PC Build Thread

[82mm 4g63]

Intel Core i5 2500k (($315)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16819115070]
Intel Core i6 2600k (($220)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16819115072]

Biostar TZ68A+ (($100)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16813138319]

G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB DDR3-1600 (($52)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16820231314]

XFX HD 6790 (($120)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16817139028]

Corsair Builder Series CX600 (($70)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16817139028]

Samsung F3 1TB (($60)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&Tpk=f3%201tb]

Samsung DVDRW/CDRW (($20)) [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16827151233]

Core i7 2600k build = $740
Core i5 2500k build = $640

Copy of Windows 7 = $100


Unless you wait for AMD, that's really the best bang you're going to get for <$800. If you go the i5 route, you could beef up the gpu another notch or two. Maybe get a GTX 560 for an extra $75.

The top of the line AMD FX 8150 will run $245 so it's right in between the i5 and i7 in price, the motherboards will be around the same price for the same features. So it really comes down to how well it performs in the real world.

Originally Posted by Siriusly.Andrew

October heralds the AMD Bulldozer architecture.

Yeah, I mentioned Zambezi chips back on page 1.

Originally Posted by StealthESW

Try looking up your parts on pricewatch.com. If you have not already. I have found many good deals there.

Engineering graphics cards are best for rendering. I'm sure you already knew that.

Mentioned workstation gpu's on page 2, the respectable cards are way outside of the target budget. He's going to have to stick with consumer level gpu's.

Pricewatch isn't a terrible site, but it's a referral site, they don't sell their own hardware. I used to use them >5 years ago before I found Newegg. My main beef with pricewatch is I really have no interest in spending hundreds of dollars at JoesComputerParts.com. What I like about Newegg is you know who you're buying from, they offer the best deals on name brand hardware, and you don't have to remember different return/RMA policies from these random Joe Schmoe sites.

[Giccin]

You can get copy of windows 7 for much cheaper... Or even free... lol

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by 82mm 4g63

...snip...
Core i7 2600k build = $740
Core i5 2500k build = $640

Copy of Windows 7 = $100


Unless you wait for AMD, that's really the best bang you're going to get for <$800. If you go the i5 route, you could beef up the gpu another notch or two. Maybe get a GTX 560 for an extra $75.

I agree with this pretty much with a few notes. I'd spend the little extra on a 6850 over a 6790. And right now there's a combo buy for a free Sony dvd/cd burner with purchase of the 2500k, so those are something to watch out for. Also, I'd go with a WD black hard drive. After Samsung sold their HDD division to Seagate, and with all of the horror stories from Seagate lately, you can bet I'd stay far away from that right now. RAM speeds on Sandy Bridge platforms don't seem to make a difference, so I'd probably save 10-15 bucks and get 1333 vs 1600. There's a shellshocker right now for 8 gb of g.skill ripjaws for 35 bucks. I'm tempted to buy two of them, though I already have 8gb and have no need at all for 16gb.

I don't think I'd wait on Bulldozer. I'm a little iffy on how it's going to perform and if it's going to live up to the hype, especially since they're firing high level executives in the company now responsible for the production of it. However, if it is faster, it's not quite the end of the world. As said before, the 2500k will break 4ghz with no sweat, and that's a lot of processing power.

Originally Posted by Giccin

You can get copy of windows 7 for much cheaper... Or even free... lol

Windows 7 is worth paying for. Plus, pirating OSes is just a hassle now with all of the checks. Another option is running the test version of Windows 8, too.

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

Windows 7 is worth paying for. Plus, pirating OSes is just a hassle now with all of the checks. Another option is running the test version of Windows 8, too.

Schools give out win7 for free. :P Is what I'm trying to say. haha

[n2oinferno]

Yeah but it costs more to enroll in and go to school than a copy of Win7, lol.

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

Yeah but it costs more to enroll in and go to school than a copy of Win7, lol.

Who says I can't get it for him?! :P

Haha.

[82mm 4g63]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

I agree with this pretty much with a few notes. I'd spend the little extra on a 6850 over a 6790. And right now there's a combo buy for a free Sony dvd/cd burner with purchase of the 2500k, so those are something to watch out for. Also, I'd go with a WD black hard drive. After Samsung sold their HDD division to Seagate, and with all of the horror stories from Seagate lately, you can bet I'd stay far away from that right now. RAM speeds on Sandy Bridge platforms don't seem to make a difference, so I'd probably save 10-15 bucks and get 1333 vs 1600. There's a shellshocker right now for 8 gb of g.skill ripjaws for 35 bucks. I'm tempted to buy two of them, though I already have 8gb and have no need at all for 16gb.

