Budget Gaming Build under $850

BUDGET RANGE: $850

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, surfing the internet, using basic programs such as I tunes and Microsoft office, watching movies.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

Parts not included: Monitor and OS.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Want a decent gaming computer than can handle WOW at high quality and MW2 and Battlefield at mid to high quality.


Here are some parts I have thrown together and would like help on please!

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3 AM3 AMD 770 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM

GPU/PSU Combo: GIGABYTE GV-R585OC-1GD Radeon HD 5850 and Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W

Case/ Optical Combo: Sony Optiarc Black and COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Also what someone had told me before was that i could downgrade the cpu to the x3 425 and upgrade the motherboard to the Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4. Would that be better or should i stick with the original build? Also i will probably be using a 1920x1080 monitor unless suggested otherwise!

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Cody

the UD3 only has 1 PCI-E 2.0 x16 so you wouldnt be able to Xfire later on. If thats an issue then yeah you need a new motherboard.

Just realize some people like to have the option to Xfire but very rarely does anyone actually do it.

Stick to the 1 5850. Some games work better with Xfire so it's kinda hit or miss. Good rule of thumb is to buy 1 powerful GPU rather than double up lesser ones.

So if you have no aspirations to Xfire, your build looks fine to me.

Uh you can, there are alot of benchmarks that show the Athlon IIx3 435 performs barely less than Phenom IIx4s.

But on some games, like GTA4 or Bad Company 2, they really utilize not only the 4th core but also the 6MB L3 cache that only Phenom IIx4s have

Tell ya what, post your 2 build ideas one with the Phenom one with the Athlon. Because saying 100 dollars in upgrades is so vague I cant say if its going to be a substantial increase.

I know it's kind of a lot of work to make 2 builds, but when you do that, you kinda dig and research and end up more familiar with what you're actually getting. I think that's what really sets apart builders from buyers. The knowledge gained from building your PC component by component!

-Chris

Once again it's hit or miss. Don't buy a CPU with the expectation of getting a quad core. Sometimes the reason the 4th core is inactive is because of a funky L3 cache.

Also not all Athlons will even have an L3 cache available if I remember right.

ok well i am new to computer games and computers in general so im not entirely sure what the l3 cache is and how important it is. i will probably mostly be playing wow with the occasional mw2 or Bad Company 2 but i would like to play the newer games at mid-high quality if possible at this budget

alright i think i am agreeing with you the more i look at it. I think i will go with the original build with the Phenom IIx4. and this will be able to handle wow at max settings and newer games like bad company 2 and mid settings with decent fps? and one more question. I just want to make sure that there is nowhere where i can shave a little money off without decreasing the performance drastically?

Also you can trim down alot of different things, but I personally would not. IMO any decrease wouldn't be worth the savings.

One thing I need to check on tho, is if the 5850 fits comfortably in a 690 case. Sorry I overlooked this before.

Fire is a crit buff, though.

I cant find any reviews that complain of cards not fitting, but I still recommend stepping up to the HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

It's a beast of a case and not expensive. This bumps up your cost I think 20 dollars. Hope you can afford it without sacrificing anything.

Im too lazy to link it because the Explorer at work is slow and annoying, but at the top of this section there is a sticky for "How to build a computer" or something to that effect, with PICTURES! It's pretty exhaustive, will help a ton.

As for OCing the 955? Well I own the same processor and I OC'd it with the STOCK HSF, 1st thing you should do is set the vCore to 1.35 and set the multiplier to x17

Boom you just got the equivalent of the 965 on stock cooling.

I didn't go beyond a 17.5 on stock cooling because I live in Arizona and the ambient temp doesnt help much

Also, it's the C3 stepping of the 955 which is the newer step, when I installed mine it underclocked it to 800 MHz and my computer was really slow. If yours does this (which it probably wont, you have a much newer Mobo than me) just flash the motherboard and it will clock it correctly. (Once again, I doubt this will happen to you, Im just trying to give you the info in case it does happen, I freaked when my new CPU was 800 MHz)

Haha I am probably going to sound like a retard, but I honestly have no experience in computers... Anyways, where can you change all the stuff like the vCore and the multiplier? Ive never done anything like that? and what do you mean by underclocking? is that like the opposite over overclock? And another quick question i installed CPU-Z on this old single core crappy computer, and it says the multiplier is x21 and the core speed is 2800MHz. Im really confused on what all that means? im sorry im a noob! haha

Thank you soo much!

