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[Solved] $800 - multitasking/gaming complete system 1st time build

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] $800 - multitasking/gaming complete system 1st time build

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Best answer from gkay09.

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This weekend (before Sunday ends)

BUDGET RANGE: $800 after rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: multitasking (running itunes, virtualizing ubuntu, encoding a movie, while working in word/excel, etc); gaming (right now only fallout 3); watching movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: I need everything except speakers.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Tigerdirect, newegg (just more expensive because of shipping/tax), any reputable dealer

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

PARTS PREFERENCES: None, best bang for the buck, period.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, never done it before, but I'd like to start getting into it (slowly)

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 (I like high resolution for work stuff - I can step it down for gaming if needed)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've never built my own system before. Please let me know if I need cables or if I've done something stupid in the build. I've tried to research everything to slap this together. I'd like to try to buy a case/PSU that will last a few builds.

Here's my best attempt:

AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model ADX620WFGIBOX - Retail $99.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103706

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL - Retail $78.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231274

MSI R4670-MD1G Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video $69.99 (not incl $30 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127440

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181

Rosewill Wind Ryder RZLS142A-P BK Dual 120mm Cooling Fans and Mesh Design Front Panel Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811147114

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified ... - Retail $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371015

Acer X233Hbid Black 23" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail $179.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009163

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118030

LITE-ON SK-1688U/B Black USB Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail $6.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823107128

Sunbeam FireLine MS-2011-BK-BL Black/Blue 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Illuminated Mouse - Retail $6.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6826178003

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $79.99 (not incl $10 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128392

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116754

Total build cost: $839.88 - $40.00 rebates = $799.88

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^ That is a good setup and that X4 620 is a solid option...
I would suggest these changes...
1. Have you checked this combo of that mobo and CPU ?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.272067

2. Change the PSU to this included in this combo with the OS...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.276413

3. Change to this monitor - Has the same resolution but smaller in size...and has free shipping too...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009175

4. CASE - Check out this cases with free shipping...might come to the same final price as that Rosewill...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129070

5. You should be wondering why I was saving much on other components...It is for this card...Eve though it has just 512MB compared to the 1GB of that 4670, this would be faster and better...
HD 4850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161297

But if you can get this card...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121351

Total - With 4850 - ~$780 after rebates...

Welcome to the forums.

Some suggestions:

This RAM will improve performance a tad
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

and this PSU will save you a few bucks
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k=550%20vx
or even this one, since you can't crossfire on that board
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139008

It's not going to be a gaming beast, but you did good with your money.

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Reply to jbakerlent

Best answer

Reply to gkay09

wow, fantastic suggestions, thank you. I changed the memory for the OCZ jbakerlent suggested. Then I took advantage of the MB/CPU combo as well as the PSU combo, case, cheaper monitor, and added the HD 5750.

~~Total - $803.90 - $45 rebates = 758.90.~~ (plus 1/2 the shipping costs, thanks to the helpful free shipping suggestions)

oops, I left out the harddrive in that total. With the HD5750 the total is $862.38 - $45 rebates = $817.38. But it sounds like it's worth busting my budget by $17.38 to go with the HD5750 over the 4670 right?

Message edited by reflous on 10-25-2009 at 05:58:55 PM

Reply to reflous

Maybe a HD 5770 ? and that too with Free Shipping...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102858

And maybe this HDD -
Samsung F3 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152185

But if you feel that the above setup will satisfy your needs, then hold on to that $40...
Go with the above graphics card only if you have plans to play intense games at high settings...

Message edited by gkay09 on 10-25-2009 at 08:48:48 AM

Reply to gkay09

how about this PII 550 X2 BE+same mb combo?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.272089

Reply to Daggs

It's sort of a trade off since you're encoding and gaming

Encoding
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipse [...] i=3638&p=4

Gaming
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipse [...] i=3638&p=8

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Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - [Solved] $800 - multitasking/gaming complete system 1st time build