$1300-1400 AMD Gaming Rig

[Aurellius]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 8-14 days

BUDGET RANGE: $1300-$1400

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming...not much else

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg (US)

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD CPU, ATI GPU

OVERCLOCKING: Not initially, but later probably

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe in future

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I think I'm pretty set on everything I've picked out, I've been lurking on the forums for the past few weeks. I just need a few suggestions on a cooler, which i might not buy right away. I'll be looking at combo deals when I buy this so don't worry about recommending those for now as it'll be a good week or 2 before purchase date.

Monitor: ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor $229.99

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor $165.99

MOBO: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard $119.99

Video Card: ASUS EAH5850/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card $299.99

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $99.98

PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply $84.99

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK $109.99

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $54.99

DVD-RW: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 24X DVD-R SATA Black 24X DVD Writer LightScribe Support $28.99

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders $104.99

Total: $1,299.89

 

[lunyone]

Just a few suggestions/comments:

* I like your selection on the 955 BE!!
* The mobo is good too, but have you considered getting one with SATA 3 and USB 3.0 supported?
$103 shipped!
GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3 AM3 AMD 770 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128419
or w/o SATA 3/USB 3.0
$88 shipped - $10 MIRc = $78!!
GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

* GPU looks good to me!!
* Case is good, but has $20 in shipping! Have you considered the CM 690 case??
$90 shipped and has all that one would need
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

* The RAM set is okay, but runs at 1.65v. I prefer my RAM sticks to run at stock voltages (1.5v), so I'd recommend considering RAM sets that run at the stock voltage.
$94 shipped! Runs at 1.5v stock voltages too!
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

* OCZ PSU is fine, but I prefer Antec/Corsair/Seasonic/PCP&C/BFG. OCZ has been doing better with their PSU's since acquiring PCP&C.

* HD looks fine to me
* Good selection on the DVD burner, since it's retail, which means you get the software to read/burn DVDs!!
* OS is good too!

 

[Aurellius]

OK, so I went ahead and changed my RAM and case to what you suggested, so that dropped the price by about $30. I'm not too knowledgeable on the Sata 3 and USB 3.0 upgrades, are they significant game changers? Initially I didn't really think they would be so I went with the ASUS board as it has 2 PCIE slots. I really want to stick with the 790X Bridge, the only ones newegg has are Gigabyte and i thought I heard something about them not being true Sata3 and USB3, is there any truth to this?

 

[lunyone]

I haven't heard anything about them not being true SATA 3 or USB 3.0, but I could be wrong.
Personally I think you sitting quite well with a single GPU solution. I think SLI/X-fire is costly and isn't always the best for everyone. I think if you feel that your not getting good FPS, later down the road, you can just upgrade to the latest single GPU that you can afford. I'm sure by then the GPU's will be smoking past what you have today??

 

[DarkMantle]

With the ram change your build looks pretty good, i like the HAF 922 more but the CM 690 is a very good case too.

Only thing i could add to the changes is to go for the Phenom II x4 955 C3 stepping, is actually cheaper and overclocks better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

and change the PSU to a CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

I haven't really use that OCZ PSU but one of the most important parts of a PC is the PSU and for the $20 price difference a Corsair PSU is definitely a better choice, Corsair PSUs have never let me down.

For cooler the Cooler Master Hyper 212 is good, cheap and free shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&Tpk=cooler%20master%20212

Good luck.

 

[Aurellius]

Thanks for the input Dark, I was actually poking around newegg last night and noticed the same thing so I switched that already. I like the suggestions on the PSU and the cooler so I'm going with both of those. I think that does it for this build, so unless there are other suggestions, thanks to both of you for your replies and suggestions.