Expandable Budget System
Last response: in Systems
My intent is to build a nice non-gaming system that would be capable of expansion, as I my current system is nearly 9 years old. (I am only replacing it as it is AGP , the old GS7600 card is flaking out, and I suspect that the other components are nearing end of life.)
I only plan on utilizing the SATA 2 HD and the optical drives from the old unit.
I originally tried to keep the build down to $400 plus $100 for W7, but decided to go with a better mobo and an HD 5970 GPU. I wanted some PCI sockets in case of who knows what.
I am only going with the AMD 440 X3 RANA for now. Who knows it it won't be plenty down the line, but I have the option of dropping in a Phenom 2 if and when the power is needed.
I chose the particular model of Ripjaws, although it's nominal speed is limited to 1333, for its low latency rates and the fact that the rana has an integated clock that won't support anything faster. Is this a mistake. Most seem to buy the 1600.
I am ready to order.
This is my list.
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
Item #: N82E16811147153 $44.99
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131402
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card $106.99
XFX HD-567X-YNFC Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ...
Item #: N82E16814150466 $89.99
Thermaltake TR2 W0388RU 600W ATX 12V v2.2 Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817153114 $59.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007 $9.99
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH
http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=223&c1=&c2=
Item #: N82E16820231276 $114.99
AMD Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor Model ADX440WFGIBOX
Item #: N82E16819103843 $74.99
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116754 $99.99
Subtotal: $601.92
I am planning to buy things at Newegg, but wonder if there is anything best purchased at a local brick an mortar like Fry's, in case it is DOA or whatever. I have been careful to try and ensure that all is compatible.
Thanks.
I only plan on utilizing the SATA 2 HD and the optical drives from the old unit.
I originally tried to keep the build down to $400 plus $100 for W7, but decided to go with a better mobo and an HD 5970 GPU. I wanted some PCI sockets in case of who knows what.
I am only going with the AMD 440 X3 RANA for now. Who knows it it won't be plenty down the line, but I have the option of dropping in a Phenom 2 if and when the power is needed.
I chose the particular model of Ripjaws, although it's nominal speed is limited to 1333, for its low latency rates and the fact that the rana has an integated clock that won't support anything faster. Is this a mistake. Most seem to buy the 1600.
I am ready to order.
This is my list.
Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
Item #: N82E16811147153 $44.99
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131402
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card $106.99
XFX HD-567X-YNFC Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ...
Item #: N82E16814150466 $89.99
Thermaltake TR2 W0388RU 600W ATX 12V v2.2 Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817153114 $59.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007 $9.99
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH
http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=223&c1=&c2=
Item #: N82E16820231276 $114.99
AMD Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor Model ADX440WFGIBOX
Item #: N82E16819103843 $74.99
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116754 $99.99
Subtotal: $601.92
I am planning to buy things at Newegg, but wonder if there is anything best purchased at a local brick an mortar like Fry's, in case it is DOA or whatever. I have been careful to try and ensure that all is compatible.
Thanks.
More about : expandable budget system
For a non-gaming system you're going fairly heavy on the motherboard and graphics card.
You could swap out the M4A79XTD EVO 790X motherboard and HD 5670 video card with a ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO 785G motherboard with integrated HD 4200 graphics. You're not giving up anything in the way of future expansion and you're saving ~$130 now.
-> NewEgg combo deal on ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO 785G and Athlon II X3 440 Rana $140
A higher efficiency, higher quality PSU that's still plenty beefy for future expansion - and same price as the budgety Thermaltake TR2.
Corsair 400CX PSU final cost $60 and $20 rebate plus 10% off and free shipping.
I think you can leave out the Arctic Silver 5. Just go with the thermal compound already applied to the stock AMD cooler.
And if you're still set on having a better thermal compound consider some of the new compounds out there.
Check out this Gelid Solutions GC-2 review over @ TweakTown.
You could swap out the M4A79XTD EVO 790X motherboard and HD 5670 video card with a ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO 785G motherboard with integrated HD 4200 graphics. You're not giving up anything in the way of future expansion and you're saving ~$130 now.
-> NewEgg combo deal on ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO 785G and Athlon II X3 440 Rana $140
A higher efficiency, higher quality PSU that's still plenty beefy for future expansion - and same price as the budgety Thermaltake TR2.
Corsair 400CX PSU final cost $60 and $20 rebate plus 10% off and free shipping.
I think you can leave out the Arctic Silver 5. Just go with the thermal compound already applied to the stock AMD cooler.
And if you're still set on having a better thermal compound consider some of the new compounds out there.
Check out this Gelid Solutions GC-2 review over @ TweakTown.
I am going to go with your recommendations. After getting by on a Dell Dim 4600 w an nvdia 7600 GS GPU and only 1 Gig of Ram, this should be a dream. Later on, if software demands more I can easily add a faster processor and/or a dedicated graphics card after the prices drop in a year or two.
I decided to go with this Geil memory since it is specifically listed for the board on the ASUS site. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
It is also sold by Newegg as a combo with that same board. I will just get the x3 440 rana separately.
Thanks.
I decided to go with this Geil memory since it is specifically listed for the board on the ASUS site. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
It is also sold by Newegg as a combo with that same board. I will just get the x3 440 rana separately.
Thanks.
Best solution
Err actually my choices for a non gaming rig mobo wise on AM3 would be
880G chipset like the Asrock 880G Extreme3 or Gigabyte 880GMA-UD2H for peeps moving out of AGP/no need for discrete
or
870 chipset like
Gigabyte 870A-US3
MSI 870A-G54
Biostar TA870+
Asus M4A87TD/USB3
if they plan to go with a discrete ^^
880G chipset like the Asrock 880G Extreme3 or Gigabyte 880GMA-UD2H for peeps moving out of AGP/no need for discrete
or
870 chipset like
Gigabyte 870A-US3
MSI 870A-G54
Biostar TA870+
Asus M4A87TD/USB3
if they plan to go with a discrete ^^
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