Helping a friend build a new PC

[jake_]

His limit is $1000 including case and possibly some peripherals, so I'm trying to keep all the components around $800-900 max. He doesn't need to have anything particularly fancy, but something fast enough to run games well and last him a while.

Here's what I've come up with so far"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131404

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121376

I haven't been paying too much attention to the PC building scene for a few months, so I'm unsure if I'm making all the right choices here. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Scinto]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864

That will do them a bit better for the same price as the old tech

[Death Merchant]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

This board cheaper and has better features, more overclocking capability too

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412&cm_re=ud3-_-13-128-412-_-Product

the powersupply is overkill imo, if you can find something cheaper 500 watts is easily enough unless he wants to go with Crossfire in the future. If thats the case you shouldnt get a P55 motherboard anyway as its limited to half bandwith in dual card mode

[LunaTiK TunaLiK]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102864

That will do them a bit better for the same price as the old tech

I disagree, the 4870 is the better card and will out perform this card.
Second the 4870 he picked out is one of the best 4870s you can get and the 5770 you posted is junk compared to the 4870.

I would also keep the 650 watt just in case. 89 bucks for a quality psu that shouldn't go bad. You really can't beat that and I would honestly get a bigger one just to put in my next computer unless you think 650 will be good enough for that. I always by bigger CPU's than I need to so I can transfer them over to my new computer. This is one area where quality can save you a lot money in the long run.

[jake_]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

I'm with lunatik on the PSU, definitely. It's really something you don't want to skimp on by any means. 500 would be cutting it really close, I think. 650 is better and will last him longer.

I wasn't sure about the whole 4870/5770 issue, so I'll see how this mini-debate turns out first.

That mobo looks good too. The MoBo and GPU were the two things that I was the least sure about so more input on them is appreciate, especially.

He has time though since he's waiting until school ends for summer or so, which is about another month.

[Scinto]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

I disagree, the 4870 is the better card and will out perform this card.
Second the 4870 he picked out is one of the best 4870s you can get and the 5770 you posted is junk compared to the 4870.

Oh dear your missing the point of the card I posted then?

4870 v 5770 are about even in performance for games yes, You can get both $20 cheaper regardless the cards will be the same in performance. Neither brands are better than the other only real difference is down to the RMA service of which Asus is crap, Sapphire is moderatly better.

5770 - Pros
Low Power Usage results in Less Heat
Display Port (possible wont be needed with only 1 card)
DX11
A 2nd 5770 gives almost double performance boost.

5770 - Cons
4870 Price

4870 - Pros
Performance
Price

4870 - Cons
Longevity?

Personally I still think ATi's Drivers for the 5xxx series still need much improvement which would result in better performance overall.

Then again its your choice of course, If I was in the same shoes I'd give them the oppertunity to explore DX11 in future games instead of having them buy a new card down the road.

[LunaTiK TunaLiK]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

By the time exploring dx11 is worth it you are already going to be purchasing a new card. If you want to explore it now and possibly be able to with the same card in the future you should be spending a lot more than $150

You can go with a card that has been tweaked to perform with low failure rates or take a chance with one that already has compatibility issues with asus boards, bad drivers, and loads of problems with what I consider a large portion of its buyers.

[Basil.]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

Nothing wrong with the 5770, Its on par with the 4870. I have a asus MB and don't see no compatibility issues or other problems

[Scinto]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

By the time exploring dx11 is worth it you are already going to be purchasing a new card. If you want to explore it now and possibly be able to with the same card in the future you should be spending a lot more than $150

Not really and they would have to do that anyways if you were to put a 4xxx series card in.

You can go with a card that has been tweaked to perform with low failure rates or take a chance with one that already has compatibility issues with asus boards, bad drivers, and loads of problems with what I consider a large portion of its buyers.

Change the mobo big deal the Gigabyte's are a good alternative, immature drivers that will get better same goes for every new card it takes time to get the drivers right. I think your just nit picking now.

[jake_]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

Alright. Scinto has persuaded me. :awes

Now to run it all by my friend...

[LunaTiK TunaLiK]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

Not really and they would have to do that anyways if you were to put a 4xxx series card in.

