Considering purchasing a 4-year custom build

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Brunell4070

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Sep 13, 2013
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Hi all,

I recently posted about my gateway lx experiencing problems, and turns out the mobo was fried. Long story short I'm going to invest in another computer.

I just figured I would give Craig's list a look and came across this custom built machine for $399. Specs below.

CPU - AMD Phenom X4 Black Edition - http://www.aztekcomputers.com/HD995ZXAJ4BGH-AMD-1219278.html - $211.25 NEW

Motherboard - Asus M3A79-T DELUXE - http://www.pcplanetsystems.com/abc/product_details.php?category_id=115&item_id=3832 - $214.35 NEW

RAM - 5gb (I forget what kind of RAM it is)

Graphics Card - EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 - http://compu-america.com/evga-geforce-gtx-275-graphics-card-285150.html?gclid=CJCCqJnP1rkCFQJqMgodVxsArw - $222 NEW

Hard Drive - 1TB Seagate or Western Digital (I forget) 7,200 RPM

Power Supply - Corsair Gaming GS700 Watt - http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/822046/Corsair-Gaming-GS700-ATX12V-and-EPS12V/?Channel=Google&mr:trackingCode=8EDDF193-6E22-E111-BAE2-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=23173050836&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=20224360076&cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Googlepla-_-Technology+Computer_Parts_Upgrades-_-822046 - $115.99 NEW

Also includes a 20in HD flat screen monitor that doesn't have a stand but it works perfectly. I just had it resting upright against the back up my computer desk or wall when I didn't have a desk and you couldn't tell the difference."


He says he has babied this machine and is in great condition. Most parts around ~4 years old but he said PSU and GSU are newer.

What is the general rule of thumb with buying machines this old?? Does this seem like a fair deal? Just don't want to invest in another machine if generally speaking they die after certain amount of years regardless of how it is taken care of.


My other option is purchasing a new computer for around $500. Was looking at this model.

http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/detail.jsp?skuId=6980021&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=6980021&extensionType=%7Badtype%7D:%7Bnetwork%7D&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!%7Bkeyword%7D!%7Bmatchtype%7D!%7Badwords_producttargetid%7D!%7Bnetwork%7D!%7Bifmobile:M%7D!%7Bcreative%7D&kpid=6980021&k_clickid=3a54cd01-805f-8cc8-121a-000069325672&pid=1218818471270



What would you guys do in this situation?? Thank you so much for your help.


Miles
 
Solution
ingtar33
yep. that's overpriced. the first flight phenoms sucked... thats way too much when i can get a used modern i5-2500k system for $350. You shouldn't spend a dime over 150 for that rig and even that is probably overpaying

For 400 you can build a new rig that will slaughter that old clunker.

and that ibuypower rig is massively overpriced as well. please don't do that to yourself. if you have 500 to spend on a rig ask for someone around here to build you one. guarenteed it will be better then either of those two rigs.
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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yep. that's overpriced. the first flight phenoms sucked... thats way too much when i can get a used modern i5-2500k system for $350. You shouldn't spend a dime over 150 for that rig and even that is probably overpaying

For 400 you can build a new rig that will slaughter that old clunker.

and that ibuypower rig is massively overpriced as well. please don't do that to yourself. if you have 500 to spend on a rig ask for someone around here to build you one. guarenteed it will be better then either of those two rigs.
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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Mar 16, 2012
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If you do want a gaming machine on $400, this will do well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 450 3.2GHz Triple-Core Processor ($63.59 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock N68C-GS FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($32.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($118.52 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z12 ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $384.03
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
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Brunell4070

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Sep 13, 2013
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Wow I am very happy I decided to ask for advice! Really appreciate the help and caution provided from the community here. I tend to trust people way too easily and didn't notice he was trying to take advantage.

I will primarily use the computer for gaming. Mostly Blizzard games - but others also. Nothing else really matters to me in a computer.

So at the risk of asking redundant questions; I have never built a machine myself... how difficult is it for the average person? I have swapped GSU's, PSU's, RAM, hard drives, etc. but never messed with the motherboard before.

Thank you for the help and suggestion quilciri. I will definitely look into that and most likely go that route.
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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for blizzard games you're best off with the best single core performance you can find. here is a build under the 500 max you mentioned. understand the only upgrades from this are on the gpu and cpu. you can bump that cpu up to any 4 core haswell, though i'd avoid the k series since that motherboard won't manage it. and the gpu can be swapped out. personally since you said blizzard i went with an nvidia gpu since they tend to work better with blizzard games.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-DGS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($55.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($48.96 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Xion XON-560 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($22.50 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $472.36
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-23 15:08 EDT-0400)
 
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acid1drinker

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May 28, 2013
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I think quilciri's build is much more balanced and will give almost same performance. Also it's 100$ cheaper.
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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I respectfully disagree. an old athlon ii x3 (i know it's a baby phenom with an extra core that may or may not work) with a poor to worthless overclocking motherboard is not in the same league as a haswell dual cored pentium... and a radeon hd 7850 is not in the same class as a gtx 660 especially with a blizzard game; any blizzard game... as blizzard games are not multithreaded, but rather depend mightily on single core performance.

