
how-to block ads
|
 Don69Fire Premium join:2006-12-28 Danville, WV
| $1,500.00 to build a machine i am wanting to have a machine built and i have between 1500 and 1700 to spend. and i am wanting to build a gaming rig with a 20" wide screen monitor at least. and ddr3 ram. also, has anyone ever used the "Big Foot Killer Network Gaming Card"... »www.killernic.com are they worth it to get. or is a reg 10/100/1000 network card just as good. and i want to get a vid card that will run high end games also. | |
|   Somnambul33t L33t. Premium join:2002-12-05 Mullica Hill, NJ clubs:
·Comcast
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine i7 920 whatever ddr3 ram you want, any amt, either dual or tri channel gtx295 or dual hd4890's $100-130 for psu $200-250 for x58 mobo killer nic definitely not worth it unless you play MMOs like a job
on the road with a netbook, not gonna do a full workup -- Somnambulator - t3h 5133pw41k3r
The Stolen Eye TF2 Server ~Choosy moms choose Jif~ | |
|  |   ztmike Mark for moderation Premium join:2001-08-02 Michigan City, IN
·Comcast
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine said by Somnambul33t :$100-130 for psu I'm going to have to disagree with you there..the psu is the most important part of a computer. Go with a name brand and have enough juice left over. Corsair is a good brand to go with, and go Modular if you want to save space for airflow. | |
|  |  |   Tails
join:2007-09-25 Sanford, NC
·Windstream
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine I don't understand, you can get a quality corsair for that price range:
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17139004
I'm pretty sure he meant quality lol. But I get what you are saying. -- Do or do not, there is no try! - Yoda | |
|  |  |  |   Mchart Super Joe
join:2004-01-21 Gurnee, IL | Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine Exactly, you can get the 750w Corsair for only $120 I beleive. | |
|  |  |  |   ztmike Mark for moderation Premium join:2001-08-02 Michigan City, IN
·Comcast
| That's only 550watts and its not Modular. Modular psu's are VERY nice to have.
My guess is this guy should go with at least a 600watt, I think the one I bought should work excellent unless hes running SLI 295's or something. »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···17139002 | |
|  |  |  |  |   Tails
join:2007-09-25 Sanford, NC
·Windstream
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine That's if he does SLI or Crossfire.
What he needs to do is outline the reasons why he wants to build a computer, or what it will be used for.
I know he says "gaming", but that can't be all, correct OP? -- Do or do not, there is no try! - Yoda | |
|  |  |  |  |  |   Don69Fire Premium join:2006-12-28 Danville, WV
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine i play games like Crysis, medal of honor, WoW, and Dawn of War II. crysis takes a pretty good computer to run. i play it on my laptop, XPS M1730 with 2x 8800GTX vid cards and a 2.8ghz processor that can be over clocked to 3.4ghz i think or 3.2ghz. and 4 gigs of ram. i want to build a system that is at least the same. but would like it to be a little bit more beefy. i am looking at 6gigs DDR3 ram, and a 3.0ghz processor. i am just not sure on the motherboard. especially one that would even support 2 video cards. anyone seen a good guilders guide for gaming machines by chance.... | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |   Mchart Super Joe
join:2004-01-21 Gurnee, IL | Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine Any decent i7 motherboard is going to have crossfire/SLI support. You don't need to go out and specifically look for a motherboard that supports a dual-video solution anymore. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |   ztmike Mark for moderation Premium join:2001-08-02 Michigan City, IN
·Comcast
| said by Don69Fire :i play games like Crysis, medal of honor, WoW, and Dawn of War II. crysis takes a pretty good computer to run. i play it on my laptop, XPS M1730 with 2x 8800GTX vid cards and a 2.8ghz processor that can be over clocked to 3.4ghz i think or 3.2ghz. and 4 gigs of ram. i want to build a system that is at least the same. but would like it to be a little bit more beefy. i am looking at 6gigs DDR3 ram, and a 3.0ghz processor. i am just not sure on the motherboard. especially one that would even support 2 video cards. anyone seen a good guilders guide for gaming machines by chance.... I hope you aren't aiming for a one processor cpu..I would at least go with a dual core.
