New machine under 22k

[salvachn]

1. What is the purpose of the computer? (Note: If you are planning to say multimedia, you will have to be more specific as all types of systems are capable of doing that)
It'll be primarily a development machine (on Linux most of the time) but I'll also doing some work on Photoshop, Blender and some light gaming (on Windows rarely)
2. Are you open to alternate ideas/products giving similar better performance but offering more VFM/ sellers? If not- why?
Yes, I am
3. What is your MAX budget?
22K excluding monitor.
4. Planning to overclock?
No
5. Which OS are you planning to use?
Linux (Fedora 13, Arch Linux) and Windows 7
6. How much hard drive space is needed?
1 TB for data. I already have a 250 gig drive for the OS and software.
7. What resolution will the screen run at & whats the size of the screen?
1920x1080 23 inches; Samsung P2370MS
8. How would you rate your hardware knowledge from the count of 1-10? (1 being the lowest, 5 being you are somewhat in sync with the current performers and 10 being the highest)
8
9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
I have, but I'll leave this to an assembler.
10. When are you planning to buy the system?
In a week from now.
11. Are you one of the types looking out for "future proof" configurations?
Yep. So I want USB3 support in the mobo, not as add-on card.
12. Are there going to be any components that you don't want to include in this new rig? If yes, do mention.
I won't need a graphics card asap. I'll get one down the line when I get some more dough.
13. Which city do you live in and are you open to buying from shops from other city/states?
Chennai and I think I can find all I want here
14. Mention any other points if deemed necessary
None

My current plan:

Cooler Master Chassis Elite 33X w/ 400W eXtreme PSU 03450

AMD Phenom II X2 - 550: 3.1 GHz, AM3, 7MB cache 04350

Gigabyte MA785GMT-USB3 AMD 785G 05850

Transcend DDR3-1333 2GB 02600

SEAGATE 1TB SATA 7200rpm HDD 03300

Wipro 600 VA UPS 01575

Keyboard and Mouse - any decent brand with USB 01000

TOTAL 22125

Source for prices: http://www.deltapage.com

Please suggest any better specification if possible. Also, will I be able to enable the hidden cores (if any) on this processor? Or is it supported only in the Black Edition?

[Jaskanwar Singh]

Athlon II X4 635 2.9GHz @ 5k
MSI 880GMA E45 @ 5.8k (contains USB 3 and Sata 3 support as you needed)
2GB DDR3 1333MHz @ 2.5k
Samsung 500GB * 2 @ 3.6k (better go for 2 500gb hdds)
FSP saga II 400W @ 2k
CM elite 310 @ 1.5k
Logitech Keyboard & Mouse @ 0.7k

total - 21.1k

do not go for cm extreme psus.
better stay away from unlocking thing.

[Piyush]

nice rig
will definitely fulfill the requirements

[Cybertonic]

+1
gr8 rig jaskanwar

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Cybertonic

+1
gr8 rig jaskanwar

nice rig. balanced. and ready to be bought

[salvachn]

Originally Posted by Jaskanwar Singh

Athlon II X4 635 2.9GHz @ 5k
MSI 880GMA E45 @ 5.8k (contains USB 3 and Sata 3 support as you needed)
2GB DDR3 1333MHz @ 2.5k
Samsung 500GB * 2 @ 3.6k (better go for 2 500gb hdds)
FSP saga II 400W @ 2k
CM elite 310 @ 1.5k
Logitech Keyboard & Mouse @ 0.7k

total - 21.1k

do not go for cm extreme psus.
better stay away from unlocking thing.

Thanks

I am buying this config in a day or two. Any reason not to buy CM X PSUs? I am not sure if FSP will be available. In that case is Amigo a good buy?

I'm buying a single 1TB hard disk as I have two 250 gig SATA disks from my old PC.

Would 400W suffice if I add a DX11 card to this build later?

[Jaskanwar Singh]

order fsp online..
cm extreme psus are having low efficiency of 60-70%

hd5670 can be added...if you want to add hd5770 go with FSP saga II 500W @ 2.5k

[salvachn]

cm extreme psus are having low efficiency of 60-70%

hd5670 can be added...if you want to add hd5770 go with FSP saga II 500W @ 2.5k

70% efficiency => To give 400W to the system, the CM extreme psu would draw 570 watts.

Am I right? Would the FSP Saga II then draw a tad under 500 watts if it is 80% efficient?

I saw the 400W FSP for 2175 and the 500W for 2915. Where did you get the prices you quoted?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by salvachn

70% efficiency => To give 400W to the system, the CM extreme psu would draw 570 watts.

Am I right? Would the FSP Saga II then draw a tad under 500 watts if it is 80% efficient?

