First time build, 800ish

[Mantren]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2 weeks-month BUDGET RANGE: Looking to sit around 800 for parts, but this is flexible. At about 880 in this setup, looking to drop it a little.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, video, music, surfing.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, monitor, mouse. Suggestions for KB/mouse won't be turned away and wouldn't be included in machine price.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.

PARTS PREFERENCES: No preference as to brand.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe in future. SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe in future.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050 would be ideal for best performance.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Using Tecmo34's budget AMD Phenom II as a base, had to change to a different video card due to his card being deactivated. This is mainly going to be a WOW playing machine but also a gaming machine that could handle current games like Fallout 3, CS:S, Mass Effect, etc. on higher settings. Longevity and upgradeability are also preferred.

PARTS

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail

HSF: Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail

GPU: GIGABYTE GV-R485MC-1GI Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Blu-ray: LITE-ON Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal 4X Blu-ray Reader Model iHOS104-06 - OEM

CASE: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

 

[Proximon]

That's a nice optical reader, but it burns nothing

HP retail DVD burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140034

If you can afford it, an AM3 (DDR3) build is a bit better investment. DDR3 is likely to be around for a while and so be useful for a while. DDR2 will only go up in price from here on and will be hard to match or replace next year.

Gigabyte AM3 790X and 720BE combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273353

Some DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227324
You don't need 1600 really but you never know what the future holds and the price is decent.

Personally I don't find the 4850 adequate at 1680x1050. Everyone has different standards, and I'm speaking subjectively here.

If you did get a 4870 1GB though, you would need to upgrade your PSU choice as well, for crossfire....

XFX 4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150436

Antec TP-750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371022



Did you notice this?????? This may be a mistake, you may want to buy these two right now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273732
I might need to get one of those deals......

 

[snurp85]

*GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3R LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - $420 combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.270433
-- The 860 is just as good as the 720, but will save you money on the Mobo and RAM

*mushkin HP 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996652 - $75 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146868

* SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100269VXLE Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - $175 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102848

*Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

*Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129066

*OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

*SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151188

* Stock Fan will work fine if you dont overclock, and can be replaced later on when you get $45. I would suggest this one tho:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029

For the power supply, anything over 500 watts will work and also from Corsair, Thermaltake, OCZ, or PC. And for the dvd+rw, any brand will work for the most part.


Total Price: $850 after mail in rebates with stock fan $895 with cpu fan/heatsink

This might be a little more than what you wanted to spend, however the performance difference for a mere $50 is huge. If you are going to spend $800 on an amd, you might as well spend 850 for an intel i7. amd better if you were to spend in the range of $600.

 

[overshocks]

^ You all forgot the operating system.
OP, do you need one? You did not specify.

^snurp85, that's a big fail for RAM. "Voltage 1.7V - 1.8V"
Your other links don't work. You must have copied from someone else's post I suppose. And you don't need 4890 for 1680x1050 with his budget.


And that PSU is not enough because OP said "SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe in future. "

Here's a build. Without O.S

Video card 4850 512mb $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

MOBO + RAM Combo Price: $244.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.264218

hard drive $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181


heatsink $29.99 (you said maybe overclocking)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

case + power supply Combo Price: $139.94 (enough juice for future crossfire another 4850 in future)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.265980


Optical drive $28.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

i5 750 $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

TOTAL: $828.86 BEFORE REBATE

Motherboard supports SLI and Crossfire.
This build owns any previous ones suggested. Note: i5 750 dominates all AMD CPUs.

 

[dark_lord69]

My suggestions:

The video Card:
PowerColor 4870 - $110.99 -Look at that price! This card is FAST!!

http://www.eworldsale.com/powercolor-ax4870-1gbd5-pph-pcs-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-gddr5-pci-express-20_5882_29335.html

(I believe the 4890 is still overpriced) This card (4870) is the better bang for your buck!

Blu-Ray Drive:
Only spend money on a blu-ray drive if you are going to watch movies on it. The one you chose can't burn blu-rays and PC games WILL NOT be on blu-ray for years.

Motherboard: $69.99
You can save some money if you can pass on having 2 PCIe 16X ports.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392
I also suggest using DDR3 since DDR2 is near the end of it's life cycle.

Memory:
DDR3 1333 CL8 or less
snurp85 - Specified some nice memory

CPU:
I would spend a bit more...
Get either a X4 945:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=HDX945WFBX&c=pw
OR an X4 955 Black:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674
Reason for spending more... You won't be kicking yourself for spending a few extra and getting a quad core with a high clock rate. Games may not take full advantage of 4 cores now... but they will soon enough. I know for sure that the 955 Black will overclock to 3.8 Ghz without messing with the voltage. (FYI, if you do overclock I suggest you DO get the nice fan and heatsink you were looking at and don't just stick with the one AMD gives you in the retail box.)

Case:
I would save a few bucks and get the Antec 300

Fan/Heatsink & PowerSupply & HDD:
All of what you chose for these are good options!

 

[overshocks]

"Memory:
DDR3 1333 CL8 or less
snurp85 - Specified some nice memory "

No, he didn't. Did you read my post? ^snurp85, that's a big fail for RAM. "Voltage 1.7V - 1.8V"


Why you suggesting him to get a AMD build when I suggest a way better build of i5? Since i5>all amd cpus

 

[dark_lord69]

Side note: The i5 and the i7 are faster than the AMD processors but they also cost more for both the CPU and the motherboard.

 

[dark_lord69]

Overshocks is right about the memory.. I missed that.

