New Pc Build And I Need Some Advice

Hi,

I am currently in the process of making my next PC. It is designed with gaming and value in mind. So far, I have come up with these specs for it:

MOBO: ASUS P5G41T-M/CSM LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5400 Wolfdale 2.7GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor

RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996770

GPU: EVGA 01G-P3-1236-RX GeForce GT 240 1GB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready

PSU: Diablotek PHD Series PHD350 350W ATX12V V2.2 Power Supply

HD: Recertified: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS-FR 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

CASE: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front



My first question is will the RAM be running at full speed this motherboard? I have read a few articles about how it will work fine it just takes some small OC'ing adjustments.

My second question is if I buy a Thermaltake FRIO will I be able to OC the CPU to 4.0ghz?

Third question is can anyone confirm if the motherboard is compatible wih PCI-Express 2.0?



Is this a good build or not? Any pros and cons? I would love some to shed some light on this for me. Thanks.

P.S. according Newegg.ca, this build will cost me with shipping and taxes, 474.25$, without a Thermaltake Frio.

 

I have a fourth question I wish to ask as well and that is will there be enough connectors from the PSU to power all 3 fans on the case and possibly a Thermaltake Frio?

I also have a fifth question! Will the Frio fit in the case?

 

Hi.

Dalo our Specialist in this area should be along shortly to give his opinion on your build.

 

Even if you decide to use a Micro ATX MOBO (which I would not recommend) you definately cannot use a Micro ATX case. The heat that will be kicked out by the parts needs an ATX case really.


As for a spec on parts, you need to give us a budget (I'll do this later)

 

The case is an ATX case. In-fact it is quite big with three 120mm fans and room for 3 more. Budget is 600$CAN Maximum.

 

Your original Post before you Edited it said "a Micro ATX case"

Hence Dalo's reply.

 

Ahh right, i mis-read and saw micro-atx case not micro-atx mobo.

 

Ive made some changes to the original build I had posted. I decided on a better video card and I've decided to go with an AMD based system instead of Intel because from what I have researched through reviews, discussion, and benchmarks is that AMD processors are about 10% better for gaming. Here are the changes:

CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX435WFGMBOX

MOBO: ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 AMD 760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

GPU: ZOTAC ZT-40701-10L GeForce GT 440 (Fermi) 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready

 

I made what I think is the last change to this build. I read up on the Mobo and discovered something called Hybrid Crossfirex. It is for ATI radeon cards with Crossfirex only so I swapped the Zotex GPU for this:

GPP: GIGABYTE GV-R567ZL-1GI Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready

By doing this change i should have about 50% increase in GPU power.

 

Crossfire is a technology used for linking 2 cards together that then act as 1.
Hybrid Crossfire just means that you dont need a master crossfire card like you used to..

I would not look to utilise technology like crossfire, there is no need and the benefit you get does not outweigh the cost.

The Nvidia equivalent is called SLI, and is much more tested and reliable.

As for the AMD chips being better for gaming, thats not true.
Games depending on which they are, some are optimised for Dual and Quad core chips, but Intel CPUs have more RAW processing power but come at a premium.

Dont base your build on things that don't apply at your range of the market.

Buy the best CPU and GPU you can afford and then build the rest of the system around that.
MOBOs are pretty much of a muchness (again at your position in the market) but I personally prefer ASUS.

 

Ok I have finalized my build and put the order in on newegg.ca. I would like to know of any potential problems with this build and if maybe I could make some improvements later on. This is what I have come up with.

CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX435WFGMBOX
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103920

MOBO: ASUS M4A78LT-M AM3 AMD 760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131672

RAM: Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 Desktop Memory Model KHX1800C9D3K2/4G
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104183

CASE: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

PSU: Diablotek PHD Series PHD350 350W ATX12V V2.2 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817822005

GPU: GIGABYTE GV-R567ZL-1GI Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125340

HD: Western Digital Caviar Green RFHWD5000AADS 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136817


All of these parts plus shipping came to 514.94CAN.