I saw the 400W FSP for 2175 and the 500W for 2915. Where did you get the prices you quoted?

actually to put it in simple words, under load the extreme power can't deliver the rated power. so there are 2 consequences:

1. it'll blow up itself.
2. or it'll damage the parts it gives power to.

as PSU most important part of a PC (& most underestimated), better get a good one that can support your PC & its parts. else same will happen as majority of peoples. PSU blew up. parts send for RMA. some parts got burnt so warranty don't apply. so in end pay 1/2 price of the PC

[funkysourav]

there is another problem with inefficient psu's
say the fsp saga takes 500w to supply the system 400w
and the cm extreme takes 570 w to supply 400w
the extra 70 watts may not pinch your pockets that much ,
but this will:

now since the cm extreme's efficiency rating is 60-70% in the real world,
12th standard physics says the rest 40%-30% power (that it draws) is dissipated as excess heat, vibration and noise.

this affects the system stability as the psu gets heated and may definitely burn itself out taking any other piece of hardware with it(namely your cpu or graphics card or both)

take my advise and go for corsair cx400(rated at 400w and is 80 plus certified)@2.8k
complete peace of mind

[salvachn]

Originally Posted by Sam.Shab

actually to put it in simple words, under load the extreme power can't deliver the rated power. so there are 2 consequences:

1. it'll blow up itself.
2. or it'll damage the parts it gives power to.

as PSU most important part of a PC (& most underestimated), better get a good one that can support your PC & its parts. else same will happen as majority of peoples. PSU blew up. parts send for RMA. some parts got burnt so warranty don't apply. so in end pay 1/2 price of the PC

Thanks for your advice
Now I am iffy about choosing the PSU! Can you suggest the best one for my budget and use case?

[Sam]

as there will be no graphics card. or even if there is, a low-midrange one. get one of these:

1. FSP Saga Ii 400W.
2. Gigabyte 460W (its same unit as above. rebranded).
3. Corsair CX400W. this one is best as it comes with 5yrs warranty. and Corsair's after sale service one of best.

[gEEK001]

Originally Posted by Jaskanwar Singh

Athlon II X4 635 2.9GHz @ 5k
MSI 880GMA E45 @ 5.8k (contains USB 3 and Sata 3 support as you needed)
2GB DDR3 1333MHz @ 2.5k
Samsung 500GB * 2 @ 3.6k (better go for 2 500gb hdds)
FSP saga II 400W @ 2k
CM elite 310 @ 1.5k
Logitech Keyboard & Mouse @ 0.7k

total - 21.1k

do not go for cm extreme psus.
better stay away from unlocking thing.

Avoid CM Elite at any cost! They looks like local ones and cooling system is sucking and they also lacks black interiors which is a trend now-a-days

So go for NZXT Gamma which has capacity for 6X120mm fans and it has black interiors and cable management holes!!!!!:smil e:

[salvachn]

Originally Posted by Sam.Shab

as there will be no graphics card. or even if there is, a low-midrange one. get one of these:

1. FSP Saga Ii 400W.
2. Gigabyte 460W (its same unit as above. rebranded).
3. Corsair CX400W. this one is best as it comes with 5yrs warranty. and Corsair's after sale service one of best.

Thanks. The Corsair is available for 2800 at delta

[salvachn]

Bought:

Athlon II X4 635 2.9GHz @ 5.1k
MSI 880GMA E45 @ 5.9k
Transcend DDR3-1333 2GB @ 2.6k
Seagate 1 TB SATA 7200rpm HDD @ 3.3k
Huntkey V Power 550W @ 2.7k
Local cabby (Qori if that means anything) @ 1k
Numeric UPS 600VA @ 1.6k
Logitech Desktop @ 700

Total 22.9k

Planning to add a hd5770 in two months' time.

[fatalcore]

congrats, bro can u please post few pictures.Please..

[rahul.007]

Bought:

Athlon II X4 635 2.9GHz @ 5.1k
MSI 880GMA E45 @ 5.9k
Transcend DDR3-1333 2GB @ 2.6k
Seagate 1 TB SATA 7200rpm HDD @ 3.3k
Huntkey V Power 550W @ 2.7k
Local cabby (Qori if that means anything) @ 1k
Numeric UPS 600VA @ 1.6k
Logitech Desktop @ 700

Total 22.9k

Planning to add a hd5770 in two months' time.

dont add an hd 5770 with that psu.... why did you get it???? you should have brought fsp saga II 500w or corsair cx 400w....

dont believe me, see this....

Huntkey V-Power 550 W Power Supply Review | Hardware Secrets

your rig is really great but the same thing cant be said about that psu....

[Jaskanwar Singh]

bad news for him......REALLY BAD....hope you come online before you buy hd5770

[salvachn]

Originally Posted by Jaskanwar Singh

bad news for him......REALLY BAD....hope you come online before you buy hd5770

Uh oh, is it that bad? The FSP and Corsair were not available. I've got two units of the same PSU now, one for me and one for him. That said, the rating seems to be only 450W instead of the actual 550W specified.

And, he may yet not buy a graphics card. Told me it'd mostly be for his parents. He'd be buying a notebook sometime soon.

[Jaskanwar Singh]

read the link rahul provided

[salvachn]

@Jaskanwar

Can I get 400W out of this one? I think a low end graphics card might just fit in.

[rahul.007]

Can I get 400W out of this one? I think a low end graphics card might just fit in.

do whatever you want to but at your own risk.... even cm extreme power plus 500w is better than the psu you got....

which gpu are you planning to fit in????

[salvachn]

Originally Posted by rahul.007

do whatever you want to but at your own risk.... even cm extreme power plus 500w is better than the psu you got....

which gpu are you planning to fit in????

I'm not sure if I'd buy one. At the moment, ATI 5xxx Linux drivers are not mature enough and getting a 4xxx won't be of much use to me. (Someone told me to try DirectX 11)

If I delay getting the 5xxx series by winter or spring (most probable timeline for mature 5xxx support on Linux), I'll get a new PSU along with it.