Second Build: Specs, Plus Questions

[cannedpeahes]

I was thinking about doing a new build, but I realized I can only really do that if there's some way I could preserve a couple hundred dollars by selling my old machine.

These are for the new build.
Specs
Case: Sigma "La Vie" Mid-Tower ATX - ($70)
Motherboard: Gigabyte DS4 AM2+ Nforce 750a - ($145)
Video Card: XFX GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB - ($190)
PSU: XION Supernova 800W ATX12V - ($150)
Memory: OCZ Platinum 4GB DDR2 1066 - ($110)
Processor: AMD Phenom 9850 Black 2.5GHz Quad-Core - ($205)
Subtotal: $870

My first question - or statement, I guess - is, if anybody can think of any way to reduce the price or improve the performance (while keeping it within $50 of the current subtotal), or if you want to comment on some part I've put in there, please do.

My second question is: At the same time, I'm going to be selling the machine I've got right now (I'll be recycling my hard drive, though I might put a new one in there).

My Old Machine
Specs
[i]Motherboard: Foxconn NF4SK8 Socket 939 Nforce4
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 Venice 3800+
Video Card: EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB
Memory: G.SKILL 2x1GB PC3200
Case: Xion II Mid-Tower ATX
Power: Apevia Aspire 520W ATX

How much do you think I could get for that? It's a perfectly stable build; I've encountered no problems since I updated it to those specs, some half-a-year ago, I think.

[ToiletDuck]

i think your old machine could go for at least... $250-$300 ??? ???

[ScottyGrayskull]

i think your old machine could go for at least... $250-$300 ??? ???

That sounds about right. You might be able to get another $100 if you advertise it right though.

Given the experiences I've had with this upgrade, I'd recommend keeping it around as a secondary machine (for whatever reason you'd want). That way when you have hardware issues you'll have the spare parts to help you figure out the problem.

[ktj]

800W psu?
600w max
500w could be enough.

Antec NeoPower 550w http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6817103941

According to Antec support: There is a timing incompatibility between certain Asus motherboards (A8N and one other series I can't remember) and all ATX v2.2 compliant power supplies (not just Antec). You can solve the problem by updating your BIOS (as of 7/27/06, you have to use a beta).

AMD? Go for intel =D!
Then you need to change mobo.

Not many games yet support quad core, so dual core might give you better performance and ofc cheaper.
E8400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819115037

[CaffeinePowered]

Needs more Asus

[ToiletDuck]

Needs more Asus

you wish

GIGABYTE FTW!

[Wedge]

Yeah, unless you're planning SLI, that 800W $150 psu is total overkill.  Could get something for half the price easily that's adequate.  And I'd agree an E8400-E8500 is generally going to perform just as well as most quadcores for gaming purposes.  I sold my computer that was about half those specs for $100, so you can get $200+ easily I'd figure. 

[ktj]

[quote author=CaffeinePowered link=topic=927.msg23994#msg23994 date=1216824413]
Needs more Asus

you wish

GIGABYTE FTW!
[/quote]

Go for asus mobo

[Versus]

800W is definitely overkill...but you really, really don't want to cheap out on a PSU.

[jorge]

Needs more Asus

I've had to replace my Asus before cause it fried.

[dapngwnman]

Needs more ATI HD 4850. :S

[cannedpeahes]

The only thing is: that PSU is actually, with the $50 dollar rebate, only $99, so it works out fine for the price, and the only two power supplies I could find in the 500W-600W range that had modular (which is a must for me, I'm a neat freak) power were both more expensive than this thing is. Maybe that's a bad sign, I don't know.

And as far as the processor goes, my experience with AMD is that their sockets remain viable much, much longer than Intel's, which change pretty regularly. I could easily be wrong about that, of course. So whether I go Phenom in the end, the AM2+ will be viable for future revisions of Agena that will exceed anything that Intel can get going on Socket T.

Also, a little something I unearthed while taking a look at processors.


A joke reserved for hardware enthusiasts. Don't strain yourself.

[ktj]

About that xion psu:
Cons: Aparently the 12v rail that carries power to your GFX card, doesn't give out the whole 12 volts, instead it only gives out 4.93 volts, which is very LOW! This creates problems in every game you play, doesn't matter if it's old or next-gen game, the lack of power to the GFX card will make your screen black out with all controls (gamepad, keyboard, mouse) unresponsive within 5 seconds to 45 minutes of gameplay! After this happens, you have no choice but to cold boot (restart) your PC, and it never leaves an error report to send because when the game crashes (blacks out), it takes the entire PC down with it. I've also tried contacting xion, and I have never recieved a reply from them at all. In conclusion, if you're building a next gen game PC, I'd avoid this PSU if I were you. CONS: only gives 4.93 instead of 12 volts of power on 12v rail and NO customer service at all, THEY IGNORE YOU and almost all of their email addresses don't work or are deactivated!

Id still say no amd. E8400 gogogo

[cbre88x]

About that xion psu:
Cons: Aparently the 12v rail that carries power to your GFX card, doesn't give out the whole 12 volts, instead it only gives out 4.93 volts, which is very LOW! This creates problems in every game you play, doesn't matter if it's old or next-gen game, the lack of power to the GFX card will make your screen black out with all controls (gamepad, keyboard, mouse) unresponsive within 5 seconds to 45 minutes of gameplay! After this happens, you have no choice but to cold boot (restart) your PC, and it never leaves an error report to send because when the game crashes (blacks out), it takes the entire PC down with it. I've also tried contacting xion, and I have never recieved a reply from them at all. In conclusion, if you're building a next gen game PC, I'd avoid this PSU if I were you. CONS: only gives 4.93 instead of 12 volts of power on 12v rail and NO customer service at all, THEY IGNORE YOU and almost all of their email addresses don't work or are deactivated!
Id still say no amd. E8400 gogogo

I think I heard something about that, but it was a different PSU.

[Geoff]

Woah woah woah.  800W?  Do you plan on powering the sun?  That seems just a bit overkill.  Also, keep in mind not much right now fully utilizes quad core.

[cannedpeahes]

About that xion psu:
Cons: Aparently the 12v rail that carries power to your GFX card, doesn't give out the whole 12 volts, instead it only gives out 4.93 volts, which is very LOW! This creates problems in every game you play, doesn't matter if it's old or next-gen game, the lack of power to the GFX card will make your screen black out with all controls (gamepad, keyboard, mouse) unresponsive within 5 seconds to 45 minutes of gameplay! After this happens, you have no choice but to cold boot (restart) your PC, and it never leaves an error report to send because when the game crashes (blacks out), it takes the entire PC down with it. I've also tried contacting xion, and I have never recieved a reply from them at all. In conclusion, if you're building a next gen game PC, I'd avoid this PSU if I were you. CONS: only gives 4.93 instead of 12 volts of power on 12v rail and NO customer service at all, THEY IGNORE YOU and almost all of their email addresses don't work or are deactivated!

Id still say no amd. E8400 gogogo

Yeah, on that note, I switched to the highest-rated product, a 520W Corsair unit with (yes!) Modular Cabling Support. It's a little less flashy than the Xion offering, but also, I hear, much more stable and high-performance. And my case is pretty understated, anyways.