Bargin Build budget with Gamer Build Aspirations

[Mohgreen]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 90 days (after Taxes come in) BUDGET RANGE: $600-800 approx

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT:Gaming (World of Warcaft mostly), internet & netflix

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, keyboard, mouse, otherwise planning on a Brand new machine from the ground up, including OS pref 64bit

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: no preference, newegg is where I've ordered before COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: none. Full Size Case for upgrading ease

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe (I haven't read nearly enough to try this anytime soon)

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, but single card for now

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've been poking at the various build guides, and clicking back and forth on links to supplies for the last 2-3 days and one concern I've got in a noisy machine. I will normally be playing online at night after the kids go to bed, so a set up w/ noisy fans/video cards that sound like jet engines is bad.

I was looking at the Bargin Build in the "Recommended Builds by Usage" section and this seems to fit my price point pretty well, but I'd like to try and spend a bit more to upgrade a few parts in order to make it more upgradeable over the long haul.

So I guess the question is, is there a motherboard/processor combo that I can use now, that I can swap out the processor with a i7 920 (or equivalent) later when the price is affordable? or am I just stuck w/ saving up and buying the i7 and motherboard now?



CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706&cm_re=Athlon_X4_620-_-19-103-706-_-Product - 95.99
MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813131402 - 119.99
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193 - 104.99
HSF: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835207004 - 39.99
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181 - 54.99
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 - 89.99
GPU:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447- 169.99
DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030 - 27.99
Case: Antec 300 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-042-_-Product - 59.99

763.91, not including tax, shipping, variables prices. Over my low end hopes, but less than my high end limit on prices.

 

[zach538467]

The i7-920 is the cheapest 1366 CPU available right now. You could use an 1156 mobo with an i3-i5 and upgrade to an i7-860 later, but from the rumor mills a quad core is the highest the 1156 socket will ever see.

As for a quiet build, speaking generally a larger case will be quieter. There are also cases that are insulated to reduce noise, although the prices will start going up

 

[MadAdmiral]

The i7-920, mobo and RAM will cost you close to $500-600 by itself, so it's out of the question.

The i5 is even iffy on that budget.

You should be looking at AMD with your budget and desire to upgrade later.

 

[Mohgreen]

The i7-920 is the cheapest 1366 CPU available right now. You could use an 1156 mobo with an i3-i5 and upgrade to an i7-860 later, but from the rumor mills a quad core is the highest the 1156 socket will ever see.

As for a quiet build, speaking generally a larger case will be quieter. There are also cases that are insulated to reduce noise, although the prices will start going up

Ya I was afraid of that. I just wasn't sure if I wasn't finding the right processor/upgrade path out of ignorance or what. Thanks tho

 

[Mohgreen]

The i7-920, mobo and RAM will cost you close to $500-600 by itself, so it's out of the question.

The i5 is even iffy on that budget.

You should be looking at AMD with your budget and desire to upgrade later.

Ya, I had a feeling that High End was out of reach as an upgrade path, but figured it didn't hurt to ask Any suggestions on an AMD MB/Processor w/ a long upgrade path?

 

[MadAdmiral]

Any AM3 CPU and AM3 (NOT AM3/AM2+) board will give you a great upgrade path.

For low budget builds, I generally recommend the Athlon X4 620 and Asus M4A79XTD EVO. That board is in a combo with every AM3 CPU almost all of the time.

 

[zach538467]

Any AM3 CPU and AM3 (NOT AM3/AM2+) board will give you a great upgrade path.

For low budget builds, I generally recommend the Athlon X4 620 and Asus M4A79XTD EVO. That board is in a combo with every AM3 CPU almost all of the time.

+1 best deal going on a quad right now.

 

[Mohgreen]

Any AM3 CPU and AM3 (NOT AM3/AM2+) board will give you a great upgrade path.

For low budget builds, I generally recommend the Athlon X4 620 and Asus M4A79XTD EVO. That board is in a combo with every AM3 CPU almost all of the time.

Would it make sense to upgrade the MB to something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131363 with dual PCI 16x , for later upgrading to Dual video cards?

So far In poking around the last few days I haven't noticed an article that addresses the benefits/drawbacks of two video cards at 8x vs. 2 at 16x.

 

[MadAdmiral]

Not really. There isn't a noticeable difference between 16x/16x and 8x/8x. At least not for any video cards below the HD 5970, which at $650 each, is not a good idea.

There is an article on Tom's (a couple weeks old maybe). I believe the numeric difference between the two was only 4%.

 

[Mohgreen]

Not really. There isn't a noticeable difference between 16x/16x and 8x/8x. At least not for any video cards below the HD 5970, which at $650 each, is not a good idea.

There is an article on Tom's (a couple weeks old maybe). I believe the numeric difference between the two was only 4%.

Excellent, thanks!

 

[zach538467]

In case you are still curious:

PCI Express And CrossFire Scaling: Is P55 Good Enough?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

A recent TH articlle says AMDs are the best gaming CPUs for budget builds. Go AMD and you'll have extra cash to put towards a beefier GPU.

 

[Mohgreen]

Updated w/ Parts list if you guys wouldn't mind taking a look.

 

[zach538467]

Looks good to me. The 650 Corsair is overkill, but for $70 after mir that's exactly what I'd get.

 

[osu43130]

For 55 dollar more if you could squeze it ( Due to other combos maybe) you could get this Processor and Mobo Combo.

Same Mobo As admiral Suggested but with a 955 Black


Puts you right around 828 which you might be able to find anothe combo or two to save the extra 30 bucks.



***Edit Just noticed your HSF as well here is another 10 dollar savings
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212