First build ever

ComputerNewbie97

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Apr 13, 2010
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18,540
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1 week

BUDGET RANGE: $650

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT
: Gaming(RTS games), Web browsing, downloading(need storage), Word proccessing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Mouse, Keyboard, Monitor, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Umart

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia

PARTS PREFERENCES
: AMD(bang for buck)

OVERCLOCKING
:No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION
: 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
: none




CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 630 http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=14&bid=4&sid=49864 $114

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=105&bid=4&sid=57524 $98

PSU
: OCZ Fatalt1ty 550W Modular PSU http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=140&bid=4&sid=38225 $86

Ram: GSkill 4G(2x2G) DDR3 1600Mhz http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=153&bid=4&sid=51467 $156

Case: NZXT Lexa S http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=139&bid=4&sid=55269 $91

HDD: Western Digital 1TB Blue http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=129&bid=4&sid=59704 $86

DVD Drive: LiteON IHAS324 http://www.umart.com.au/pro/products_listnew.phtml?id=10&id2=20&bid=4&sid=46400 $25.50


Total: $656.5

Ok i'm just wondering with my gaming and stuff, will the intergrated stuff be okay to play RTS games? Like the best graphic game I have recomends a ati x1600, I'm willing to play with some stuff turned down or should i just get a cheap $50 gpu? And I thought that RTS games work better with a better cpu so should I keep the athlon in this build or should i get a phenom x2 555?

Thanks for reading and if you have any suggestions on the build it's welcome.




 

leyshadow

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Jun 23, 2010
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Ok, well, why is you RAM so expensive??? anyways, looks good, except for the graphics, surprisingly, RTS games do require alot, and well, soon, RTS games will fail on your 4200, if you can later, try adding a 5750, or at least a 4850 1gb for future gaming :) Also, a Amd athlon 435 RANA might be an option your consider :) not sure if it's compatible that site doesn't seem very well designed there. Good luck
 
I would hunt for a used HD 4850/GTS 250 in the 2nd hand hardware market, preferably with some local warranty coverage left. 1280 x 1024 is not a demanding resolution and if brand new something like a HD 5670/9800GT would do
 

ComputerNewbie97

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Apr 13, 2010
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ok , i've got my hands on some extra money here's the changes

cpu phenom x4 955 $189
mobo same $98
psu same $86
ram same $156
case same $91
hdd same $86
dvd same $25.50
gpu ati 5770 512mb $146

total $877.50

and i'll probably upgrade the monitor later after a while but that should play most games. anyone else want to give some suggestions?
 

Mr Subs

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Jan 26, 2010
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I regret ordering my AMD build the day before I was informed that I was going to have a hard time installing OSX for a Dual Boot system.

Just a thought.
 

affinitydesigns

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Apr 13, 2009
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It seems to me like you're spending way too much money on RAM. I would look for a less expensive RAM combination and put the money elsewhere, especially if you plan on overclocking. Most RAM can get to those clocks and timings with modest overclocking. You could save about $50 there.

And I'd shop around for a 1GB 5770. I got mine at about $150 give or take $5. The extra 512MB will go a long way.

On the topic of overclocking, I would get a less expensive processor, probably a quad in the athlon family. That can save you another $50 or so which can get you a cooler for the processor to keep temperatures down.

Also, on the case, there have been a lot of complaints about cable management. I'd be sure to try and fit a modular power supply in with that case or re-evaluate the case choice. I'd recommend an Antec 300. Very easy to build inside that case.
 

ComputerNewbie97

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Apr 13, 2010
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made some more changes lol

ok
cpu athlon x4 630 $114
mobo same $98
psu same $86
ram geil 4 gigs 1333mhz $120
case antec 300 $65
hdd same $86
dvd same $25.50
gpu ati 5670 1gb $136
heat sink cm hyper tx3 $27
monitor 23 inch 5ms Acer G235H $206
total: 962.50

I was able to extend the budget to 1 k

Or I could drop the heat sink and get the 5770 512mb instead of the 5670 1gb
 

ComputerNewbie97

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Apr 13, 2010
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i'm gonna forget about the monitor now and get a 5770 1gb along with the 1st build I posted and i don't really care about if i spend a little bit too much and i'll get a real nice monitor when i can, but thanks everyone.