Trying to build something to last...

[black.ace]

So this is my first full build. I have rebuilt a few computers for a few friends and a couple for myself. This time I'm trying to build something for me and my girlfriend to use for the next 3-4 years. We decided to invest about $1000-$1200. I found this site and it seems like the best place to ask for advice.

So I've made a small list of parts I think would help us start. Since we want this thing to last a while, I picked parts that would last and open to upgrades. Also, this list only includes parts for the tower.


Computer Case: COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower $199

Motherboard: ASRock 890FX DELUXE3 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $154

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Thuban 3.3GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDE00ZFBR BOX $240

GPU: XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $155

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply $110

Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL $105

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $60


I'm hoping to get some advice on the parts I've picked. I am not a pro and I dont know how compatible these parts are. The motherboard I picked I'm taking a chance on. I'ver used only ASUS boards for my computers and they all worked great, but the stats on this ASRock look really good so I'm willing to take a chance... Also its giving me an option of using up to 3 PCI-E cards and 16 gb of ram...

So I hope someone on these message boards could help me build this thing. I'm trying to keep costs down, but at the same time I want to make sure I have good parts that will last me. Also, yes I understand how bad the I'm over killing it with the CPU but I would rather invest the money now for a decent CPU and upgrade the video card(s) and memory when I have the money.

Please feel free to leave suggestions or modifications to the set up.... Thank you!

[Nuclear Krusader]

It won't last very long with that XFX card, that G.skill memory and that mobo. And I'll reserve my comments on AMD... because I don't do AMD builds.

Choose an Asus mobo, an Asus or Diamond or HIS video card, and Crucial or Kingston memory.

[glc]

Acceptable memory is Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, and A-Data, and all you need is 1333 speed. Acceptable ATI cards are Asus, Diamond, and HIS. Acceptable motherboard is Asus.

If you are gaming, put more money in the video card and less in the CPU. There's not a game out there that can use more than 3 cores.

[black.ace]

Has anyone here actually used ASRock motherboards or GSkill memory? I have used ASUS motherboards on two of my computers I have rebuilt and I know they work great. Also, I have used GSkill memory on all the computers I've upgraded and it work great too.

My girlfriend and I are gamers, but we mostly play on the 360. So we are mostly casual PC gamers. I plan on installing a second graphics card thats better then that XFX card later, but for now I was hoping this would hold us over. The only games I want to be able to play from the start are Starcraft 2 and Civilization 5 (most other games we like are on the Xbox 360).

Also, I was hoping to get an honest opinion on the ASRock motherboard I choose. Has anyone here used this brand before? On paper, it has great stats and everything I want in a motherboard.

If ASRock is really not worth it, I was hoping to get a good recommendation. What I'm looking for is a board that will run the Phenom 2 x6 and has at least 2 usb 3.0's. The only other boards I was thinking of using are the GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5 ATX AMD Motherboard $180 and the ASUS Crosshair IV Formula ATX AMD Motherboard $230.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by black.ace Has anyone here actually used ASRock motherboards or GSkill memory? I have used ASUS motherboards on two of my computers I have rebuilt and I know they work great. Also, I have used GSkill memory on all the computers I've upgraded and it work great too. My girlfriend and I are gamers, but we mostly play on the 360. So we are mostly casual PC gamers. I plan on installing a second graphics card thats better then that XFX card later, but for now I was hoping this would hold us over. The only games I want to be able to play from the start are Starcraft 2 and Civilization 5 (most other games we like are on the Xbox 360). Also, I was hoping to get an honest opinion on the ASRock motherboard I choose. Has anyone here used this brand before? On paper, it has great stats and everything I want in a motherboard. If ASRock is really not worth it, I was hoping to get a good recommendation. What I'm looking for is a board that will run the Phenom 2 x6 and has at least 2 usb 3.0's. The only other boards I was thinking of using are the GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5 ATX AMD Motherboard $180 and the ASUS Crosshair IV Formula ATX AMD Motherboard $230.

If a respected member of this forum says they are bad its because they either personally have had bad experiences with that product or have seen other people or members have problems. There are several members here who have had bad experiences with Gskill, it used to be recommended then all of a sudden problems started popping up and it went on the do not recommend list. While I have personally never used an Asrock board, I would much rather spend the extra doe on a respected board manufacture that has shown time and time again that they will stand behind their products with outstanding customer service. Asus is a fantastic board manufacturer and the first choice of most members here, it may be a little more expensive but its worth it.

[black.ace]

You guys are right... there is not reason why I should take the risk of having to RMA the questionable brands and wait weeks on end... So I decided to dump the GSkill, ASRock, and the XFX.

Here is what I replaced them with:

ASUS M4A89TD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $185

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8 $150

ASUS EAH6850 DC/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity $180

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $60

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply $110

AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Thuban 3.3GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDE00ZFBR BOX $240

COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower $199

My overall costs have gone up to about $1100 but i Think its worth it. The only brands Im using in this build are not ASUS, Corsair, AMD, WD, and Coolmaster. All of them seem to be pretty highly rated... Anything else I missed or should change in this build?

I really appreciate the help and advice you all have provided. And to Nuclear Krusader, I know that AMD is not as good as Intel, but when I compare the price vs quality, its a no brainer that AMD is the better choice for ME.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Essentially, G.skill was good until they started having lots of compatibility problems. Yup, the brand is still listed in the Asus QVL, but these problems tend to appear faster than the major mobo manufacturers do their testings.

Asrock is designed by Asus, but is made by ECS, and most of us know how abysmal ECS is. There's a reason why they're so cheap.

I know how it is when things look great in paper and Maximum PC reviews; and then you take them home and find out that the "gold" they sold you is actually the worst kind of pyrite. Take MSI for example, great boards... when they work. It was one MSI and AMD combo that I built with lots of high hopes and enthusiasm only to have nothing but headaches later that drove me away from AMD. And although the problems with the crappy chipsets (which is in actuality what gives Intel most of its edge, since Intel chipsets are so solid that I'll build another AMD when Intel makes the chipset for it) are a thing of the past, I'd rather stay with what I know is solid and reliable. Now with the AMD/ATi merger, things have certainly improved for AMD, but some of us will remain on the Intel fence (even with all the SB fuss, lately). I call that loyalty.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by black.ace I really appreciate the help and advice you all have provided. And to Nuclear Krusader, I know that AMD is not as good as Intel, but when I compare the price vs quality, its a no brainer that AMD is the better choice for ME.

AMD has one heck of a grip on the price\performance race, intel is making headway with their sandybridge chips and boards but because of the recall they are unavailable at this time. I wouldn't say Intel is better even though I build exclusively with Intel, Intel is just what I am comfortable with and I think performs better at the high end which is what I build mostly. AMD is by no means a second rate company and their products serve millions of people very well, and I believe they were the right choice for your build because you would not have gotten the performance of your AMD processor with an Intel in your price range.

[glc]

I would go with lower voltage 1333 speed ram. Unless you overclock, 1600 speed ram has no benefits. Go for stability.

By the way - XFX is a division of Pine Technologies, which is a division of PC Chips. Bottom of the quality and support barrel, the ONLY thing it has going for it is the warranty.

[Blue Flux Blazer]

Originally Posted by glc If you are gaming, put more money in the video card and less in the CPU. There's not a game out there that can use more than 3 cores.

To OP: Going by GLC's advice, I think you would not need anything more than this Quad core: Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX