Hi all, returning member (forgot account details) planning a new build that will be bought in a couple weeks.
The system will be used for moderate gaming, nothing too fancy needed there. Also, it will be used for a PVR setup and lots of HD viewing. I don't intend to do much HD editing, if any.
I'm looking for feedback on the components I have chosen. Leaving out the keyboard and mouse, and a couple of other things I either already have or aren't important to this post. I will be buying an oem copy of Windows 7 home premium 64-bit. Assume my budget is the total for the below components. I request that any suggestions for different components have the reason included. Things like telling me to "get this because it rocks" will obviously not be considered. Thanks.
Case - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (59.95) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...129042&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-042-_-Product
-Will my video card and capture card both fit in this case and provide enough room for my other components?
Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard (99.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128445
-Chose this mobo due to price, quality, and the fact that it can handle both my video card and capture card. There was an Asus mobo at the same price point that could do this as well. Any reason to not get this mobo and go for a different one that is the same price or cheaper?
CPU - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W (179.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851&cm_re=1055t-_-19-103-851-_-Product
-Chose this processor for a few reasons. First, I want to support AMD, and I am a fan as well. Second, the price per performance is very good. Thirdly, the idea of having 6 cores rather than 4 I like very much, regardless of performance per core. I realize a few of the newer Intel quad-cores have very good price per performance as well, even better than this one. A couple are even cheaper while having better performance, but this cpu is pretty much set in stone for me. While it may be overkill for me now (like many processors will be), I can always upgrade later on if I need more power.
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) (49.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
-Planning on possibly getting 4 more GB in the future. Would I have room for it in my case, considering my video and capture cards?
HDD1 - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" (59.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795
-This is essentially my OS and programs drive. Not looking for anything faster than 7200rpm, at least at this time. Any recommendations for something similar in size that is cheaper? What are the benefits of having a Sata 6GB drive over a Sata 3GB one?
HDD2 - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" (64.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
-For storage. Planning on getting more of these in the future, if and when I need them.
Opt1 - LG Black Supermulti Drive (16.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136216
-My basic DVD rom drive. Due to the low price, decided to go with a burner, even though I doubt I'll ever use it. Mainly looking for a dependable low-cost DVD rom drive solution here. Any other recommendations?
Opt2 - HP 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA BD Combo Model BD240I-h01 LightScribe Support (69.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140046
-Essentially my blu-ray reader. Not looking to get a blu-ray burner at this time, as I probably wouldn't use it. Getting the above DVD burner so I don't have to use this drive for everything, along with any multitasking I may want to do between them. Any similarly (like same price or cheaper) blu-ray readers that are better? I know some of them have issues playing newer blu-ray movies. Can this one? With or without a firmware update?
GPU - EVGA 01G-P3-1380-KR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) SSC+ 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready (199.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130596
-Definitely looking to get a Geforce GTX 460 1GB card, non SE version. Any reason to get a different model over this one?
Capture - AVerMedia AVerTV HD DVR MTVHDDVRR PCI-Express x1 Interface (99.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100049
-Will be using this as my capture card for the PVR. Any comments?
PSU - Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V version 2.3 (79.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026
-Will this be compatible with my video card and capture card, namely cable-wise? If not, what is a reasonably-priced psu solution that can handle both? Any psu suggestions on something cheaper than this that would still handle my system well and be of good quality? I assume there wouldn't be many.
Monitor - ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) (179.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052
OR
ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000 :1 (ASCR) (179.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059
-From what I can see, the main difference between the two is that the first one has the larger screen but has 5ms response time, where the 2nd one has a 2ms response time. Which one would you opt for and why? Are there any more differences I should be aware of?
Total: $1161.84
The system will be used for moderate gaming, nothing too fancy needed there. Also, it will be used for a PVR setup and lots of HD viewing. I don't intend to do much HD editing, if any.
I'm looking for feedback on the components I have chosen. Leaving out the keyboard and mouse, and a couple of other things I either already have or aren't important to this post. I will be buying an oem copy of Windows 7 home premium 64-bit. Assume my budget is the total for the below components. I request that any suggestions for different components have the reason included. Things like telling me to "get this because it rocks" will obviously not be considered. Thanks.
Case - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (59.95) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...129042&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-042-_-Product
-Will my video card and capture card both fit in this case and provide enough room for my other components?
Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard (99.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128445
-Chose this mobo due to price, quality, and the fact that it can handle both my video card and capture card. There was an Asus mobo at the same price point that could do this as well. Any reason to not get this mobo and go for a different one that is the same price or cheaper?
CPU - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W (179.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851&cm_re=1055t-_-19-103-851-_-Product
-Chose this processor for a few reasons. First, I want to support AMD, and I am a fan as well. Second, the price per performance is very good. Thirdly, the idea of having 6 cores rather than 4 I like very much, regardless of performance per core. I realize a few of the newer Intel quad-cores have very good price per performance as well, even better than this one. A couple are even cheaper while having better performance, but this cpu is pretty much set in stone for me. While it may be overkill for me now (like many processors will be), I can always upgrade later on if I need more power.
Memory - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) (49.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
-Planning on possibly getting 4 more GB in the future. Would I have room for it in my case, considering my video and capture cards?
HDD1 - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" (59.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795
-This is essentially my OS and programs drive. Not looking for anything faster than 7200rpm, at least at this time. Any recommendations for something similar in size that is cheaper? What are the benefits of having a Sata 6GB drive over a Sata 3GB one?
HDD2 - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" (64.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
-For storage. Planning on getting more of these in the future, if and when I need them.
Opt1 - LG Black Supermulti Drive (16.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136216
-My basic DVD rom drive. Due to the low price, decided to go with a burner, even though I doubt I'll ever use it. Mainly looking for a dependable low-cost DVD rom drive solution here. Any other recommendations?
Opt2 - HP 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA BD Combo Model BD240I-h01 LightScribe Support (69.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140046
-Essentially my blu-ray reader. Not looking to get a blu-ray burner at this time, as I probably wouldn't use it. Getting the above DVD burner so I don't have to use this drive for everything, along with any multitasking I may want to do between them. Any similarly (like same price or cheaper) blu-ray readers that are better? I know some of them have issues playing newer blu-ray movies. Can this one? With or without a firmware update?
GPU - EVGA 01G-P3-1380-KR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) SSC+ 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready (199.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130596
-Definitely looking to get a Geforce GTX 460 1GB card, non SE version. Any reason to get a different model over this one?
Capture - AVerMedia AVerTV HD DVR MTVHDDVRR PCI-Express x1 Interface (99.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100049
-Will be using this as my capture card for the PVR. Any comments?
PSU - Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V version 2.3 (79.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026
-Will this be compatible with my video card and capture card, namely cable-wise? If not, what is a reasonably-priced psu solution that can handle both? Any psu suggestions on something cheaper than this that would still handle my system well and be of good quality? I assume there wouldn't be many.
Monitor - ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) (179.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052
OR
ASUS VH236H Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 20000 :1 (ASCR) (179.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059
-From what I can see, the main difference between the two is that the first one has the larger screen but has 5ms response time, where the 2nd one has a 2ms response time. Which one would you opt for and why? Are there any more differences I should be aware of?
Total: $1161.84
Last edited:
