Darth Hater Episode 65 - 2010 Build Off

Episode 65 "2010 Build Off" of the Darth Hater Podcast is now live. Check the bottom of the post for the stream and download links. Podcast notes after the jump.


Download
Intro
Justin Lowe - Sado - @zirak
Pete Trerice - Misenus - @petetrerice
Zoidberg
Official Darth Hater Twitter

Pre-show
Coming back from the Holidays

Segments
Friday Update: Trooper Dossier
- Trooper Class Trailer

Feature
Advice on PC Builds

Budget Builds
Pete
COOLER MASTER Sileo 500 RC-500-KKR3-GP Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC Body ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply $109.99

MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard $69.99

Palit NE5S4500FHD01 GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB
128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI
Support Video Card
$104.99

AMD Athlon II X2 265 Regor 3.3GHz Socket AM3 65W
Dual-Core Desktop Processor ADX265OCGMBOX
$69.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT $41.99

HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $44.99

Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM $26.99

Subtotal $463.93

Sleeper
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $89.99

ASUS M4A77D AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard $79.99

EVGA 01G-P3-1145-TR GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $104.99

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RS550-PCARE3-US 550W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply $59.99

AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor HDX920XCGIBOX $119.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK $84.99

Subtotal $534

Mid Builds
Sado
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor $159.99

ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $99.99

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $89.98

EVGA 012-P3-1570-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card 359.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model $109.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply $129.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5002AALX 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $59.99

Subtotal $1009.93

Pete
Antec One Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $59.99

ASUS M4A79T Deluxe AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD
Motherboard
$149.99

EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1572-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $369.99

Antec TruePower New TP-550 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply $89.99

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz
Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
HDZ965FBGMBOX
$159.99

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model
CMX4GX3M2A1600C9
$49.99

HITACHI Deskstar H3IK10003272SP (0S02860) 1TB
7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
$69.99

Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7261S-0B LightScribe Support - OEM $26.99

COOLER MASTER V6 RR-V6SV-22PR-R1 DynaLoop CPU
Cooler w/ Universal bracket
$49.99

Subtotal $1,043.90

Sleeper
COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case $139.98

GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 AM3 AMD 790X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $139.99

EVGA 012-P3-1470-AR GeForce GTX 470 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card See Price in Cart

COOLER MASTER GX Series RS750-ACAAE3-US 750W ATX12V v2.31 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT90ZFBGRBOX $229.00

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK $49.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $99.99

Subtotal $1,073.92

Dream Builds
Sado
EVGA SuperClocked 015-P3-1582-AR GeForce GTX 580 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support $529.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL $199.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply $129.99

ASUS Sabertooth X58 LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $199.99

Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC128MAG-1G1 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $274.99

Intel Core i7-960 Bloomfield 3.2GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601960 $569.99

NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case $139.99

Subtotal 2044.93

Pete
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $99.99

ASUS M4N98TD EVO AM3 NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard $139.99

EVGA SuperClocked 012-P3-1572-AR GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB 320-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card $369.99 x 2 $739.98

SILVERSTONE ST1500 1500W ATX 12V 2.3 & EPS 12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Active PFC Power Supply $379.99

AMD Phenom II X6 1100T Thuban 3.3GHz, 3.7GHz Turbo 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDE00ZFBR BOX $265.99

Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2M160G2XXX 2.5" 160GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - OEM $409.00

G.SKILL PI 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL6Q-8GBPI $199.99

HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.C HDS721010CLA332 (0F10383) 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $54.99

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM $26.99

SONY Black Blu-ray Burner SATA BD-5300S-0B - OEM $109.99

ZALMAN CNPS9900MAX-B 135mm Long life bearing CPU Cooler Blue LED $69.99

Subtotal $2,510.89

Prices are subject to change via Newegg. A few of the builds require the purchase of an Operating System and or disc drive that is not included in the prices above. Even though these are our recommendations, check each part before ordering for compatibility.

Comments

Page 1 of 4
  • #59 Viruschill
    Hopefully someone will see this. There sounds like there are some really knowledgeable people in here who I am hoping can give me some much appreciated advice. I am trying to build the best PC I can for around 1000 - 1500 dollars holing to keep it close as I can to 1000. This is want I have so far

    $129 Mother board - GIGABYTE GA-H67A-UD3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

    $150 Case - COOLER MASTER Storm Sniper SGC-6000-KXN1-GP Black Steel, ABS Plastic, Mesh bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer

    $220 - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K

    ($110 x 2)Ram - 2x CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9B

    $140 Gpu - 166 - XFX HD-685X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

    $110 Power Supply - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

    Hard Drives
    $65 - Seagate Barracuda Green ST1500DL003 1.5TB 5900 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
    $125 - OCZ Technology - AGT3-25SAT3-60G - 60gb Agility3 SATAIII 2.5 SSD

    All prices are from newegg just for reference. Please let me know what you think.
  • #54 Deacon
    Hey all! Been looking through this build off and comments a lot, including the posts on the forum about it. I have a question. I have to have a laptop, since I have to travel for my job a lot, to include overseas. So having a platform I can take with me to not only play, but also skype with the wife is a requirement.

