First Computer Build Advice

[Jeff Feldman 1040149]

Here are my proposed specs for my 1st ever computer build! Please help me in determining if they are all compatible with one another, and I am hoping to run FSX at high graphics with no stutters. Also, please let me know if I am missing anything. I'm hoping this build will go smooth and will "kill" FSX!

 

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKB 500GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

ASUS M4A79 Deluxe AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... -

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9T-6GBRH - Retail

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ965FBGMBOX - Retail

 

Thanks,

Jeff

[Jeff Feldman 1040149]

Oh yeah- The 500GB drive is for windows 7...while the Velociraptor 300GB is for FSX/FS9.

[Richard Gerrish]

be sure that your power supply can handle the load... just fixed a clients computer that he's had for a little over a year. The graphics card was updated by another company and put his 400w PSU over the limit by 30w give or take... when the PSU finally gave out last week it took his graphics card with it.

[Charan Kumar]

Richard beat me to it...can't stress more on that PSU. I had to upgrade mine from 500 to 650 and finally to 700w and I am running a C2Q 9400 with a 512MB GDR3 video card...they are power hugry

[Jeff Feldman 1040149]

My power supply will be 750w, is that okay?

[Erhan Atesoglu 1050499]

1***. Switch cpu to i7 and motherboard to match.

2. 500 GB drive for OS should be SATA as well. $5 dollar price difference there.

3. You really don't need DDR3 2000 ram.. 1600mhz is the sweet spot for price.

4. You also don't really need anything past a 9800 for FSX, save that money and get a GT3xx when available.

5. Sony? I'd imagine the warranty is 90 days, and that's exactly how long that drive will last

6. Go for a bigger case... mid tower will be awfully tight for space and not that great on airflow.

7. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol to clean the original grease off, so you can apply the Arctic Silver. (you can find this in the first aid aisle of your local drug store)

 

And yeah 750 is more than enough.

[Jeff Feldman 1040149]

Erhan- Here is my new build specs...

 

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK - Retail ( buying 2 of these)

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKB 500GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM

52-0290 :: BFG GeForce GTX 285 OC Video Card - 2GB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, FREE Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Download (2.75 lbs)

Z20-1148 :: Zalman CNPS7500-ALCU LED CPU Cooler - Socket 478/775/AM2/AM2+/AM3/754/939/940, Dual Ball 110mm Fan, Aluminum, Copper (1.55 lbs)

G452-1010 :: Gigabyte MA790XT-UD4P Motherboard - AMD 790X, Socket AM3, ATX, Audio, CrossFireX, PCI Express 2.0, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, SATA, RAID (4.25 lbs)

TSD-300HLFS :: WD VelociRaptor 300GB Hard Drive WD3000HLFS - 10K RPM, 16MB Cache, SATA 300MB/s (1.25 lbs)

C13-2503 :: Corsair TX750W 750-Watt Power Supply - ATX, 140mm Fan, SLI-Ready, SATA-Ready, 80Plus (7.05 lbs)

A79-0965 :: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Quad Core Processor - 3.40GHz, Socket AM3, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) FSB, Retail, Processor with Fan (1.1 lbs)

 

Also, I'm not going to switch to the i7, as I really like AMD and I have had some problems with the i7.

[Erhan Atesoglu 1050499]

Good move on the memory... that's far more optimal for that chip.

[Jeff Feldman 1040149]

Do you guys think the case will be okay?

[Brad Littlejohn]

Do you guys think the case will be okay?

 

The 500GB drive for the OS will be overkill. I just put together my new FS box and put a 200GB 7200RPM SATA II drive in for the OS, and I haven't even used 50GB of it. I have a 320GB SATA II drive for my programs, and a 1TB drive for FS9. I also have my User directory on that 1TB drive as well (leaving the 200GB for the OS only). You might even be able to get by with an 80GB (I'd go no smaller than a 120GB), as Windows 7 (64bit) requires 20GB minimum.

 

As far as the case, it isn't bad. It pretty much comes down to personal preference here. My only (aesthetic) concern is the location of the PSU on the case. It's way at the bottom of the back. That might be a good thing because heat rises, but I'd rather have it at the top for better access to turn on the PSU.

 

Other than that, I'd say to take the Antec Sonata III or the Antec Sonata Elite. The big difference between the two cases is that the Sonata III comes with the Earthwatts 500W PSU. You may need a larger one, so the Elite may be better. They are a bit pricier than the CoolerMaster, but the big difference is that the Sonata series is QUIET. very VERY quiet.

 

Good find for the Gigabyte board. I have the MA790X-UD4P, and it's a great board. Only difference is mine uses DDR2 memory. And the big thing for me with going AMD over Intel is the price-per-performance ratio. Paying another 20-40% for the performance wasn't worth it for me to switch.

 

Other than that, this looks good. Run these specs through the PSU Calculator and that should give you a good read on how much power you'll use.

 

BL.