Another $600 system

[Drailing]

Hello,

I've been asked to build another $600 system. For this build, though, I have a bit different stuff.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Sometime in April BUDGET RANGE: $600-$700 (after rebates)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, programming, web surfing, general usage
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: OS, keyboard, monitor, mouse (any peripherals, I just need the parts to put together the system)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com amazon.com tigerdirect.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type: No preferences, AMD or Intel at your discretion

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, if possible SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, if possible

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 (LED if it matters)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: In CA, so be warned I have to pay tax on Newegg purchases

 

[batuchka]

$696 AR

 

[Drailing]

With taxes, that gets to around $759 AR.

 

[banthracis]

Ok, so the cheapest build I can come up with that I'd be happy with is below. It's got a PSU and MOBO ready for a second 5770 to be dropped in in the future.

OPtical
Lite on $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Case
Centurion 5 $49.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119047

MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 $139.99 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128416

CPU
Athlon II X4 435 $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704

RAM/GPU
OCZ Platinum DDR3 1333 7-7-7-20 and 5770 $262.98 w/ $35 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.367199

PSU/HD
OCZ Modxstream pro 600w and Spinpoint F3 500gb $109.98 w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.362778

Comes out to $689.09 after Tax, MIR and shipping to CA

The MOBO is expensive, but it's got some future proofing with USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 and is ready for a second 5770 to be dropped in.

One think I would recommend though, is to grab a CM Hyper 212 Plus $35 and OC that CPU to 3.6 or so.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212-_-35-103-065-_-Product

 

[Drailing]

Ok, so the cheapest build I can come up with that I'd be happy with is below. It's got a PSU and MOBO ready for a second 5770 to be dropped in in the future.

OPtical
Lite on $19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Case
Centurion 5 $49.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119047

MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 $139.99 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128416

CPU
Athlon II X4 435 $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103704

RAM/GPU
OCZ Platinum DDR3 1333 7-7-7-20 and 5770 $262.98 w/ $35 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.367199

PSU/HD
OCZ Modxstream pro 600w and Spinpoint F3 500gb $109.98 w/ $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.362778

Comes out to $689.09 after Tax, MIR and shipping to CA

The MOBO is expensive, but it's got some future proofing with USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 and is ready for a second 5770 to be dropped in.

One think I would recommend though, is to grab a CM Hyper 212 Plus $35 and OC that CPU to 3.6 or so.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065&cm_re=hyper_212-_-35-103-065-_-Product

Good, but I realized I've made a mistake.

I said after MIR in my OP, but I guess I wasn't thinking right and I mean before MIR. =/

Also, the RAM in there had a three egg rating. Is that okay? Or is it not good?

 

[banthracis]

In that case you'll have to forget xfire.

Drop to this MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128419

and this CPU
Ahtlon II X3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103724

The RAM is ok, it just seems to have a higher than normal DOA rate. Fortunately newegg's return policy is pretty nice. First thing you're gonna wanna do though after you build system is run that ram through MEMTEST for 24 hrs.

Ideally, I'd recommend a nice set of Ripjaws or ECO's, but there's just no way to fit it into the budget.

 

[Drailing]

$687.91 w/ shipping and taxes. $617.91 after MIR.

Looks good, thanks. I'll be able to, in the future, upgrade everything correct?

 

[banthracis]

[strike]That mobo does not support xfire, so if you do want more GPU performance you'll either have to buy a new GPU or a new mobo.

Though if it more than a year, you'll probably want a new GPU anyway.[/strike]

Thought you meant the cheaper build. Yes, the build I originally made is ready for another 5770 at any time.

 

[Drailing]

[strike]That mobo does not support xfire, so if you do want more GPU performance you'll either have to buy a new GPU or a new mobo.

Though if it more than a year, you'll probably want a new GPU anyway.[/strike]

Thought you meant the cheaper build. Yes, the build I originally made is ready for another 5770 at any time.

Well, I did mean the cheaper build.

What I meant though was would I be able to get another motherboard and throw it in the case (not literally), take out the 5770 and replace it with a 5850 and not have to replace the PSU?

Is the PSU any good? I've heard bad things about OCZ PSUs.

 

[fastx21]

What exactly have you heard about OCZ psu's and them being bad? It's like asking a question yet you knew the answer?

Yes you can simply buy another board in the future with a new video card but you should decide on what you want right now, not later on.

 

[banthracis]

You'll end up spending much more money in the long run buying cheaper build now and changing mobo to accommodate a second 5770.

Equally, silly would be to buy a 5770 now to replace it with a 5850 down the road.

At today's prices, changing board + second 5770 would be $275 change.
New 5850 $310, plus a wasted $150 on a useless 5770.

If you went with the slightly more expensive MOBO, second 5770 would be $150, and would be better performance than 5850.

Incremental upgrade=bad. Building a system ready to be upgraded with a second GPU is a much better idea.

 

[nielnield]

go for this mobo and get 2 5770.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130250

 

[banthracis]

One of those PCIe is a x4 slot...aka useless.

Better off with the $5 more gigabyte I posted that has USB 3.0/SATA 6.0

 

[Drailing]

One of those PCIe is a x4 slot...aka useless.

Better off with the $5 more gigabyte I posted that has USB 3.0/SATA 6.0

This all looks good.

I'm curious though, could you build a system like this around the Intel i3 530?

 

[banthracis]

For the price of the more expensive system? Maybe.

Definitely not at the cost of the cheaper one though.

 

[Drailing]

Sorry for being a bit of a pain.

I've heard OCZ PSUs look good on paper, but in practice aren't that great. Reviews on Newegg seemingly disagree with me.

 

[banthracis]

OCZ PSU's are fine. They're a bit older than the newer single rail designs, but they work fine. I've done several budget builds for friends/family with them, haven't had any issues yet.

Given your budget there really isn't any way to work in a Corsair or seasonic.

 

[Drailing]

OCZ PSU's are fine. They're a bit older than the newer single rail designs, but they work fine. I've done several budget builds for friends/family with them, haven't had any issues yet.

Given your budget there really isn't any way to work in a Corsair or seasonic.

Alright, good.

The graphics card you chose looks very good, and the PSU has a 6 pin PEG connector so it should work. Apparently, it's the only 5770 on the market that fits Department of Defense standards.

 

[Drailing]

Best answer selected by Drailing.