DIY Computer Parts. Where to get

• GGINS

  1 May 10, 17:11

  Okay so hi guys. I've been considering a pc upgrade recently. I browsed through HP's online store and configured a pretty good system(at least in my point of view)

  Specs: 

  Intel Core i5-750

  8GB DDR3

  1TB HDD

  Ati radeon HD 5770

  Win7 Home Premium

  Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio.

  Total costs are at $1379 but i got an $300 Buck rebate so at $1079 instead. So now i'm wondering is i should get this system or should i go buy those parts and build it myself. And if i'm building it myself, do you guys think getting them online is better or at sls? thanks:) btw got what shops sell graphic cards at good prices ah?

• Raraken

  1 May 10, 17:51

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  Okay so hi guys. I've been considering a pc upgrade recently. I browsed through HP's online store and configured a pretty good system(at least in my point of view)

  Specs: 

  Intel Core i5-750

  8GB DDR3

  1TB HDD

  Ati radeon HD 5770

  Win7 Home Premium

  Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio.

  Total costs are at $1379 but i got an $300 Buck rebate so at $1079 instead. So now i'm wondering is i should get this system or should i go buy those parts and build it myself. And if i'm building it myself, do you guys think getting them online is better or at sls? thanks:) btw got what shops sell graphic cards at good prices ah?

  Everything included?

  DVD drive, casing etc.? If yes, that's a good deal. Go for it.

• GGINS

  1 May 10, 22:15

  yup lightscribe dvd 16x. and a 15-in-one card reader with norton 15 month. 

• caleb_chiang

  1 May 10, 22:31

  Well, if you are confident of setting up, installing and configuring on your own, head down to sim lim square after doing some research on the pricing and the items you want. Make comparison by yourself just in case you pay for something that you dun want in the first place.

• Raraken

  1 May 10, 22:59

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  yup lightscribe dvd 16x. and a 15-in-one card reader with norton 15 month. 

  Then that's a pretty good deal. Comes with HP warranty right? Only issue is warranty length. Usually it's only 1 year. For DIY most parts come with at least 2 years warranty. Upgradability also is an issue, since you can't swap out parts without voiding warranty.

• GGINS

  1 May 10, 23:01

  hey guys i've got another option: i can forget about the 5770 and get the radeon hd 5450 instead, then save up and buy radeon hd 5870 or hd 5970. What are the price ranges for these cards? Do you guys think it's a good idea? And i heard the 2 cards are the best on th market. How's the gtx 480 compared to them? Is the 480 better or not as good? Thanks:)
• Raraken

  1 May 10, 23:13

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  hey guys i’ve got another option: i can forget about the 5770 and get the radeon hd 5450 instead, then save up and buy radeon hd 5870 or hd 5970. What are the price ranges for these cards? Do you guys think it’s a good idea? And i heard the 2 cards are the best on th market. How’s the gtx 480 compared to them? Is the 480 better or not as good? Thanks

  In that case, screw it. Get DIY, since if you're gonna get the 5450, and then upgrade to the 5870 on your own, you'll void the warranty. And you need a new PSU, since they won't put in a PSU powerful enough.

   

  And just get the 5850. Or 5970. Skip the 5870, a waste of cash if you ask me.

   

  DON'T GET THE GTX480. It runs like a Ferrari. Sure, it's fast. Faster than the 5870. But it runs hot (Like, really hot), and is more expensive. And inefficient too. 

• GGINS

  1 May 10, 23:44

  oh okay. Then if diy how powerful should the psu be? 700 watts should do? Or need larger ones? Anyway any good mid to full tower cases to recommend? Is lian li cases good?
• Raraken

  2 May 10, 00:12

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  oh okay. Then if diy how powerful should the psu be? 700 watts should do? Or need larger ones? Anyway any good mid to full tower cases to recommend? Is lian li cases good?

  Single GPU? 600W FROM A REPUTABLE BRAND is fine. Me recommend Seasonic M12II 620W. 520W is possible depending on GPU in question.

   

  Lian Li? Premium stuff. If got money, go ahead.

• SBS7484P

  2 May 10, 11:55

  I'll recommend you a system.

  AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE + Asus M4A785T-M = $442
  Team Elite 2x 2GB DDR3-1333 Kit RAM = $172
  Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA = $74
  Sapphire HD5770 1GB = $245
  Andyson F650 650W PSU = $119
  CoolerMaster 341 mATX Casing: $59
  LG DVD Writer = $34
  Multi Card Reader 3.5" Internal = $15 (from any random shop)

   

  Others:
  Add extra $10 to upgrade from mATX CoolerMaster 341 to ATX midtower CoolerMaster 310 w/ side window
  
  Cooling:
  Case fans: CoolerMaster Elite 341 can accomodate 4x 120mm case fans. $44 for 4x CoolerMaster R4 LED 120mm fan (from CyberActive)
  OR
  AVC F1225B12V high performance 120mm fan, 4x for $52 @ Sim Lim Tower L1 ASK Electronics

  CPU Cooler:
  CoolerMaster Hyper TX3 (for CM 341 mATX casing), add $39. Pay additional $15 to upgrade the stock CM TX3 92mm fan to AVC Hydraulic Bearing 92mm high perfomance, from UVnium. As this cooler supports dual-fan push pull, you may consider investing in a matched pair of AVC 92mm fans to achieve push-pull configuration.

  OR

  CoolerMaster Hyper 212+ (FOR ELITE 310 ONLY, ELITE 341 CANNOT FIT), add $59. AVC F1225B12V fan can also be used on this cooler. This cooler support push-pull fan mounting also, so you may want to purchase a matched pair of AVC F1225B12V fan, or purchase a 120mm CoolerMaster BladeMaster 120 fan to match the original Hyper 212 fan in push-pull.