    So, my current laptop is chugging (literally, fans dieing) and I am looking at replacing it for TOR. Want something that will reliably run this on at least default settings if not better. Also, would like to keep it uner 1500 dollars if possible.

    So I am wondering if anyone has any advice for this. The current one I have found is the Asus G73JW-XT1 on tiger. Thoughts? Anyone know something better? New things on the horizon? Currently I have an Asus (I like the brand, been great so far) M50VM. Sorry to ramble, and thanks!
  • #55 flem1
    Yeah, that's pretty sweet. For a few hundred more you could get a Sager NP8170/Clevo P170HM with a mobile Sandy Bridge quad and the 470M (= an underclocked desktop GTX460SE, which mind you is slower than the non-SE GTX460), but that's over budget and the Asus with its 460M (basically a less-underclocked desktop GTS450) will very likely kill TOR anyway.
  • #56 Deacon
    Thanks for pointing that out! I am planning on holding out as long as I can, or as long as this laptop will let me before it dies. I figure with the new Sandy Bridge chips coming out either the older chips will get cheaper so I can get the older chip but faster with the 460M or better. Or that the SB chips will be around the same pricing range, so I get a better CPU all other things roughly equivalent. And still be able to spend around 1500 on it.

    But thanks for your input, will absolutely watch that laptop, and other like it if i can find them... maybe if i can get this thing to limp to april I might be able to get something really nice!

    Also, random, but whats the general consensus on the Macbook performance wise the specs referenced above? I know I'd have to run bootcamp for TOR, but are they worth the money in terms of gaming performance? Only ask because the wife, and her entire family, run mac.
  • #57 flem1
    Macbook Pro 15"/17", GT330M: 48 shaders
    Asus G73JW-XT1, GTX460: 192 shaders (and faster clocks)
    Sager/Clevo with GTX470: 288 shaders (but slower clocks)

    Conclusion: Macbooks are overpriced crap for gaming.
  • #58 Deacon
    Well, that is good to know. Looked through Sager's website, they have some very nice products coming out the end of this month. If my current laptop makes it till April or May, they might be where I look first. Thanks so much for pointing them out to me! Time comes closer to buy, I am sure I will have a lot more to ask, but for now, that looks like some very promising prospects!
  • #53 cobe2121
    This seems like as good a place as any to get feedback on my intended build, so here goes..

    Case: NZXT Phantom Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
    CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K processor (OC to probably over 4 GHz)
    Cooling: Noctua SSO 120mm CPU Cooler
    PSU: CORSAIR HX Series 850W 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
    GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6990 (when it releases probably in late Feb)
    Memory: A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
    - or -
    CORSAIR DOMINATOR 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
    HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
    SSD: Mushkin Enhanced Callisto Deluxe 120GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive
    Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc Black 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner LightScribe Support OEM

    Now, obviously this isn't a question of if this will be able to run TOR - it will be able to shred it - I'm more looking for advice as to what compatibility issues there are, what cables and such I will need that doesn't already come with whatever of these products (I'm new to building), if I need to stress test (and how I do this), etc.

    Looking forward to hearing everyone's expertise. Thanks for commenting!
  • #50 Inzane
    What happened to the build links?
  • #51 Inzane
    Oh I see them again. I guess that had to do with the website issues.
  • #52 sado
    Yeah, should be fixed now.
  • #46 flem1
    Sandy Bridge is here, and the 2500K and 2600K seem to kill every other CPU option at $200 or $300 respectively.
    http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i5-2600k-i5-2500k-and-core-i3-2100-tested
  • #41 Darth Shango
    I want to build a system specifically to run TOR at max settings on a 52" LCD TV with a surround sound bar and FIOS internet connection. I'm not loading any non-TOR related software or files on this system. To be clear this PC won't be used for anything other than TOR, so basically it'll be a TOR arcade box. My question to the experts out there is what components would you use to build a TOR arcade PC?
  • #47 flem1
    I'd wait, but right now:
    i7 2500K CPU (Intel)
    P67 mobo (Gigabyte, Asus)
    GTX460 1gb (EVGA, Asus -- make sure the cooler is reference or quieter)
    64gb SSD (Crucial)
    2x2gb DDR3 1333 (G Skill)
    Hyper 212+ CPU cooler (Coolermaster)
    Neo ECO 520C PSU (Antec)

    For cheaper, do Pete's budget build but switch the drive for the SSD above and the CPU for the Athlon II x4 640.

    Also I'd sell the soundbar and replace with a current (_300 model) Onkyo HTIB. ;)
  • #43 Snodge
    Any of the mid-build onwards listed above will be fine, just make sure the graphics cards has HDMI out and you'll be good to go...
  • #45 chronium
    The low budget builds would do fine as well since TV's resolution caps at 1920x1080 if it was higher then he would need a more powerful video card.
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