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Croak · 10-27-2009, 08:30 PM

I'm building a system mostly for video and photo editing, but with some gaming mixed in. I'm willing to spend the money if the parts are worth it, but I'm also happy to be told that something else will be effectively equivalent and cheaper. Like many people I'll pay for quality, but who likes to waste their money when it doesn't make a different?

I'm skipping the discussion of external enclosures and possible caching RAID cards, as I'll add that later (and ask about it in the Drives and Storage area.)

I'll be installing Windows 7 64-bit on the system.

I have a decent idea of most parts, but some questions are listed at the bottom. Any and all comments are welcome, of course!

CPU - Intel i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115213
One step up is just too damn expensive for the extra power.

MB - ASUS P7P55D Deluxe LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131400
This seems to be teh popular choice around here - and I like Asus's MBs.

Case - Antec P183 Black Aluminum / Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129061
I've the P182 and love it. Any reason not to get this one?

Video - ASUS EAH5850/G/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121349
I'm seeing an increase in unhappy reviews on this card on newegg. Any other ideas? I'd like to get a DX11 card, which does limit my choices. Historically I've used nVidia, but they're DX11 chip isn't out, their future looks a little in doubt, and I thought Photoshop & Lightroom took better advantage of ATI cards.

HDD - boot drive
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=WD3000HLFS
Not the absolute fastest drive, but very, very fast.

HDD - Data Drive
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=WD1001FALS
www.storagereview.com rates both those drives very highly. And I've had good luck with WD in general.

I've 2 other SATA drives I'll be bringing over as well.

No DVD, I've got 2 SATA lite-on that I'm going to reuse.

Questions:

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS
Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-004-_-Product

This one is out of stock and sounds like it won't be in any time soon. Any suggestions? Is this enough power? I love the last one of theirs I used.

RAM suggestions? I want 8G. Is DDR3 2200 beneficial over 1600 if you're not over clocking? Looking at the QVL for that MB and I wasn't thrilled with what I saw at 2200. The only 1600 with 7-7-7-20 (or better) timing that I recognize is OCZ and I've never used them before. I'm generally a Crucial or Corsair man. But does that timing really make a difference? In theory, ya... but in practice? I'm limiting my choices greatly 'cause of it.

Something like this:
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996657 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...871&Tpk=996657
Is certainly appealing based on price ($99) and that it's rated at 7-7-7-20. but I've never used them and don't know someone who has.

Thanks for any help you can give!

10-27-2009, 08:30 PM	#1
Croak Member (4 bit) Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 9	higher power system... I'm building a system mostly for video and photo editing, but with some gaming mixed in. I'm willing to spend the money if the parts are worth it, but I'm also happy to be told that something else will be effectively equivalent and cheaper. Like many people I'll pay for quality, but who likes to waste their money when it doesn't make a different? I'm skipping the discussion of external enclosures and possible caching RAID cards, as I'll add that later (and ask about it in the Drives and Storage area.) I'll be installing Windows 7 64-bit on the system. I have a decent idea of most parts, but some questions are listed at the bottom. Any and all comments are welcome, of course! CPU - Intel i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93GHz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115213 One step up is just too damn expensive for the extra power. MB - ASUS P7P55D Deluxe LGA 1156 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131400 This seems to be teh popular choice around here - and I like Asus's MBs. Case - Antec P183 Black Aluminum / Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129061 I've the P182 and love it. Any reason not to get this one? Video - ASUS EAH5850/G/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121349 I'm seeing an increase in unhappy reviews on this card on newegg. Any other ideas? I'd like to get a DX11 card, which does limit my choices. Historically I've used nVidia, but they're DX11 chip isn't out, their future looks a little in doubt, and I thought Photoshop & Lightroom took better advantage of ATI cards. HDD - boot drive Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=WD3000HLFS Not the absolute fastest drive, but very, very fast. HDD - Data Drive Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=WD1001FALS www.storagereview.com rates both those drives very highly. And I've had good luck with WD in general. I've 2 other SATA drives I'll be bringing over as well. No DVD, I've got 2 SATA lite-on that I'm going to reuse. Questions: PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-004-_-Product This one is out of stock and sounds like it won't be in any time soon. Any suggestions? Is this enough power? I love the last one of theirs I used. RAM suggestions? I want 8G. Is DDR3 2200 beneficial over 1600 if you're not over clocking? Looking at the QVL for that MB and I wasn't thrilled with what I saw at 2200. The only 1600 with 7-7-7-20 (or better) timing that I recognize is OCZ and I've never used them before. I'm generally a Crucial or Corsair man. But does that timing really make a difference? In theory, ya... but in practice? I'm limiting my choices greatly 'cause of it. Something like this: Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996657 - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...871&Tpk=996657 Is certainly appealing based on price ($99) and that it's rated at 7-7-7-20. but I've never used them and don't know someone who has. Thanks for any help you can give!