Planned build for cata

[jstanthr]

I also use one main install, and symlinks for most of the guts and copy it 4 times. a while back i found an awesome app that someone posted about here, it puts the symlink stuff in the right click context menu, it really makes it easy to do symlinks and all that jazz, its called Link Shell Extension, it works with every OS i've had and it saves a ton of time, a bit off topic i know, but i thought id throw it out there.

[Knytestorme]

Ok, wil change up the SSD based on that.

In terms of the Naga I'm interested in trying it out and if it doesn't suit me I'll go back to my G9. I just figure that it, in conjunction with my G13 and the G-keys on the G19 wil mean I don't need to do anything on the keyboard at all apart from possibly slave movements.

The tv tuner card isn't for capture, it's purely for use with windows media center or having the cricket on another screen during summer as I play but yeah, I'm not married to it and if I can find a cheaper dual tuner at the time I'll go for it.

Cases are an issue and I keep switching between that aerocool or an antec (and some others thrown around as well) so I don't think I'll be locked into a case decision until the moment I hand over the cash

Thanks for the advice guys, most of it is really useful but sadly recommendations on where to buy or cheaper prices aren't much good to me as I'm in australia and most of those have been in the US

[Pycno]

Got tax sorted and have locked down the build I want to get in the next few weeks to get prepared for boxing come cata launch so thought I'd post here to get any final feedback on it

Only thing missing from this list is a G13, 5770 (for crossfire) and 24" monitor that I'll use from my current setup as I retire that Q6600 to fileserver status.

MSI ATI Radeon HD5770 1GB OC $199.00
LG BH10LS30 10x Internal Blu-ray Disc Rewriter $199.00
ASUS PCE-N13 802.11 Wireless N PCI-Express Adapter $45.00
Leadtek WinFast DTV2000DS Dual HD Tuner $82.00
Scythe Kama Reader 2 Black $29.00
BenQ G2420HD 24 Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor $229.00
CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Plus 650W $95.00
AsRock 890FX Deluxe3 $209.00
Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard $149.00
Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse $109.00
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX x 1 $119.00
Corsair VS2GB1333D3 2GB (1x2GB) DDR3 x 4 $236.00
Aerocool Vx-e Pro Limited Edition Case $135.00
Lian Li 140mm Red LED Fan CF-1412R $18.00
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T $239.00
Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60GB SSD $259.00
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 $86.00

Sub-Total: $2437.00

The logitech keyboards has problems with ghosting and I wouldnt recommend it for anything really.

The keyboards below have NKRO and mechanical key switches, I would get a Majestouch - or a Deck keyboard if you need backlighting. The Deck keyboard has individual LEDs for every key and the print doesnt suffer from wear or tear. You will not notice any ghosting on these keyboards (as long as you use PS/2 connector and not USB) as you can hold every single button down at the same time.
http://elitekeyboards.com/products.p...pid=fkbn104meb
http://www.deckkeyboards.com/product...products_id=52

You can get a much better computer for a lower budget if you want to.
Replace the fans and cooling with stock cooling from the cpu and a cheap case and you can upgrade the 5770 to a 5870 card and gain massive performance increase.

My CPU usage in dalaran is at around 30% but my GPU usage is at 90-100%, I wish I had bought a better gfx solution..

[Sajuuk]

You'd probably be better waiting for Intel's Sandy Bridge chips or going with an X58 board. You'll gain access to more RAM, and an incredibly solid processor in the i7 920. I don't see anything wrong with the Phenom II x6, just saying the i7 CPU is great. And if you want to you can spring for the 980x and get six cores with hyperthreading.

Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard $149.00
Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse $109.00

^Those are not needed in my opinion and just add bloat to your price.What's wrong with your current Keyboard/mouse? If they're going with the Q6600 to be a file server just run it without and remote in when you need to do stuff.

Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60GB SSD $259.00

A 32GB OCZ SOLID (the value drive) will work just fine, and is much less expensive.

