Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > Budget Build Advice (sub $500)
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I am beginning to order parts for my first ever build. I will be using it for gaming, ranging from WoW to BF2142 ect... So far I have bought:

CPU- AMD 5000+ Black Edition: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 2b%2bblack

Case- Antec NSK4480 w/ earthwatts 380W PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] pk=NSK4480

I plan to buy:

Optical: a cheap dvd burner
HD: Western Digital Caviar SE
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100237L Radeon HD 3650 512MB DDR3 , or the very similar EVGA 8800GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102725
RAM: mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) , +another 1gb stick of some kind (will be using 32bit windows xp)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146118

So im lacking a MB and cpu cooler. Id like to keep the MB under $80 and the cooler under $25. I plan on trying to overclock the CPU using its unlocked multiplier and keeping stock voltage ect (I've read I can get it to ~3.2 with only changing the multiplier).

What do you suggest for these parts? Any feedback will be appreciated.


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Cpu is not ideal. It was the best... of a past era. Right now, an Athon with 512kb cache is showing its age. :p

 

Consider this with a p35/45 motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130181
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115052

 

It's a bit expensive, but performs far better. Just use the stock cooler. At stock, that cpu will still far outperform the Athon oced to its limits. You can always get a good cooler and oc later.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
Reply to dagger
- 0 +

I am building a similar system all from neweggs
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM $27

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $45

ECS Geforce6100PM-M2 AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $50

EVGA 512-P3-N800-AR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $160

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail $45

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5400DOBOX - Retail $87.5

Antec NSK4480 w/ earthwatts 380W PSU $70

shipping is about $40 so total is about $524.5
You could upgrade the harddrive if you want CPU is not the best, but pretty decent for the price and motherboard is okay for the price too.

P.S. don't compare HD3650 with 8800GT

Reply to jhangil
- 0 +

Sorry I didn't read the part about you buying case and cpu...
so take out the CPU and add a cooler and get a 780G and buy the way if you are going to game you are going to need that 8800gt.

P.S. I don't have experience of 780G overclocking ability...

Reply to jhangil

Never ever buy an ECS motherboard. They are terrible, one of the worst in the industry.

The motherboard I would go is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131273 for $90

OR http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128090 Same price



------------------------------ http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ate-modode <-- Computer Builds
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."-John Wooden
Reply to shadowduck
- 0 +

3650 card is really slow, you won't do much gaming on it. try at least 3850 or even better 3870.

sorry but i can't think of any cheap amd board that overclock easily that cost 80bucks.

------------------------------ Phenom II 955 @3.8 ghz|MSI K9A2 Platinum|500Gb Seagate 7200.11|2Gb OCZ Ram|Diamond HD3870 @800Mhz|CM 690|OCZ 700Watt |Scythe Mugen 2|
Reply to godless

I was planning on getting an atx sized motherboard. Is there any reason other than those particular models/prices that you suggest micro atx?

Also, I am confused whether it is a motherboard specific feature to be able to adjust cpu multiplier? I know the black edition CPU is special because it has an unlocked multiplier, but do I also need to make sure the motherboard allows that adjustment?

thanks again for the feedback

Reply to orangeskill

ATX is $10 more and you wanted to stay around $80, so I was already over budget.

Any motherboard I recommend will allow it, it is in the BIOS.

------------------------------ http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ate-modode <-- Computer Builds
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."-John Wooden
Reply to shadowduck

Are there any particular chipsets or brands I should avoid in this price range and socket because they don't overclock?

Reply to orangeskill

ECS
PCChips
Foxcon
etc... (don't buy a $50 motherboard and expect results)

------------------------------ http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ate-modode <-- Computer Builds
Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."-John Wooden
Reply to shadowduck

Also, people are saying 3850 on the video card, look at the 8800 gs superclocked cards, those are supposed to run with a 9600gt and maybe a 3870 according to benchmarks.

Reply to ohiou_grad_06
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