Building a computer

Necrosis

Necrosis

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Hey guys, sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I'm currently browsing around for parts to build a computer (never done this before) and based on suggestions from a friend, got a general idea of what I'm getting. I'm about $200 over where I'd like to be budget-wise, though, so I'd appreciate if I could get some suggestions to that effect. Improvements would be nice, too.

Here's what I have:
-Intel E8500 (Wolfdale) processor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036)
-ASUS Rampage II Extreme X58 mobo (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131352&Tpk=rampage ii extreme)
-6GB Corsair DDR3 1333 RAM (PC3 10666) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145220)
-Diamond radeon HD 4870x2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103066)
-Antec 1000W power supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371012&Tpk=antec truepower quattro)
-some $80 lian li case and other assorted shit

1. Is 1000W necessary with this setup? 750W supplies are a lot cheaper.
2. What's the difference between the mobo I listed and this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359?
3. Which version of the 4870x2 should I go with? I noticed the company's version of the 4870x2 I listed got pretty bad reviews for defective cards.

thanks in advance.
 
You need six RAM slots? You could probably find a cheaper one with 2-4, so you'd still be able to use your 6GB of RAM. Although I think that's still a little overkill for RAM as it is. I haven't had any RAM issues with 2GB on vista, and I haven't noticed any improvement upgrading to 3GB.
 
If he does some CS3/4 or Cad he would notice somewhat. Maybe not on CAD but likely with something like CS3/4.
 
You don't need 1000 watt power supply, nor do you need 6 gigs of RAM, both seem a bit overkill. If that's what you want to do though do it, but it you want to save some money I suggest going down a bit. I have a 550w power supply with 4 gigs of RAM and am running a GeForce 9800 GT without any problems.

If you want to get a cheaper motherboard by all means, do it. You don't need a motherboard that expensive. You can find one just as good for half the price, if not cheaper. I didn't really look through the list of suggested motherboards real closely, but I know you can find something cheaper that is going to be similar to what you want.

To sum up what I am basically saying, you don't have to buy top of the line $300 motherboards and processors to have a great computer, I built mine with $1200 and got a new processor, motherboard, video card and monitor in the past two years and spent under $500 for all of it and my computer, I would say, is still a great gaming and all around computer. It may not be 'top of the line' great, but it's pretty damn close.
 
Thanks for the input, dudes. I figured 6GB of ram was kind of overkill, but it was fairly cheap; I downgraded to 4 though, so saved some money there. I'm buying a 750W power supply instead of the significantly more expensive 1000W. Small change though, I meant the rampage extreme (x48), the x58 is only compatible with i7 processors.

Additionally, does anyone have suggestions for a decent-sized (idk, 20-22+") that has at least 1080p resolution or whatever the standard is these days?
 
Where you planning on running a 32bit or 64bit OS?
 
Remember that 32-bit is limited to 4GB of address space. Even in your current configuration you are going to be up against that barrier. If and when you decide to move to 64-bit at that time consider going back to a 6GB configuration.

Going back to your OP, Question 3. I have a Sapphire 4870 (non x2) that I am very pleased with and have had no problems with, they also offer an x2 model. A good friend of mine is running the VisionTek 4870x2 and is also pleased and had no problems with it. Well expect when he found out he could have gotten the Sapphire cheaper. The one thing I recommend is once you pick the manufacturer you want. Find out for sure which power connectors it needs and make sure your power supply has them.

I can't recommend a good HD monitor, mine is not there yet and I'm not pleased with the monitors I have had.
 
I have a fairly good 20" LG monitor, it doesn't do 1080p, but I'm enjoying it. You're going to have to get at least a 23-24" monitor to get 1080p out of it, and you might want to look at the Samsung monitor that can do the 3D display. I've been trying to find one where I can check it out, but none of the stores in my area have one for me to see.
 
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