But a quick look on Newegg and you could probably even pick up a decent quad cpu like so: »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···19103471 | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   Don69Fire Premium join:2006-12-28 Danville, WV
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine my bad. yes i am going to go with a dual core processor. sorry about that.
anyone here ever mess with the liquid cooling??? i see it on a lot of the pre built machines from www.ibuypower.com and www.cyberpower.com anyone have a take on them. all th emachines i speced out from them was $2300 or so. and i priced all the components on price breaker and it was right at $1500. if i dont go with the liquid cooling i think i am going to go with the V10 processor and ram cooler. it cooled both. and there are some pretty good deals out there right now. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   eX_NihiLo Here's Your Something For Nothing Premium join:2003-08-05 Louisville, CO
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine said by Don69Fire :my bad. yes i am going to go with a dual core processor. sorry about that. anyone here ever mess with the liquid cooling??? i see it on a lot of the pre built machines from www.ibuypower.com and www.cyberpower.com anyone have a take on them. all th emachines i speced out from them was $2300 or so. and i priced all the components on price breaker and it was right at $1500. if i dont go with the liquid cooling i think i am going to go with the V10 processor and ram cooler. it cooled both. and there are some pretty good deals out there right now. I wouldn't buy a liquid cooling system unless you are going explore the OC limits of your CPU/GPU . It just adds another point of failure in your system. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   Krisnatharok 0311 Scout Premium join:2009-02-11 Sterling, VA | Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine Pretty sure you don't need that unless you are going >4.0 GHz on an i7 chip. | |
|  |  |  dynodb Premium,VIP join:2004-04-21 Minneapolis, MN
| said by ztmike :said by Somnambul33t :$100-130 for psu I'm going to have to disagree with you there..the psu is the most important part of a computer. Go with a name brand and have enough juice left over. Corsair is a good brand to go with, and go Modular if you want to save space for airflow. The PSU is perhaps the simplest, most reliable component in your computer case. 750W, $120 power supplies are overkill for all but high end systems with dual video cards.
I've built every PC I've owned since 1991 and the only PSU failures I've ever had were related to the fan- and we're talking $18-$25 power supplies that lasted for years. The one running my current system (AMD 6000+ X2 with HD4850) cost me $50 on sale, and I've little doubt it'll be among the last things that get upgraded.
The vast majority of people shelling out for expensive PSUs is an example of successful marketing rather than actual necessity. Few non-SLI systems will ever pull more than 325W at peak draw.
If there's a reason to spend more than $70 on a PSU for anything but a high-end SLI system, I can't think of one other than bragging rights. | |
|  |  |  |   signmeuptoo Folding and Crunching Not just Breakfast Premium join:2001-11-22 LOSTinSpace clubs: 
·Future Nine Corpor..
·AT&T Southeast
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine You don't know electronics much, do you? The power supply is the single most important part of a build.
There is a huge difference between a cheap no name unit and something like a Seasonic, Corsair, PCP&C, and so forth.
Your statement that have "have had no problems" leaves me wondering what the truth is.
Question: Do you know what ripple is? If you don't and don't know what it will do to a mainboard, HD, and/or video card, then read up on it before making such a blanket statement that is irresponsible.
It is impossible to specify a particular exact price that a "good" supply is supposed to be had for. Good supplies often sell for as little as $45, even less, depending upon wattage, rebates, shipping, economy, and so forth.
Don't even try to tell me that a POS Allied will be fine for my next build with its unstable voltages, high ripple and noise current, high heat, short life, and overrated power capability. Supplys like Allieds can't even produce 1/2 their rated wattage without failing.
I've had 4 power supplies fail on me, one an Allied. They were never overloaded and it was their build quality that decided to end them early in life.
Don't you dare tell me that a Corsair with it's higher quality capacitors is no better than an Allied of the same supposed wattage rating. All you have to do is lift each in your hands and compare the heft of them.
You obviously don't know or refuse to admit that there is a big difference in quality within the parts used to make a supply. Transformers, ICs, Transistors, Capacitors, Chokes, and other parts vary in quality, and sometimes hugely. If I am wrong why are all the mainline motherboard manufacturers using higher quality solid capacitors now?
Bragging rights my ass. If I had a dollar for every mainboard that was blown by a cheap supply without the owner realizing it I'd be a multimillionaire, heck, a billionaire.
Successful marketing? Oh really? How many power supply reviews have you read from sites like hardocp, jonnyguru, and anandtech? How can the quality of a supply be any less significant than the quality of a motherboard, video card, or HD?
