Looking for a new system

[Blín D'ñero]

Yes, I have a budget I do want a good system, but I have a price limit that I have to respect. That's why I try to reduce cost as much as possible

RAM: I found a similar RAM to the one you proposed: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... omoid=1008
It really looks identical, in fact, but it's cheaper. What's the difference with this one: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... omoid=1008 ?

HDD: I'll stick with one. I've never had one that failed, so I'll take the risk.

Crossfire: I've found two survivors (Geez! My card's already that old!!! Oo) to stack up with my actual Sapphire Radeon HD 4850:
Gigabyte 512MB
Powercolor 1GB
Would be be better to have the same exact model (the 512MB) or the 1GB would offer better performance ? (I guess the 1GB would, but we never know )

That is great ram too. The difference is the latency timing: the cheaper one is cas latency 9, the other has 7 (slightly faster). Unless you're an overclocker/ubertweaker you won't notice a difference. Go for the CL9 (the cheaper)!

Crossfiring a 1 GB with a 512 MB nets you 2 x 512 MB, that's the way crossfire (and sli for that matter) works: both cards have an identical (dynamic) copy of the same contents in their VRAM, so the 512 MB overhead in the 1 GB VRAM card isn't used at all.

What is your monitor resolution, for gaming? It might be more wise to upgrade videocard to a (budget) single XFX HD5770 1GB or HIS HD5770 1GB More than 2x the performance of your current card, look: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2856/6

[TakalQc]

I play on my 17" HP1740 with 1280x1024 resolution.

[Blín D'ñero]

Ahh.. and you're used to that.
I wouldn't invest in another HD4850 seeing their current price. For a few extra dollars better go for a single HD 5770 because they render twice as fast, resulting in smoother performance. And being DX11, fully compatible with Windows 7.

CPU: i5 750
HDD: the WD Black Edition 500 or 640 GB
Motherboard: the Pro
RAM: one set of the Corsair CL9
PSU: the Corsair HX650
videocard: HD 5770
new OS: Windows 7 x64

Later, add more RAM because x64 really benefits from more RAM. another set of the Corsair.

[TakalQc]

It's a hard decision to make.
Buying a brand new Radeon HD5770 is tempty, because of its performances, but with that on my bill, it goes over my budget, and I'm not sure I can spend this extra.
Adding a 2nd HD4850 jumps to price to exactly my limit, and boosts my actual graphical performances.

But in the beginning, I wasn't even planning to invest in GPU, because my actual GPU still does a very good job. The option that I consider the most, for now, is Crossfire HD4850, but I really have to think about it.

PSU: Why not one of these:
OZC
Coolermaster

[Blín D'ñero]

I wouldn't take the OCZ, for reason explained here
Nor that coolermaster, read this conclusion at jonnyguru: https://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?n ... 5&reid=188
Really, don't budget on the PSU. It's the base to feed all your expensive precious high quality components. Keep your current videocard (upgrade later), set the Corsair Professional HX650W 650W ATX 12V 52A 24PIN ATX Modular Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan at the base of your new PC.

[TakalQc]

I kind of see now why it's important to invest in a great PSU.
The Coolermaster cannot use all of its power, and the OZC neither.

That Corsair HX650W looks great. Customers' review are excellent, and Corsair being a great brand, can't go wrong with it
Corsair's site even tells me it can support Crossfire 2xHD5770 easily Oo
I'll stick with my HD4850, and just wait for an upgrade, like I initially thought ^^

Soundcard: Would it be a better idea to stay with integrated audio or buying an audigy would be better? (I know that more advanced soundcard are an even better idea, but I won't go more expensive than audigy)

Case: I choose this CASE pretty fast. It looked decent, not too expensive, nice design... What do you think? Do you have any recommendations?

**Oh and... WTF IS THAT? Oo http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... re=LIAN-LI

EDIT: Woot! I got 15$ rebate on the processor because I told (and proved) NCIX that a competitor had a lower price

[Blín D'ñero]

LOL for the rebate, well done!
See, that Corsair PSU you can trust blindly for years. Great it supports 5770 CF, they don't consume much after all.

The Audigy is still a very good soundcard, especially if you're still on XP. Integrated audio: Realtek HD sounds good too but is limited in amount of simultaneous channels, always uses the CPU for processing the 3D positioning and effects and doesn't support EAX (maybe upto EAX2 but with errors so i read) and also no ALchemy on Windows 7.

The case seems good, i don't know it. This one i can recommend because i use it myself on one of my systems: Coolermaster CM 690 Mid Tower Black ATX Case 5X5.25 5X3.5INT No PS Front USB Sound Firewire & eSATA $72.99 CAD

Edit: oops fixed the link, thanks rditto

[rditto48801]

About having a budget.
I would say to not let a budget get in the way of getting good stuff.
It never hurts to hold off on things and to save up money. You never know when something better of comparable price might come around, or when something might drop a little in price. On the flip side, stock of an item could fall into limbo and make it next to impossible to find.
Alternatively, just get things as you can afford them, and then have it all put together once you got everything you need. Personally, I save up until I can get more or less everything at once, or at least all of the major stuff.

About Sound.
I got a Sound Blaster Audigy SE myself. I have not had any problems with it. I have not noticed any real improvements compared to RealTek HD in terms of basic sound quality with some games, but on the flip side, I have had less sound related issues.
For example, on some games when things get 'busy' (such as a big battle in an RTS), I have noticed more sfx going on with the Audigy than with the Realtek HD. I guess it has to do with the sound channel thing BlindNero mentioned.


Case
I would say the case looks nice, but personally, I am not much for LEDs or large 'windows'. I can't really give an effective opinion on the cost, other than seeing similar cases for similar costs.

BlindNero, I think you messed up on the link for the case you recommended. You got the description, but not the actual url.

[Blín D'ñero]

Fixed the link, thank you.

Yes: much more simultaneous voices and soundeffects in games.
But also, you can play music in WMP, at the same time run a Youtube video.
You can play a game at the same time record it with Fraps including the sound, something onboard audio can't do. Making your own video's greatly benefits from the dedicated audio hardware.

**Oh and... WTF IS THAT? Oo https://www.ncix.com/products/index.php ... re=LIAN-LI

That is a bench rack, to conveniently put drives in and out. Hardware benchmarkers don't use a case, they have the motherboard flat on a table and the other stuff around it, or (if they're better organised) on small benchtables and -racks.

[TakalQc]

Thanks for the advice, rditto

ok ok, let's recap:

CPU This i5 760 was at lower price when price matched than the i5 750, so why not?
Motherboard
RAMx2 With all the rebates I got, I can allow me another 2x2GB pack
PSU
HDD
Sound card
DVD drive
Case I'll go with the same case as my two friends, it's nice and they both like it
I got some fans too, to add some refreshment and look

All this for $1 022.88...

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With all the rebates I got from the NCIX "Price match" tool, it all comes down to $910.61 !!!
This is still under my initial budget, and it's a waaaay better system than I expected at the begining

I just wanna have your final (I hope!) opinion on this before I rush the credit card