Man how things have changed

[DMD]

Since I built this PC I am on now Abit NF-7 W/ an AMD XP2500

Time for a new build so here goes.
What I have now and will use.

Older Antec ATX case w/ case fans etc. (Lots of room)
Win 7 Ultimate 32/64 bit
PSU Corsair CX 430 <--May have to get a better one?

What is on it's way to me now.

Newegg.com - Intel 330 Series Maple Crest SSDSC2CT120A3K5 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Newegg.com - Western Digital WD Black WD5003AZEX 500GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1600C9

Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners

Still need a MB and CPU leaning towards these.

Newegg.com - AMD A10-5800K Trinity 3.8GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7660D AD580KWOHJBOX

Newegg.com - ASUS F2A85-V PRO FM2 AMD A85X (Hudson D4) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Never tried a 64bit OS before so leaning that way with win7 will all this be OK on 64bit?
Also,Never have used an SSD before so i ask.Do you format them just like any other HD?

And 1 more question my PSU.Do you feel it would be OK to use it or should i just grab a better Corsair/Seasonic PSU maybe a 650 or so watt?

p.s. err 1 more.. do micro atx MB's fit in a ATX case? ie screw holes and what not line up?

Thanks in advance..

[glc]

1. 64 bit required with more than 4 gigs ram.

2. Yes. I'd recommend you get Windows installed on the SSD before installing the spin drive. Make sure the controller is in the AHCI mode.

3. If the PSU is stable and you are not installing a video card, it's okay.

4. Yes, no problem.

[jdeb]

The memory you chose is fine and will work but this is a little better. You can read your manual if is does not default at the 1866 speed. Simple setting in the BIOS.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CML8GX3M2A1866C9B

That is a ATX board but yes mATX will fit in a ATX case

If you plan on using Dual Graphics in the future, this is the paired card (HD6670), you are still fine with that power supply, providing it is good and stable. We are not fans of the Corsair Builder Series. I prefer Seasonic in all my builds.
Newegg.com - ASUS EAH6670/DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

[DMD]

Thanks a lot guys

Originally Posted by jdeb If you plan on using Dual Graphics in the future, this is the paired card (HD6670), you are still fine with that power supply, providing it is good and stable. We are not fans of the Corsair Builder Series. I prefer Seasonic in all my builds. Newegg.com - ASUS EAH6670/DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

WOW here I was thinking adding a video card was gonna cost another $200 to $300. Might just snag that one also

[jdeb]

Here is a good one for less money but the Asus is the better card of the 2 but not by a lot.
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (11192-22-20G)

make sure you read the manual on setting up the dual graphics prior to doing the build.

[glc]

If I remember correctly, the only Builder that was excellent was the original CX400, that was made by Seasonic. The rest of them are CWT.

Corsair CX430 430W power supply Review

Mixed feelings, it's not junk. I think for cheaper units, I'd prefer one of the Delta-built Antecs. Ideally, you can sometimes catch a Seasonic-built something on sale.

[DMD]

Got the 1866 memory jdeb said above and about ready for the build.

Got some SSD questions.

Is there a guide somewhere about using a SSD as your C: drive with all the what to and what not to do out there? (I can't find one)
I have read you really only wanna try and write to a SSD once without a lot of rewrites etc,But if you put the OS on the SSD that also puts IE,E-mail,trash bin etc: on that drive correct?.

Does deleting cookies,cache,deleting emails and what not create writes and rewrites? or am i wrong in that thinking?

[jdeb]

Install the SSD with the BIOS set to ACHI. Install Windows, do all your updates, install frequently used apps.

Then you can attach a spin drive for data and initialize it in control panel/system and maintenance/admin tools/computer management/storage/disk management.

[DMD]

OK Gonna put this thing together and get it up and running for a week or two then add a GPU for dual graphics.
Enabling dual graphics with this MB and APU we are talking crossfireX correct?

