NOT build my own?

HydrarHydrar Columbia, MD Icrontian
edited August 2010 in Hardware
Have always built my own PCs, but when I compared a rig I wanted from iBuyPower.com vs. just PARTS at Newegg... it was less expensive.

Looking for a compelling reason to not just buy a custom PC from ibuypower.com

Case ( NZXT Vulcan Gaming Case - Black )
Processor ( AMD Phenomâ„¢ II X6 1075T Six-Core CPU )
Processor Cooling (Liquid CPU Cooling System w/ 92mm Radiator )
Memory ( 8 GB [2 GB X4] DDR3-1600 Memory Module Corsair or Major Brand
Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 - 2GB - Single Card )
Motherboard ( Gigabyte GA-880GMA-UD2H -- AMD 880G Hybrid CrossFire Chipset w/8-ch HD Audio, Dual-Channel DDR3, Gb LAN, 2 PCI-E MB )
Power Supply ( 750 Watt -- NZXT HALE90 80 Plus Gold Certificated Power Supply - SLI Ready )
Primary Hard Drive ( 128 GB Corsair Nova Series V128 MLC SSD - Single Drive )
Optical Drive ( 24X Sony Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive - Black )
Flash Media Reader/Writer ( 12-In-1 Internal Flash Media Card Reader/Writer - Black )
Operating System ( Microsoft Windows 7 Professional )
3yr warranty

$1658 delivered.

Kinda disappointed that I can't get a similar system off of Amazon/Newegg for less - maybe I haven't tried searching hard enough.

Key components I want: GTX460 or better vid card. 128GB SSD, Phenom II X6 or better processor, nice case (I prefer Vulcan/Antec), decent & modular power supply, decent mobo, 8+ GB DDR3 RAM.

Full disclosure: I haven't built a system in 3+ years. Are systems so cheap now that it no longer pays to build your own?
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Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Any reason you want a 128GB SSD? That's an awfully large SSD.

    //EDIT: I'm not hot on the NZXT PSUs. They're completely untested in the market. I'm also sketchy on that liquid CPU cooler; it's probably no better than a good air cooler, unless silence is your game.

    At any rate, I'll poke around.
  • HydrarHydrar Columbia, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    I had read that 64GB SSD is the bare minimum you'd want to run Win7, Adobe Photoshop CS4, etc.

    I could probably stand to go lower than 128GB. The system would still be cheaper than Newegg.

    As for the PSU... I'll look at others. Only used Antec thus far.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Curious Thrax, why do you call 128GB large? I would think everyone would want 500GB SSD's or bigger

    PSU, OCZ comes to mind and you already know one of their employees :)

    any specific reason for a 2GB GTX460 over a 1GB?
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited August 2010
    Because SSD's are expensive so most people use them to boot the OS and perhaps afew IO intensive apps and leave the rest on regular drives including your data.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    kryyst wrote:
    Because SSD's are expensive so most people use them to boot the OS and perhaps afew IO intensive apps and leave the rest on regular drives including your data.

    I realize they are expensive. I was throwing the price factor out and asking if there was any specific reason not to have large SSDs.
  • HydrarHydrar Columbia, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    fatcat wrote:
    Curious Thrax, why do you call 128GB large? I would think everyone would want 500GB SSD's or bigger

    PSU, OCZ comes to mind and you already know one of their employees :)

    any specific reason for a 2GB GTX460 over a 1GB?

    The 2GB was a few dollars more, so I figured why not.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Since SSDs are only good for fast I/O, it's pointless to use them for mass storage. By extension, that means they're only really good for loading the OS and a couple of intense programs (MMOs, Photoshop, 3D modeling suites, etc.)

    Getting something bigger than about 64GB is pretty much throwing money away unless you're damn sure you can use that space.
  • HydrarHydrar Columbia, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    What I really want (& estimated budget):

    Nice case that isn't huge (quiet, cool, not a dust monger) ($100)
    Proven motherboard (tend toward Gigabytes, but not exclusive) ($125)
    Best bang for the buck processor ($250)
    Quality SSD for Win7, Photoshop, few other apps. ($175)
    8GB RAM ($200)
    Quality, modular PSU ($75)
    Cheap CD-R/RW / DVD R/RW drive ($25)
    Best bang for the buck video card (not to exceed $300)

    Not to exceed $1250. :scratch:

    Do it.