I love amd stuff in the budget computer sector... but the fact remains that budget range amd makes the most sense in is 600-800... under 600 it tends to become a mashup of apus and phenoms and athlons and pentiums. over 800-1000 it's a mashup of 8 core amds (in special situations) and i5s... and over 1k amd stops making sense completely.
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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If all you want to do is play blizzard's current stable of games, go with ingtar's build. However, I wouldn't recommend a new build with a dual core processor if your budget allows for another option. With full multiprocessing libraries in the last official version of C++, games that use more than 2 threads are going to pick up even more. I doubt Titan or whatever game blizzard develops after that will be limited to 2 cores. Even more than that, the OS, other applications, and multitasking will benefit more from the extra cores.

on a $500 budget,

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston Blu Red Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($48.96 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($118.52 @ Newegg)
Case: Zalman Z12 ATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $501.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 
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Brunell4070

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Sep 13, 2013
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Thank you for both of your suggestions and recommendations. While $500 is definitely doable for me, after seeing $300-$400 options it is hard to decide now. Could you enlighten me as to general FPS differences between the builds? I want a capable machine but if saving some money will only decrease performance by a minimal amount, I am open to those options.

I am not someone who demands max settings with high fps. Ideally I would like to be able to run on medium settings with perfect FPS, of course the higher the better. I'm not trying to be difficult here but just trying to make an educated decision! Thanks again.


Miles
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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I like Nvidia cards for multiple card configurations, and they do perform better in blizzard titles relative to AMD cards than in other games. However, right now, for single GPU systems, Nvidia cards are overpriced. The 660 falls between a 7850 and a 7870 performance-wise, but the 660 is $170 vs. $120 for the 7850.
 
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acid1drinker

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I completely agree, but that build doesn't seem ''balanced'' for a 500$ budget. Also when some one says he will only be playing blizzard games , they do tend to play other games aswell. What if newer games interest him ?




You mentioned you had a 20inch screen. Is it 1080p or 720p ?
 
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Brunell4070

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Well that screen came with the ad on craig's list. That was irrelevant though, as I have a 21" LG - not sure if it's 1080 or 720 though off the top of my head, would have to get back to you on that once home.
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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The second build I posted will support a second 7850 down the road, and even a single 7850 will run all modern games well. Crysis 3 averages 43 fps with a min of 32 on 1920x1080 and high settings on a 7850.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/crysis-3-performance-benchmark-gaming,3451-5.html

You may want to wait until AMD's new card lineup is announced before building your system (the announcement seems like it will come in the next few weeks). It's likely that Nvidia will respond with price drops in it's own line. Right now, single nvidia cards aren't very good value for the money. (If you were making a multiple-card build, from scratch, right now, nvidia would be the way to go, however)
 
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ingtar33

ingtar33

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Dec 17, 2012
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it will probably be close to a 20-30fps difference at 1080p in something like WoW or SC2. Personally i almost built that build with a HD 7950 as the main gpu, but when you said you played mostly blizzard games i swapped it over to the 660 GTX. Blizzard titles really do play much better on nvidia.
 
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RazerZ

RazerZ

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Everysingle part is way overpriced...
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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Blizzard has *mostly* fixed whatever was causing the Nvidia bias in WoW. There's still some, but it's nowhere near as dramatic.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-660-geforce-gtx-650-benchmark,3297-13.html

SC2 still favors Nvidia, but it really doesn't matter there, as any card above $100 will run it in excess of 60 fps on max settings @ 1920x1080.

Again, if all you plan on doing with the system is play Blizzard games, Ingtar's build is the way to go. I am making the assumption that you will, sooner or later, play many other games with the system, in which case Nvidia is not a good value in single GPU systems right now.

Once AMD announces it's new cards, Nvidia will *probably* respond with a price drop (grapevine says next few weeks for the announcement)
 
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Brunell4070

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Sep 13, 2013
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I think I am leaning towards the first build you posted quilciri. My only question is this; could it be a risk to use the hard drive that was in my previous computer rather than purchasing a new one? This way I could get around purchasing a new OS also.

Thanks
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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With such a radical hardware change, you should reinstall the OS anyway.
And if your current OS is Win7 OEM, it won't work on the new hardware. So you'd have to buy new in any case.

If it is a retail version, you can simply reinstall, using your existing activation key.
 
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quilciri

quilciri

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You'll need to reinstall windows, but you can use the HDD. I'd recommend running chkdsk first.

Just swapping the HDD is a bad idea. The win7 install from your previous machine will "work" on the new system, but you will run into all kinds of driver conflict issues, and the OS will recognize it as a new system, prompting you to reactivate windows and starting the 30 day countdown.
 
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