New PC help and recommendations

A

adsl2

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Hi,

I am looking to buy myself a new PC. The specs i currently have in mind is:
-i7 950
-Cooler Master Elite 430 case
-Cooler Master 550W PSU
-ASUS P6X58D-3 LGA 1366
-3 x 2GB DDR 3 1333Mhz Tri channel
-ATI 5750 OR ATI 5770 OR ATI 5830 OR ATI 6850
-1TB HDD

My questions:
1. What would you change on the above setup?
2. Which graphics card will be the best? Are Nvidia worth looking at?
3. Is 1600Mhz RAM worth to cost? IAW What will the performance difference be?
4. Will the i7 still work in tri channel with 12GB ram? 6 x 2GB's
5. What motherboard would you recommend?
6. Is there anything i missed?

My main use will be Photoshop and image editing but it will also be used for gaming.

Any help will be appreciated

Thanks
 
1) Why the rubbish case? Please make some room in your budget for at least a CM690ii. Remember that a case far outlives every single other component, its worth at least R1000 in a righ with good components. Everything else checks out
2) For mostly work (ie photoshop) you'll be fine with a HD6850/6870. Wootware is currently running a special I suggest you get in there quick!
3) Nah, memory speed almost never gives any real world gains, though with G. Skill you'll likely afford to get it anyway
4) Yes
5) The one you have looks fine but dont have time to check for cheaper alternatives right now
6) My commission :p
 
1) Add a 120GB SSD. Don't spend more than R2200 on it brand new. WootWare had G.Skill Phoenix 120GB SSD's for R2140.
2) Look at the VTX3D HD 6850 like Archer said. They (WootWare) have/had a special on it for R1500 ! For graphics designing you don't need more than the HD 5770, but if you can get the HD 6850 for less by all means go for it!
3) Stick with DDR3 1333MHz since it's cheaper. Like Archer said, you won't notice the difference unless you're benchmarking.
5) I would recommend the MSI X58A-GD65 motherboard @ R2144.34 instead. It has USB3 + SATA3 (6Gbps).
6) I have to disagree with Archer on this one. You don't need anything more than the CM Elite 430 case, but if you can afford better, then go for the CM 690 II Plus.

Just go for the cheapest 3x 2GB DDR3 1333MHz
 
Pada said:
Yes, 3 of those are fine.

You can actually go for this 3x 2GB DDR3 1066MHz set: http://www.prophecy.co.za/kingston-valueram-kvr1066d3n7k36g-3x2gb-ddr31066-p-36266.html @ R976.75
Because the Socket 1366 motherboards will only run the memory at 1066MHz.
Click to expand...

I disagree - I have 1600mhz G.Skill sticks in my wife's rig running happily at their rated speed. Everything else is running stock.

And I looked at the CM Elite 430, actually doesnt look too bad. Was getting confused with the other 5 million crummy cases out there :p
 
1) The msi one has USB3/SATA3
2) PSU is fine though I always prefer Corsair models
3) Any hard drive will do really, unless you are looking for a SSD which is another matter altogether (and if you do want one you get the G.Skill one from wootware as suggested)
 
The Corsair 550W is double the price of the CM, is it worth the extra money?
 
Last edited:
Sorry Archer. I should've said that the DEFAULT memory speed is 1066MHz for socket 1366 motherboards :)
I can't change my memory speed without overclocking my CPU too -> @#&*(!@#*& Engineering Sample CPU's memory multiplier is locked.

I would really go for the MSI motherboard and not the P6T board from Asus, because it doesn't have USB3/SATA3 !

Don't compromise by going for a cheap motherboard if your PC is going to cost you over R10k !
Go for at least a 450W PSU if you're going for Core i7 + HD 6850 / GTX 460 or better graphics card. I would recommend that you go for either Corsair CX/TX or CoolerMaster GX series power supplies.
 
Yeah, that MSI motherboard is fantastic for its price.

Have a look at the Corsair CX500: http://www.prophecy.co.za/corsair-cx500-500w-power-supply-unit-p-85556.html, since it costs almost R200 less than the CM GX550.

If you're not going to install a more power hungry graphics card than the HD 6870 (151W TDP) / GTX 460 (160W TDP), your PC shouldn't drain more than 400W, seeing as the i7 950 is rated 130W TDP.
 
Pada said:
The main difference is the CX500's design is better: more efficient, single +12V rail, it has PFC (power factor correction)
Also: the Corsair CX500 has a 3yr warranty compared to the CM EPP550W's 2yr warranty.
Click to expand...

So it will be better to go with the Corsair CX500 I assume?
 
adsl2 said:
So it will be better to go with the Corsair CX500 I assume?
Click to expand...
Yup. IMO it is the best PSU you can go for given your specs and possibly your budget too.

You're welcome to ask/wait for other people's opinions too, which I would advise you to do :)
 
So from all of your recommendations this will be it:
-Intel i7 950>2581.99
-MSI X58A-GD65 LGA1366 Triple-Channel DDR3 3-Way SLI / CrossFireX>2144.34
-Cooler Master 430 Elite >452
-Corsair CX500 >592.62
-3x Kingston VALUERAM KVR1333D3E9S/2G 2GB ECC DDR3-1333 CL9>1087.77
-SAPPHIRE ATI Radeon HD6850 1Gb GDDR5 256bit OEM box>1499 (from wootware)
-Samsung SATA2 1TB 32MB HDD>500.35

All from prophecy except graphics.
Total = R8858.07

Good buy?
Thanks
 
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