Thread: New AMD build: Questions

I'm making a new computer since the first AMD idea failed due to out of date hardware. So I'm making a new computer from the cash i get at my Boy Scout summer camp. Here are the specs and links to the hardware:

1: 2.7ghz dual core, AM2+
2: 8gb of ram
3: 1 or 1.5tb hard drive
4: ATI Radeon HD 4850 512mb, PCI Ex16 2.0
5: XFX Mobo
6: ABS 900watt PSU to finish it off

1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103300
2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231112
3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148337
4: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130437
5: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150337
6: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817814013

And heres the case and monitor i chose:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009127
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146025

And for software I'm using Vista Home Premium 64 bit as an OS, since microsoft is dumping XP.

How does this look? I think its a good build.


(updated)

8 gigs of RAM is a bit of overkill... I'd dump 4 gigs of the ram and get a better video card. A Radeon 4850 is WAY better than the card you picked out and only $50 more. You don't need a 900 Watt power supply that's just crazy. 600 watts is all you'll need for that system. Getting more than 3 gigs of RAM and a 32-bit OS is pointless. You'll want Vista Home Premium 64.

I don't know shat about AMD,but you will want to go with Vista 64. Vista 32 is like XP in that it will only recognize 3 gigs of RAM. If you are going with 8gigs,your best bet is to go with a 64bit OS.

I have been using Vista 64 for about 6 months now,and it has been absolutely flawless and stable.

ok, 8 gigs of ram is worse than overkill. A 32 bit OS can only access 4 gig of memory period so your just pissing away any money spend past 4 gig.

Even if you get a 64 bit os (and I dont see way you wouldnt if your buying a new OS at this time) buying a better video card as wilee suggests is a better idea than 8 gig...

Dex, its not that it wont recognize, its that it can only address 4 gig period so once your hardware is addressed you end up with less than 4 gig of available addres space for your physical memory. In my current 32 bit XP install I have 3.25 or so physical memory available. But I agree that a 64 bit OS is the way to go if your buying right now.

Well I'm learming from my friends mistakes. And mine as well. I will be upgrading the computer as money comes in. The upgrades im going to have are dual video cards, two of the same hard drives on a raid config. And will upgrade the AMd it's self to a much faster one. I did look at the 64-bit and made that as my OS selection.

Now about the gigs, well i would like to have a good amount of memory since our dell is a 32bit with 4gb and its still slow on some games. And we realized its the memory so i just have to deal with it.

And the video card, can you find me one thats better than the one i chose?

Never mind about the video card found one that you mentioned. And my reaction.....HOLY MOTHER FUCKING SHEETZ!! Yea i found this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150337

I dont know, imho a raid setup is pointless in a personal / gaming type PC. Its a pain to setup, can cause problems down the road and offers only marginal performance increases. If its for redundancy just get a 1tb drive and back your shit up, if its for speed think about a raptor though the performance difference over todays 1tb drives is minimal.

That xfx 4850 is a nice looking card. Go with that unless you can find another 50-75 or so to pick up the next level of cards, the 4870 or 260 area.

I agree with Mury about the RAID setup. I'd recommend a smaller drive (500 gigs or so) for your OS & apps and then pick up another drive to store all your data on.

Uhhh we have two 500gb HD's in our dell on a RAID config and i filled both up within a month with my video making stuff. I do a lot of video making and editing and will also create maps and mod for games. Mr friend has a 300gb HD and three other hard drives in a slave config and he has no more space. So he said since that the 1.5tb hard drive is only 100 bucks might as well get it. But so far with some modifacations that you told me to do it all looks good?