Advice for first time gaming build

[sprout]

I've decided to build my own pc and have been doing some research into components. Here's what I have so far.


MOBO: Asus M4A78T-E

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black edition

Video Card: VisionTek Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro)

RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM (ECO series)

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 750 GB SATA (3.0Gb/s)

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG SH-S223C

Given this, I have a few questions for all you wise PC sages out there. I'm hoping to figure out a build that will cost me around 1000$ and be able to run games such as Fallout 3 and WoW wicked fast at high res settings.

1. Does this seem like a good set of components? Could I potentially downgrade to an Asus M4A785-M Mobo and/or a cheaper video card without a significant decrease in gaming power? More specifically, is the difference between ddr2 and ddr3 memory very significant? Any other big differences between these two Mobos?

2. The AMD Phenom II x4 965 black edition comes with a fan. Is it worth buying a better one if I decide to overclock?

3. Could I run this system on my current copy of Windows XP? Would there be compatibility issues with new hardware or problems running said hardware at its full potential using old software? Would I need to go with Vista? or alternatively Linux?

4. Any recommendations for a power supply and chassis? I can't seem to figure out the wattage/voltage requirements for some of the above components and thus the type and potency of power supply that this system might require. Nor could I find the physical size (form factor) of the VisionTek Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) to help figure out what kind of chassis to select.

Any other advice for a wtfn00b computer builder trying to build a solid gaming machine on the cheap? Thanks!!!

[ryuk999]

I would swap out the Hard drive for this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320

Also I would go with this graphics card when they get back in stock http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-085-_-Product

[flanzig1]

3: XP should work fine.
4: The video card you selected says a mininum of 450w, would look to a 550w and up range for some headroom. Brands to look for: Corsair/Antec/FSP.
For a case, look for a mid-tower. Antec and Coolermaster make good cases.

[orbrit]

if it's just for gaming, I'd step down the processor and spend more on the video card.

Gaming is ALL about the video card.

DIAMOND 5870PE51G Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 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...-084-_-Product

and this will be just fine for gaming.

AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-724-_-Product


You can step down the Motherboard too. (I'd stick with ATX instead of Micro)
ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-398-_-Product

this power supply will be sufficient (550VX would also work, but this one is the same price!)
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9005&Tpk=650tx


Don't touch Vista. Go for Windows 7 home premium, 64 bit, to be able to use 4 plus Gb of memory.
XP may limit you to 3.25 Gb usable.

[sprout]

@orbrit thanks!!!

@ryuk999 why the diamond card over vision tek? seems to me they have the exact same specs?

also if I dont go with vista will I need to buy a sound card?

[glc]

The recommended brands for ATI cards are Asus, Diamond, and HIS. This is for support and customer service reasons.

Always try the onboard sound before buying a sound card.

[sprout]

would I be squandering the goodness of my hardware if I go with a semi cheap monitor like the ASUS VH222H-P 21.5-Inch?

how do you guys feel about the Antec earthwatts EA500 500W. I think the corsair might be a little over powered for my needs. although I think its' active power factor correction seems a nifty feature.

[David M]

Many higher end Asus boards are coming standard with their own Supreme FX sound card. You may want to check that. I think the sound quality and features are as good as any sound card.

If you want a very quiet PSU for when you are doing light duties like surfing the internet then have a look at the Corsair VX 550.

You do not want anything other than Windows 7 64 bit.

Are you set on AMD? I was going to suggest the i7-860.

[glc]

The Earthwatts 500 is a very good power supply. That's a decent monitor, but that resolution in 21.5 inches is going to be hard to read.

[sprout]

So i'm pretty much set on this build. some components (gpu) i picked due to availability / price in my area. this build is primarily intended to get me a quality gaming rig for reasonably cheap. I've shopped around a bit and it comes to approx 1350$CAD including monitor and OS any final advice for yours truly?

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel

Asus M4A785TD-V EVO Socket AM3 AMD 785G Chipset

AMD Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0GHz

Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB GDDR5

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

Corsair TX Series CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Power Supply

Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"

Samsung SH-S243D/BEBE SATA 24X

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders

Philips 244E1SB, 24" 1920x1080, 5ms, 25000:1(DCR), VGA, DVI-D, HDMI

[glc]

That's a dual channel motherboard, not a triple channel. Buy ram in pairs, not threes. I'd also recommend a different brand optical drive, Samsungs have reliability issues.

[sprout]

I was originally thinking to go 2x2g then figured to bump up the ram a bit because its not that much more coin for a 3x2g. will the dual channel mobo not allow me to use three sticks? so i should go for either 2x2g (or 2x4g) or 4x2g?

how bout this LG drive?

[orbrit]

2 x 2Gb should be plenty. Most I've ever seen in use in game is 2.5 Gb

I've read quite a few reviews on Lite-on reliability issues recently too so not sure who makes the best optical drive right now.

FWIW Both my Samsung and Lite-On have been working so far.

[glc]

LG is fine. However, that's just a rom drive, not a burner.