Uber fail! -- Join Teams Helix and Discovery. Put that fancy computer to good use helping to find a cure, your mom will love you for it. »Team Helix »Team Discovery | |
|  |  |  |  |  dynodb Premium,VIP join:2004-04-21 Minneapolis, MN
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine said by signmeuptoo :It is impossible to specify a particular exact price that a "good" supply is supposed to be had for. Good supplies often sell for as little as $45, even less, depending upon wattage, rebates, shipping, economy, and so forth. Well, that's the point.
Am I suggesting that anyone find the cheapest PSU they can find and call it good? No. However the very recent phenomenon of obsessing about power supplies baffles me.
Compared to highly complex components like motherboards, video cards and processors, the power supply is extremely simple- it converts 120vac to the various DC voltages/current needed. Capacitors, transformers, diodes- we're talking about technology older than anyone reading this. Yet somehow the simple PSU as elevated it's status to the most important component in a build ever.
The vast majority of PC's sold use relatively cheap OEM power supplies- yet somehow manage not to fry themselves to a cinder every two years.
If you've had four power supplies fail on you, I'd question what you were doing wrong- they simply don't fail that often. Early failure due to a bad fan (the least reliable part of a PSU) and/or heat? Sure. However, they just don't fail that often. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |   signmeuptoo Folding and Crunching Not just Breakfast Premium join:2001-11-22 LOSTinSpace clubs: 
·Future Nine Corpor..
·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine Ok, what am I doing wrong. I studied electronics in college, so obviously I must be a nimrod or something? They aren't that simple and higher quality units have more complex circuitry, and don't forget PFC. You can be baffled, but too many people like me have seen the results of a poorly made supply.
And no, it is NOT the power here, it's been checked by the power company, then went so far as to go up on the transformer and tighten everything for me.
I had an Allied fail (no surprise there), then a very poorly made Antec that had a high failure rate, which Antec replaced with a different model which should have been good but immediatley failed, and I didn't have the money to ship it back too. Next was an Enermax that also earned a reputation for early death syndrome.
Thank you for accusing me of "must have been doing something wrong". What would that be, pray tell, anyway? Yes they do fail, and I didn't say how often that was either.
My current Seventeam has been running for over a year and a half ok. I studied electronics from one of the best technician's schools around, so please, what did I do wrong?
The fact is that you are wrong here.
EDIT: Sorry to be so blunt, I'm not angry, but a little annoyed.
If there is no other issue to concern with on a computer SMPS, ripple IS a real concern. If you have some time, like at the reviews at sites like the ones I mentioned. I disagree with your thinking if it is that a supply is just a super simple dumb device. Many higher quality units have additional circuitry in them, better parts (as I have said repeatedly to no response from you), better craftsmanship, better design, better cooling, better layout for said cooling, and so forth.
Like I say, I'd like some examples from you please of what things I must have been "doing wrong". All connectors went where they should and how they should. Supply was rated for load applied, easily. What else can be done wrong exactly?
Sorry if I am not nice about this, but I don't want people like the OP getting advice that could be potentially adverse to his best interests.
Have you had any parts at all fail on you in the last 4 years, say? How do you know it wasn't due to, say, too high a ripple wave from the supply?
People aren't irrationally obsessed, people are protecting their large investment in computer hardware. It's important just like surge protection is, though more effective. -- Join Teams Helix and Discovery. Put that fancy computer to good use helping to find a cure, your mom will love you for it. »Team Helix »Team Discovery | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  dynodb Premium,VIP join:2004-04-21 Minneapolis, MN
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine I don't know what you're doing (bad UPS perhaps?), but if you had four PSU failures in anything less than a 5 year timeframe- yeah, you're doing something wrong. They're just not that prone to failure, with the possible exception of the cooling fan. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |   signmeuptoo Folding and Crunching Not just Breakfast Premium join:2001-11-22 LOSTinSpace clubs: 
·Future Nine Corpor..
·AT&T Southeast
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine You still don't name what I could be doing wrong. No, I don't have a UPS, and can't afford one, I have a surge protector.
Yes, some supplies ARE prone to failure, you evidently don't follow forums enough.
For example, there were huge problems with Enermax Liberty and Infiniti supplies, one of which failed on me. The same was true of the Antec True Power II, they had crappy capacitors. The one they sent me for replacement was obviously not new and could have easily been shipped defective since it immediately failed. The Allied, no accident there: Rate for 400 watts but can only support about 150 watts if NEW.
