First Time Gaming build

[marxr87]

Hi all! This will be my first time with a gaming rig but I have always wanted to do it. Feel free to call me an idiot but this is my parts list so far:

Processor:
AMD Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor Model ADX440WFGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103843
84.99

HDD:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
89.99

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006
89.99

Ram:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231276
114.99

Case:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
59.95

Optical Drive:
LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106335
31.99

Video Card:
HIS Turbo H587FNT1GDG Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161331
449.99 (Comes with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, which is nice...)

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 AM3 AMD 790X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128416
124.99


Cost: 1046.88
Shipping: 19.06
Total: 1065.94

Not bad, I was shooting for 1000 dollars but I'm not much over. I'm curious about unlocking cores, I've read up on it but if this is what I want to do, do any processors have better chances for doing so? I was on the fence between the rana and the i5 750, what do you guys think? This will be used to play games, watch movies, web browse and store music, and if you can help me bring the cost down, it would be much appreciated (maybe some things I picked have more features or power than I require?). I also require all the peripherals (mouse, keyboard, surround sound, monitor) so suggestions for that would great. Any sites offering some items cheaper than newegg or any combo deals that would help me would be nice too! Thanks for the help guys! I had been looking at a bluray, but unless games start getting put on blu ray than I don't really need it. Also, if you know of places that have military, veteran, or student discounts that would be wonderful. I figured that's what I would to get Windows 7

Edit: Or if you know any promo codes or where I can get them to use on Newegg that would be lovely too

2nd Edit : I just found this blu ray drive
ASUS Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive Model BR-04B2T - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135205&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL040610&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL040610-_-EMC-040610-latest-_-BluRayDrives-_-27135205-LC3C
for 55.99 its only 24 dollars more than my drive...but I don't know much about blu ray drives. That just seemed like a decent deal. And I found a promo code for the samsung drive for 10 dollars(79.99 for a tb seems like a steal)...obviously bringing the total cost down by 10 dollars

One thing I forgot to mention to you guys is that my laptop is about to bite it and I need a new one. All I want to do with it is type papers and get on the internet (I'm a student, so basically its for school). I got my ex-gf a nice toshiba netbook and it had excellent battery life. I found this one on newegg and it seems like a good deal. What do you guys think?

Recertified: ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK Black Intel Atom N280(1.66GHz) 10.1" WSVGA 1GB Memory 160GB HDD Netbook
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6834220709
249.99

 

[gkay09]

^ How about this config ??
X4 955 + 790X + COD : MW2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345250

300 Illusion - Nearly the same price as 300 after shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

HD 5850 + Antec EA 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.369098

Crucial DDR3 4GB -> Underrated, which can run at above 1600Mhz or at the same speed with lower timings - CAS 7 without any voltage adjustments...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148262

Rest same - HDD, BD
Total - $976
Reason why I dropped the HD 5870...
1. HD 5850 is powerful enough for 1080p gaming at high-very high settings.
2. The X3 440 wont be suitable for multiple card config - Crossfire, whereas the 955 is well suited for that. And also later on you can add 1 more HD 5850 if you need more graphics power
3. The Anted 650W has enough power for 2x HD 5850s(Here at TOM's SBM, they used the same PSU to power 2x HD 4870s, which have roughly the same power requirements), though you would need to use power adaptors...

But there is also another way you can reduce the price sticking with the X3 440...
1. Get this combo
X3 440 + ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G -> Like I said the CPU wont be suitable for multiple card config and that to 2x HD 5870s...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.375961

2. GPU + BD Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.376414
Or
GPU + PSU
XFX D 5870 + Corsair 650TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.364530

 

[marxr87]

Thanks for the suggestions! Ya I've been flip flopping alot on whether to get the 5850 or the 5870 and I agree that would probably be the better way to go. Dropping down the psu sounds like a good idea as well, I didn't know if it would be able to run it but it sounds like it will be fine. Do you know much about Asus laptops like the one I posted? I think the discount on the combo video card deal is already past but still is probably a good deal. I had been looking at that ram myself but wasn't sure what to think, I'm not too well versed on ram specs and what not...but it seems solid. That PSU/ 5870 combo seems like a pretty good deal but I'm not too familiar with XFX brand cards, I had heard their support sucks.

 

[gkay09]

^ IMO spend a little more and get a new one...
You would get a newer CPU, slightly better graphics...And as for the these netbooks, the ASUS and MSI especially in the netbook segment are one of the top players...So these are just fine...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220675
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152142

 

[gkay09]

And as for the XFX cards, I dont know from where you have heard that their support sucks...AFAIK and from what people say, they have one of the best warranties around and their offer very good support...

 

[marxr87]

Those netbooks look pretty equal..hard to pick haha. Which one do you think? The MSI one sounds like it has a bigger keyboard, it also has longer battery life and wireless n capability...and its cheaper. I think that might be better for school. Keyboard size was what I was worried about with a netbook. With that in mind, do you think the MSI one would be the way to go?

Edit: Haven't had much experience with windows 7 yet and the MSI has xp and the asus has windows 7...I like xp well enough though (better than vista of course) and what ram should I get to upgrade it with?

Also, with the crucial ram, this case can be combo'd with and there is a 15 dollar off promo code for the case as well,

XCLIO Windtunnel Fully Black Finish 1.0 mm SECC Chassis ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103011

 

[marxr87]

Ah, damnit...just found out promos can't be added with combo deals, boo!

 

[kelfen]

lol fitting a 5870 in a antec 300; ya might need a saw sir

 

[marxr87]

Ya I wondered about that, but one of the customers said with some creative configuring he fit it...but maybe I should get a larger one? The 5850 is the same size as the 5870 isnt it?

 

[marxr87]

If I need a bigger one, what would you suggest? Also, any monitor recommendations to take advantage of this awesome desktop? I've always had good luck with samsung...

 

[goatsword]

HAF 922. I fit a 5870 with loads of room. Great case.

 

[gkay09]

@kelfen
http://img683.imageshack.us/i/dsc00480.jpg/


If you wont have many HDDs, then the 300 would fit the HD 5870...
But if you want little more room, then CM 690 HAF 922 for sure...

 

[marxr87]

na im only going to have one, i think a terabyte is enough lol

well i guess ill go with the parts you listed, unless anyone else has suggestions ill probably order the parts tomorrow
ill probably go with the msi netbook over the asus one too

 

[snorojr]

What about getting a Phenom II x2 555 black edition, it is in reality a 4 core cpu but with 2 core locked within the bios, but most mobo have the software to unlock those 2 extra core and that mean you can have a 2 free core for the cost of a 2 core phenom black cpu.

 

[marxr87]

Isn't that a gamble though? Some are fully functional, others partial, some defective?

 

[coldsleep]

Isn't that a gamble though? Some are fully functional, others partial, some defective?

Correct. Unlocking cores is never guaranteed, and anyone who tells you that you're certain to unlock cores doesn't know what they're talking about.

A little bit of it has to do with the motherboard BIOS, but a lot more has to do with the individual chip that you get. It could be a good one in a batch that tested poorly, or it could be one of the ones that tested poorly and caused the batch to get downgraded.

If you want/need a quad-core, buy it. If you want to play around and try to unlock cores, but are ok with the performance of a dual- (or tri-) core if you don't get lucky, then feel free to do that.

 

[marxr87]

Ya, I think I'll just stick with the quad. I like the build gkay suggested; it seems pretty solid.