AMD phenom build on a budget

[antonin]

Oke I'm a rookie on a budget.
Max $1300
This is my atemt putting a system together.
I wanted a good basic gaming system.

My setup
AMD AM2 Phenom 64 II X4 920 quad-core 2,8GHz BOX

Gigabyte AM2 GA-MA790GP-DS4H 5200 DDRII

Sapphire ATI HD4850 512 MB DDR3 HDTV 2xDVI HDMI PCIe

Corsair DDR2 1066MHz 4096MB XMS2-8500 Dominator (2*2GB)

Western Digital 500GB Caviar GreenPower SATA II 16MB

Antec Three Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case

Corsair PSU VX ATX 450W 24P 12cm Fan V2.91

Samsung SH-S223F DVDRW SATA 22x black

Samsung 2343BW 23" 5ms TFT (20000:1) Black


Thx for the help.

 

[antonin]

Maybe this is better? Intel?
:

Intel Quad Core Q9400 775 2.66 1066MHz 8MB

Gigabyte 775 GA-EP45T-UD3LR DDR3ATX

Sapphire ATI HD4850 512 MB DDR3 HDTV 2xDVI HDMI PCIe

Kingston Valueram DDR3 1333MHz 6144GB CL9 (3*2GB)

Western Digital 500GB Caviar GreenPower SATA II 16MB

Antec Three Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case (geen voeding)

Corsair PSU VX ATX 450W 24P 12cm Fan V2.91

Samsung SH-S223F DVDRW SATA 22x

Samsung 2343BW 23" 5ms TFT

 

[aevm]

Get the first build, with this combo for $314:
http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=Combo.165047
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI

Also, get a Corsair 650W PSU instead of the 450W. That way you can do Crossfire later. You will need it at 2048x1152.

 

[aevm]

The second build (with the Q9400) is not bad either, but if involves expensive DDR3. Also, the Phenom II 940 trades blows in gaming benchmarks with the Q9550, and the Q9400 is weaker. I don't like the Q9400 because it has a low multiplier and small cache.

If possible, upgrade the HDD to WD 640GB Caviar Black (WD6401AALS).

 

[MykC]

For gaming on a $1300 budget with monitor. Are you able to order from www.newegg.com?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.165025 Phenom II 720 with Biostar 790GX $210 - $10MIR ($45 combo discount)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 G.Skill PI Black DDR2 800 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=2010380048&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&OEMMark=0&PropertyCodeValue=679%3A40678&PropertyCodeValue=683%3A20729 1GB 4870 $200 - $30MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 LG DVD Burner $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 WD 640GB AALS $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 Artic MX-2 Thermal Compound $7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 Xigma $37 - $10MIR (AMD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 CORSAIR 650TX $95 - $25MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812887001 6pin adapters $3 x 2 (to support xfire down the road)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021 Antec 900 $110

$815 + monitor + tax + shipping - $75MIR

Probably about $200-300 under budget.
I went with the 720BE over the 940BE because there is no real difference in gaming between the two and when games do take advantage of multithread more the 720 still has 3 cores. http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3512 Benchmarks in games.
The system will allow you to crossfire two 4870s down the road. In a years time they should be around $100 mark. The Biostar board can be swapped out for the Gigabyte board at the cost of ~$45. To me its coke vs pespi or no-name vs coke etc. The user reviews are good for the board with the exception to board layout if your crossfire you'll have access to 1 PCI slot.

Heck, if your a gambling name the 720BE might have an unlockable 4th core anyways (although the chances are slim).

 

[antonin]

First:
What is the major difference between the 720BE and the 940BE?

Second:
Is it worth to pay extra for DDR2 1066 instead of DDR 800?

 

[antonin]

For gaming on a $1300 budget with monitor. Are you able to order from www.newegg.com?

I am not.

 

[MykC]

Where are you ordering from? Which country? Do you have links to a local shop or online retailer?

 

[antonin]

Where are you ordering from? Which country? Do you have links to a local shop or online retailer?

Belgium
http://www.loveno.be/

 

[aevm]

First:
What is the major difference between the 720BE and the 940BE?

Second:
Is it worth to pay extra for DDR2 1066 instead of DDR 800?

3 cores vs 4 cores. It won't matter in most games. It will matter in FSX, GTA4, compressing videos.

Yes, if the DDR2-1066 is only a few bucks more, like in the USA. It depends on your local prices.

 

[aevm]

I checked that Belgian site and found there's a difference of 27 euros between 4GB of OCZ DDR2-800 and 4GB of OCZ DDR2-1066. I'd get the DDR2-800 at these prices.

 

[antonin]

I came up with this:
+-1000€

AMD AM2 Phenom 64 II X4 940 quad-core 3,0GHz BOX € 219,90

Gigabyte AM2 GA-MA790GP-DS4H 5200 DDRII € 138,90

Sapphire ATI HD4850 512 MB DDR3 HDTV 2xDVI HDMI PCIe € 140,00

Kingston DDR2 4096MB 800MHz PC6400 CL5 (2*2GB) € 46,80

Western Digital 500GB Caviar GreenPower SATA II 16MB € 58,50

Corsair PSU TX ATX 650W 24P 12cm Fan V2.91 € 99,00
Antec Three Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case (geen voeding) € 54,90

Samsung SH-S223F DVDRW SATA 22x Zwart (+Nero) (Retail) € 29,05
Samsung 2343BW 23" 5ms TFT Breedbeeld (20000:1) Zwart € 199,00

 

[aevm]

Looks good.