Change the mobo big deal the Gigabyte's are a good alternative, immature drivers that will get better same goes for every new card it takes time to get the drivers right. I think your just nit picking now.

What do you mean not really? You can't expect to put that card in a computer today and play dx11 games of the future. My point is you would need to buy a new card either way so why not buy the card that doesn't have bad drivers and enormous amount of compatibility issues. Same with gigabyte, this company has had a high rate of failing boards compared to other expensive MB companies in the last 2-3 years.

For anyone that doesn't think that sapphire card or that card period hasn't been having compatibility issues with asus boards you should research it a bit more. This doesn't mean your exact card and your exact board didn't work fine. It also doesn't mean that exact card and that exact board won't work together it just means it has a higher probability to not work well.

Looking at the reviews there was at least one person who had compatibility issues with his card and his asus board.

[Scinto]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

What do you mean not really? You can't expect to put that card in a computer today and play dx11 games of the future. My point is you would need to buy a new card either way so why not buy the card that doesn't have bad drivers and enormous amount of compatibility issues. Same with gigabyte, this company has had a high rate of failing boards compared to other expensive MB companies in the last 2-3 years.

For anyone that doesn't think that sapphire card or that card period hasn't been having compatibility issues with asus boards you should research it a bit more. This doesn't mean your exact card and your exact board didn't work fine. It also doesn't mean that exact card and that exact board won't work together it just means it has a higher probability to not work well.

Looking at the reviews there was at least one person who had compatibility issues with his card and his asus board.

So far there is only a handful of games that run in DX11 possibly more in a year or 2 by which time you can buy a 2nd 5770 and still play happily. And I meant that buying a new card would be another 5770.

The Asus board jake posted is having problems mainly down to Bios updates or there lack of. Ive read plenty of personal reviews by people who have got a 5770 and either an Asus or Gigabyte board and no major problems, the few I do see are the 1/1000 dead boards that make it past the inspections.

So that leaves;
MSI
Biostar
Intel
DFI
ECS (EliteGroup)
EVGA
Foxconn
JETWAY
ZOTAC

Which would you recommend then since you havent bothered yet, as your only interested in trying to prove a point instead of helping by suggesting an alternative.

[LunaTiK TunaLiK]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

I don't have a problem with the the parts he originally picked out, and for the prices they are good choices. My recommendations would add another $100 to the price of the video card at the least.
There are games where the card he picked out gets over 20fps more, the drivers are flawless and compatibility issues are almost nonexistent.

Thinking you can predict the future in video cards and gaming is crazy. The best rule is to always buy for the time and wait for the future. Don't guess and say another 5770 will do it in the future when many gamers don't even think 1 5770 is worth it today especially when you have people with 5770s in crossfire complaining the fps are dropping too low during explosions. The level of detail I like and the resolution I play at a 5770 isn't going to cut it as it will seldom drop way too far in fps; a problem single 4870s aren't having.

[Scinto]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

I don't have a problem with the the parts he originally picked out, and for the prices they are good choices. My recommendations would add another $100 to the price of the video card at the least.
There are games where the card he picked out gets over 20fps more, the drivers are flawless and compatibility issues are almost nonexistent.

Thinking you can predict the future in video cards and gaming is crazy. The best rule is to always buy for the time and wait for the future. Don't guess and say another 5770 will do it in the future when many gamers don't even think 1 5770 is worth it today especially when you have people with 5770s in crossfire complaining the fps are dropping too low during explosions. The level of detail I like and the resolution I play at a 5770 isn't going to cut it as it will seldom drop way too far in fps; a problem single 4870s aren't having.

So your basing that on what Bad Company 2 since you mention exploisions, where the Engine is known for being poorly optimized.

You said it yourself "The best rule is to always buy for the time and wait for the future." The future in this case will bring better drivers, counting them out at this point is foolish.

[Basil.]

Re: Helping a friend build a new PC

my benchmark using frap
2010-05-07 12:22:20 - BFBC2Game
Frames: 61872 - Time: 731204ms - Avg: 84.617 - Min: 46 - Max: 135

SS of my settings

http://www.xfire.com/profile/basil281/screenshots/?view#97039779