Could someone review these two builds and answer a question.

[dalek2.0]

Hi, I'm planning to build a new rig. My current rig is about 7 or 8 years old now and it needs to be updated. Current rig is AMD 2500+ with 2Gbs of ram and a Abit NF7 v2.0 mobo. Couple hard drives too.

New build #1 with links and all.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black case. I included this because of the rather LARGE CPU heatsink that is going to be listed later. I did a google image search and saw it in other rigs so it should fit in there.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130265

MSI 790XT-G45 AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X motherboard. It's not the latest but it is a "OK" mobo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125296

GIGABYTE GV-N210OC-512I GeForce 210 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP video card. I don't do gaming. Actually, my old FX-5200 does very well but won't fit in the new mobo. I really don't need a super fast video card here.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153116

Thermaltake TR2 TRX-650M 650W ATX 12V v2.3 / EPS 12V Power supply. I like this brand and would like to stay with this but if the price is right, I could be tempted to change my mind. My biggest question on this, can this handle this mobo, CPU, video card and 3 to 4 drives including a DVD burner?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103644

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor. From the searches I did, this should fit this mobo fine. Agree?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104073

Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory. I have used this brand before with not one problem. Like before, if the price is right, I could change this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118056

ZALMAN CNPS10X FLEX CPU Cooler. This thing got good reviews and it is not priced to high. According to the searches I have done this will fit the mobo/CPU and should fit in the case. Any disagreements on this?

This is build #2:

I'll be using the same case, power supply, video card etc so I won't list them all twice. Just listing the things that have to be changed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128431

GIGABYTE GA-770T-USB3 AM3 AMD 770 USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard. The only thing I don't like about this is that it doesn't have a com port for my UPS. I guess a adapter will be found somewhere.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103675

AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor. This should fit the mobo according to the website. Agree?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148325

Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory. According to newegg this fits the mobo. Agree?

I only plan to build one or the other. I would like someone to make sure everything should fit fine but I would also like to get a opinion. I'm disabled and have been saving for this a while. I would like a opinion on whether build #2 would be better in the long run? It appears to be a bit faster although the price is not much different. Build #1 is $611.92. Build #2 is $637.92. That doesn't include shipping but a lot of the items have free shipping anyway. Basically, I need this to last me several years since I can't afford to rebuild every few years. Also, one reason for the HUGE CPU cooler, I run folding in the winter. Helps heat the place up a bit. lol My current rig with a Volcano 12 runs at about 90F at full load. I would like to run pretty close to that since it just makes the CPU last longer.

Also, I have a Cyberpower UPS and I run Gentoo Linux here. No windoze or anything.

I'm open to ideas, discussion, problems and opinions. I mostly want to make sure each build will work and which I should build. I can build either one financially.

Thanks for you time and replies. If you need more info, let me know.

 

[dalek2.0]

Replies that they should work together would be nice too. At least I know I am on the right track.

 

[dalek2.0]

I didn't get any replies that said there were problems with my build so I started buying the stuff. I have bought the case and power supply so far.

I decided to build the one with the Gigabyte mobo. It is a bit newer, faster and I read that Gigabyte is one of the better brands. I'm not saying MSI is bad tho.

I do have a couple questions. I'm planning to build the same rig, except maybe for the CPU heatsink for my brother. My case sits on the floor so I can buy about anything from small to a cabinet sized thing. My brother has a cabinet that his has to fit into. The hole for the case is this size:

Depth: 19"

Width: 13 3/4"

Height: 21 1/2"

I wanted to get a Cooler Master case similar to mine but smaller but I can't find one. What case can I get that will fit in the space? I do want good cooling. Larger fans that run quiet are a plus for sure. Also, any ideas on a good CPU heatsink would be nice too. It will be cooling a AMD 4 core 3GHz CPU.

I would be grateful for ideas and suggestions.

 

[bda1967]

I didn't get any replies that said there were problems with my build so I started buying the stuff. I have bought the case and power supply so far.

