540 US$ Gaming/Everything Computer

[akash3656]

Yo, I haven't be here since a long time.... I'm doing 'plannings' for a new computer because my current one is having issues that probably can be fixed by buying new mobo, but I'm my current computer is old [Pentium 4] so whats the use buying a new motherboard?

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: I'm not buying yet.... But please use the current prices.
BUDGET RANGE: US$500-540)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Windows 7 (DUH!), Gaming, Adobe CS4, gaming, internet, BD and DVD rips of movies, office use, etc.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Hard disk, DVD-Burner, keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS).

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.newegg.com and other trusted retailers.... Coz a lot if the parts I selected is deactivated in newegg...

PARTS PREFERENCES: NO NVIDIA graphic card [had 4 of them from different friends spoil in a span of 2 years] and SLIGHTLY biased to AMD CPU because of current Socket 775 situation... HELP!

OVERCLOCKING: Don't know at present but wanna try it out. (a.k.a. Yes)
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: CONFIRM NO

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Well, depends on the monitor you guys choose.... Can a 4770/4850 handle 1920*1080 res in todays games.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Silence when using it. If you use a Pentium 4 computer, you will then understand how people with old machines suffer....... it goes vooooommmm........... BTW, I don't want to waste cash on super silent computer, neither do I want a Pentium 4 Noise maker.

I actually select parts for computers for friends... But I am not too sure about my own computer...
Here are some parts i choosed earlier....

AMD

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor - Retail [Deactivated]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103648&Tpk=phenom%20ii%20x3%20710

Mobo:GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail [Deactivated]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379

INTEL

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7400 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380&Tpk=gigabyte%20ga-ep43-ud3l

RAM: 2 of Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N6/2G - Retail (Feel free to change this one here coz I'm not too sure)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134636

The rest:
Graphic Card: A HD 4850 or HD 4770??? Which one???? I head the 4770 is cooler, efficient, high OC-er. But I know 4850 isn't that bad.

The 4770: SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835

The 4850: SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

Case: I will buy a basic case don't worry....

Bringing over Seagate 500GB 7200.11 (RMA-ed twice)+ Maxtor 80 GB IDE, Hard Disk, LG 20X DVD-burner, 2.1 Speaker from old machine....

Also could you guys recommend a good power case + monitor... Thx...
And then should I go AMD or Intel... (Thought of AMD also coz of unlocking 4th core.)
Please don't be shy to change everything I listed.. except putting Nvidia Graphic cards in the list.

 

[gkay09]

These would be the changes...

CPU - X3 720 - Unlocked multiplier - easy overclock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

RAM -
Crucial 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 CAS 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148149

or go dual channel with this pair
Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148194

Graphics card - The HD 4850 @ stock is little faster than the stock HD 4770...
But both would not be very much suitable for 1080p, if you are an intense gamer
If budget allow, then HD 4870 1GB for about $144 for sure...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394

And PSU = ??
I would suggest this...
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W
$59.99
($39.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

 

[gkay09]

Monitor - Stick with the current monitor till you get more money and get this one...
ASUS VH222H Black 21.5" 2ms HDMI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

 

[akash3656]

Problem with that monitor is its 1920*1080. Not what a 4770/4850 would do well. I will see if I can get a 4870. My current monitor is a shitty CRT thats giving colour issues...... So I may actually need a monitor before the CPU.
Thx but DDR 3 a little high for me.. I know its only a few bucks more but I dont wanna use up money there..... Was thinking about my monitor....

And OH MY GOD! 4870 is SO DAMN FREAKING CHEAP IN NEWEGG..... Actually I'm from Malaysia.... and i was suprised how cheap the 4870 is at US. we pay like 50-100+ $ for the same darn model!

And AMAZINGLY the 780 G chipset I choose as mobo is cheaper than the non-DDR3 770G model you choose in my country. There is a big difference in 780 G (when the were active) with 770 G in price in US. But the 780G is actually cheaper than 770 G.

 

[gkay09]

Well then you can get a monitor with 1680X1050/ 1440X900 and stick with the HD 4850...
And as for the mobo, if you want to have a go @ core unlocking, then you should be looking at the 770/ 780/ 790X/ 790GX mobo with south-bridge 710/ 750 as they only have the ACC option that can unlock cores...

 

[akash3656]

I know about the 710/750 southbridge. That is why i choose the GA-MA78GM-US2H which is 780/SB 710. Thx for your help.... I think I will try to squeeze these:
CPU: Phenom II X3 720 BE
RAM: 2*2 GB DDR II 800 Mhz
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H [Coz im avoiding DDR3 due to more money and the MA770-UD3 has no SB710]
GPU: XFX 4770/4870
Monitor: 20" 1600*900 OR 22" 1680*1050

SO um, guys if I can't buy the 4870, should I go for 4770 and OC it /4850? Which one?

And can give me some recommendations on monitors... I'm totally blur there....

 

[gkay09]

^ Well I feel that instead of the X3 720, get the X2 550BE...It will also perform very well in games and you would have money left to buy a powerful graphics card...And X2 550 are known for their easy core unlocking too...

 

[godless]

im not sure how much the GA-MA78GM-US2H costs, but there is a newer version called the GA-MA785GM-US2H that has the 785G/sb710 chipsets. it costs 80dollars at newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394

there is also the MSI with same chipsets. good thing about this board is that the sata ports are not going to be block by a graphics card. In the gigabyte some will. the drawback here is that the msi board has only two memory slots. so upgrade would be more difficult.

drawback of the Gigabyte board is that it need 8pin cpu power supply connector. not the regular 4-pin. a lot of psu don't have the 8-pin. so make sure that your psu would. in good news. you don't actually need the 8-pin. i got mine to work with just the 4-pin placed in lower 4 pins.

 

[godless]

sorry, here's the link to the msi board. it costs 75 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130237

 

[akash3656]

Thx but I have not so good experience with MSI boards.... I wanna skip them. In my country 785G and 770G chipsets are overpriced...

BTW, just wondering the SB 710 is any good... I mean in AHCI and RAID? (dont need RAID) Coz my current board has crappy SATA interface.