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Help with another new build pc

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    #2
    Monotype
    Registered Users Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    MSI 880GMA-E35 (FX) instead?
    http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=50847
    It's cheaper, has support for AM3+ processors and SATA 6Gbps but only two memory slots.

    That windows is German by the way, so you'll need to get an English disc (but you can still use the German key).

    You could save a bit of money by going with an athlon X4. The only difference is clock speed (which you could compensate for with overclocking).

    Given that noise is an issue, I'd look at alternative heatsinks. Arctic cooling freezer 13 pro or coolermaster 212+ should do it.
    http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=49255
    http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28325


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    #3
    tipperary
    Registered Users Posts: 447 ✭✭tipperary


    Monotype wrote: »
    MSI 880GMA-E35 (FX) instead?
    http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=50847
    It's cheaper, has support for AM3+ processors and SATA 6Gbps but only two memory slots.

    Hi. Thanks for the input. That MB looks good alright - it has USB 3.0 too which is a bonus. I'm unsure about the integrated graphics though. The Asus has 1GB video memory, but I'm not sure how the MSI stacks up.


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    #4
    Monotype
    Registered Users Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    They're the same integrated video - Radeon 4250.
    Hardwareversand have it wrong listing the 1GB memory as dedicated. The memory is stolen from the RAM (i.e., "shared" memory).
    The only difference I see between them is that the MSI allows up to 512MB to be allocated while the Asus allows for 1GB.

    Allocating more than 512MB makes little sense anyway. It only comes into play at high resolutions and it won't really make any difference at all given that the graphics power is low end. It's just something to catch people's eye and those who assume that more RAM in a card = better performance. You'd probably get the same performance if you gave it 256MB.

    The 4250 isn't too bad. I have it in a PC myself and it's much better than integrated graphics of previous generations. Good for HD videos and less demanding games. Editing videos will rely more on RAM and CPU power.
    You could get the phenom 955 if you want a bit more power than the athlon. The phenom 840 and 850 are the same as the athlons.


    You can save €3 or so by going for the lower profile RAM.
    http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=48850


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    #5
    tipperary
    Registered Users Posts: 447 ✭✭tipperary


    Hi, Thanks for your help - it's greatly appreciated.

    I am thinking of maybe adding the OCZ Vertex Plus 60GB SSD to my build, dropping the cpu to the AMD Athlon II X4 640. While this will add to the build cost overall, I presume it will give significant performance improvements.

    I could save a bit more by going for the AMD Athlon II X3 450 which has a slightly faster processor (3.2GHz vs 3.0GHz). From research it seems that the fourth core can be unlocked in some of the X3's, but it's pot luck really whether this will actually work. Assuming I would be stuck with 3 cores, would there be much performance difference between the X3 and X4?


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    #6
    Monotype
    Registered Users Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    If it doesn't unlock, you won't see difference in the day to day tasks - web browsing or videos. You might notice it slower in video editing if you're re-encoding to different formats.


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