Saturday, August 21, 2010

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Comparing Basic Computer Builds: Intel or AMD?

So here we get to the heart of the matter, folks? Who do I want to go with: Intel or AMD? Its a tough choice in some regards and yet almost painfully easy in others. First off, Square Enix seems to be backing Intel and Nvidia. Their recommended specs for Final Fantasy XIV listed only a Core i7 processor and a GTX460 graphics card. However, this does not in any way mean that an AMD / ATI setup cannot / will not work. Without further ado, here are my samples for potential AMD and Intel builds. Note that I did not include a case in any of these as I still do not know what case I want. Lets see what is in the realm of feasibility ... and what clearly is not.

AMD:

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This seems like such a "phenom"inal value to me. That is one hell of a fast processor and if I really want to bump up to a hexa core rather then a quad core it is going to be a whopping $20. This setup, while it is still without a case, comes nowhere near my max budget and could possibly get an extra upgrade or two. Do I want 8gb of RAM? The XFX model 5870 that is on sale right now? An SSD as the drive that Windows 7 is installed on? An extremely flashy case like the Cooler Master Sniper Black AMD Dragon Edition?

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Oh the possabilities!

Intel:

There are three different chips that I could go with if I decide to buy an Intel computer. But as you will see not all of them are necessarily feasible.

i5 760:

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This computer is alright but if its not a little slower then the 965 then it is pretty much the same. Intel fans might tell you differently, but I have seen no arguements to back it up. It is a completely feasible option just like the AMD machine up at the top but since I am not quite as familiar with Intel I cannot properly gage its value.

i7 870:

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Here is where things start to get blurry. I know that an i7, whether it is a Lynnfield model like this one or a Bloomfield like the one below, has 4 physical cores and four virtual cores for a total of 8 logical cores. What I don't know is whether all of that imaginary processing power is really worth $340 here. The store I am going to does not seem to have the i7 860, which would have been $305 and made this all a little more feasible. If I really want to spend this much on a processor I could easily get the Phenom II x6 1090t for $320 when its *not* on sale as it is right now.

i7 930:

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Its the most advanced setup of them all, the i7 930. This is running on a 1336 socket motherboard and you can tell -- I'm paying for it. But that is the only way to go and even here I am likely skimping a little. This is enthusaist country we're entering; we have teetering away from the border of game machine land steadily here. I don't think I would be too keen to buy this machine as it offers me nothing new or special that I *need* in exchange for the funds that it is taking.

Anyway, those are my builds *before* I add a case. I still don't seem to know what kind of a case that I want to put my PC in yet. Anyway, I'll post this for now and do another post strictly about cases soon.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

July's Financial Calendar. I did good. ^.^

Ever since I started working on saving up for my new PC I have been making my own handmade finance calendars. What I am finding is that if I write down what I buy I actually think about how much I am spending and am not tempted by dumb impulse stuff. In the last 5 weeks I have saved $650 and I currently have $1,355 in my purse 7 days into August!!! I am truly amazed. So I'm going to start sharing the calendars and talk about what I think of them after each month. Plus it will show me stuff I did that month to boot. :)



So, where could I have improved? Well...

-- I have not touched the new Puzzle Quest since I bought it. I should have tested the demo more thoroughly before paying $20

-- The $20 for beer was a family expense so I am not really counting it against myself.

-- I never did really read that EGM magazine that I bought.

-- Notice how much pizza I had at the start of the month? That was before I started the calendar. :O

I will say this, though. My goal for July was $600. I saved $650. Despite any 20/20 hindsight complaints, I still did AWESOME! :D

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Computer Build Templating and Pricing...

A M D B U I L D T E M P L A T E S

In trying to figure out the easiest way to represent the different options that I have for designing my PC it has come to my attention that I tend to forget certain things. Therefore I have decided to place things into groups. I am listing Processor, motherboard, RAM and graphics as varying packages since they are the things most likely to be changed. I am listing hard drive, optical (DVD) drive, wireless card and Windows 7 as a group since they are most likely to stay the same. I am also listing power supply and case as their own grouping since they are the most likely thing that will have to be really decided "on location". At the end I will try to show some examples of completed packages.