 

[Mantren]

At work so this will be short. I don't really burn anything much anymore, so a blu-ray player would be sufficient. The original 880$ parts including Windows Vista 64bit with 7 coupon, my fault for not specifying an OS is needed. But that can be a seperate cost. 1680x1050 is merely nothing more than that is what my current WOW ui is set to run for, and I suck at messing with ui's.

 

[Proximon]

DVD burners might not seem important until you don't have one and need to make a boot disk

Still a USB thumb drive will probably suffice.

 

[overshocks]

Side note: The i5 and the i7 are faster than the AMD processors but they also cost more for both the CPU and the motherboard.

Agree, but the performance is worth awhile that's why I suggested it.

 

[overshocks]

At work so this will be short. I don't really burn anything much anymore, so a blu-ray player would be sufficient. The original 880$ parts including Windows Vista 64bit with 7 coupon, my fault for not specifying an OS is needed. But that can be a seperate cost. 1680x1050 is merely nothing more than that is what my current WOW ui is set to run for, and I suck at messing with ui's.

So are you saying you are going with my i5 750 build or the others AMD build?
Note: i5 750 performance is much great for just a little price increase than the low-med end amd cpus others suggested.

I could cut down on the p55 mobo into a cheaper one.

 

[Mantren]

I might go with an i5 if I can get the overall price a little lower. I've been pricing out an HD 4870 and a blu ray player. A burner is unnecessary, should have one or plenty laying around I could throw in if needed. I'm still shooting for an 800$ number before the OS.

 

[overshocks]

I might go with an i5 if I can get the overall price a little lower. I've been pricing out an HD 4870 and a blu ray player. A burner is unnecessary, should have one or plenty laying around I could throw in if needed. I'm still shooting for an 800$ number before the OS.

My i5 750 build is before $800.. (after rebates)..without O.S like you said..
you missed the rebate part?
blue ray player is unnecessary really, do you play blu ray movies, they so expensive.. you probably watch them on the internet...
so it's not worth the price..seeing it's usually over 100 or so... to get a decent one

here it is again.

Here's a build. Without O.S

Video card 4850 512mb $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

MOBO + RAM Combo Price: $244.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.264218

hard drive $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181


heatsink $29.99 (you said maybe overclocking)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

case + power supply Combo Price: $139.94 (enough juice for future crossfire another 4850 in future)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.265980


Optical drive $28.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

i5 750 $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

TOTAL: $828.86 BEFORE REBATE
TOTAL: $798.87 AFTER REBATES AND SAVINGS

Motherboard supports SLI and Crossfire.
This build owns any previous ones suggested. Note: i5 750 dominates all AMD CPUs.

 

[Mantren]

Revised build. Using some of column a and some of column b. As long as the blu-ray player plays, I'm ok with that. Managed to fit the i5 with a cheaper mobo/ram combo and use the HD 4870. Removed the heat sink. Would I need an extra fan or the heat sink in this setup ?

Case and HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273732

GPU
ASUS EAH4870 DK/HTDI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4870 Dark Knight 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

PSU
Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Retail

CPU
Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

Optical
LITE-ON Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal 4X Blu-ray Reader Model iHOS104-06 - OEM

Mobo/RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.264223

 

[overshocks]

^That video card sucks as opposed to Sapphire because it blows air inside the case. Sapphire blows it OUTside AND it's cheaper

you said you removed the heatsink, are you overclocking?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102849

That mobo doesn't support crossfire at x8 x8, so if you are planning to crossfire later, that's a problem

any reason you getting that PSU? planning to crossfire?
its a nice PSU for the price..pretty much best

That ram isn't good 1866mhz with 9-9-9-24 latencies..

all you need is 1600mhz 7-7-7-24, performance will be better.

I found a better Mobo and RAM combo, UD4P+1600mhz 7-7-7-24
$30 dollars more because of mobo, different RAM but it's better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.264218


everything else is fine..i guess

 

[Mantren]

The sapphire was the original 4870 I looked at, and is actually slightly more expensive due to the ASUS having a mail in rebate, but just splitting hairs there.

And that's the orginal Mobo/ram you mentioned.

Wouldn't need to overclock right out of the box, which is why I removed the heatsink -30$.

The 750 looks to just be a better deal right now, with the option to CF later if I chose.

The ram latency is where you lose me, I'll take your word that 1600 is fine.

 

[overshocks]

The sapphire was the original 4870 I looked at, and is actually slightly more expensive due to the ASUS having a mail in rebate, but just splitting hairs there.

And that's the orginal Mobo/ram you mentioned.

Wouldn't need to overclock right out of the box, which is why I removed the heatsink -30$.

The 750 looks to just be a better deal right now, with the option to CF later if I chose.

The ram latency is where you lose me, I'll take your word that 1600 is fine.

Well, I could show you some statistics about the latencies with site links.
Let's give you an example for you to understand better.
1600MHZ 7-7-7-24 vs 2000MHZ 9-9-9-24
The performance is SAME/ VERY VERY CLOSE, less than 5% difference for sure.
Most times the 1600MHZ win the race because of the lower latencies. Also, it's cheaper.


"And that's the orginal Mobo/ram you mentioned."
No, my mobo+ram is different...its the UD4P + 1600mhz 7-7-7-24

 

[Mantren]

The mobo/ram you used is the same in all 3 of your posts, the one I came up with in the revised build is different. That's what I meant.

 

[overshocks]

The mobo/ram you used is the same in all 3 of your posts, the one I came up with in the revised build is different. That's what I meant.

Oops I made an error, yes you're correct mines the same.
Good luck on your build.
dont forget to change the RAM to 1600 7-7-7-24
and mobo if you are willing to pay extra