I defy you to find a positive review on an Allied power supply from a professional, technically trained and supplied SMPS review site.
I am bewildered, what exactly could someone be doing wrong who has a degree in electronics? I didn't want to bring up my schooling, but you assume, wrongly, that I am an idiot. Seriously, give me some technical explanations of what I could have been "doing wrong"? -- Join Teams Helix and Discovery. Put that fancy computer to good use helping to find a cure, your mom will love you for it. »Team Helix »Team Discovery | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  dynodb Premium,VIP join:2004-04-21 Minneapolis, MN
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine I'm not calling you an idiot, nor am I going to play a guessing game as to why you had PSU failure rates that are so outside the norm. Too small? Too hot? Low input VAC? I could only guess. Any component can fail, but compared to (for instance) video cards, PSU's don't fail very often.
The point is- and directed more towards the poster who suggested that spending $100-$130 on a PSU was too little- is that power supplies are pretty simple and reliable overall. There's no need for an expensive unit with wattage ratings that far exceeds manufacturer recommendations.
Yes, do your research, and don't get the cheapest POS you can find- but just as you don't need Z-rated tires on a car that'll only go 110 mph, you don't need to spend a lot of money on such a simple, low-tech component for a typical build. If you spent more than $100, you probably spent too much. | |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |   DaMaGeINC The Lan Man Premium join:2002-06-08 Greenville, SC clubs: | Sounds like something is messed up in your area. The lines, transformers, something.......... | |
|  |  |   Reck Havoc Premium join:2002-07-31 Grand Rapids, MI
| said by ztmike :said by Somnambul33t :$100-130 for psu I'm going to have to disagree with you there..the psu is the most important part of a computer. Go with a name brand and have enough juice left over. Corsair is a good brand to go with, and go Modular if you want to save space for airflow. This coming from the guy that plugged his computer fan in while his computer was running. | |
|  |  |  |   DaMaGeINC The Lan Man Premium join:2002-06-08 Greenville, SC clubs: | Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine So. Whats wrong with that? Its not like pluging in a hard-drive or a video card. | |
|  |   Anonymous_ Anonymous Premium join:2004-06-21 127.0.0.1 clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
·Time Warner Cable
·Time Warner VOIP
3 edits | said by Somnambul33t :i7 920 whatever ddr3 ram you want, any amt, either dual or tri channel gtx295 or dual hd4890's $100-130 for psu $200-250 for x58 mobo killer nic definitely not worth it unless you play MMOs like a job on the road with a netbook, not gonna do a full workup just stay away from from OCZ as they will try to rip you off when RMA time comes
the first time was with RAM
the rma was for 2 sets( 2 sets x 2/512MB)
but they only sent one set back
2th time was for a power supply i send it in and ended up with a crapper one (send in high END model(with lots features) payed 200$) ended up with lowest end model (featureless) (that cost less then 50$) | |
|   signmeuptoo Folding and Crunching Not just Breakfast Premium join:2001-11-22 LOSTinSpace clubs: 
·Future Nine Corpor..
·AT&T Southeast
| Fair enough. I agree that it isn't necessary for a build with a medium or low end video card, mainboard, and 1 or 2 HDs to get a 750 watt unit.
And for a cheap build neither would I put a high end supply, no, rather use what the build calls for.
As far as the causes for failure, I've named them already but I will admit that my room gets very hot in the summer, but three of the supplies WERE rated for 40 degrees C or higher.
I already verified that the VAC, or what you call "low input VAC" was a non issue. I think you meant too low a voltage, but 3 of the supplies were active PFC rated down to easily 100VAC. Too small? My build was a mainboard, socket 939 processor, 2 HDs, a 7950GT, optical drive, and a sound card. Hardly too much for a 430 watt rated unit, and less so for a 720 watt rated unit.
Like I say, I named the reasons they failed. I think if you only go to newegg and read the supply reviews there you will see, from the cheap units, enough of the DOA and early death units in the customer comments.