C P U / M O T H E R B O A R D / R A M / G P U S E T U P S:

I have changed two variables consistantly in these examples: the processor and the graphics card. I could just as easily back down to 4GB of RAM for $110 - $130 and get 4 more later, I may also be able to find a motherboard that would suit my needs just as well that is less expensive -- GIGABYTE an 890gx model for $145 or Asus has an 890fx for $190, although I would prefer to stay away from this as I think I would value USB 3.0 more then I would 4 PCI-E (graphic card) slots.

I currently have 1333 DDR3 RAM chosen because that is the highest non-O.C. RAM type that the GIGABYTE board I am looking at will support. I would not want to buy RAM that would not work. If I have the wrong RAM listed I would certainly appreciate knowing this.

From the absolute cheapest model (1d) to the most expensive model (8a) there is a $395 price difference. Within each model family (1+2, 3+4, 5+6, 7+8 or "whatever processor is labelled") there is a $255 difference from the most expensive model (a -- 5870 edition) to the cheapest model (d, standard edition)

OPTION #1: Phenom II x4 955 3.2ghz

Option 1a:-- $920 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 1b:-- $865 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 1c:-- $830 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 1d:-- $765 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #2: Phenom II x4 965 3.2ghz 5870 Edition

Option 2a -- $1,020 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 2b -- $965 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 2c -- $930 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 2d -- $865 -- 3.2ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II 955 Black Edition 3.2ghz processor -- $180
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

OPTION #3: Phenom II x4 965 3.4ghz

Option 3a: $940 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 3b: $875 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 3c: $830 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 3d: $785 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #4: Phenom II x4 965 3.4ghz 5870 Edition

Option 4a: $1,040 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 4b: $975 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 4c: $970 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 4d: $885 -- 3.4ghz quad core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x4 965 Black Edition 3.4ghz processor -- $200
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #5: Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz

Option 5a: $960 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 5b: $895 -- 2.4ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 5c: $870 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 5d: $805 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #6: Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz 5870 Edition

Option 6a: $1,060 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 6b: $995 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 6c: $970 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 6d: $905 -- 2.8ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8ghz processor -- $220
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $430
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

OPTION #7: Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz

Option 7a: $1,060 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890fx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 7b: $995 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5850 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 7c: $970 -- 3.2ghz / six core / 890fx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 7d: $905 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5850 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5850 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

OPTION #8: Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2ghz 5870 Edition

Option 8a: $1,160 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 8b: $1095 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 8gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $200

Option 8c: $1,070 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890fx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD5 motherboard -- $210
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

Option 8d: $1,015 -- 3.2ghz six core / 890gx / 5870 / 4gb 1333 RAM

AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 3.2ghz processor -- $320
GIGABYTE 890FXA-UD3H motherboard -- $145
ATI Radeon 5870 graphics card -- $330
8GB (4x2) 1333 G-SKILL Ripjaws DDR3 RAM -- $110

***

HDD, Optical, Wireless and O.S.: $260


Nothing all too shocking to see here. A nice solid setup that should work just fine regardless of what setup I decide to put with it:

Western Digital Caviar Black 640gb / 64mb cache / 7200rpm -- $70
dvd burner -- $30
wireless card -- $50
Windows 7 Home Premium -- $110

Power Supply and Case

Antec EarthWatts Power Supply 650W ($80) (Fine if I am using one or two 5870s or one 5970)

Antec EarthWatts Power Supply 750W ($120) (Needed if I ever do decide to get 2x 5970. They are $700 plus right now so I don't see this happening soon.) (EarthWatts power supplies claim to be good for the environment, consume less energy reducing hydro bill, and still have excellent performance, according to the manufacturer. I will need to do research.)

All I am missing from my equasion is a case. Once I have that figured out this all becomes wonderfully simple, a matter of following the data here and finding an acceptable price point. Of course this all assumes that I am keeping my mouse and keyboard, otherwise I'll need to add another $50 or so.