I don't think I'd wait on Bulldozer. I'm a little iffy on how it's going to perform and if it's going to live up to the hype, especially since they're firing high level executives in the company now responsible for the production of it. However, if it is faster, it's not quite the end of the world. As said before, the 2500k will break 4ghz with no sweat, and that's a lot of processing power.



Windows 7 is worth paying for. Plus, pirating OSes is just a hassle now with all of the checks. Another option is running the test version of Windows 8, too.

Yeah, I wouldn't buy one of the newer Samsung/Seagate drives, the SpinPoint F3 is a Samsung drive prior to the sell out. I have 4 of them, they're the fastest 7200RPM 1TB drives out there and they can be had very cheap before the stock is sold out.

It's a tough call I always opt for the best of the best(Or close to it). I'd take the 6800 over the 6700 too, just depends what he feels like spending on a GPU.

If there was a significant price difference between 1333 and 1600 I would agree, but I can get 1600 GSkill Sniper sticks for $2 more than 1333 GSkill Ripjaws. Even if it's a modest performance gain I'll take any gain that only costs me $2.

There are a bunch of different ways to get Win7 for free, I used to use a pirated version to see if I liked it, but when it comes to my OS I don't mind spending a few bucks on the real thing. I'm a Microsoft fan, I'm happy to support them. Hell you could even try Windows 8 if you have patience. lol

[chaoskaze]

I would say wait for Bulldozer + 1600 rams + SSD.

Atleast I know that's likely what I'm gonna end up doing.

[82mm 4g63]

Meh, if he wasn't on a tight budget I would say get a large capacity SSD, but he is on a budget. Probably wouldn't hurt waiting for Zambezi processors just because Intel will drop their prices to take away from AMD sales. But I would probably still end up with an i5/i7.

[WingsofWar]

So i scored another free old PC part in my junkyard hunting, AMD Athlon X2 3800+ 2.0MHZ Dual Core AM2. Figured it was a better processor than the Pentium 4 i picked up.

Can i do anything with it? Cheap AM2/AM2+ mobos you guys recommend?

As far as my PC workhorse build goes, iv bought my processor. Ended up with a Core i7-980 i managed to haggle for $450 down from i think retail $600. This things is fucking beautiful. I was very close in buying a Core I7 2600k but for around $150 bucks more for the 980...i said well fuck it..Which of course breaks my budget, but its ok cuz i plan on extending the build time to manage funds. So maybe sometime in November ill be looking at a suitable motherboard.

[Slide]

They are phasing out the AM2 boards :S...

so i would say good luck, which site you using for pricing?...

[WingsofWar]

Originally Posted by Slide

They are phasing out the AM2 boards :S...

so i would say good luck, which site you using for pricing?...

using newegg, tigerdirect, amazon and ebay for the majority of my window shopping.

Then if i see something i like on those sites, i look on craigslist and pawn shops to see if i can score good parts for dirt cheap or free.

[82mm 4g63]

Originally Posted by WingsofWar

As far as my PC workhorse build goes, iv bought my processor. Ended up with a Core i7-980 i managed to haggle for $450 down from i think retail $600. This things is fucking beautiful. I was very close in buying a Core I7 2600k but for around $150 bucks more for the 980...i said well fuck it..Which of course breaks my budget, but its ok cuz i plan on extending the build time to manage funds. So maybe sometime in November ill be looking at a suitable motherboard.

980x is cool, but the 2700k comes out in less than 3 weeks! It'll supplant the 2600k's price point ($140 less) and the s1155 boards are around $90 less than the s1366 boards. Talking a $230 savings on a newer, mostly superior processor. [http://www.guru3d.com/article/core-i...00k-review/14]

As far as the free AMD processor you picked up, it's more or less a side grade. If you already have the P4 rig up and running you're better off sticking with that for a month or two. [http://techreport.com/articles.x/8616/7]

[WingsofWar]

^ well i have no rig right now..iv just been picking up parts here and there..but no motherboards that go with any of the processors iv found. Iv been doing all my interwebs stuff via my cellphone.

BTW since i scored a i7980 for much cheaper, should i flip it for more and get some cash back? or just stick with it since the 1366 boards are the "future" anyway, and im sure that having 6 cores will help with my rendering?