APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:3 Weeks BUDGET:$850-900, primary concern is getting the best price-performance ratio. Avoid rebates if possible
SYSTEM USAGE BY IMPORTANCE:Gaming Gaming Gaming. I will also be using it for some photo editing stuff but not in any super CPU crunchy capacity.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:Optical drive, monitor, mouse & keyboard
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I am partial to newegg but I will shop wherever the best deal is.
PARTS PREFERENCE: Open to suggestions. In this price range probably going to be an AMD build. Reliable brands with good warranties.
OVERCLOCKING: Very little if any. Not experienced so it would be very conservative. SLI/Xfire: On the fence. Budgeting in the necessarily more powerful PSU and dual PCIE motherboard is proving to be a challenge.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Here are some parts that I have selected. Totally open to better ideas, checking for dumb mistakes in my parts choices, etc. I am really shaky on what makes good RAM, and good PSUs.
CPU: Phenom II X3 720 BE- $105
HSF: Coolermaster Hyper 212+ -$28
GPU: XFX HD5770 1GB- $160
CASE/PSU: Antec 300 // Antec 550W PSU- $110 (Combo)
RAM/MOBO: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 // ASUS M4A77TD AM3 AMD 770 - (Combo) $189
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 500GB- $55
OS: Windows 7- $99
TOTAL: $746
So you can see I am currently coming in a little under budget, which might end up being okay. I have been looking at maybe moving up to an X4 955 BE to give the CPU a little more longevity. Moving up to a 5850 seems obvious but they are so inflated right now, GPUs are among the worst offenders for technology churn, and I think a 5770 will (shouldn't it?) cover my needs for right now, I feel like saving that extra money and spending it on a new GPU in a couple years would be a better choice. I'd like to hear what you guys think.
SYSTEM USAGE BY IMPORTANCE:Gaming Gaming Gaming. I will also be using it for some photo editing stuff but not in any super CPU crunchy capacity.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:Optical drive, monitor, mouse & keyboard
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I am partial to newegg but I will shop wherever the best deal is.
PARTS PREFERENCE: Open to suggestions. In this price range probably going to be an AMD build. Reliable brands with good warranties.
OVERCLOCKING: Very little if any. Not experienced so it would be very conservative. SLI/Xfire: On the fence. Budgeting in the necessarily more powerful PSU and dual PCIE motherboard is proving to be a challenge.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Here are some parts that I have selected. Totally open to better ideas, checking for dumb mistakes in my parts choices, etc. I am really shaky on what makes good RAM, and good PSUs.
CPU: Phenom II X3 720 BE- $105
HSF: Coolermaster Hyper 212+ -$28
GPU: XFX HD5770 1GB- $160
CASE/PSU: Antec 300 // Antec 550W PSU- $110 (Combo)
RAM/MOBO: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 // ASUS M4A77TD AM3 AMD 770 - (Combo) $189
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 500GB- $55
OS: Windows 7- $99
TOTAL: $746
So you can see I am currently coming in a little under budget, which might end up being okay. I have been looking at maybe moving up to an X4 955 BE to give the CPU a little more longevity. Moving up to a 5850 seems obvious but they are so inflated right now, GPUs are among the worst offenders for technology churn, and I think a 5770 will (shouldn't it?) cover my needs for right now, I feel like saving that extra money and spending it on a new GPU in a couple years would be a better choice. I'd like to hear what you guys think.