Buying an AMD/ATI PC - also preparing for Windows 7!


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CPU: AMD Phenom II 920

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX

MB: GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3

Case: LIAN LI Lancool PC-K7B Black Aluminum or LIAN-LI PC-7B

RAM: G.SKILL 4GBDDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Video: ATI 4850

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM

Monitor: LCD Samsung (dunno yet - around the $200 range)

KB: Logitech Illuminated

Mouse: VX Revolution

This PC minus the DVDRW, case, monitor, kb and mouse will cost me $730 flat. Otherwise it would have cost me $830. I know a local indepedent guy that sells computer parts at discounted prices. How? I don't know

Anyhow, I'd appreciate any comments about my build

Altogether, it will cost $1200 most likely or less than $1200

Should I invest in this PC? Will it be worth it? Haven't invested in a gaming pc in 2 years

or should I wait till prices drop?

Edited by Hanif
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Only you can really answer that question. For PC's, it's always a matter of personal preference. The general rule of thumb is to buy the fastest that you can get within your budget. It helps to do a little research and compare prices of specific items. Of course the newest models you will have to pay a premium. And waiting is not an option. Yes your current parts will get cheaper, but they will also be older (ie: succeded by new/faster versions). But again, only you can decide if it is "worth" it or not.

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Dude, computers will always get faster/cheaper/better as time goes by. Sure, if you want to wait, you'll get a better deal. But you'll miss out in the meantime. It's your choice.

Your build doesn't look bad, but I'd seriously consider at least a 650W PSU.

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He won't need 600W, he's running a 4850. Maybe Closer to 500-550W, but not 600.

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Why do people always have to pop up when people get a higher rated PSU than they need? Just because he doesn't need a 600W PSU now doesn't mean he won't further on down the line, it's not like a 600W PSU will use more power than a 500W in the same system.

That system would use close to 400W with several USB devices, i'd consider something better than 450W, a good load and you would be running it over 85%.

I'd invest in a motherboard that supports Crossfire incase you feel you need a bit more graphics power later on.

Looking at a few UK sites you can get a AMD Phenom II 940 Black Edition 3.0GHz for the same price as the 920. Maybe the prices are a bit diffrent in Canada.

EDIT: Looking at the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator the same system with a 4870X2 at 90% load would use 542W, thats with no USB devices and no extra cards, how would a 550W PSU be enough?

Just because your doing it doesn't mean it's a good idea. Infact, considering your PSU is rated at 80% at full load, I find it very hard to beleive your running that system on it.

Edited by SIE
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Yeah but a 600W costs more than a 500W....what makes you think further down the line PSU designs are going to be exactly the same?

And how did you make the estimate that a system such as that would use close to 400W with USB devices?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3415&p=9

4870 1GB @ full load draws 279W? Given that's not stressing the CPU to it's max so let's be generous and say 350W.

Why do people always have to pop up when people pop up because someone got a higher PSU than they need :rolleyes:

Edited by shift.
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Yeah but a 600W costs more than a 500W....what makes you think further down the line PSU designs are going to be exactly the same?

And how did you make the estimate that a system such as that would use close to 400W with USB devices?

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3415&p=9

4870 1GB @ full load draws 279W? Given that's not stressing the CPU to it's max so let's be generous and say 350W.

Why do people always have to pop up when people pop up because someone got a higher PSU than they need :rolleyes:

As you said, there not stressing the entire system, how much do you think PSU's are going to change over the next say two years? A PSU will last you a good few upgrades if you get the right one, it will also run cooler because your not stressing it as much.

Less heat and future proofing is enough of a reason for me.

People are always saying, you don't this that PSU, it's overkill, bla bla bla, but they never give reasons other than the cost which is minimal.

Other than costing a little more, if you have another reason not to get a higher watt PSU than you need lets hear it...

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I say you should cut down on the case, keyboard and mouse so you can redirect your budget to a better GPU, probably the 4870 512gb, which starts at 210CAD. But for that you would probably need a better PSU.

As for the processor, the 940 is the same price at Newegg. But if you shop at newegg, good luck finding a power supply at the right price. All there is are those "Rosewill" things which are just rebranded... somethings.

Although honestly if I were you I'd wait until the end of the year for DirectX11 GPUs (Radeon 5xxx or Geforce GTX300) and Core i5.

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This may be my final setup:

Wish I could wait for DirectX11 or Core i5 but it'll take too long before they come out - perhaps I could wait I don't know

don?t know that it will be worth waiting for. Maybe,? I think the i5 laptops will be great.

pcLAST-Infonec.jpg

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