Need advice on new build

[wsm01]

I'm getting ready to build a new system to replace an aging Compaq desktop. This system will be attached to a 40" Samsung LCD HDTV at 1920x1080 (native resolution). It will be used as a HTPC, for some gaming (but not a lot), for video editing, and for software development (Visual Studio). It will be running Windows 7 64 bit. My budget started at $800, and here is what I've come up with so far:

• LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support
• Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
• Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply
• Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
• GIGABYTE GV-N96TSL-1GI GeForce 9600 GT 1GB Silent Cell 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
• G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ
• ASUS P7P55D EVO LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
• Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750

Total comes out to $854.55 with shipping on Newegg, which is only slightly over my original budget, and I think I'm okay with that. Don't need keyboard, mouse, software.

I want to be sure I'm not doing anything stupid, and that everything will be compatible, and also find out if there are better, more reliable, etc options...


Thanks!

[glc]

The only thing I'd change is get an ATI video card.

[wsm01]

I'm curious, is ATI vs. Nvidia a personal preference thing, or does ATI have better performance at a given price point?

Also do you have any recommendations of a card at about that same price ($120)?

Thanks!

[glc]

The new comparison charts are out.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...card,2464.html

The 9600 GT is the best card - for $80, not $120. It's also old architecture and (this is my OPINION) to me, ATI has always had a nicer 2D display than Nvidia.

Check out this deal........

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121329

With the rebate, that's a no brainer to me. I also noticed you can save some cash if you get the base P7P55D board - between that and the savings on the video card, you may be able to upgrade the CPU to the i7-860.

[wsm01]

Thanks, I'll check out those links. I did find a couple of combo deals on newegg on the exact items in my list above that knocked the total price down about $30 while actually upgrading the power supply to 650 watts, same Antec brand, earthwatts line, but not modular.

[wsm01]

I've got another question... Looking at motherboards, given my stated usage above is there any difference that I would care about between the P7P55D and the P7P55D EVO? There is about a $44 price difference. The only thing I can see that might matter is that the audio has only optical output on the P7P55D but optical and coaxial on the P7P55D EVO.

Would this matter for internally connecting to the graphics card for HDMI out?

Any other gotchas if I went for the cheaper board?

Thanks!

[Masaki 7-11]

You only need to connect internally if you get a nvidia card; ati cards (HD2000 and up) have built-in sound controllers, so you don't need to have any internal connectors. From what I remember nvidia cards have a 2 pin SPDIF connector; most motherboards provide this if they have optical out.

[glc]

No gotchas, which is why I recommended it.

[wsm01]

Cool, thanks! I'm going to go this route. Here is my final build list:

LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support
$33.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ
$94.99

HIS H467QS1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
$79.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
$79.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC
Combo
$109.94

ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860
Combo
$414.98

Grand Total: $813.88

Everything had free shipping, so no shipping charges.

[Masaki 7-11]

Looks good.

[David M]

Its a horse race between Nvidia and ATI. Sometimes one is ahead and sometimes the other is ahead. There are Nvidia fanboys and there are ATI fanboys. Most people though could not care less. So long as there are two sides creating new technology and competing in price, that's all that really matters.