it around for a backup because I love it.
 
Got impatient. Used my BIOS Auto-OverClock feature to up my i5-2500K to 4ghz and it is at 1.28 volts with temps ~57

Gonna up it more when I run Prime95 for a bit longer...prolly not till tomorrow though.
 
You guys know a good place to sell old PC parts. I'm really trying to get rid of my 4870X2. It's never been overclocked and I never registered it so it still has lifetime warranty.
 
Kadey said:
You guys know a good place to sell old PC parts. I'm really trying to get rid of my 4870X2. It's never been overclocked and I never registered it so it still has lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

Once you have tried GAF's B/S/T section with no luck, definitely eBay to maximize your money. It's a pain...but as long as you describe the condition accurately and such everything should go fine. Do "Buy It Now" with payment right away required to avoid deadbeats. Auctions for hardware are hit/miss especially something a bit older like your video card. So determine the value by checking past auctions using the advanced section of the search. Price accordingly and don't be afraid to tweak the price as the days go by and no one has "bit".
 
Today I picked up my NZXT Braided cables

20110727_162710.jpg


I then installed them, I think the results speak for them selves.

DSC_0149.JPG


here is the dirty filthy mess before

DSC_0141.JPG
 
I didn't know where else to ask. Dead Rising 2 is $10 shipped from Newegg right now. It is a GFWL game. Is there anything I need to know about GFWL before I buy this?
 
SenseiJinx said:
All right GAF...after several weeks of mulling over parts and a lot of assistance from you guys, I think I've finalized my build! Probably going to pull the trigger tomorrow, unless anybody has any better recommendations. Here's what I got:

build3.png


Total of $664.43 after discounts. I already have RAM and a HDD. Seems like a great deal for the performance I think I'll get out of that. (Plus another $65 back in a few months if the rebates go through...which I never can count on. Heh.)

So to sum it up, I've got:

8GB G.Skill Sniper RAM
Intel Core i5-2500k
Hyper 212+ Cooler
Cooler Master HAF 922
Cooler Master 650W PSU
MIS P67A-G45 LGA 1155 Motherboard
Sapphire Radeon HD 6870
SAMSUNG F4 HD204UI 2TB HDD

Any recommendations for last minute changes?
Click to expand...

I like that build. Let me know how the MSI G45 motherboard treats you. I ended up going with the higher G65 because of the rave reviews but I really wanted to get the more affordable G45. I just didn't know enough about it. Specs look fantastic though.

I really do like my MSI board. The only thing that caught me is a got some Corsair Vengeance RAM and the same Hyper 212+ cooler and the cooler's fan wouldn't fit with the RAM in there. I've got it offset right now until I get the low profile ram I ordered then I'm returning the vengeance. The G.Skill sniper looks a lot lower than the Vengeance though.
 
catabarez said:
Hey guys, I've been wanting to build a PC for a while, but having no prior experience I don't really know where to start. This is what I'm looking for.

Your Current Specs: N/A (No desktop)
Budget: $700 (If at all possible) USA
Main Use: Gaming, Emulation, Possibly video editing
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
List SPECIFIC games that you MUST be able to play: Witcher 2, Battlefield 3, any upcoming title
Are reusing any parts?: None
When will you build?: Within the next month most likely
Will you be overclocking?: Maybe

Is this at all possible? What is the least amount of money I would have to spend to get something like this?
Click to expand...

bump

I could really use the help
 
catabarez said:
bump

I could really use the help
Click to expand...
If you're not building it right now, hold on and ask when you're ready. Prices could change and new processors from AMD are coming soon, which hopefully means more K series Sandy Bridge CPUs.

You don't want to have a system build in mind and then have more and better options when it's time.

As of right now a 2500k would be your best bet since you want to do some video editing and gaming, but if Bulldozer is atleast close to previous generation i5\i7 general performance, but better at video editing, you may just want that.

At 1080p a 560ti or 6950 is your minimum for consistent performance which right now is anywhere from $200-250.

Motherboard depends on what you want. If you ever plan on going with a multi gpu setup then you would have to sacrifice some features if you are on a limited budget. If not then you can get a more feature rich board for around the same cost as a cheap SLI\Crossfire board.

For emulation, you'll want to overclock as some games don't run as good as others and need more processing power. 4Ghz on any i3/i5/i7 is typically enough for any game, unless it has compatibility issues.

Right now your best best is the budget system on the first page, which will let you drop in a better Sandy Bridge CPU later on. If you can wait until September though, hopefully Intel releases a few more chips(lower end k series quads, k series i3s) to answer AMDs Bulldozer.
 
Horsemama1956 said:
If you're not building it right now, hold on and ask when you're ready. Prices could change and new processors from AMD are coming soon, which hopefully means more K series Sandy Bridge CPUs.

You don't want to have a system build in mind and then have more and better options when it's time.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, do you know when these new processors are coming? Because I would like to build it fairly soon.
 
What does pc-gaf think of this build:

ECS P67H2-A3 REV3.0 ATX P67 LGA1155 2XPCIE-E16 PCI-E 2PCI Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=61165

Intel Core i5 2500 Quad Core Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=57963

Gigabyte Radeon HD 6950 870MHZ 1GB 5GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI HDMI Display Port PCI-E DIRECTX11 Video Card
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=62087&vpn=GV-R695OC-1GD&manufacture=Gigabyte

Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 32MB Cache 3.5IN Dual Proc Hard Drive OEM
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=57432

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline Stiletto 4GB 2X2GB PC3-10666 DDR3-1333 9-9-9-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=55546

Antec High Current Gamer 520W 40A 24PIN ATX12V V2.3 Active PFC 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply 135mm Fan
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=56787&promoid=1337

LG GH22NS70 Super Multi 22X SATA DVD Writer Black OEM
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=60731

Fractal Design Define R3 SE White ATX Mid Tower Silent Computer Case 2X5.25 8X3.5INT No PS Front USB
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=53540

My budget is around $1000 CDN. Main use is gaming and general use (Word, Photoshop, web, etc.). Intended resolution is 1920x1080 (I intended on hooking it up to my hdtv). I won't be overclocking and I intend on building in the next couple of weeks.

So, does anyone see any compatibility issues? Will I be able to run modern games at 1080p with this rig? Any words of advice?
 
Epix said:
Is the i7-2600k worth the $100 over the i5-2500k?
Click to expand...
For gaming, not really. Maybe in the future, but that's nothing to be worried about. If you do any rendering\encoding or anything like that then it would be worth it because of hyper threading and a small increase in L3 cache.
 
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