Any Advice/Suggestions?

[Nagasama]

yes OP if you go with the xigmatech, i would highly suggest the retention bracket. i use one on mine and it helps tremendously (plus, none of those stupid push-pins!).
the 32gb is sufficient for the HDD, but you will need to watch what you let install there. limit it to important drivers and the OS.
as far as the memory goes, this:
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
will work out to 20 dollars after MIR, will be the same 4gb (4 x 1gb sticks), and have better stock timings 4-4-4-12 vs 5-5-5-15.
this OCZ :
Newegg.com - OCZ SLI-Ready 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
will cost a little more after MIR, but have MUCH better timings (4-4-4-15-1T...the 1T will make a substantial difference in speed vs both corsairs which have a command rate of 2T) than either of the corsairs.
and yes the 640gb hdd will be faster.

agreed with vern that 120 for a 9950 is pretty awesome.

 

[PassionBlue]

Hmmmmm alright I've now formulated two builds:

Build 1 (AMD)

Processor: Phenom 9950 Newegg.com - AMD Phenom 9950 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor - Processors - Desktops

Graphics Card: Sapphire HD 4870 512mb Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100257L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Motherboard: DFI LP JR 790GX-M2RS AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI AMD Motherboard - Retail

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Memory: Newegg.com - OCZ SLI-Ready 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Optical Drive: Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

Case: Antec 900 Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

Power Supply: Corsair 750TX Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Aftermarket CPU Cooler: Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" Newegg.com - Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

This build costs exactly $741.95 after Mail-In Rebates and shipping.

Build 2 (Intel)

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9950

Graphics Card: Sapphire HD 4870 512mb Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100257L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Memory: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Optical Drive: Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

Case: Antec 900 Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

Power Supply: Corsair 750TX Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Aftermarket CPU Cooler: Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" Newegg.com - Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks

This build costs $854.92 after Mail-In Rebates and shipping.

So for the AMD build I took some of your suggestions and replaced the RAM with the OCZ (thanks nagasama [doesn't that mean like long-sama? lol]) and switched to the DFI motherboard, which I had also been interested in anyways (so thank you vernong). I also switched both to the 640GB WD (16GB Cache, but I think I've heard really good things about this drive though I'm not positive).

The Intel Q9550 was also mentioned, and upon trying it in my newegg cart it wasn't quite as expensive as I expected. There was a combo deal with the Q9550 that allowed me to get the Corsair 4gb Memory free.

So now I have no idea what to do. I had no real trouble choosing the Phenom over the Q6600 and the E8400, but I must admit the Q9550 is tempting, so I'm wondering if you guys think it's worth the extra $113 for the Q9550 (assuming the P5Q and the Corsair 4gb 800 Memory are good choices, and comparable to their AMD counterparts). What would you guys do in this situation?



Thanks!!!!!

 

[Nagasama]

woo man decisions decisions.
those are both EXCELLENT builds.
here's the deal...
the intel will overclock better (most likely) and will be faster at stock and overclocked.
the amd is good for everything the intel is good for, pretty much except for cache based programs/benchmarks.
is it worth 100 dollars? that really is a matter of which company you like more, i suppose. depends on how much you plan to OC and how many benchmarks you are trying to top out. and how much encoding etc etc that you do.
one other thing worth mentioning is that the am2+ socket is not at an end of its life, the LGA775 is. meaning you will "likely" have more upgrade path with the am2+ socket down the road.

 

[PassionBlue]

Hmmm yeah I've heard conflicting information on whether Denebs will fit in AM2+ motherboards, does anyone know if there's official word on this, or whether we'll just have to wait and see?

 

[veg1992]

Well ASUS AM2 boards already support AM3 via a flashing of the BIOS that was released a bit back

The rest will release them eventually (dates I do not know)

 

[Nagasama]

definitely a wait and see. my evga 590sli was supposed to support phenom, but alas....no dice.

 

[philbar71]

well if it were me i would go with the intel build. the intel would perform way better in almost every thing.

 

[Nagasama]

well, maybe better but not to naked eye performance. only in a couple things there, and most non-enthusiasts dont care if it takes 1.5 minutes to unrar something or 1.0 minutes.

 

[Hussein19891]

Good point Nagasama. Even for gaming performance the Phenom 9950 isn't too far behind Intel. In a real world environment.