I don't want to quibble past this, because its simply shades of gray where you and I are different. -- Join Teams Helix and Discovery. Put that fancy computer to good use helping to find a cure, your mom will love you for it. »Team Helix »Team Discovery | |
|  |  |  |  Pariah666
join:2009-04-27 Lewistown, PA
| I am also building a new desktop. I however am going the other direction and going with the AMD Phenom II X4 Black 3.2GHz CPU. This will be my first time straying from Intel but I have been doing a lot of reading and you just can't beat the AMD for the price. As far as power supplies I am going with either a Thermaltake 850w or a Cooler Master 900w. Liquid cooling as well since I plan to OC my processor a smidge. | |
|  |  |  |  |  Pariah666
join:2009-04-27 Lewistown, PA
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine Here are the specs of what I am going to build...
CPU-AMD Phenom II X4 Black 3.2GHz CPU MoBo-MSI 790FX GD70 AM3 DDR3 1666 XFire Chipset Vid Cards- 2 ea Radeon HD 4890 1GB DDR5 HDD- 300GB WD Velociraptor 10,000RPM 2nd HDD-Possibly another Velociraptor configured to RAID 0, or a 1TB drive just for storage. RAM- G.Skill Perfect Storm 6GB(3 x 2GB) DDR3 CD Drive 1- Sony Optiarc BC-5100S Blu-Ray player DVDRW Combo 2nd CD- LG 20x Dual Layer Cooling(Liquid)- INX 720BK-V2 Cooling System (Koolance.com) Case- Thermaltake Armor
Power supply is still up in the air I guess! | |
|  |  |  |   Don69Fire Premium join:2006-12-28 Danville, WV
| Re: $1,500.00 to build a machine that looks like a pretty good system. can you post your finished specs when you get it all done and a price list and from who you purchased it from.
i already bought the same case. it is an awsome looking case. which one are you looking at in that seeries anyway??? | |
|   Krisnatharok 0311 Scout Premium join:2009-02-11 Sterling, VA | Have you built it yet? What'd you go with? | |
|  Pariah666
join:2009-04-27 Lewistown, PA
| I have not built it yet. I am going to hold off until I get home in 3 months since you never know what will come out between now and then. Chances are it will remain the same unless a new GPU comes out...even then I don't think it will really make much of a difference. The prices I am looking at now are as follows.
CPU-AMD Phenom II X4 Black 3.2GHz CPU - $245 MoBo-MSI 790FX GD70 AM3 DDR3 1666 XFire Chipset - $180 Vid Cards- 2 ea Radeon HD 4890 1GB DDR5 - $440 HDD- 300GB WD Velociraptor 10,000RPM - $230 2nd HDD-Same as above configured to RAID 0 - $230 RAM- G.Skill Perfect Storm 6GB(3 x 2GB) DDR3 - $200 CD Drive 1- Sony Optiarc BC-5100S Blu-Ray player DVDRW Combo - $90 2nd CD- LG 20x Dual Layer - $26 Case- Thermaltake ArmorPlus(Armor+) VH6000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - $185
When all is said and done it will be $1826. That is minus the cooling system. I am still looking into that further and doing a bit more research but I figure it will be about $500. So maybe around $2300 for the whole build. All the prices are from Newegg.com. Once I actually get it built I will throw a new thread up and let you know how it runs....expect about a 4 month wait though  | |
|  cableguy619
join:2003-06-24 Chula Vista, CA
| I'd suggest gettign a PSU that will allow you to upgrade later if you plan to expand? Why pay 120 today if you decide to go with 2 295's or what ever and need mor epower. Now you have to go buy a 1000w plus and another 250-300 plus. Get it right the 1st time ti will eb cheaper .. | |
|   WutanG Premium join:2001-12-12 Seaford, DE clubs:
2 edits | This should give you an idea on recommended PSU wattage for your build.But always remember its not the watts that are most important here,its the amps per rail. Less than 17 amps on the 12 volt rail is garbage IMO.
»www.extreme.outervision.com/psuc···lite.jsp take this and add 30-50% and your golden i think. -- Let me tell you what Melba Toast is packin' right here, all right. We got 4:11 Positrac outback, 750 double pumper, Edelbrock intake, bored over 30, 11 to 1 pop-up pistons, turbo-jet 390 horsepower. We're talkin' some fuckin' muscle. -Wooderson | |
|  Gonzo1970
join:2009-08-03 Belleville, IL | Prices have come down quite a bit recently..
Have you looked at the Dark Side (Intel) yet? Seems they're the best bang for the buck now.. | |
|  | |  |
|