Friend's "Over-the-top" Build

Rlad78 · Oct 17, 2011

So a bud of mine wanted me to ask this here, since the peeps at his forum aren't being very helpful.

Alright, so I've been wanting to have a new technical project for a while. I want to do something that would be a learning experience, but also just plain useful. I've assembled computers before several times, but I've never actually built one from scratch. I don't know when I'll be buying any if these parts, I'm not sure what can be waited on, what should be bought immediately, etc.

For starters, here are the specs for my current Computer:
Processor: AMD Phenom™ II X6 1055T
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon™ HD 6670 1GB
Memory: 6 GB
First off I have to say that I am perfectly happy with this computer, so this new one will be just for kicks.

As a starting point, I decided I wanted to use AMD's new 8-core processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103961
I know it's overkill, but this is as good as any for a starting point. By the time I finally get the money to pay for this I'm guessing the market will have changed a bit, but this is just a base line.

As for the motherboard, I'm honestly not sure what to pick. I'm very much open to suggestions, I think this one might do the trick:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128521&Tpk=Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 -- AMD 970
But again, if there is something better please let me know O_O

I'm also unsure as far as graphics cards go, I don't really know what the advantages of Crossfire mode are, but since I'm going for over the top I don't mind trying it out. I just kind of picked this one for kicks:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150564

As for memory, I'm just going off a rule of thumb I heard of 2GB per core, so I'm thinking maybe this Corsair 4x4GB would be good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233143

As for PSU, I was thinking better a little extra than not. I'm not sure how much is too much, but this one seems to have gotten good reviews:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817814019

I'm probably just going to pick up two 1 TB drives, probably this model, but I don't really care:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148321

For optical drive, I'm thinking this Blu-Ray Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136232

I'm debating a sound card, but that probably won't come to anything :/

And finally, the case. I'm thinking full-sized tower, with plenty of cooling capabilities, considering 8 cores, 16GB of RAM, and possibly two graphics cards. I think this case might be perfect:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108376
It has 12 fans total, and I can also add a water cooling upgrade later if it still runs too hot.

This all totals currently at about 1245$ plus shipping (counting two graphics cards and two drives). So that's basically my plan right now. I probably won't even be able to afford buying any of these parts until January or February, so I'm just trying to figure this out ahead of time. Any advice would be appreciated

jonnyp11 · Oct 17, 2011

idk about the case but for an over the top build he picked some pretty bad stuff, these are the main changes

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

then there is no use at all for 16gb's, tell him 8 is more than any game uses, bf3 maxed out is the most demanding game and only uses about 6 or less gigs.

this mobo supports crossfire much better, that 970 chipset doesn't have enough bandwidtth for 2 gpus to run right

also a single 6950 will out do those 2 6790s i think, and it will leave him open to 2 of those which is better.

ixiboneheadixi · Oct 17, 2011

jonnyp11 said:
idk about the case but for an over the top build he picked some pretty bad stuff, these are the main changes

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128514

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

then there is no use at all for 16gb's, tell him 8 is more than any game uses, bf3 maxed out is the most demanding game and only uses about 6 or less gigs.

this mobo supports crossfire much better, that 970 chipset doesn't have enough bandwidtth for 2 gpus to run right

also a single 6950 will out do those 2 6790s i think, and it will leave him open to 2 of those which is better.

he should just go intel and go with nvidia graphics also

jonnyp11 · Oct 17, 2011

well there is a patch coming for bulldozer that supposedly makes it faster than the i7 in several banches, and for the gpu it goes to the budget, for the price a 67XX is better than the nvidia alternatives

StrangleHold · Oct 17, 2011

Friend's "Over-the-top" Build

Rlad78

New Member

jonnyp11

New Member

ixiboneheadixi

banned

jonnyp11

New Member

StrangleHold

Moderator