New build $2500 budget

[Makuab]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=10954649

thats my build, let me know what you think

 

[mnewsham]

OCZ vertex 2 200 with MIR
save you about 50 bucks now go get a GTX 580 instead. that's what i would do anyway, but it is your build

 

[Makuab]

OCZ vertex 2 200 with MIR
save you about 50 bucks now go get a GTX 580 instead. that's what i would do anyway, but it is your build

was told 580 is only a little bit better like 10%

also the 50 dollar more one is sata III and getes lik 100 mb/s more with it.

 

[mnewsham]

Look at your read AND write speeds

 

[Makuab]

Look at your read AND write speeds

write is better

 

[mnewsham]

on the 128Gb model you specified
Sequential Access - Read:
355MB/sec (SATA 6Gb/s) 265MB/sec (SATA 3Gb/s)


Sequential Access - Write:
140MB/sec (SATA 6Gb/s) 140MB/sec (SATA 3Gb/s)

OCZ drive:
Sequential Access - Read
up to 285MB/s


Sequential Access - Write
up to 275MB/s

So it is faster in Read AND write using SATA II
It is also faster in WRITE using SATA II then the C300 in SATA II or III

 

[Makuab]

on the 128Gb model you specified
Sequential Access - Read:
355MB/sec (SATA 6Gb/s) 265MB/sec (SATA 3Gb/s)


Sequential Access - Write:
140MB/sec (SATA 6Gb/s) 140MB/sec (SATA 3Gb/s)

OCZ drive:
Sequential Access - Read
up to 285MB/s


Sequential Access - Write
up to 275MB/s

So it is faster in Read AND write using SATA II
It is also faster in WRITE using SATA II then the C300 in SATA II or III

Im using sata III. One reads a lot more than one writes.

 

[mnewsham]

so you gain 70Mb/s on the read and lose 135Mb/s on the write...

 

[Makuab]

so you gain 70Mb/s on the read and lose 135Mb/s on the write...

better ratings too

 

[fffblackmage]

I'd pick the Seasonic X650 over the CM PSU. It's not like you need 800W and the Seasonic is a much better unit, despite it's lower power rating.

The Samsung F3 1TB is normally a better alternative when its actually on sale with free shipping. Since it's only a bit more than $10 for two more years of warranty right now, I guess either one works.

The sound card should not be necessary if you're connecting the Z-5500 via digital means.

 

[mnewsham]

Again it is your build that is just what i would do.

You are using a LOT of your budget on speakers, do you NEED speakers? i find a good pair of headphones more useful.

 

[Makuab]

I'd pick the Seasonic X650 over the CM PSU. It's not like you need 800W and the Seasonic is a much better unit, despite it's lower power rating.

The Samsung F3 1TB is normally a better alternative when its actually on sale with free shipping. Since it's only a bit more than $10 for two more years of warranty right now, I guess either one works.

The sound card should not be necessary if you're connecting the Z-5500 via digital means.

I plan on Xfire or SLI in the future, so thats why I have it.

and the sound card does do a lot for the speakers, quality, etc.

 

[fffblackmage]

In regards to your debate over the OCZ Vertex 2 and Crucial C300...

I'm not sure the maximum sequential read/writes actually matter. It's not often that you need to read or write large files to an SSD, so those ratings hardly matter most of the time. The faster sustained read on the C300 with SATA 6Gbps is definitely not worth the extra $50 to me.

 

[mnewsham]

I plan on Xfire or SLI in the future, so thats why I have it.

and the sound card does do a lot for the speakers, quality, etc.

Your speaker system should come with a digital input for the computer, the sound card wont make much of a difference unless you are running analog

This coming from someone using his Denon AH-d2000's on a HeadRoom Desktop Amp/DAC.

 

[fffblackmage]

I plan on Xfire or SLI in the future, so thats why I have it.

and the sound card does do a lot for the speakers, quality, etc.

Why not just replace the video card with a better one in a couple years? There's no guarantee that you will do SLI/xfire in the future, and unless you actually do, the extra money spent for xfire/SLI compatibility is just a waste of money. IMO, xfire/SLI is a "now" thing rather than a "down the road" thing.

If you're connecting the speakers with a digital connection, then a 0 and a 1 will be a 0 and a 1. A sound card isn't gonna make this worse or better.

 

[Makuab]

Why not just replace the video card with a better one in a couple years? There's no guarantee that you will do SLI/xfire in the future, and unless you actually do, the extra money spent for xfire/SLI compatibility is just a waste of money. IMO, xfire/SLI is a "now" thing rather than a "down the road" thing.

If you're connecting the speakers with a digital connection, then a 0 and a 1 will be a 0 and a 1. A sound card isn't gonna make this worse or better.

Why do my friends speakers sound better with it then?

 

[mnewsham]

Placebo effect

 

[fffblackmage]

That, or he has a better speaker setup than what you have or something? Seriously, a 0 and 1 are just a 0 and a 1. A sound card is not going to change that, no matter how expensive it is.

 

[Makuab]

Placebo effect

Lol, it's noticeable, a very noticeable difference.

 

[Makuab]

That, or he has a better speaker setup than what you have or something? Seriously, a 0 and 1 are just a 0 and a 1. A sound card is not going to change that, no matter how expensive it is.

why do people get sound cards then?
and we currently have the same set of speakers.

 

[mnewsham]

Then your friend is buying better quality speakers, with a digital connection you wont find a noticeable difference in the same set of speakers if you use a sound card vs with out.

 

[mnewsham]

why do people get sound cards then?
and we currently have the same set of speakers.

Because sound cards when using an analog connection actually can make a difference they act as a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) Most new speakers have optical/digital input allowing a digital signal directly from your computer, with older equipment or analog equipment a sound card was used to convert the signal's and a dedicated sound card was much better at this then on board sound.

 

[fffblackmage]

Lol, it's noticeable, a very noticeable difference.

Same audio source? Same equalizer settings? I mean, there are many reasons why they could sound different. However, a digital output from a sound card and an integrated sound chip on the mobo are identical because a sequence of 0's and 1's are still going to be the same sequence of 0's and 1's.

why do people get sound cards then?
and we currently have the same set of speakers.

Because of people like yourself.

 

[Makuab]

Because sound cards when using an analog connection actually can make a difference they act as a DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) Most new speakers have optical/digital input allowing a digital signal directly from your computer, with older equipment or analog equipment a sound card was used to convert the signal's and a dedicated sound card was much better at this then on board sound.

christ man, I have heard the sound card and I notice the difference, with speakers and headphones, stereo.

perhaps is the features on the card, like 7.1 virtual speakers and dolby virtual speakers.

 

[mnewsham]

christ man, I have heard the sound card and I notice the difference, with speakers and headphones, stereo.

perhaps is the features on the card, like 7.1 virtual speakers and dolby virtual speakers.

Then that's the placebo effect. Unless everything you are using has an analog connection. If they do then i can understand you might hear a difference. If it is digital however you have a defective unit or selective hearing