Its pretty simple actually. But I would recommend reading endless AMD Black Edition OCing guides before touching anything.

For example, the 955 has a base frequency of 200 MHz then it has whats called an "unlocked" multiplier. Meaning unlike alot of other CPUs you can adjust the multiplier to increase the CPU speed.

The 955 has a 16x multiplier (16x200MHz=3200 MHz or 3.2 GHz)

Mine had an issue where the BIOS was setting the multiplier at 4x meaning I was getting (4x200=800 MHz)

If CPU-Z says you have a 21x multiplier and is @ 2.8GHz its simple math it has a base frequency of 133 MHz
voltage it needs to do it. The flip side is, the more juice you give it the hotter it gets.

When you Overclock you are increasing its speed, and SOMETIMES also increasing its voltage to make the new higher speed stable.

Overclocking with increased voltage can lower the life expectancy of the CPU, by an unknown amount.

DVI is high def and generally comes with the monitor.

1.35vCore is pretty standard, but double check the voltage. When I installed my 955 CPU it was @ 1.45 vCore.

And yes, thats why buying a Black Edition CPU is such a nice feature. Other CPU's dont have an unlocked multiplier so it's more difficult to overclock. Where-as a black edition CPU like yours you simply increase the multiplier and enjoy the benefits of increased speed.

Which is another feature of Black Edition CPUs have over Athlons IMO, ease of OC.

I know you're really excited, but you're best off just waiting and assembling it all at the same time. Meaning, it doesnt matter what you order 1st.

Its just the best idea to wait until you have all the parts to assemble it. Especially for a 1st time build.

I like the Phenom II x4 build. I essentially have the same setup and it runs Bad Company 2 with no problem. Jumping from a dual core to the quad I was able to increase my settings substantially without getting a new video card either (Still running an 8800gtx).

If you're still looking for a case, you can also give this one a try:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product
It did get a little tight with my 8800, although it's longer than the 5850 by over an in ch


cmcghee358, when you oc'd with the stock cooler is there a noticeable difference in noise output? I've been thinking of oc'ing mine but I like my system remaining quiet. If it was too loud I figured I'd go with a different cooler then.

ok perfect! thats just what i need with this build! so would my 5850 fit into my original case or do you also recommend getting a bigger case?

If you don't plan on overclocking very much or at all then the stock coolers are fine. As was mentioned, there isn't really anything saying that there was a hard time fitting but one thing you'll realize with your first build is that the more room you have the better. It makes installation and cable management soooooo much easier and also helps with airflow.

Keep stock cooling for now.

The HAF 922 Cooler Master case we talked about was picked specifically because it has ample room for a 5850.

I think all your bases are covered.

No one has really come in here and said anything was drastically wrong, pull the trigger on the order whenever you are ready sir.

The build won't be tough, this is your first build and you put together a soclid build with compatible parts on your first shot. You seem like a sharp guy, you're gonna be fine. There are 2 annoying parts during the build in my opinion...

1.) the CPU install/ HSF install
2.) Connecting all the little wires from your case to the mobo.

1.) Be careful, don't force anything, double check things. The stock cooler on the 955 is kind of annoying to get down. Putting the HSF on takes more pressure than you think it should, but it'll be fine.

2.) Typically white and black wires are the negative sides, and colored wires are positive. Read your mobo manual and your case manual if you need to.

The rest of the build is like lego's for adults.

Cable management as you go along.

Make sure you don't forget to fix your I/O shield before putting the mobo in, and always stay grounded!!! Invest in a static wrist strap for $5.

Stick with the x4 CPU. Enjoy the build and the building process!

Samsung has superb reliability. Hence why the reference. If WD used 500 GB platters I would recommend them more often.

Samsung is faster has good reliability.

Western Digital is slightly slower has great reliability.

Frankly, compare GB/$ and find whichever one is the better deal for you.

As for combos, usually when you put an item in the cart it suggests combos. Or you can search combos specific for each part but there search system is kinda meh.

In your original post you said you didn't need a monitor. Do you mean that a monitor isn't included in your $850? Becuase if you need a monitor with that budget its going to change your build alot.

If its in addition to that budget, get a 1920x1080 because they are basically the same price as the 1680's at this point.

And THIS is your monitor...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236051

I own it and its wonderful.

Oh and with regards to actually putting it together when in doubt just ask. Personally if I didn't know how to do something I would ask a friend to help out. I've done it a few times for friends before and now they can build their own systems without any problems.