New AMD gamer Build

[CaliGamer]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 7/29/10

BUDGET RANGE: 1500.00

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Music, Photo printing, cd/dvd burning.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, Fry's, Micro Center

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A.

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD

OVERCLOCKING: No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Will Crossfire when I upgrade Monitor in a few months.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Using Newegg for the pricing because their prices are the same as Micro Center where I will go to buy all parts from so I wont be using any combo deals because I wont be able to purchase combo deals in store from MC. Rather be able to return a product if need be rather than mail it back and have to wait.


CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

Mobo- ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131644

GPU - SAPPHIRE TOXIC 100282TXSR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102881

PSU - XFX Black Edition P1-750B-CAG9 750W ATX12V v2.2 / ESP12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003

Case - COOLER MASTER HAF X RC-942-KKN1 Black Steel/ Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119225

HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

DVD - LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

OS - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Total $ 1412.91. Any thoughts?

 

[Juanchioo]

the mobo is overkilling... , just get that psu if u will crossfire in the future... , dont get the toxic ver get a normal one, dont get the seagate.. get a samsung spinpoint f3 and get 4gb cause amd uses dual channel not tri channel

 

[coldsleep]

At $1500, you should easily be able to afford a 5870. I have the Crosshair IV myself, but it's pretty expensive if you're not going to use the additional features the board has.

In general, the build looks pretty good good, but you could make the following changes to get a better gaming machine out of the gate.

Save $20 going with an AMD Phenom II X4 955 and then just increase the multiplier by one to match the 965.

Get an HAF 922/932 and save $60-110, while losing little room to work in.

Save with a GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5 ($50) or an ASUS M4A89TD PRO/USB3 AM3 ($45).

With the money saved, you could upgrade from the 5850 to a 5870.

 

[CaliGamer]

Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT25664FN1608 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148351

 

[Juanchioo]

Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT25664FN1608 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148351

if it is CL7 .... YEP

or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&cm_re=4gb_g.skill_pc3-12800-_-20-231-303-_-Product

 

[CaliGamer]

At $1500, you should easily be able to afford a 5870. I have the Crosshair IV myself, but it's pretty expensive if you're not going to use the additional features the board has.

In general, the build looks pretty good good, but you could make the following changes to get a better gaming machine out of the gate.

Save $20 going with an AMD Phenom II X4 955 and then just increase the multiplier by one to match the 965.

Get an HAF 922/932 and save $60-110, while losing little room to work in.

Save with a GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD5 ($50) or an ASUS M4A89TD PRO/USB3 AM3 ($45).

With the money saved, you could upgrade from the 5850 to a 5870.

When I upgrade my monitor it will be a 30+ inch hopefully the 6*** series will be out so I can upgrade to that!

 

[CaliGamer]

http://www.totalpcgaming.com/latest-pc-news/radeon-hd-6000-series-coming-in-2010/

 

[coldsleep]

When I upgrade my monitor it will be a 30+ inch hopefully the 6*** series will be out so I can upgrade to that!

Fair enough.

Other RAM options (if microcenter has them):
Mushkin Silverline 1600 MHz CL 7 4 GB kit
G.Skill ECO series 1600 MHz CL7 1.35V 4 GB kit
Mushkin Blackline 1600 MHz CL7 4 GB kit

 

[coldsleep]

http://www.totalpcgaming.com/latest-pc-news/radeon-hd-6000-series-coming-in-2010/

You could get this XFX 750W & 5870 combo for approximately the same price as what you're paying for the same PSU and the 5850.

 

[CaliGamer]

I would actually order that combo. MC does not have G skill or Mushkin.

Only Ram they carry is:
A-Data
Centon
Corsair
Crucial
K-BYTE
Kingston
Lifetime Memory Products
OCZ Technology
Patriot
PNY

 

[CaliGamer]

Hows this look at $1387.91

 

[coldsleep]

Oh right, forgot that you're going to microcenter. The screenshot looks good, though I think the 5870 + 750W PSU is a -$40 combo, so an additional $10 off. (If you were to order from newegg.)

As far as RAM goes, brand isn't a huge deal (many people on here feel that OCZ isn't good on Intel due to voltage issues, I have no first-hand data on that), RAM is RAM by and large. The best value is generally 1333 MHz or 1600 MHz CL 7 RAM, but don't pay more than, say $10 to jump from 1333 MHz to 1600 MHz.

 

[CaliGamer]

Oh right, forgot that you're going to microcenter. The screenshot looks good, though I think the 5870 + 750W PSU is a -$40 combo, so an additional $10 off. (If you were to order from newegg.)

As far as RAM goes, brand isn't a huge deal (many people on here feel that OCZ isn't good on Intel due to voltage issues, I have no first-hand data on that), RAM is RAM by and large. The best value is generally 1333 MHz or 1600 MHz CL 7 RAM, but don't pay more than, say $10 to jump from 1333 MHz to 1600 MHz.

You're right, I switched the combo to the psu/gpu and i'm 30 bucks cheaper. I may have to do a combo of buying some things from newegg and picking stuff up from MC. That Mobo is 199.99 at MC as a posed to 229.99 on newegg.