Building a new comp

[jellosnake]

My friend recommended me to this site for advice on what parts i should get.

My plan right now is not to get a video card, unless its a steal as I'm on a budget. Currently my ideal on the computer consists of:

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor

GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Some kind of dvd drive around 25

I'm not sure about the ram to get.

I would appreciate any opinions.

[mazz72]

Is this a gaming comp? video editing? just general usage?

[jellosnake]

general use to possible gaming in the future.

[mazz72]

Well, I would normally say that PSU is overkill, but if you think you might be wanting to get a mid to high-range video card in the future, then you might want to stick with it. If you're not worried about that right now, or if you think you might only go with a low to mid-range video card in the future, then a 500w PSU should do you fine and still give you some head room to play with. If you're looking for modular, this is good:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341016

As for RAM, I think this should be fine for now:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231150

Then you can always add another 2GB in the future if/when you start with the gaming.

[jellosnake]

isn't it cheaper to get 4gb bundle instead of 2gb?

[glc]

If you can fit a 2x2 kit in your budget, absolutely.

[mazz72]

Originally Posted by jellosnake isn't it cheaper to get 4gb bundle instead of 2gb?

Wasn't sure what your budget was, or how far ahead in the future you'd be upgrading, if at all. Just trying to save you a few bucks, but yeah in the long run 4gb is cheaper.

[jellosnake]

i was planning to spend around 100 on ram. My hope is to spend under 600 as a budget.

[jellosnake]

is it possible to use the G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM on this motherboard? I read that you can change the settings in bios to make it run. Is that true?

[mazz72]

Yes you can use that.

[jellosnake]

is it really difficult to adjust the bios settings? I've never done it before but am willing to try it if its not overly complicated.

[jellosnake]

i couldn't find a edit button or a delete button so... anyways I had my heart set on getting the Antec 900 case for a long time, and as i was reading up on different motherboards i noticed that Asus has a the Q-Fan 2 which adjusts both CPU fan and chassis fan speeds according to system loading. How does that work? and will it work with the Antec 900 case?

[glc]

Q-Fan will control fans plugged into the motherboard, but not fans plugged into the power supply. I generally disable it and let the fans run full speed, the slight noise increase doesn't bother me.

[jellosnake]

does the antec 900 fans plug into the motherboard or power supply? If it's power supply is there some kinda of adptor to plug it into motherboard? Just wanted to know this. And how is this ASUS M4A78T-E ATX 790GX Socket AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI HDMI Video Sound GBLAN Motherboard compared to Gigabyte MA790GPT-UD3H AMD790GX ATX AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E Sound GBLAN HDMI CrossFireX Motherboard?

[jellosnake]

i have a vista key that i use for my laptop, is it possible to use the same key for my new computer? or do i need to get a new cd key?

[nicolaus corelius]

you can only use one key for one computer. with oem keys, the key is locked to the machine- so you cant migrate it to another computer. if the key is retail, then you can migrate.

[jellosnake]

Any opinions between the ASUS M4A78T-E ATX 790GX Socket AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 2PCI HDMI Video Sound GBLAN Motherboard and the Gigabyte MA790GPT-UD3H AMD790GX ATX AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E Sound GBLAN HDMI CrossFireX Motherboard?

[mazz72]

Many people on here will say Asus is the best, but I believe (and I know others do, as well) that Gigabyte is right up there on a par with Asus these days. If Asus is #1 then Gigabyte is an extremely close 2nd. : )

Those two are basically the same board, but the Gigabyte is $15 cheaper. I'd go with the Gigabyte.

[jellosnake]

Which ram is better? the G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM or the OCZ Obsidian 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3OB1600LV4GK?

[mazz72]

I'd go with the G.SKILL.

[jellosnake]

thats what i was thinking to just wanted to confirm. If I have 4gb of ram should i go with the 32 bit or 64 bit windows? I remember i once tried installing 4gb on a older computer with 32bit and windows showed that I did not have 4gb, instead it was around 3.5gb. Why is that?

[glc]

windows showed that I did not have 4gb, instead it was around 3.5gb. Why is that?

That question has been beaten to death all over the Internet over and over. Bottom line, if you want all 4 gigs to be seen, go 64 bit, but 32 bit will work fine and be stable.

[jellosnake]

i don't care if its seen, i wanted to know if its actually using the full 4gigs in a 32 bit or if it's lost somewhere.

[mazz72]

Originally Posted by jellosnake i don't care if its seen, i wanted to know if its actually using the full 4gigs in a 32 bit or if it's lost somewhere.

That's what GLC meant. No, a 32-bit OS is not going to see or use more than 3.5GB of ram. If you want 4GB, just go with the 64-bit.

[nicolaus corelius]

what about pae?
seriously though, isnt the above supposed to do the trick?

[glc]

Even with PAE, a 32 bit OS still has to reserve some address space.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

I have XP Pro 32 bit with PAE and 4gb ram, and Windows reports 3.25gb ram.

[jellosnake]

ic, since u have 4gb and use 32bit it must be better then going with the 64 bit version. As a side note is there compatibility issues with the 64 bit? I was told by a friend that 64 bit isn't to popular and that some applications and game won't run on the 64 bit.

[glc]

I believe most of those issues have been taken care of with Windows 7. The only reasons I have 32 bit is because I *had* it - and XP 64 has never had decent driver support. If you go with XP, get 32 bit, if you go with Win 7, get 64 bit, and don't touch Vista with a 10 foot pole.

[jellosnake]

sweet, i just bought the windows 7 64 bit. got it on sale. Still deciding on the motherboard and cpu though. Any thoughts on the ASUS M4A79T Deluxe AM3 and the AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition. How does this compare to my initial build of AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition and the GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H?

[nicolaus corelius]

you already got the psu? cuz u should have just gotten an antec earthwatts, seasonic or a corsair instead. ocz is kida mediocre. fsp and sirtec doth not win!