AMD build under $1000

[snarezmedallion]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this week or next
BUDGET RANGE: absolutely below $1000
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: games (honestly, just Crysis at decent settings right now), digital art, multitasking
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: monitor, mouse, keyboard etc
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: Definitely AMD
OVERCLOCKING: No
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No
MONITOR RESOLUTION: (1920x1200)

I posted an earlier Intel i5 Build, but I have used amd for the last decade and been extremely happy with them (plus cheaper) so I want to stick with the Phenom. Just want to see what everyone things about the parts - if you would change something please tell me why too?

CPU:
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103674

MOBO:
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402

GPU:
SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102858

RAM:
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C8 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145263

CASE:
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

PSU:
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ700FTY 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341023

HDD:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

CPU Heatsink (not sure if I need this with my amd chip and no overclocking?):
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

DVD RW:
HP 24X Multiformat DVD Burner Black SATA Model 1270i LightScribe Support - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140041


With shipping and everything this comes out to just below $1,000 ( I do not want to go over this).

I am not sure about the heatsink? The AMD comes with a cooler and I do not plan on overclocking at all, so do I need it?

Any suggestions welcome!

Cheers!

 

[saint19]

Hi newcomer and welcome to the Tom's hardware forum.

See this:

CPU $ 159.99 Here
MOBO $ 178.99 Here
RAM $ 114.99 Here
GPU $ 179.99 Here
HDD $ 54.99 Here
PSU $ 89.99 Here
CASE $ 99.99 Here
DVD-RW $ 30.99 Here


Total: $922.92

 

[gkay09]

If it is a gaming PC, then you should spend more on the GPU than on other components...
And also you wont need 700W PSU, a 790X mobo if you wont do crossfire...
I would suggest this config...

CPU + Mobo -
X4 945 + ASUS 770
This CPU consumes less power as it is a 95W TDP CPU and also it operates at 3GHz so you wouldn't notice much difference between this and the 955
The 770 mobo would suffice if you wont crossfire...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.334829

RAM -
This also a very good option and has good reviews too...
A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

Graphics card - This is the reason why I had cut short on the mobo and other components(But am sure there wont be any performance hit, actually with this card, you rig will become a potent gaming machine...)
XFX HD 5850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150442

CASE + PSU - This 600W PSU would suffice for the above setup...
CM 690 + OCZ Mod 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.330934

HDD - Get the Samsung F3 1TB...they are better...

Rest same...

As you wont overclock it is not necessary that you buy an aftermarket CPU cooler...but having it would help reduce the stock temps even lower though...So its your call...

Total - Am sure will fall within the 1K mark...

 

[snarezmedallion]

Best answer selected by snarezmedallion.

 

[MadAdmiral]

Coming in a little late, but had to tack something on. The two above builds combine for $800. Which means you can afford some better parts. Namely:

GPU/PSU: HD 5870 and Antec Earthwatts 750W $125 more ($460 total).
CPU/Mobo: X4 945 and Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 $15 more ($224 total). USB 3/SATA III support.
RAM: These 1600 mhz CL 7 Ripjaws same price as saint's, but faster.

Bringing the total to $955. This would be able to play Crysis at max details, while the 5850 would not.