Originally Posted by jdeb If you plan on using Dual Graphics in the future, this is the paired card (HD6670), you are still fine with that power supply, providing it is good and stable. We are not fans of the Corsair Builder Series. I prefer Seasonic in all my builds. Newegg.com - ASUS EAH6670/DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card

Newegg claims the above mentioned card does not support crossfireX. I thought the 6670 GPU does support it?

Sorry for all the questions...Just wanna do this one right..

[David M]

You don't need Crossfire for a dual monitor system. Setting up a dual monitor system can be done by going to Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalization/Display/Change display settings. If you have three or more monitors you then need a AMD Crossfire or Nvidia Surround capable graphics card.

[DMD]

Originally Posted by David M You don't need Crossfire for a dual monitor system. Setting up a dual monitor system can be done by going to Control Panel/ Appearance and Personalization/Display/Change display settings. If you have three or more monitors you then need a AMD Crossfire or Nvidia Surround capable graphics card.

I am not after more than 1 monitor.I want the APU and GPU working together on 1 monitor?

[David M]

One or the other can create an image on your monitor. The difference is that the vast majority of graphics cards are faster than CPU's with onboard graphics. It all depends on how much graphics processing power that you need. If you are going to purchase a graphics card then there is not much point in getting an APU. It's analogous to adding a dragster engine to a car with a Volkswagen engine. Whats the point then of paying for the Volkswagen engine? Also, APU's tend not to have fast CPU processors, but they may be good enough if you don't need a high end processor.

[glc]

The 6670 is the correct card for dual graphics with that particular APU. I don't think David has any experience with AMD APU's, jdeb is correct in posts 3 and 5.

[David M]

In post 9 he says he wants a card for dual graphics. He just said he was not interested in a dual display in post 11.

Where was I in error with the APU in post 12?

[DMD]

Well i thought i'd have this built by now but at the last minute decided to grab a PSU
Newegg.com - SeaSonic M12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

My last and hopefully final question.

I have artic silver 5 should I or would you remove the thermal compound that came on the HS and apply AS5 if you planned on down the road to try this APU in turbo mode on this MB?
I am thinking the factory paste should be OK? Thanks in advance..

[glc]

Factory thermal interface is fine.

[DMD]

Quick update..
This build has been up and running great..I can't get over the speed of the SSD..

Only problem I can't figure out is i cannot get this memory to post at 1866..works fine at 1333 and 1600.
MB bios have been updated..

[David M]

What are you using to read the speed of the memory? The BIOS or software showing real time speeds? What does the DRAM frequency in CPU-Z say? It should be half of 1866...933 MHz.

Once you reach 1600, RAM speed makes very little difference in a computers overall speed. But I can understand your concern given you purchased 1866 RAM and expect it to work.

[jdeb]

Have you looked in the manual as it pertains to xmp profile settings?

[DMD]

Originally Posted by David M What are you using to read the speed of the memory? BIOS The BIOS or software showing real time speeds? What does the DRAM frequency in CPU-Z say? Do not have it installed

Originally Posted by jdeb Have you looked in the manual as it pertains to xmp profile settings?

I can't find a thing.. Must be hidden in there somewhere..I have read the BIOS settings front to back twice..I'll figure it out.. Might just be hidden under something with this MB..I am used to old school type BIOS (lol) this new stuff has thrown me a learning curve.(New terminology and all)

[jdeb]

This video will help you, have fun.

Setting up XMP and AMP on AMD ASUS Motherboards - YouTube

[DMD]

Originally Posted by jdeb This video will help you, have fun. Setting up XMP and AMP on AMD ASUS Motherboards - YouTube

Thank you jdeb...

That worked...Running @ 1866 now..

These new MB's have so much more (settings) I need to learn....

[jdeb]

Glad you got it working at optimized settings. It should be stable as well.

The older BIOS's were not perfect for the 1866 but now they seem to have stabilized so I can start to recommend them regularly.