LG BH10LS30 10x Internal Blu-ray Disc Rewriter $199.00
ASUS PCE-N13 802.11 Wireless N PCI-Express Adapter $45.00
Leadtek WinFast DTV2000DS Dual HD Tuner $82.00
Scythe Kama Reader 2 Black $29.00
BenQ G2420HD 24 Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor $229.00

Bloat - that is, unless you actually burn blu-rays and don't already have one.
Bloat - wireless is crap for gaming. Run some wires around. This is a desktop computer, I don't expect to see it be very mobile.
Semi-bloat - do you currently use one? Yes? Move it to your new computer unless your soon to be file server is also doubling as a HTPC and needs it, in which case have at it.
Bloat. - do you really need a memory card reader? I could see you use it for a camera or such, but many cameras use mini-USB/USB cables to interface with your computer. Unless you really NEED it I'd say go without. And if you NEED one you probably already have one and can move it over.
Semi-bloat. - Use your current monitor and just run the file server sans monitor/keyboard/mouse. That is unless you really feel like you want another monitor.

MSI ATI Radeon HD5770 1GB OC $199.00

You were going to crossfire these, right?

If you weren't consider a 5850 (+~100$) or (god forgive me) a GTX 460 from nvidia. It's a little more, but a bang for buck from nvidia (finally).

CoolerMaster eXtreme Power Plus 650W $95.00

Don't skimp on your PSU (not saying you are), but power efficieny is important. Make sure it can provide adequate power for what you want, and account for future expansion.

Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX x 1 $119.00
Aerocool Vx-e Pro Limited Edition Case $135.00

Consider getting a 1.5/2tb drive as well. You'll want some more storage for that file server of yours!
That case is BUTT UGLY. JET ENGINE WOOOOOO. This line subjective.

Noctua NH-U12P SE2 $86.00

Planning on overclocking? Sweet have fun. If not, well it's still fine. Allows you to have more headway if you choose to overclock in the future.

[Knytestorme]

You'd probably be better waiting for Intel's Sandy Bridge chips or going with an X58 board. You'll gain access to more RAM, and an incredibly solid processor in the i7 920. I don't see anything wrong with the Phenom II x6, just saying the i7 CPU is great. And if you want to you can spring for the 980x and get six cores with hyperthreading.

Yeah, I'm really torn on a 1366 chip or the x6 but I think this build will get an x6 for the time being.

^Those are not needed in my opinion and just add bloat to your price.What's wrong with your current Keyboard/mouse? If they're going with the Q6600 to be a file server just run it without and remote in when you need to do stuff.

Yeah they are needed. Currently have a Gen1 G15 and G9 mouse, they will be repurposed for something else so I need a new mouse and keyboard and I really just want those

A 32GB OCZ SOLID (the value drive) will work just fine, and is much less expensive.

Will go with the 60Gb OCZ, is only $10 more than the Mushkin and ensures I have enough room for WoW and also my poker tools

Bloat - that is, unless you actually burn blu-rays and don't already have one.
Bloat - wireless is crap for gaming. Run some wires around. This is a desktop computer, I don't expect to see it be very mobile.
Semi-bloat - do you currently use one? Yes? Move it to your new computer unless your soon to be file server is also doubling as a HTPC and needs it, in which case have at it.
Bloat. - do you really need a memory card reader? I could see you use it for a camera or such, but many cameras use mini-USB/USB cables to interface with your computer. Unless you really NEED it I'd say go without. And if you NEED one you probably already have one and can move it over.
Semi-bloat. - Use your current monitor and just run the file server sans monitor/keyboard/mouse. That is unless you really feel like you want another monitor.

Pretty much all subjective and has no bearing on the price of the build as this isn't purely a build for multiboxing so I have to add in other items I feel I need. In terms of the monitor why would I not want to be running at least 2 monitors, no idea how you cound a monitor as bloat.

You were going to crossfire these, right?

