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Building $900 AMD Gaming Computer

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Building $900 AMD Gaming Computer

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Hello,

So I've been researching this for roughly 3 weeks on various boards and I've come up with a general parts list for my potential new gaming computer:

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX
+
GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.182106

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231189

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102801

PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703005

COOLER MASTER RC-690
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136152

Approximate purchase date: Within the next month

Budget Range: $800-900 USD. Maybe $950

System Usage: Gaming and watching movies

Parts not required: Monitor, keyboard, mouse.

Overclocking: Yes

Monitor resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Acer H233H 23" Monitor)

Overall it puts me at $828.90 before rebates. I'm pretty sure on my processor, hd, case, and burner choices. I'm not entirely set on my mobo, gpu, ram, psu, and cooler choices yet however. I do plan to do some overclocking (cpu, gpu) but at this moment in time, I do not think I'm going to want to crossifre. In the mean time, will these parts be compatible with eachother and are there any more optimal solutions?

Thanks

Add a reply

All good choices, except for the PSU. The PSU you chose is very high quality, but its kinda in an awkward spot for your system. A decent 500w PSU would be good for your system, like the PC P&C 500w Silencer, or maybe check out the OCZ StealthXstream 600w PSU (about the same quality as the 500w PCP&C) or maybe a Corsair 550vx. If you want to xfire later with another 4870 down the road, then you should be looking at a 700-750w PSU. PC P&C silencer 750w, or a Corsair 750tx would be the best options there.

------------------------------ Asus P6T & i7 920 @ 3.6ghz
GTX 260 Core 216
6gb 1443MHZ 7-7-7-18 1T OCZ Platinum
CM RC-690, CM V8 HSF
Reply to xthekidx

If you have $900 to spend, why dontcha get i7+HD4850 or even hd4870? Really should be within reach if you stick to only 3gb ram and value case/psu

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to gedoe_

For $900 he would have to get very basic i7 parts, it would require cutting too many corners IMO to make it worth it. Upgradability would be reduced.

------------------------------ Asus P6T & i7 920 @ 3.6ghz
GTX 260 Core 216
6gb 1443MHZ 7-7-7-18 1T OCZ Platinum
CM RC-690, CM V8 HSF
Reply to xthekidx

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341022 $69.99
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Reply to Why_Me

gedoe_ wrote :

If you have $900 to spend, why dontcha get i7+HD4850 or even hd4870? Really should be within reach if you stick to only 3gb ram and value case/psu

that might be in the budget but it would not be as good a gamer as the OP's first choice and I dont think he wants to buy a computer he has to upgrade beofre its any good for him .

I like the original power supply , but I'd spend the rest of the budget upgrading to a 4890 gfx card . That way theres be no need to consider xfire in the near future

Reply to Outlander_04

Thanks for all the input guys!

So upon further consideration, I think I will scratch the HD 4870 and go with the XFX Radeon HD 4890. This one seems to be the highest rated on Newegg.

Thanks for the PSU suggestions as well! I'm stuck now on deciding whether to get the OCZ Fatal1ty 550 or the Corsair 550vx now. It seems the big difference between the two are that the OCZ has 2 +12V rails and is modular, whereas the Corsair is not modular and only has 1 +12V rail. Can anyone tell me how that difference affects my build?

Reply to inishoc

A single 12V rail can be better in some circumstances . Imagine you have 2 x 25 watt rails and 3 x 15 amp devices which wont run

versus 1 x 50 amp rail which will run 3 x 15 amp devices .

I would go back to your original psu for a 4890 rig . It gives you some overhead , and because its not running even close to its max power then it will be cooler and quieter
600 - 650 watt would be plenty

Also great is the corsair 650 tx for $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] sair%20650

PS . the 4890 was released DAYS ago so the reviews are very short term . All the 4890's will probably be identical reference designs made by ATI and rebadged by XFX , Sapphire etc . Buy the cheapest one , or the one with the best game bundle IMO

Message edited by Outlander_04 on 04-17-2009 at 08:31:41 AM

Reply to Outlander_04

+1 for the Corsair 650TX

Though the psu you originally chose is excellent as well.

Message edited by irkjab on 04-17-2009 at 08:39:32 AM

Alright I'm pretty sold on the 650TX. I actually initially chose that for my build but for whatever reason I switched it with a PC P&C later, I forgot why.

The only thing I'm still deciding on right now is which HD 4890 card I'm going to get.

Thanks again for the help!

Reply to inishoc

XFX has a double lifetime warranty, which is pretty nice. I think it covers overclocking burnouts as well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150359

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by xthekidx on 04-17-2009 at 09:16:27 AM

------------------------------ Asus P6T & i7 920 @ 3.6ghz
GTX 260 Core 216
6gb 1443MHZ 7-7-7-18 1T OCZ Platinum
CM RC-690, CM V8 HSF
Reply to xthekidx

Ah sweet. Guess I'll just go with that then.

Thanks a lot everybody!

Reply to inishoc

xthekidx wrote :

XFX has a double lifetime warranty, which is pretty nice. I think it covers overclocking burnouts as well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150359

Good point

game bundle , price and WARRANTY

Reply to Outlander_04

Everything looks good. That PSU should be enough, but if a comparable Corsair, FSP, or Antec was on sale don't pass that up. You could save a few bucks by going with the DDR2 model of that board and DDR2 RAM, but considering your current choices aren't too much more I'd say it's worth it to go with the DDR3 setup. While phenom IIs will continue to support DDR2, the next generation will be DDR3 only and thus not work in DDR2 boards.

Reply to megamanx00

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