Thread: New Computer Build

Bigdog built me a box around Thanksgiving - and its awesome. Only problem is that my wife now refuses to use our old computer for anything (that was the original plan). Good news - I get to build a new rig!!!

Thoughts and suggestions more than welcome!

Did a bit of shopping on newegg and came up with the following:

• AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HD985ZXAGHBOX - Retail
• ASUS Crosshair II Formula AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
• EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
• CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF - Retail
• ZALMAN ZM850-HP Continuous 850W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 Modular Heatpipe-Cooled SLI Power Supply - Retail
• SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM
• Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
• Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
• LIAN LI PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
• ZALMAN 9500A 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 English for System Builders 1 Pack CD - OEM

Total Price $1685 ($50 mail in rebates)

Thoughts?

Skip the aftermarket coolers. If your not overclocking the stock are perfectly fine.

Look at the ATi 4850, remarkably more powerful than the 8800GT, and can be had for around 175.

160 gig drive? you can do better than that, my 500gig WD wasnt very much and is damn fast.

Originally Posted by Mcstrange

Skip the aftermarket coolers. If your not overclocking the stock are perfectly fine.

Look at the ATi 4850, remarkably more powerful than the 8800GT, and can be had for around 175.

160 gig drive? you can do better than that, my 500gig WD wasnt very much and is damn fast.

Mcstrange hit the nail on the head.

Oh and those new Ati cards are looking sweet. Finally some competition.

I offer a warning against the stock Intel hs/f. In 2005 I built a Pentium D 820 machine and while I waiting for my thermaltake silent 775 (a small fan, I know; I had space limitations) I was using the stock Intel heatsink, which came with a square-inch patch of thermal adhesive rather than compound. I was reaching upper 50's C, which was pretty warm even for a Pentium D.

When the Tt hsf came in, I took off the Intel hsf and not even half of the thermal adhesive had even made contact with the cpu. For the sake of your hardware, at least check to make sure you're getting good contact with the stock sinks.