    (willing to budge a bit on some parts... probably a bit more on a case if needed)
  • ardichokeardichoke Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146059
    Power: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
    GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150477

    I'd recommend this mobo/cpu combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.445510

    Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227539
    SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233108

    By my calculations, that comes out to 1074.93 which leaves you 175 left over for you to pick out a CD/DVD drive (they're all pretty much the same these days) and take yourself out for a nice steak dinner and a movie.
  • miragemirage
    edited August 2010
    http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=12149691

    I used an Intel i5-760 because of its overclocking potential and raw performance. Intel platform will also have the possibility of using GTX460 in SLI. The price comes to 1299 but I had to choose an Antec case+PSU combo and could not add a good CPU cooler. The EA650 PSU is a very decent one with good reviews and Antec 900 is a classic (maybe not as flashy as the latest ones but a good one). Hope this helps.
  • ardichokeardichoke Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Sorry, but I'd take an X6 over an i5 any day of the week. Especially when the X6 is 10 bucks less expensive.
  • miragemirage
    edited August 2010
    i5 is faster than Phenom on per core basis. Phenom X6 is a better than i5-760 option only for applications that can use all of 6 cores. I would also choose X6 for myself but for a general user, I recommend i5.
  • ardichokeardichoke Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    The X6 also has that mode that shuts down half the cores when they aren't in use and overclocks the 3 running cores automatically. Since both the i5 and X6 run at 2.8 stock, the X6 should have no problem outperforming the i5 even in apps that don't utilize 6 cores.

    Just the first benchmark I dug up, but PassMark seems to agree with me. The X6 I put in my proposed built outperforms the i5 in your build quite handily: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X6+1055T

    Top that off with the fact that my build is 225 bucks less, and the only one coming in under his stated max price, and I don't see where you have a leg to stand on here :P
  • miragemirage
    edited August 2010
    I am not sure throwing more benchmarks and arguing with you here will help the OP. But it is not true that X6 is faster than i5-760 in every benchmark.. I presented the other option and leaving it Hydrar to decide. Hey, I can write with one leg :)
  • HydrarHydrar Columbia, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    As PS CS4 is probably the most intensive application I use on a regular basis... that last set of benchmarks is useful.

    Lots of things to consider. Thanks all for the input.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    ardichoke wrote:
    The X6 also has that mode that shuts down half the cores when they aren't in use and overclocks the 3 running cores automatically. Since both the i5 and X6 run at 2.8 stock, the X6 should have no problem outperforming the i5 even in apps that don't utilize 6 cores.

    Just the first benchmark I dug up, but PassMark seems to agree with me. The X6 I put in my proposed built outperforms the i5 in your build quite handily: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X6+1055T

    Top that off with the fact that my build is 225 bucks less, and the only one coming in under his stated max price, and I don't see where you have a leg to stand on here :P

    The Core i5 can shut down each core individually, and it has Turbo Boost as well.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    GTX460>5850. Save $100
    SSD - ask Ryder or Thrax
    PSU - PCP&C 750w 62A on the 12v rail yum yum. I don't care if you get a Celeron with 1GB ram and a floppy drive, DONT SKIMP ON THE PSU EVAR! OCZ has nice ones also, I'm just biased since I have a 750w and 610w PCP&C PSUs
    Don't buy an ASUS motherboard..just don't. Gigabyte, some say ECS, DFI boards are awesome but they quit making them, and I miss my KX7-333R.
    There are better cases then the Antec 900|900v2 now. Hades, Vulcan, Phantom and all those overpriced Lian-Li's
    RAM: I only support OCZ memory, I'm a biased mofo
  • Cliff_ForsterCliff_Forster Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    The GTX 460 does not even beat a 5830 much less at 5850.... Granted, its a good performer for $200 but the 5830 performs as good on the tests that matter (high resolution runs of Crysis, and Battlefield Bad Company 2), and it idles about 20% cooler to boot.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    ah, what benchies you looking at Cliff?

