$600 ish dollar build, please review

[jeremys73]

Hi All,

I'm building a computer for my fiance and we need to keep it in the $600 range. Pretty much whatever we go with will be an upgrade but we want to get the best deal we can so if I've missed anything or if there's any not too expensive upgrades I've missed any input will be appreciated.

Here's what I have so far, mostly taken from other suggestions I've seen on the boards here. We're not looking to overclock and will be used mostly for games (wow) and web browsing, no monitor needed.

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.183511

GIGABYTE GA-MA780G-UD3H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128382

SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.183511

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.178069

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.178069

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231246

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

 

[bmuell]

Since you don't need the onboard graphics, this board would be just as good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

Everything looks fantastic otherwise.

Are you planning to play any new games on it? If so, I'd recommend a jump to the ATI 4850. But depending on the resolution of your monitor, the 4830 should run anything that came out already at acceptable settings.

 

[aevm]

I can't improve that build for the same money. Excellent job

I tried to add them up to see if you have room in the budget. I think you could squeeze in an upgrade to this combo, but I'm not sure:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.180876
(same CPU but with HD 4850 instead of HD 4830)

Mind you, the HD 4830 is enough for WoW.

 

[bilboe]

+1 for bmuell's suggestion about the motherboard.

Also, I would go for the Antec Earthwatts 650 watt PSU, as you may need the extra wattage. Even with your combo deal, it only adds $20.

Besides that, great build!

Good luck!

-Bilbo

 

[aevm]

Since you don't need the onboard graphics, this board would be just as good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

Everything looks fantastic otherwise.

Are you planning to play any new games on it? If so, I'd recommend a jump to the ATI 4850. But depending on the resolution of your monitor, the 4830 should run anything that came out already at acceptable settings.

LOL, I hadn't seen your post yet when I posted mine. Great minds think alike

Your idea about the MB would save the OP $25. The two motherboards seem to have pretty much the same features too.
However, he may need to do a BIOS upgrade, according to this:
http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2978#anchor_os

With the MB he has selected he's getting support for the X3 720 right away.
http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2978#anchor_os

I have no idea how easy it is to do that BIOS upgrade, so I can't say if it's worth $25 or not to avoid it. Also, the MB may arrive with a newer BIOS version already.

 

[bilboe]

LOL, I hadn't seen your post yet when I posted mine. Great minds think alike

Your idea about the MB would save the OP $25. The two motherboards seem to have pretty much the same features too.
However, he may need to do a BIOS upgrade, according to this:
http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2978#anchor_os

With the MB he has selected he's getting support for the X3 720 right away.
http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2978#anchor_os

I have no idea how easy it is to do that BIOS upgrade, so I can't say if it's worth $25 or not to avoid it. Also, the MB may arrive with a newer BIOS version already.

If the MB doesnt recognize the CPU, flashing the BIOS on a Gigabyte is easy. Download the file from Gigabyte, stick it on a floppy disk, and select "Enter Q-Flash" or something on the BIOS.

It should already come with that bios version, though.

-Bilbo

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

Here is a build I just did for a friend that is gaming oriented. I overclocked the CPU to 3.6Ghz and each video card to 680/1050 and could go further with the overclocks too. While the CPU is only a dualcore, at 3.6Ghz+ it will be plenty fast for awhile and the extra 4830 will give a nice boost in games. Your build is good too though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233001

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157143

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152112

2 of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

 

[jeremys73]

Thanks for the suggestions. The overclocking build looks good but since I've never done it and don't really have the time to mess with it at the moment (new house to get moved into and a wedding to plan) I'm going to go with the build I have with a few changes. I swapped out the motherboard for the cheaper one and upgraded to the 4850. The graphics card was the one thing I was wanting to upgrade so it didn't take much convincing, especially after saving some on the motherboard. We'll be buying the parts monday so hopefully by the weekend it will be up and running.

 

[bmuell]

Great man, that will be one solid rig!

 

[jeremys73]

Ok, so I put everything together, hit the power button and nothing happens. I've never had this happen before in my admittedly limited computer building carreer. I checked to make sure everything is plugged in, which it looks to be and the outlet I've plugged into is working. I'm going to check again but does anyone have thoughts where I should look? Is it a dead power supply? The computer does nothing when I hit the power button, maybe I plugged the power button in wrong.

 

[aevm]

There's an on/off button on the back of the PSU, did you try that one too?

 

[batuchka]

Free shipping and after MIR comes to $663.88

 

[jeremys73]

There's an on/off button on the back of the PSU, did you try that one too?

Yes, I've tried the on/off button as well.

 

[jeremys73]

Well, after rechecking the connections I figured out the problem, surprise, it was me Turns out the power switch was connected backwards, once I switched it around it turned on just fine. Now to install the OS and marvel at the relative awesomeness of the new system compared to the old one.

 

[Gin Fushicho]

Less on the harddrive more on the power supply , you've got a tri core dude , and a 4850. x3