I decided to build the one with the Gigabyte mobo. It is a bit newer, faster and I read that Gigabyte is one of the better brands. I'm not saying MSI is bad tho.

I do have a couple questions. I'm planning to build the same rig, except maybe for the CPU heatsink for my brother. My case sits on the floor so I can buy about anything from small to a cabinet sized thing. My brother has a cabinet that his has to fit into. The hole for the case is this size:

Depth: 19"

Width: 13 3/4"

Height: 21 1/2"

I wanted to get a Cooler Master case similar to mine but smaller but I can't find one. What case can I get that will fit in the space? I do want good cooling. Larger fans that run quiet are a plus for sure. Also, any ideas on a good CPU heatsink would be nice too. It will be cooling a AMD 4 core 3GHz CPU.

I would be grateful for ideas and suggestions.

Gigabyte is a brand that I try to use in my builds as much as possible.

How about an Antec 300 for the case? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

As far as heatsinks go, I like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus as a budget cooler. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

 

[Marc_lux]

if you go for aftermarket cooling, have a bigger case. 22cm deep minimum (9 inch). A recommendable CPU Cooler is IMHO: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/alpenfohn_matterhorn-deepcool_gamer_storm.html

I use Matterhorn, in the US you may find the other one. Super silent and effective. my PII 955 is at maximum 42°C with 3.2GHz and 32° idle @1000rpm (1600rpm possible).

 

[dalek2.0]

Gigabyte is a brand that I try to use in my builds as much as possible.

How about an Antec 300 for the case? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

As far as heatsinks go, I like the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus as a budget cooler. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Thanks for the reply. I haven't used a Antex before so no idea what they are like. It looks nice tho and seems to have good cooling. I notice it is pretty close to the limit of the depth. I noticed this with my Cooler Master tho. It claims to be 22.7" deep but when I measure it myself it is a little bit less than that. It actually measure a inch or so less.

Do you have one of these or know someone who does that can actually pull out a tape measure and post what it really is? I would hate to order this and it not fit in the hole. It is nice tho.

I also added the CPU cooler to the list.

Thanks.

 

[dalek2.0]

if you go for aftermarket cooling, have a bigger case. 22cm deep minimum (9 inch). A recommendable CPU Cooler is IMHO: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/alpenfohn_matterhorn-deepcool_gamer_storm.html

I use Matterhorn, in the US you may find the other one. Super silent and effective. my PII 955 is at maximum 42°C with 3.2GHz and 32° idle @1000rpm (1600rpm possible).

It looks like the Antec is only 8 inches wide so I guess it won't fit. It does look nice tho. If the case was wide enough, I would be giving it some thought for sure.

 

[Marc_lux]

It looks like the Antec is only 8 inches wide so I guess it won't fit. It does look nice tho. If the case was wide enough, I would be giving it some thought for sure.

wide, not deep, that's it. my Matterhorn scratches the cases internal screwfits on top right (near back panel). It's 23cm I think. So 9 inch is tough. go for Lian cases, they got decent volume. My Aerocool is also really big for mid tower, but it's the limit. It looks like it was taylor made when opening the case .

Oh and Ballistix are overrated. I'd get some Mushkin or Corsair if you have money, if not A-DATA. Actualy Ballistix are kinda slow for their price but very compatible. Best is to look at mobo Mem. QVL (seriously if you want to go safe way). Oh, and take a 955BE best. I dunno if the 940 has the same Hypertransport, if yes take 940 BE. thjere are some older CPU that have C2 and 1800MHz HT, I'd take the 2GHz and C3 ones...

 

[dalek2.0]

wide, not deep, that's it. my Matterhorn scratches the cases internal screwfits on top right (near back panel). It's 23cm I think. So 9 inch is tough. go for Lian cases, they got decent volume. My Aerocool is also really big for mid tower, but it's the limit. It looks like it was taylor made when opening the case .

