Suggestion - Budget PC build

[deppfx]

Going through Tom's for nearly two weeks, I have decided on the following based upon the guys' suggestions. Please check the build & let me know if it is good.

Main uses include as basic HTPC, gaming rig & video processing equally well.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (this week)

BUDGET RANGE: ($300-400)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies, Folding@Home)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (newegg.com)

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD CPU/ASUS MoBo

OVERCLOCKING: Yes / No / Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes / No / Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (1920x1080)

CPU & Mobo Combo: ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX, AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz w/ MDW2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.436107

PSU Corsair 450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003
Price after Mail in Rebate $168

POWERCOLOR PCS+ AX5770 1GBD5-PPG Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131327

Can you confirm if it is possible to
overclock the processor?
unlock the multiplier?
connect IDE hard disk?

Also is there a graphics card that also acts as an inbuilt TV tuner?

 

[batuchka]

1. Yes it's possible to OC
2. Chip is a non Black Edition i.e multiplier is locked so no
3. Yes it has an IDE port
4. Price for an 700 series 8/8 board seem kindda steep if u ask me

$0.02

Have built HTPCs/light gamers for peeps and in the living room/beside the LCD TV most would want a smallish/stylish case and do elaborate if your display is Full HD or the "HD Ready" sort

 

[banthracis]

OC yes
unlock multiplier, no
Connect IDE, yes, but why would you?
Yes, ATI All in wonder, but those are old.

I wouldn't use powercolor. Their GPu's are cheap for a reason.

 

[deppfx]

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1980x1080
MONITOR: Acer H235Hbmid Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009201

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

@banthracis: <<I wouldn't use powercolor. Their GPu's are cheap for a reason.>> Any other suggestions? looks like its a steal for that price.

@batuchka: <<Price for an 700 series 8/8 board seem kinda steep if u ask me>> Any other suggestions please??
<<do elaborate if your display is Full HD or the "HD Ready" sort >> The monitor specs are given above. Can you check and shed more info?

** What are the advantages of having an unlocked multiplier & overclocking to that of just overclocking it without being able to up/down the multiplier?

 

[banthracis]

Sapphire, XFX, Asus, Gigabyte are all good GPU makers on ATI side.

It looks like a steal because they cheap and skimp out anywhere possible to keep the cost so cheap^^.


Unlocked multiplier is mostly just a convenience feature in OCing. There really isn't much difference. Doesn't affect OC potential unless they're separately binned.

 

[deppfx]

Are these compatible cuz newegg doesn't show Athlon in the specs of the motherboard.

ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX, AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz w/ MDW2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.436107

 

[batuchka]

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1980x1080
MONITOR: Acer H235Hbmid Black 23" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009201


@batuchka: <<Price for an 700 series 8/8 board seem kinda steep if u ask me>> Any other suggestions please??
<<do elaborate if your display is Full HD or the "HD Ready" sort >> The monitor specs are given above. Can you check and shed more info?

Asrock 870Extreme3 @ $90 with SATA/USB 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

That resolution i would look to hit a HD 5830 or better

 

[deppfx]

Asrock 870Extreme3 @ $90 with SATA/USB 3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

That resolution i would look to hit a HD 5830 or better

Err...Thought the specs of the board suggested look stunning, I am looking for one with Onboard graphics as I am plannign to buy the Video Card a little alter due to my budget constraints. Anything else please?

 

[batuchka]

For your budget of $600-800 you definitely can fit in a discrete GPU ^^ Eg: Me $642AR config

 

[deppfx]

For your budget of $600-800 you definitely can fit in a discrete GPU ^^ Eg: Me $642AR config
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/Untitled-1862.jpg

My Bad!!! Its $300-400, and not more than that. And the idea is to first get a mobo with Onboard graphics alongwith the CPU & then buy a Video Card a little later.

 

[batuchka]

Hmm at that price point have a look at the 785G/880G with SB710 mobos

 

[deppfx]

Luckily for me I went for the Athlon II X3 425 [since that's the only available option in Athlon II X3] & enabled the Core Unlcoker feature in the BIOS & voila it turned into a Phenom II X4 B25 processor. Now all I have to do is understand & fine tune the motherboard [MSI 880G-E 45] settings with that of the processor. I have asked the same question in a different thread.[MSI 880G-E 45]


Athlon X3 425 2.7 GHz
Corsair 2GB RAM 1333 MHz
MSI 880GMA-E45 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

 

[batuchka]

Congrats on your new buy and seemingly successful unlocking adventure hehe

 

[deppfx]

Best answer selected by deppfx.