If you weren't consider a 5850 (+~100$) or (god forgive me) a GTX 460 from nvidia. It's a little more, but a bang for buck from nvidia (finally).

Yeah, that one will be added to one I have in a box atm for crossfire

Don't skimp on your PSU (not saying you are), but power efficieny is important. Make sure it can provide adequate power for what you want, and account for future expansion.

Yeah, I have done the calculations and am topping out at 458W needed for future so I think having 200W overhead should cover peak load requirements.

Consider getting a 1.5/2tb drive as well. You'll want some more storage for that file server of yours!

The machine that will get repurposed out to the tv as file/media server currently has 4Tb raid5 + 2 x 1Tb drives, it's in fine shape

For this machine I'm taking the HDD's out of the equation and using a 250Gb and 1TB drive I forgot are currently doing nothing.

That case is BUTT UGLY. JET ENGINE WOOOOOO. This line subjective.

Yep, purely subjective

Planning on overclocking? Sweet have fun. If not, well it's still fine. Allows you to have more headway if you choose to overclock in the future.

Yeah, from reports the 1055 and 1090 both overclock fairly easily to 4GHz on air. I'm not going to push them that far (maybe to 3.5-7) but having a better cooling solution is needed for both that and the temps it will hit during the summer here...especially given Cata should be released around the start of summer.

[Sajuuk]

Pretty much all subjective and has no bearing on the price of the build as this isn't purely a build for multiboxing so I have to add in other items I feel I need. In terms of the monitor why would I not want to be running at least 2 monitors, no idea how you cound a monitor as bloat.

Eh, I half-assumed you'd already be running two monitors or something. Either way, have fun with your build.

[Knytestorme]

Eh, I half-assumed you'd already be running two monitors or something. Either way, have fun with your build.

heheh Yeah, I am but it's only a 22" so figured I might as well take the time to get a second 24" of the same model I currently have. Occured to me yeterday too that I could get a display-port->DVI adapter and run the 22" as a 3rd monitor under eyefinity anyway so works out well.

[Sajuuk]

heheh Yeah, I am but it's only a 22" so figured I might as well take the time to get a second 24" of the same model I currently have. Occured to me yeterday too that I could get a display-port->DVI adapter and run the 22" as a 3rd monitor under eyefinity anyway so works out well.

That's only if you want to run it in an eyefinity group. If you don't want to then just plug it into the second 5770 and have fun!

[Knytestorme]

Well, final choices made and now just have to wait for the tax cheque to arrive. Few changes made but the intent of the system remains the same


CoolerMaster CM Storm Scout
In stock $119.00 $119.00

Scythe Katana 3 CPU Cooler
In stock $46.00 $46.00

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T
In stock $239.00 $239.00

CoolerMaster Silent Red LED Fan 120mm
In stock $15.00 $30.00

MSI ATI Radeon HD5770 1GB OC
In stock $199.00 $199.00

G.Skill Phoenix Pro 60GB SSD
In stock $249.00 $249.00

Logitech G19 Gaming Keyboard
In stock $149.00 $149.00

GeIL GV34GB1333C9DC 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3
In stock $115.00 $230.00

Razer Naga MMOG Laser Gaming Mouse
In stock $109.00 $109.00

BenQ G2420HD 24 Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor
In stock $229.00 $229.00

Gigabyte GA-890XA-UD3 Motherboard
In stock $195.00 $195.00

ASUS PCE-N13 802.11 Wireless N PCI-Express Adapter
In stock $45.00 $45.00

LG BH10LS30 10x Internal Blu-ray Disc Rewriter
In stock $199.00 $199.00

CoolerMaster GX 750W PSU
In stock $129.00 $129.00

Leadtek Winfast PxDTV1300 T PCIe
In stock $39.00 $39.00


Sub-Total: $2206.00

[Gurblash]

I hope you are planning on buying more than 4gb of ram. 8gb is the new "standard" for 5 boxing.