Oh and Ballistix are overrated. I'd get some Mushkin or Corsair if you have money, if not A-DATA. Actualy Ballistix are kinda slow for their price but very compatible. Best is to look at mobo Mem. QVL (seriously if you want to go safe way). Oh, and take a 955BE best. I dunno if the 940 has the same Hypertransport, if yes take 940 BE. thjere are some older CPU that have C2 and 1800MHz HT, I'd take the 2GHz and C3 ones...

I looked at several Lian cases and they are all to deep. That seems to be the problem with what I am looking for. I want one that is wide for a rather large CPU cooler but the ones that are wide are also deep and won't fit in the cabinet hole. My brother has a computer desk and the computer is sort of closed in. I know that is a bad idea for a computer but the people that made it were wood workers not geeks. lol Me, I would take the little door off at least. It is wide open at the back tho. I got my bro to cut out the backing of the cabinet before he even put it together I think.

I do want a nice case but not real expensive either. We both want something that we can update the guts later and not buy another case.

I'm still leaning to the Antec posted earlier. It fits, looks nice but just have to have a shorter CPU cooler.

Still open to ideas tho.

 

[Knufire]

The HAF932 is a great case, it's large for your build but you can do pretty much upgrade in it.
There are better coolers out there, at that price point, the Cogage True Spirit is probably a better performer.

I would say something about the PSU, since Corsair is a better brand, but you already ordered it and it isn't terrible, it should run your system.

 

[dalek2.0]

I'm actually building two rigs. One for me and one for my older brother. I plan to use the same mobo and such but different cases because of the size limits on his cabinet thing. I was up there and showed him the Cooler Master. He liked it but it doesn't even fit under the desk, to tall. lol

I showed him the pics on newegg of the Antec and he likes it. This is the current pickings with the Antec being first choice at the moment.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811166038

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811166054

I don't know anything about the last two except that it should fit in the hole. Anyone know anything about the Sunbeam cases? Maybe had one or know someone that does.

Thanks

 

[Knufire]

You might want to read this article, you could do a mini-ITX build for your brother
http://www.overclockers.com/gaming-tight-spaces-miniitx/

 

[dalek2.0]

I need a case that is a good bit smaller than my Cooler Master HAF932 but not that small. lol Looking at some pics tho, I'm not sure it would fit in the cabinet hole either but it is hard to judge size in a pic. I'm pretty settled on the Antec for my brother. No one has found anything better and my searches have not found a better case either.

I did make Newegg a little profit today tho. I ordered the rest of the stuff. I already have the case and power supply so the rest was about $440.00. That's not to bad but being disabled, it will take me close to a year to pay off. I think the total was about $620.00. For a 4 core machine, not to bad. It should last me for many years.

I'll post pics when I get it together. I already posted some on facebook of the case. I don't think they allow links to social sites here but if someone PM's me, I'll send you a link back.

Thanks for the help and will post back later how it works.

 

[dalek2.0]

I got SOME of the parts in. Most of the order shipped from Memphis which is a few hours away but a couple pieces came from California and Georgia. I also have a friend that shipped me a video card and a extra hard drive. They should be here in a few days.

I got the CPU installed and the cooler bolted in. I also got the mobo in the case and the cables all hooked up. I'll be putting the rest in as it shows up.

I have a question on the fans tho. Just to remind you of what I got, I have the Cooler Master HAF 932 case with the 200mm or so fans. I have connectors on the motherboard for fans but would like to know if they should be plugged in there or if they would pull to much power? I don't want to burn my mobo up over a fan. It would surely make running power cables easier tho. I would have less of them to run.

I took a couple pics and plan to post them in a little while. I got a account at some pic hosting site somewhere. I can't remember which so I got to figure out which to go to. lol Wish me luck on this. I may never find it.

Thanks.

 

[dalek2.0]

I found out the mobo can handle up to 3 amp on the fan connectors. That's a lot really. Anyway.

I found out where my image account is. Here is a pic of the build so far.

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5640/201012070003cutscale.jpg

I'm not done yet and still trying to figure oout the best way to run the cables that connect to the middle of the mobo. Just not much of a way to hide those.

I may post more when I get done too. Stay tuned if interested.