    Cry2.png
    BC2.png
    COD2.png
    Temp2.png

    and...just for good measure. Crysis

    the point I was making, was that the GTX460 does "almost" as good and sometimes better than the 5850 and costs $100 less....and overclocks like a mofo
  • Cliff_ForsterCliff_Forster Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    I'm too tired to cut and paste, but look at the benchmarks on Tom's hardware, there is a huge disparity between the two.... so, who really knows?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Settle the score with Anand's numbers!
  • HydrarHydrar Columbia, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Ok. Here's where I'm at now. At this point, I'm just looking for any significant issues with the setup, or obvious oversights:

    Case: NZXT TEMPEST EVO http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146062
    PSU: OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022
    Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128441
    CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851
    SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 60GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227550
    Vid Card: GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333
    RAM: OCZ Gold 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227539
    Optical: SAMSUNG 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Combo Drive

    Grand Total: $1,200.78 (delivered)

    Coincidence it landed right on the $1200 mark.

    Questions: will 550W be enough for this, even if I were to ever double-up on the vid card? (will also have a WD Caviar Green 1TB HDD in there, maybe 2)

    Will I regret going with the 1333 RAM when the motherboard supports 1866?

    Does Gigabyte make a respectable GTX460?
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Get a bigger PSU. Aim for 700+W
    You might regret the ram choice if you're overclocking. DDR3-1600 is cheap these days.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    I wish DDR3-1600 were cheap. :( It's a good 50% more than it was this time last year. But yes, I absolutely agree that you should make the step up to 1600, rather than 1333. I also agree that you could use a new PSU. You could shave a few bucks, too, by going with the Antec 900 over the NZXT Tempest.

    Any reason you're hot for a BD-ROM?
  • ardichokeardichoke Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Or 40 bucks going with the NZXT Beta EVO (this is seriously the best case I've owned so far).
  • HydrarHydrar Columbia, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Until 9/5, Newegg is running a -$40 deal if I get the Antec Case + PSU

    Antec EarthWatts EA750 750W
    Antec Nine Hundred
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.480354

    Price After Mail-In Rebate(s): $139.94 (159 before rebate)

    No reason on the BD ROM. I can save $40-45 with just a DVD/CD RW drive.

    Still waffling over the RAM. The motherboard doesn't give lots of room between stick 1 and the CPU. Lots of RAM says it's designed for intel setups, but can be used for AMD... yet reviews say otherwise.
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Don't waffle on the RAM. When they say it's designed for Intel setups it's because the RAM meets Intel's voltage requirements which are lower than AMDs. Intel recommends RAM to run at no more than 1.65v without risking damage to the system. AMD usually sells at 1.7v or 1.75v. Running lower voltage "Intel-spec" RAM in your AMD system isn't a problem, and you may find that bumping the voltage up to AMD levels gives you more overclocking room.

    What causes problems is RAM with too-tall heatspreaders. The OCZ Gold stuff you've found shouldn't have any problems with clearances.
  • _k_k P-Town, Texas Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Or you could get the Beta EVO and OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W for 114.98$, you can run dual GTX 460 on this PSU.

    Or you could drop the 600W for a 700w ModX for 129.98$ with the Beta EVO, plus there is a 20$ mail in for the PSU.
  • mertesnmertesn I am Bobby Miller Yukon, OK Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    ardichoke wrote:
    Or 40 bucks going with the NZXT Beta EVO (this is seriously the best case I've owned so far).
    Agreed. My thoughts on the case are here.
  • RyderRyder Kalamazoo, Mi Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    _k_ wrote:
    Or you could get the Beta EVO and OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W for 114.98$, you can run dual GTX 460 on this PSU.

    Or you could drop the 600W for a 700w ModX for 129.98$ with the Beta EVO, plus there is a 20$ mail in for the PSU.
    Dual GTX460 on a 600W PSU? What are you smoking?
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