This is a long post, apologies in advance.
So after almost 5 years of trying to game on a low end not-terribly-good-but-not-terribly-bad-either HP Pavilion Entertainment PC laptop running Windows Vista, I've decided it's time for an upgrade. As I'm not traveling frequently anymore, and want the ability to upgrade components, I decided to build a custom desktop for myself (budget build, of course).
I am planning on using an AMD FX-6300 processor with one EVGA GeForce GTX650Ti Boost (superclocked version, of course), as I'm led to believe that that is a pretty good matchup. I was planning on using the Asus M5A97 AMD R2.0... until I saw that it only supports Crossfire. While I have no *immediate* plans for utilizing the SLI functionality of my graphics card (I'm trying to move out of the Star Wars: Battlefront II graphics era and into the Mass Effect/Assassin's Creed 3/Starcraft 2/Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim era).
Since have been using Windows exclusively since 3.1 (and am thus very attached to my Start Button) and I am trying to avoid Windows 8.1 at all costs (mostly because (a) I like my Start button, and (b) if I wanted to be force-fed a tablet/touch-screen OS, I'd buy a tablet), the natural choice was Windows 7.
Here's the issue: I'm having a *really* hard time finding non-OEM versions of Windows 7. As a matter of fact, Amazon.com is the only place I can find that has them. Since I have never actually built a computer myself before, I was wondering what the more experienced users would advise?
Specifically, I would like to know the following, although any advice would be appreciated:
1) Are there any AM3+ SLI compatable motherboards around in the $80-$100 range (but preferably not exceeding $120), or is that just a pipe dream? If so, what would you recommend?
2) If there is no such motherboard, what Crossfire-compatable card (not exceeding $160 plus shipping) is a good substitute for the card that I had planned to use?
3) Should I just not worry about it with a card of that caliber? Right now, cost is the main concern. I don't need the most cutting edge system out there anyway (although that would be nice). My thinking is that by the time I need to upgrade my graphics capabilities, (a) there will be a new (preferably good and less tablet-centric) Windows OS, and (b) even if there isn't, the new graphics cards probably won't be compatible with Windows 7 and/or my motherboard.
Again, sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your help!
--
Ado
So after almost 5 years of trying to game on a low end not-terribly-good-but-not-terribly-bad-either HP Pavilion Entertainment PC laptop running Windows Vista, I've decided it's time for an upgrade. As I'm not traveling frequently anymore, and want the ability to upgrade components, I decided to build a custom desktop for myself (budget build, of course).
I am planning on using an AMD FX-6300 processor with one EVGA GeForce GTX650Ti Boost (superclocked version, of course), as I'm led to believe that that is a pretty good matchup. I was planning on using the Asus M5A97 AMD R2.0... until I saw that it only supports Crossfire. While I have no *immediate* plans for utilizing the SLI functionality of my graphics card (I'm trying to move out of the Star Wars: Battlefront II graphics era and into the Mass Effect/Assassin's Creed 3/Starcraft 2/Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim era).
Since have been using Windows exclusively since 3.1 (and am thus very attached to my Start Button) and I am trying to avoid Windows 8.1 at all costs (mostly because (a) I like my Start button, and (b) if I wanted to be force-fed a tablet/touch-screen OS, I'd buy a tablet), the natural choice was Windows 7.
Here's the issue: I'm having a *really* hard time finding non-OEM versions of Windows 7. As a matter of fact, Amazon.com is the only place I can find that has them. Since I have never actually built a computer myself before, I was wondering what the more experienced users would advise?
Specifically, I would like to know the following, although any advice would be appreciated:
1) Are there any AM3+ SLI compatable motherboards around in the $80-$100 range (but preferably not exceeding $120), or is that just a pipe dream? If so, what would you recommend?
2) If there is no such motherboard, what Crossfire-compatable card (not exceeding $160 plus shipping) is a good substitute for the card that I had planned to use?
3) Should I just not worry about it with a card of that caliber? Right now, cost is the main concern. I don't need the most cutting edge system out there anyway (although that would be nice). My thinking is that by the time I need to upgrade my graphics capabilities, (a) there will be a new (preferably good and less tablet-centric) Windows OS, and (b) even if there isn't, the new graphics cards probably won't be compatible with Windows 7 and/or my motherboard.
Again, sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your help!
--
Ado
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