Building a computer

[kureshii]

How timely; Tom’s Hardware just released an updated $1000 builder article.

Their recommendations: i5-2500K, P67, 2x2GB RAM, Radeon HD6950.
Generally sensible for the most part. You may want to put more money into some components at the expense of others, depending on your computing needs.

[Proin Drakenzol]

How timely; Tom’s Hardware just released an updated $1000 builder article.

Their recommendations: i5-2500K, P67, 2x2GB RAM, Radeon HD6950.
Generally sensible for the most part. You may want to put more money into some components at the expense of others, depending on your computing needs.

Some of their choices seem odd to me. Gigabyte? Really? And ASRock? G.Skill is alright, but why not Corsair XMS?

Meh.

[vuzedome]

G.Skill is definitely sensible, given the budget.

[Freedom Kira]

Looking for one of these? ;x (i5 version ofc)

Basically, yeah, but i5 version, yes. In particular I wanted either the 2400S or 2500S. I swear the 2500S is nonexistent, and the 2400S starting to go extinct. I looked everywhere for an online store that had it and shipped to Canada without ridiculous extra fees (ahem, Amazon). In particular, I don't understand why it's available on Newegg.com and not on Newegg.ca, because the stuff I just bought yesterday shipped from LA. Customer support didn't know why either. It was even available a week or so ago.

Some of their choices seem odd to me. Gigabyte? Really? And ASRock? G.Skill is alright, but why not Corsair XMS?

Meh.

AFAIK all of those are pretty good brands. What were you expecting? Or why did you think they were odd?

G.Skill also has the lowest CAS latency 2GB DDR3 sticks available on Newegg.

[Proin Drakenzol]

Some of their choices seem odd to me. Gigabyte? Really? And ASRock? G.Skill is alright, but why not Corsair XMS?

Meh.

AFAIK all of those are pretty good brands. What were you expecting? Or why did you think they were odd?

G.Skill also has the lowest CAS latency 2GB DDR3 sticks available on Newegg.

IMO, Gigabyte and ASRock are ungood. I've had and seen plenty of others with major problems. They were also high-return brands (across the board) when I worked at Fry's Electronics.

You answered my question about G.Skill (as I said, not bad, I've always just preferred Corsair XMS, but if it has lower latency then it makes sense).

[Freedom Kira]

I dunno, Gigabyte has a good impression on me, and Asrock is pretty new to me but it's a spinoff of ASUS so...

I've seen some bad Gigabytes, too. It depends on the board model - they're usually collectively good or collectively bad from what I've seen.

[Tatsujin]

G.Skill is definitely sensible, given the budget.

G.Skill is amazing. Corsair if you want to spend extra cash. I'm a G.Skill fan to be honest for their price and quality of their items.

[Lupin]

sry, well, the reason i couldnt buy outside of my country is because the local tax stuffs a 50% increase, so you buy a 60$ you pay 90$ excluding shipping fees.

and about the overclocknig issue, yea true you could still overclock the non-K but theres a limit, unlike the old series you could bump it till it breaks or you hit a wall xD and my local shops are demons, DEMONS i tell you! they're selling 30% more if you compare it to newegg's list. too bad newegg doesnt ship to asia =P and my tax... shitty government!

Uh yeah you are either:
1. looking at the wrong stores
2. doing it wrong

edit: ohh yea... i just checked my local shop's the other day and from 200$ i5 2500 it bumped to 220$... sheesh talk about greed.

I can get that processor around the same price as listed newegg price in one of the local stores (I don't have to pay taxes, shipping and since it's walking distance )

[kureshii]

Officially, AM3 CPUs can be used in AM3+ mobos, but not the other way round (i.e. AM3+ CPUs are not guaranteed to work in AM3 mobos). However, Asus has already declared that some of their AM3 boards can take AM3+ CPUs, so take what you will out of that...

Which was why I suggested of buying Thuban-based Phenom II. You can then upgrade to an AM3+ board (AM3 CPU & AM3+ board) then upgrade the processor (AM3+ CPU & AM3+ board)

Heh, seems the situation just got really bizarre.

Some pics of AM3 and AM3+ socket shown here:
http://hothardware.com/News/Mud-In-The-Water-Asus-Claims-Existing-Boards-AM3-Compatible/

Apparently Asus Crosshair IV Extreme boards don’t actually have AM3+ socket, so I wonder how builders are going to slot Bulldozer in. I wonder if there’re any boards currently out there which actually have the AM3+ socket. Unless AMD decides to really confuse things and release Zambezi (Bulldozer) for both AM3 and AM3+...

[edit] This kind of reminds me of a certain someone who tried to force an AM3 CPU into an AM2+ motherboard... (first post probably got edited to hide his fail). Think we’ll see a redux of this with Bulldozer’s release?

[Natheria]

Such a classic. 

[kureshii]

And now, some updates on AM3+ support from MSI:

http://us.msi.com/index.php?func=newsdesc&news_no=939

[edit]

http://www.amdzone.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=532&t=138432

Stance from an AMD engineer. Oh AMD, we just *love* how clear you are on backward compatibility for Bulldozer. And isn’t it great that we already know *so much* about your proces—oh wait, we don’t ._.