   

   

   

  Other Items:
  Add anywhere $150 and above for LCD screen starting from 18.5"
  Add $158 for a copy of single use, OEM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

• GGINS

  2 May 10, 19:53

  ah thanks:) hmmm is it possible to get all from sim lim square? Btw does newegg deliver/ship stuff to singapore? May wanna order online:)
• Raraken

  2 May 10, 20:57

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  ah thanks hmmm is it possible to get all from sim lim square? Btw does newegg deliver/ship stuff to singapore? May wanna order online

  If you order from Newegg, do note that if shit happens, you will have to ship it back.Use VPost to ship it to SG.

   

  All the above? Yes, can be found in SLS.

• SBS7484P

  2 May 10, 21:20

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  ah thanks hmmm is it possible to get all from sim lim square? Btw does newegg deliver/ship stuff to singapore? May wanna order online

  
  All the above can be found in SLS.

  UVnium sells a variant of the AVC F1225B12V called the AVC E1225B12H.

  Basically the same thing except that the E has 0.02A less current draw, and as such is very slightly weaker.

  If you do not wish to walk to SLT to get the fans, by all means you may purchase the E's from UVnium, but do note that while the F's at SLT cost $13 each, the E's cost $15 each.

• GGINS

  2 May 10, 23:20

  hmmm. I'm sorry but wat's vpost and uvnium? Issit a website similiar to newegg? Eh am i correct in saying that the phenom II X4 965 is not are powerful as compared to the core i5-750? Cause i don't think it has turbo boost and all those stuff right? Btw is the 700 watt power supply included with the coolermaster sniper storm good quality? Hahas if i don't overclock will the stock fans be enough?
• GGINS

  2 May 10, 23:35

  eh sorry should be cooler master haf 932 case not sniper storm:D
• Raraken

  3 May 10, 00:58

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  hmmm. I’m sorry but wat’s vpost and uvnium? Issit a website similiar to newegg?
  Eh am i correct in saying that the phenom II X4 965 is not are powerful as compared to the core i5-750? Cause i don’t think it has turbo boost and all those stuff right? Btw is the 700 watt power supply included with the coolermaster sniper storm good quality? Hahas if i don’t overclock will the stock fans be enough?

  VPost: Singpost's courier service to help you ship stuff to SG for cheap. Borderlinx also can.

  The 965, sure not as powerful. But it's cheaper. And future-proof, seeing as AMD has plans for AM3 in the future. Socket 1156? Nah. Intel gonna abandon LGA1156 when their new CPUs come out later next year.700W PSU? If it's the UCP700W, its a decent PSU. If it comes free with the casing why not. But I never really heard of HAF932 with PSU bundle.

  Stock fans more than enough. You want overclock? Depending on how far and what cooler, probably still enough.

   

  Shops to buy from?

  Best Price, myNextcom (Quite a friendly uncle) and Bell Systems on 5th floor

  Cybermind and VideoPro on 4th floor. Bought most of my rig from these 2 shops.

• GGINS

  3 May 10, 01:14

  hmmm sorry about that. Anyway do you think socket 1366 can last longer? Btw do you mind if you post your desktop specs? I wanna reference it:) it's okay if you don't want to. How long can the 965 probably last? 2 years or so? Do any of those shops sell bundled deals? The coolermaster case bundle was from newegg i think. 230 plus bucks.
• GGINS

  3 May 10, 02:08

  oh and are AMD's 6 core thubans available at sls? Are they good vs the i7-860 or teh i7-900 series? Roughly how much does it costs? 200 bucks?
• TIB1051D

  3 May 10, 07:41

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  oh and are AMD’s 6 core thubans available at sls? Are they good vs the i7-860 or teh i7-900 series? Roughly how much does it costs? 200 bucks?

  the Phenom II X6 1055T is available @ CyberMind, at $310 for the CPU alone.

• SBS7484P

  3 May 10, 08:18

  X6 is available for purchase now. You could go 1366, but let me tell you, it's going to be quite expensive.

• GGINS

  3 May 10, 11:52

  okay, seems okay to me. What motherboards are best suitable for the x6? Am3 series 8 ones? How much does one that can support crossfire cost? Does the core i5-750 cost more or lesser than the x6? Thanks:)
• Raraken

  3 May 10, 13:13

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  okay, seems okay to me. What motherboards are best suitable for the x6? Am3 series 8 ones? How much does one that can support crossfire cost? Does the core i5-750 cost more or lesser than the x6? Thanks

  Best is 890GX based boards. The X6 and 750 should cost about the same, though the X6 is better at multitasking and multithreaded apps.

  890GX-based boards won't be that expensive. $200? They come with SATA 6GBit native support.

   

  My rig?

  AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 4GHz (Yep, broke the damn barrier again) with Xigmatek RS-1283

  MSI 785G-E53 

  4GB Team Xtreem kit

  Overclocked X1900XT with Battle Axe cooler

   

• GGINS

  3 May 10, 13:29

  oh. In terms of gaming and level design is the x6 faster than i5? Are those new 890 boards readily available in sls or only got a few shops sell?
• Raraken

  3 May 10, 15:36

  Originally posted by GGINS:

  oh. In terms of gaming and level design is the x6 faster than i5? Are those new 890 boards readily available in sls or only got a few shops sell?

  890-based boards are in SLS, though in short supply right now for the higher-end models.

   

  X6 is better at design, programming and rendering stuffs. i5 is slightly better at gaming due to most games being optimized for Intel and also their Turbo Boost.

• GGINS

  3 May 10, 16:28

  hmmm. Does asus make these boards? Can you recommend a model not more than 240 that supports crossfire?