Considering AMD Phenom $500 Gaming Build...

[sanjiwatsuki]

DVD Drive: $30
HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB $66
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100226L Radeon HD 3850 512MB $100
RAM: mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $88 - $25MIR
Case, CPU, MB, PSU Combo: Antec NSK4480B (With 380W Antec Earthwatts), BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G, Phenom 9600 $240 - $10MIR

Subtotal: $519.94 - $35MIR

Thoughts? I really like the look of this Newegg combo with the Phenom 9600.

 

[apache_lives]

DVD Drive: $30
HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB $66
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100226L Radeon HD 3850 512MB $100
RAM: mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $88 - $25MIR
Case, CPU, MB, PSU Combo: Antec NSK4480B (With 380W Antec Earthwatts), BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G, Phenom 9600 $240 - $10MIR

Subtotal: $519.94 - $35MIR

Thoughts? I really like the look of this Newegg combo with the Phenom 9600.

Not to sound like a fanboy, but a Q6600 and Gigabyte P35/P45 motherboard with a little overclocking will blow any AMD out of the water, take a look and see the prices, make your own mind up.

I got my Q6600 running @ 3.52 on air easy.

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

A Q6600, P35 mobo, case, and PSU would come to $350. I realize that the Q6600 is a far superior processor, but for the price, that is an amazing deal.

 

[flyin15sec]

If you're going for AMD gaming build. Spend a bit more for the 9850BE.

Or go with a X2 5400+ BE, spend the extra cash on a nice gaming case with PSU.

There's a reason why they bundle stuff, so they can get rid of them. Basically nobody is buying 9600, you should not buy it either, especailly a gaming build.

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

If you're going for AMD gaming build. Spend a bit more for the 9850BE.

Or go with a X2 5400+ BE, spend the extra cash on a nice gaming case with PSU.

There's a reason why they bundle stuff, so they can get rid of them. Basically nobody is buying 9600, you should not buy it either, especailly a gaming build.

I can't justify the extra cost of the 9850BE, honestly. The Phenom 9600 was slammed with the TLB bug, which ruined its rep, but it would never affect the average user. It makes for a nice bargain for a quad-core chip, though. The 9850 isn't much of a better OCer either. The combo deals comes with solid parts, so I can't really fault it.

Thoughts?

 

[flyin15sec]

What do you think about this? I changed a few things up. Total is $530 with $-45 in MIR. Less RAM, HD. You get a much better PSU and better gaming case.

CPU 5400+ BE $89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103289

Case & PSU Antec 300 + Neopower 500W combo $129.94
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103940

Memory OCZ DDR2 800 2gig $49.49 has -$30 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227139

Motherboard Biostar TF 780G $79.99 has -$10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138105

Video card Same as yours $94.99 has -$15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102715

DVD $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

HD Seagate 250gig $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

 

[futurelic]

flyin15sec has the right idea to get the most for the money

If you are not in a hurry you can get many parts with rebates and instant savings and get the same system over a few weeks at about 10 percent savings

It is worth looking at the efficiency of the power supply
some of them run hot and noisy for the same pricing
seasonic has a quiet and cool design
some antecs also are quiet designed

 

[flyin15sec]

I keep thinking you were building for a gaming rig. But if you're building more so for just a general build, with a quad. If that's the case then, the 9600 X4 would suit just fine.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Hold up, you are wanting a gaming build? Then dump the 3850. It's a good card but there are better for the money. Look at an Nvidia 9600gt, newegg has one for about 100. Also, maybe consider going to a dual core like a 5200+ or a 5400+ and getting a 4850 video card instead. A dual core would still run well, and if gaming is the primary concern, then I think personally, if your processor is reasonably fast, your video card is the much more important factor here. If the processor is dual core or better and reasonably quick, you should be fine. Or for a balance, maybe look at the phenom x3 series chips.