Good budget rig for SH5/DCS Black Shark?

[AngusJS]

I think my Inspiron 1501 laptop is finally giving up the ghost - one day everything is fine, the next day my USB ports stop working, the computer seems to stutter about twice a minute, and now programs refuse to close, necessitating a reboot.

So I started looking for a new computer, and found this for $630:

iBUYPOWER Gamer Power 571D3 Phenom II X4 965(3.4GHz) 4GB DDR3 500GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

How well would this rig handle DCS Black Shark or SH5? I know it has a weak graphics card, but it's lightyears ahead of my Radeon Xpress 1150.

Also, I guess the Phenom CPU isn't the Black Edition version? Is that important?

Thanks

[CaptainHaplo]

The symptoms your describing indicate you probably just need to rebuild the laptop.

But yes that machine would run those games.

[Arclight]

It would? Not sure about that 430.


Apart from that; you dont know any brands, meaning you dont know if it has a decent PSU or motherboard. Only 1 year warranty while all the parts have 2-3 or longer.

I would run screaming from that thing.

[antikristuseke]

Everything but the graphics card is fine, the 430 is really a stillborn.

[CaptainHaplo]

Ok I missed that - my fault. Though at low detail settings it likely would run.

[AngusJS]

In the end I went with this kit for $717:

• AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor (Model: HDZ965FBGMBOX)
• ASUS EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 AMD Motherboard (Model: M4A87TD)
• GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (Model: GV-N460OC-1GI)
• G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (Model: F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM)
• Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (Model: WD5001AALS)
• SAMSUNG 22x DVD+/-R CD/DVD Burner Black SATA (Model: SH-S223C) - OEM
• COOLER MASTER HAF 922 Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (Model: RC-922M-KKN1-GP)
• CORSAIR 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply (Model: CMPSU-650TX)

Now I just have to build it - something I've never done before.

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted by AngusJS

Now I just have to build it - something I've never done before.

It's easy, everything fits were it belongs!

[Arclight]

Originally Posted by AngusJS

Now I just have to build it - something I've never done before.

Good build, I must say. Well balanced.

You know where to post if you need any help.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by AngusJS

In the end I went with this kit for $717:

• AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor (Model: HDZ965FBGMBOX)
• ASUS EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 AMD Motherboard (Model: M4A87TD)
• GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (Model: GV-N460OC-1GI)
• G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory (Model: F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM)
• Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (Model: WD5001AALS)
• SAMSUNG 22x DVD+/-R CD/DVD Burner Black SATA (Model: SH-S223C) - OEM
• COOLER MASTER HAF 922 Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (Model: RC-922M-KKN1-GP)
• CORSAIR 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply (Model: CMPSU-650TX)

Now I just have to build it - something I've never done before.

She will be a beauty when your done.

[AngusJS]

Originally Posted by Arclight

Good build, I must say. Well balanced.

You know where to post if you need any help.

The case instructions say that I should put in 9 standoffs for my ATX motherboard, but the board instructions say that there are only six points where it should be screwed in. Should I put all the standoffs in, or only 6?

Should I install the CPU and heatsink first, and then put it in the case, or vice versa?

Thanks

[antikristuseke]

It i a matter of prerence, I suppose, But I prefer to first put the mobo in the case, then attach heatsing.

As for standoffs, use all you can, they don't hurt.

[AngusJS]

After wrestling with the heatsink, I've finally put the mobo into the case...only to find that there's a 1/8" / 3.17 mm gap between the I/O shield and the sockets. The board seems to be sitting more or less well on the standoffs, and I think all the sockets will be accessible. So I guess it's alright?

And I guess you're supposed to leave the tabs on the I/O shield on? What purpose do they serve?

Naturally, neither the motherboard or the case manual even mention the I/O shield.

[Arclight]

The shield should click into place when you push it into position from the inside of the case. I always put in the board first, and loosely fasten the screws. Then I push the board back against the plate slightly and fasten the screws further. A bit of a gap won't hurt, but it should be minimal.

And yeah, use the spacers you have. Full atx boards have 9, mini-atx has 6 iirc.


Not sure what you're refering to with tabs.

[AngusJS]

Done! Thanks for the help guys!

The worst part was connecting all those cables. I felt like Medusa's hairdresser when I had to wrangle with that unholy mess of cords sprouting from the PSU.

[Seth8530]

Hahah i feel ya bro, I have the amd 955 and i was able to get her up to 3.68 at 51 C max temp. from its stock of 3.2... im sure the 965 OC's like a champ too ( :