Will my budet gaming PC for $750 be worthy? Should I take the plunge?

MrRabbit

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Sep 7, 2009
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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Tomorrow! (or ASAP if you guys find me better options)

BUDGET RANGE: This build is $750 w/ shipping from Newegg, I'd like to stay below $800...

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming first and foremost, media viewing is a secondary concern.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: I have a decent 17'' Dell LCD monitor (model w1700) and an OK 2.1 speaker system, but I usually wear my gaming headgear. The monitor will be my next upgrade, around Christmas I'd guess. If a good, cheap gaming mouse/ keyboard is out there I'd grab it up, but it looks like Newegg has a few sub $15 options that will satisfy me.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I'm a Newegg fan through and through, but I will rule nothing out if it is cheaper!

PARTS PREFERENCES: I have a 160GB HDD that I would like to raid with the new HDD I buy for this rig. I also went with an AMD CPU over Intel after much deliberation.

OVERCLOCKING:
Easier the better, I'm amateurish in this regard.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe in the future, but not for now so it's a low priority.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280 x 768 with my current monitor, but this is my next planned upgrade

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I tried to find the plateau of price + performance, how do you guys think I did? How can I improve this before I pull the trigger (hopefully tomorrow)?

Well here's the guts!

CPU
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397

MEMORY
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189

VIDEO CARD
XFX HD-487A-ZHDC Radeon HD 4870 1GB XXX 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150395

HDD
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

POWER
Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W ATX12V v2.01 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182030

CASE
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

OPTICAL
LITE-ON 22X DVD Writer Black IDE Model iHAP422-98 LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106328

COOLER Do I need this??
Scythe SCANG-1000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185082

So how'd I do? was the 3x core the right way to go? Is the DDR3 the way to go? I feel pretty good about this but I'd feel a lot better with some input from you guys, good, bad, whatever! I just want to hear the truth about my potential rig... Thanks in advance!
 
G

Guest

Guest
Rosewill is not the best company to be getting a PSU from. Mierin is right. Try some of these PSUs:

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail - $69.99 - $20MIR = $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT 550W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail - $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151027

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail - $109.99 (more than the 650W because its modular)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001

Plus you could do better with a SATA DVD drive such as:
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM - $30.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187

If you really want lightscribe though you can get this for $1 more.
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188
 

MrRabbit

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Sep 7, 2009
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The SeaSonic S12 PSU looks like it would work for me with its 2 x 6 pin PCI-Express connector, and I don't NEED the lightscribe, but it does look pretty useful, so it looks like that Samsung will be the winner for me.

Thanks!
 
G

Guest

Guest
Also your cpu cooler is good but you can do better for a few extra dollars.
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail - $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail - $39.99 (w/ $15MIR) The thing I like about this is that it comes with some good thermal paste.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004

Edit:^+1 for dirtmountain and he is right about not needing a cooler unless you are going to overclock.
 

MrRabbit

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I do intend to EXPLORE overclocking.. Do you think I have a good rig for this? I'm sorta new to the idea, my last (and only other) build was about 7 years ago and I wasn't very comfortable with overclocking. I think it's gotten to the point where it's not THAT risky anymore.. so the cooler would be a good idea if I were to try overclocking then?
 

MrRabbit

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Sep 7, 2009
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The Sunbeam CR-CCTF looks like a good fit for me. Do you think I would put it to good use overclocking this setup? From what I understand it won't be THAT difficult.. I hope.
 

MrRabbit

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Sep 7, 2009
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Well that is just a shockingly perfect article for my needs. That's awesome. I saddens me that it took me so long to become a member of this site.

Thanks!
 

MrRabbit

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Sep 7, 2009
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Also, does this PSU fit my Video Card? The card needs 2 x 6 pin power connection and the PSU advertises 1 x 6 pin and 1 x 6+2 pin. That's the same thing right? I think I'm good with this choice... just wanna be sure.
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 $54.95 Free Shipping*
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10009795 $71.99 ($46.99 after MIR) Free Shipping
OCZ OCZ550FTY 550W Active Power Supply Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=I5-750BOX Combo Price: $314.99 $15 off with P55 combo purchase w/code OMGi5COMBO $299.99 Free Shipping
Part#:MB-P55M-D2 | GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 Socket 1156/ Intel P55/ DDR3/ CrossFireX/ A&GbE/ MATX Motherboard
Part#:I5-750BOX | Intel Core i5 Processor i5-750 2.66GHz 8MB LGA1156 CPU, Retail

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4950633&CatId=4749 $19.99
Cooler Master RR-910-HTX3-GP Hyper TX3 CPU Cooler - 92mm, LGA 1156, 775, AMD 754, 939, 940, AM2, AM3

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=FAN-MX2 $4.49
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.256275 Combo Discount: -$15.00 Combo Price: $219.98 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
Dual Channel Intel Core i5 & Core i7 CPU for P55 motherboard
SAPPHIRE 100279-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $74.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010832 $31.99 Free Shipping
SAMSUNG SH-S223B 22X SATA DVD Burner Black Drive Bulk

Total: $778.37 | $753.37 w/mail in rebates

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677 $109.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM | Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon
 
$565.64 inluding $15.72 ship and less $40 MIR for ultimate price/performance?
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For budget systems no point going DDR3 for AMD is there is no performance gains going from DDR2 to DDR3 hehe
 

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