First Gaming Build - AMD - $700-750 Budget

OR1G1N

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Oct 20, 2009
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hello guys, im new to this and with your help i've decided to build my own gaming rig. here it goes...



APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: by the end of October

BUDGET RANGE: 700-750 wouldn't mind if it were less than 700 either

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Movies, Music, Internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, amazon.com (im also open to others but i want reliable sources only please) thanks.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA (Los Angeles)

PARTS PREFERENCES: Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition

OVERCLOCKING: No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe?

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 19 inch monitor running at 1152x864

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: i want to be able to run games like americas army 3... would also like it to be easy to upgrade in the next 2-3 years.


here are some parts im interested in but need confirmation on compatibility and if it will be able to run americas army 3.


AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB $179.00

ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD $199.99

EVGA 01G-P3-1158-TR GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 $154.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 $89.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB &

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Combo Price: $99.98

TOTAL: $725


what else would i need besides the optical drive to run this? btw, would this build fit in an atx mid tower case? (i've read that some of these parts are rather big)

if you think my potential build is no good can you recommend me a build?

thanks in advance, your help would be much appreciated!
 

rockyjohn

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+1 ^ especially about going with AMD video. I personally prefer nVidia but with the AMD chipset for the mobo best to stick with AMD video as well

Here is a great mobo with the same for only $99.99 AR
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128398&Tpk=GA-MA790GPT-UD3H

Note that the second x16 slot is really only x8 but it will provide all the bandwidth that can be used by much faster video cards.

The 750w Corsair recommended by alikum is top flight, but you could save a little by going with the 700w version of his first link:

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W $69.99 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018

If at all possible, try to go with the larger PSU now. Then later you can essentially double your video power by dropping in the second card - the rest of the system already supports it.
 

OR1G1N

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Oct 20, 2009
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this is what im going with so far:


AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB - $179.00

SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP - $159.99

GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD - $114.99 ($15 MIR)

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 - $89.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB &

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Combo Price: $99.98

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready - $99.99 ($30 MIR)



a couple of questions...

im only interested in crossfiring, i'm barely learning about this and i dont want to screw up by attempting anything more than that. that being said, i am interested in crossfiring but not right now, maybe in 6 months to a year from now. does that makes sense or will my system be too old for me to take advantage of the crossfire capabilities? will an upgrade be easy with this rig in the next 2-3 years?

will my system run americas army 3 with this new build?


thanks for the help guys, much appreciated!
 

assasin32

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Apr 23, 2008
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Heres what I have come up with for your budget, hopefully you don't mind mail in rebates. If not I know you can easily shave off another $20 by cutting back on the ram a little bit which wouldn't really affect performance all that much.

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM : $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187

HIS H577F1GDG Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail : $160
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail : $110 ($90 after mail in)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.275104

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail : $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231279

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail : $120
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX - Retail
newegg show details : $180
combo discount -$30, mail in rebate -$10, Total $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273337

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive : $75
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail : $70
combo -$45, Total $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.273732

Subtotal: $733.92
After mail in rebates: $700.92

Was quite wierd trying to cram a quad core CPU into such a budget while maintaining the possibility of crossfire latter on. I'm actually quite impressed with what I came up with, the deals I found was better than what I expected. I mean $190 in instant/combo savings another $30 in mail in, and a free game and tool kit.
 

alikum

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Nov 28, 2008
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@OR1G1N
Yes, most likely you can run the game max out. The HD5770 can take everything you throw at it even at higher resolutions like 1920x1080 and your processor is rock solid. So I'd say it's quite a good deal. However, if you intend on upgrading to a higher end graphics card later down the road (which is not necessary because you can always do crossfire, but just IF), do consider assassin32's recommended power supply. Anything higher than HD5770 requires 2x 6-pin connector. The OCZ you have chosen comes with exactly two. That means you can get (for example) a HD5870 and that's it. You can't crossfire (can use adapters but not recommended) even though you have a crossfire motherboard. Down to the end, the choice is yours.

But by the look of things, I'd say crossfire 5770 is pretty much future proof for at least 2 years at your resolution all the way up to 1920x1080 :D
 

OR1G1N

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Oct 20, 2009
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ok, this will be my final order:


AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB - & - GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD
Combo Price: $274.98 ($15.00 MIR)

SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
$159.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2
$89.99


OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready
$99.99 ($30.00 MIR) PROMO CODE: 10% OFF OZSAVEOCT


Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB & COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Combo Price: $99.98

TOTAL: $635.00 minus the RAM


one final question on the RAM, am i looking for the lowest voltage and the highest (PC3 #####'s)? DDR2 or DDR3? which one should i go with?


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231179&Tpk=F3-10600CL9D-4GBPK
10600CL9D-4GBPK - $79.99

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227478
1333LV4GK - $90.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145
F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ - $89.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - $89.99


what OS would you recommend me to run with this rig?

btw, barring any problems im planning on purchasing everything by next week or so.

thanks for your help!