Print 33 comment(s) - last by MrPoletski.. on Oct 2 at 5:50 AM

Write speed problems may mean no SSD price drops until next year










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RE: Last paragraph
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 9/30/2009 1:21:11 PM , Rating: 2
AMD isn't top end right now. It would make more sense to throw an Intel chip into the bleeding edge computer build.

RE: Last paragraph
By HrilL on 9/30/09, Rating: 0
RE: Last paragraph
By HrilL on 9/30/2009 7:29:33 PM , Rating: 3
This site has a too many Intel Fanboy's that don't read reviews apparently.

Thanks for rating me down because you're too stupid to read.

RE: Last paragraph
By therealnickdanger on 9/30/2009 2:09:58 PM , Rating: 4
I agree, but I didn't want to offend the many AMD fans with the facts. ;-)

Honestly, if I were building a system today, I would probably go with the i5 750 since it's $100 less than the i7 860 and plenty fast for my needs. It's only about 10% slower for video encoding, CS4, 3D rendering, but more than fast enough to get over 60fps in all the games I play while running slightly cooler and drawing less power than the i7 860. All the while, it gets your foot in the door for future CPUs should you need to upgrade later.

i5 750 - $200
P55 mobo - $100
60GB Vertex SSD - $200
4850 1GB - $100
8GB DDR3 - $140
PSU - $50
Case - $30
Win 7 - $100

TOTAL - $920
This is all based on Newegg pricing, but if you're a deal-hunter, you could easily shave off a few bucks.

RE: Last paragraph
By Souka on 9/30/2009 4:45:54 PM , Rating: 3
$970... but you forgot a few things...

keyboard $273

mouse $130

LCD Screen $2060

or you could save a few bucks and dust off that AT Keyboard, 2-button square logitech serial mouse, and that 14" CRT you have in the closet....


anyhow... nice build therealnickdanger!....

RE: Last paragraph
By therealnickdanger on 9/30/2009 11:50:27 PM , Rating: 3
It's funny you say that - my favorite keyboard is AT! It weighs about 6lbs, metal and thick plastic, chunky keys with no visible signs of wear. It came with the first PC I owned in 1989. Wow, 20 years! I love this thing, they don't make 'em like they used to! I currently have to use a AT/PS2 adapter, but I haven't tested to see if I can plug that adapter into a USB adapter. If I can do that, then this keyboard will never die!

RE: Last paragraph
By MrPoletski on 10/1/2009 6:33:56 AM , Rating: 2
you just bought a keyboard with a built in mouse and a mouse... all for extortionate prices...

RE: Last paragraph
By Alexvrb on 9/30/2009 10:52:18 PM , Rating: 3
You're slapping hardware (and software) totalling $840 into a $30 box? Talk about skimping. Also the $50 PSU? There's some decent PSUs for $50, don't get me wrong, but most of the good, reliable units in that price range don't leave a lot of room for future upgrades. Also, the 60GB Vertex doesn't leave a lot of room. Throw in a HDD to provide bulk storage, and just use the SSD for OS and critical items.

If this was a cheaper build ($100 CPU, no SSD, etc) I couldn't knock it. But I certainly couldn't justify plunking down all that cash and getting a cheap case and PSU.

RE: Last paragraph
By therealnickdanger on 9/30/2009 11:42:40 PM , Rating: 2
What makes you think I (or you or anyone else) needs a better case? I've built several computers using the cheapest Rosewill cases (with and without included PSUs) Newegg offers and they are light, sturdy, and offer plenty of airflow. Give me a good reason to spend more (other than looks) and I'll consider it.

A $50 PSU is almost overkill for MOST computers IMO, unless you are running a top-end OCed system with quad-SLI. And assuming you could possibly saturate the graphics card and CPU with enough data to draw the maximum amount of power, it still wouldn't be very demanding. First, check out these system specs (higher than my build):

then check out the resulting chart when using a tool specifically designed to push the limits of the entire GPU (much more demanding than any current game):

A $50 PSU is just fine, even one with mid-to-poor efficiency - I could probably even get away with a cheap case with its own PSU and never see a problem with this build. As far as buying a better case/PSU for future upgrades... why? Every new CPU and GPU that comes out does more and more while consuming less power and generating less heat. One day my cell phone will be more powerful than my build here.

60GB Vertext is plenty for all the apps, games, and working directories I need. I keep all my media and backups on my home server... But hey, Newegg is selling a 2TB HDD for $170 today if you want to throw that price into the mix.

RE: Last paragraph
By MrPoletski on 10/1/2009 8:29:46 AM , Rating: 4
The problem with a $50 PSU isn't always its power capacity (though for $50 I question the capability of this) its also about reliability and its ability to keep its voltage within spec under load.

As for a $30 case, you'll learn eactly why you shouldn't use one when you try and build a system with any kind of real power. Much more so if you ever intend to upgrade.

I, for one, cannot stand spaghetti computers which is what you end up with in your case if you only spend $30 on it.

RE: Last paragraph
By therealnickdanger on 10/1/2009 8:54:06 AM , Rating: 2
I'll learn? Thanks, but I've been building computers for 20 years so I think I've already learned quite a bit. I'm assuming "spaghetti computers" means lots of wires jumbled around everywhere? I don't have that problem either, all my builds have wires neatly tucked away. It's not rocket-science and certainly doesn't require an expensive case to accomplish.

Again, what sort of upgrade would require a better case? A 15-inch long graphics card? 10 hard drives? You haven't given any examples to prove to me that the extra $$$ is worth it. Unless I'm adding a second GPU for SLI or CF, most upgrades take the form of swapping out a CPU, adding/swapping RAM, swapping out HDDs... none of which require the additional space, power, or cooling to justify an übercase.

Like I said before, unless you're building a super OCed system with quad-SLI or something that generates an equivalent amount of heat, there's not much point to an expensive PSU or case. Once you're up at that level, then spending more can be justified in order to keep currents flowing, to add liquid cooling, etc. But for the build I listed, the bare minimum will suffice.

RE: Last paragraph
By MrPoletski on 10/2/2009 5:50:47 AM , Rating: 2
You don't need quad SLI and a super OC to cause heating problems in a $30 case, pretty much any decent GPU card at stock will do... but then some people might be happy with a 50C+ case temp, I certainly am not.

The point is also, that a $30 case doesn't have the space to tuck cables in anywhere and a $50 PSU won't have modular cables to make your life easier either.

But more specifically with a $50 PSU, your GFX card will kill it. It might seem like it works now, but if you don't deliver the 12v current required by your card your system will eventually die.

It will look like it works fine, maybe for a couple of months perhaps only with the odd crash you put down to something else, but eventually, that 3D game you run will kill the PSU because your GFX card sucks it dry. When that happens it might take your mobo with it.


Also, I have an Antec 1200 case. It rocks. If I want to upgrade or replace something it takes 5 minutes. Off with the side panel and whip it in.

What I DONT need to do is take half my other stuff out first and if its something major like a CPU replacement... I can actually reach the clips on the Hs/F to get it off without slicing my fingers apart on various other things.

On top of that, my case temp doesn't get too high, despite my 4870x2 and i7. The biggest source of heat in my case is the 4870 so I don't OC that, the i7-920 I run at 3.7Ghz tho, but ti doesn't produce much more heat than at stock (because i7's rock the overclock).

And yes, I think I got my first 286 in 1989, IIRC which is when I started putting together my own PC's. I was 9. Ten Megahurts baby! 64 colour EGA FTW!

RE: Last paragraph
By Aloonatic on 10/1/2009 4:53:52 AM , Rating: 2
Under a grand =/= bleeding edge


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