new build/upgrade - few questions

ro_0t · 2 Feb 2009 at 20:45

Hi guys,

Looking to upgrade the main parts of my build (motherboard, cpu, ram, gpu) and keep my HD and DVDRW and Case etc.

I decided to go with the following:

Asus M3A78 Pro AMD 780G (Socket AM2+) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 920 2.8GHz (Socket AM2+) - Retail
Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4870 1024MB GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Dual Channel Platinum Series DDR2

My current HDD is 320gb(16mb cache) - I figured I wouldn't need to bother buying a new one just to get 32mb cache as I only use on average 100gb or so. Would I benefit from the 32mb cache if I decided to get one?

My main usage for the build is gaming, I only use a 19" monitor at present but once I emigrate to Canada in a few months I will be looking for a 24" or above which is why I went for the 1gig version of the 4870.

So the questions I had were

Would I benefit from a 32mb cache HDD?
Would 8gb of ram be overkill? (I forgot to mention I will be using vista 64bit ultimate)
and will my 600w psu be sufficient?

Thanks.

95thrifles · 2 Feb 2009 at 21:31

To answer your 3 questions
No
No
and Yes
but have you thought about intel build? From what I've read on the Phenoms they're not that great

Katoom · 2 Feb 2009 at 21:42

If your not going to use the on-board GFX, could you maybe get a cheaper board.
And like 95thrifles said about an intel build, you could probably get a higher spec or cheaper.

S.A.S · 3 Feb 2009 at 00:13

yes have you thought of a dual core or quad core intel system?

simbady · 3 Feb 2009 at 01:15

Sounds like a good system to me the only slight benefit from a 32MB cache is loading times but not a lot tbh.

ro_0t · 3 Feb 2009 at 10:08

Thanks for the replies.

I did consider an intel build but I figured I would be upgrading again in the future so when that time comes I have the option of AM3 processors as my board supports that or I have the option to do a completely new build on the i7 when the prices come down. I felt going LGA775 was a dead end as it would offer no way to upgrade in the future besides a new build on the i7.

Thanks again.