Inexpensive "Gaming" Build

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: next few days
BUDGET RANGE: around $750 After Rebates (price doesn't include monitor/OS)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (e.g.: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, monitor, OS (purchased already)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg I suppose COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: I don't think so

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 (I already have a 23.6" Samsung monitor at this resolution...)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I don't anticipate playing games more graphically intensive than World of Warcraft (hence the gaming in quotation marks!) plus general internet, word processing stuff.

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This is what I was thinking... any suggestions? Is the CPU/GPU powerful enough to play WoW at the native resolution of the monitor I chose or should I think about upgrading? Are there any incompatibilities I haven't considered?

CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor Model ADX435WFGIBOX

Mobo: ASUS M4A77TD AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor Model ADX435WFGIBOX

Graphics Card: XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (Is there a better brand than XFX? I just picked it randomly)

Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (currently $25 instant rebate)

Power Supply: I already purchased a Corsair 600W PSU on sale from newegg.

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK

HD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

+ a DVD, keyboard, and eventually wireless network card. I don't think I need to purchase anything else?

Thanks for any advice.

Reply to malena616

^ That can do WOW.

Good build.

I can"t think of anything wrong.

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

If you plan on overclocking a good amount, it's best to get an aftermarket cooler.

Here's one everyone seems to praise at a nice price.

CoolerMaster Hyper 212+

Reply to 143miah

^ Overclocking?

For wow?

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

And they hyper 212 has free ship on Amazon.

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

builderbobftw wrote :

^ Overclocking?

For wow?

Under Overclocking he put Maybe.

I just suggested a cooler as he didn't have one in the build.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to 143miah

143miah wrote :

Under Overclocking he put Maybe.

I just suggested a cooler as he didn't have one in the build.

The stock one should be fine.

I would recoemnd he build his build as is, and if he gets the 3ghz+ tickles, he can buy one.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

builderbobftw wrote :

The stock one should be fine.

I would recoemnd he build his build as is, and if he gets the 3ghz+ tickles, he can buy one.

Thanks, I wasn't sure on overclocking, but if the processor unmodified would be enough for my needs, I'll probably save myself the hassle.

Reply to malena616

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$59.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

$54.99

HIS H585F1GDG Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity

$319.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK

$109.99

Combo :

GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3 AM3 AMD 770 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor Model ADX440WFGIBOX

$168.98

Subtotal: $713.94

The Rana 3.0 Ghz I believe can be overclocked a bit more, plus its only 10 bucks more. Also, a ATI 5850 is a better value price to performance wise and will last quite a bit longer than a 5770 and it still wont go over your budget. If you are going 5770 its better to crossfire two them as an alternative to getting a 5870, since you save a bit of money. Now, you said that you wanted to play WoW exclusively, so a 5770 is more than adequate, but say something better comes out in a year or so? Thats why I was saying go 5850.

Message edited by antisyzygy on 05-03-2010 at 04:57:22 AM

Reply to antisyzygy

You could save a bit more money and go with an HD 5830, it would last you a bit longer and is not as pricey as the HD 5850.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to ringelos

ringelos wrote :

You could save a bit more money and go with an HD 5830, it would last you a bit longer and is not as pricey as the HD 5850.

Yes. The 5830 is a good card to pick as well.

You may want to go with a better quad-core processor paired with a 5830. It would balance your system out a bit more for the multi-tasking you may do.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to antisyzygy

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

$59.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

$54.99

SAPPHIRE 100297L Radeon HD 5830 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ ATI Eyefinity Technology

$259.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK

$109.99

Combo :

GIGABYTE GA-890XA-UD3 AM3 AMD 790X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Model ADX635WFGIBOX

-$20.00 Combo

$239.98

Subtotal: $724.94

Here is a build that has a more modern chipset on the motherboard, as well as a quad core processor. It was shown recently in a Toms hardware article that the Athlon II X4's performed similar in gaming to the Phenom II's when clocked at the same speed. Also, the benefits of having quad cores will grow with time. The difference here is that you have a 5830 instead of a 5850. However, this motherboard allows you to use Crossfire, so you could buy yourself another 5830 in the future.

Message edited by antisyzygy on 05-03-2010 at 05:05:31 AM

Reply to antisyzygy

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! My budget includes the power supply I already purchased, so I don't want to go much higher than this.

I do have one more (probably stupid) question. If I want to connect wirelessly to the internet, do I need to purchase and install a wireless network card?

Reply to malena616

Yes. You can buy a cheapo wireless card for like 20 bucks.

Reply to antisyzygy

antisyzygy wrote :

Yes. The 5830 is a good card to pick as well.

You may want to go with a better quad-core processor paired with a 5830. It would balance your system out a bit more for the multi-tasking you may do.

NO NO NO!

the 5830 is a terrible card! (It's an expensive, hot, power hungry 5770)

The more expensive Rana is a waste!

Stay with the orignal build!

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

Do not buy a 5830!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

builderbobftw wrote :

Do not buy a 5830!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It depends on the budget and the priorities. If all he/she requires a quad core processor and all he/she can squeeze in is a 5830 then thats better than just settling on a 5770.

Message edited by antisyzygy on 05-03-2010 at 09:41:38 PM

Reply to antisyzygy

^ No, No it"s not.

The 5830 is nealry the same a sthe 5770, but it is much hotter and power hungry and is 100$ shopping dollars more.

I would rather have a 5770 at the same price.

Shame on you for recomending the 5830!

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by builderbobftw on 05-03-2010 at 09:32:29 PM

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

builderbobftw wrote :

^ No, No it"s not.

The 5830 is nealry the same a sthe 5770, but it is much hotter and power hungry and is 100$ shopping dollars more.

I would rather have a 5770 at the same price.

Shame on you for recomending the 5830!

Actually, the 5830 is not a bad option for her/his budget.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] -head-head

Reply to antisyzygy

yes it is.

And I can"t look at that< I'm banned fro that fourm .

the 5830 is one of the worst cards ATI has ever made.

------------------------------ "As far as other trolls, I'm glad to say that I have not run across anyone else quite like builderbob on these forums."- elel
"I try to remain optimistic and assume he is intelligent"- astralite
@astralite
"I ROFLED SO DAMN HARD!!" halodude
Reply to builderbobftw

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