Alright thanks for the input guys! I will for sure get one of the new cases suggested.

So my dad wants a new computer, and he says it should be something cheap.

Main uses: photo editing

Secondary uses: web surfing, watching videos, music, general office tasks

CaseMoBoPSUCPUGFXRAMHDDrive

Total: 505 USD

My concerns: does everything look good?

Other concerns: how will the airflow/heat disipation/cable management be in a micro atx case?

Thoughts: should I change the hd5750 for a hd 5670? It would save ~30 USD.

Of to school now so I'll be back to respond later. (why can't I use the word c1a55?)

EDIT: this will be running at 1920x1080. I have an old copy of Windows Vista 64 I can use.

alrighty guys thanks for the replies.

So on my way back to Madison today, it seems my heatsink was bumped off my motherboard. Anyways, do you guys think I need to reapply some thermal paste before I put it back on? It seems rather dry at the moment (or is that the way its suppose to be?)

Awesome build! I agree with the 2nd poster though, the case is a bit much?

Am I allowed to cross fire a 1gb card with a 512? Or will the performance still be the same since the 512 is limiting the 1gb?

[QUOTE="Snosavan24"]

Hey all, I built my rig last around ~15 months ago and I was wondering if an update was needed. My specs are as follows...

CPU: I have a Q9550 @ 3.2, but my AC7 isnt cooling it too well. I had to set my voltages to 1.175v such that my highest core was 69 on max load and my lowest was around 60 on max. I was thinking of getting a bigger aftermarket cooler and overclock some more?

Graphics: Easily my weakpoint, I have a HD4870 512 version. But I'm gaming on 1920 x 1200. Should I go for a HD4890 1gb? or cross fire another hd 4970 512? Or will the 5870 / 5850s drop anytime soon?

RAM: 8 gb of decent ddr2 ram...it was factory overclocked to 1000mhz but i have them set at 800 right now. This shouldn't need to be upgraded, right?

Sound card: good

Hard drives: Right now I have 2 640gb 7200rpm drives. How much faster would my games/windows run on a raptor? Raptors are still expensive though....

I'm on a p45 board btw.

Thanks for any suggestions!

dared3vil0

I was wondering about CF. I'm not knowledgable at all in that field but I heard minor problems arise from CF? Also would my gain from CF be worth the $, as in are the 2 hd4870 512s better than 1 hd 4890?

Hey all, I built my rig last around ~15 months ago and I was wondering if an update was needed. My specs are as follows...

CPU: I have a Q9550 @ 3.2, but my AC7 isnt cooling it too well. I had to set my voltages to 1.175v such that my highest core was 69 on max load and my lowest was around 60 on max. I was thinking of getting a bigger aftermarket cooler and overclock some more?

Graphics: Easily my weakpoint, I have a HD4870 512 version. But I'm gaming on 1920 x 1200. Should I go for a HD4890 1gb? or cross fire another hd 4970 512? Or will the 5870 / 5850s drop anytime soon?

RAM: 8 gb of decent ddr2 ram...it was factory overclocked to 1000mhz but i have them set at 800 right now. This shouldn't need to be upgraded, right?

Sound card: good

Hard drives: Right now I have 2 640gb 7200rpm drives. How much faster would my games/windows run on a raptor? Raptors are still expensive though....

I'm on a p45 board btw.

Thanks for any suggestions!