Budget Build $1000

[clemsy]

Hello, I am building a computer for my sister's birthday. She doesn't do any heavy gaming (Crysis, COD4 etc. although there is still some gaming, like mmorpgs), but I would like to build her a computer that will last her for a long time (5+ years or so).

I have a budget of around AUD$ 1000 (plus or minus 100-200$).

This build will include everything, including peripherals. But I have yet to include it, I just wish to see what you guys think of the tower first as the peripherals are not that important.

Thank you guys for your much valued opinions and don't be afraid to be honest and brutal .

NB. This is all in Australian Dollars.

Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D-E LX $145
Processor: i5-750 $235
Video Card: ATI 5670 $136'
Case: Antec 300 $65
PSU: Earth Watts 650W $103 or True Power 550W $109
RAM: 2x Patriot-S 2GB 1333 @ $60 each
Internal HD: I have 4 options, Hitachi (Japanese Brand) SATA 1TB $78 OR Samsung SATA 1TB $79 OR Seagate SATA 1TB $79 OR WD SATA 1TB $79.
Dual layer DVDRW: SATA Pioneer218 $31

I think that is it, I don't think I'm forgetting anything.

All up it should be around $921.

Are there any improvements that could be used?
Thank you!

 

[ramcrazy360]

As for the HDD I would personally recommend the SAMSUNG spinpoint f3 1TB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=spinpoint-_-22-152-185-_-Product

And you could definitely get a much better video card for that price...if it will fit in your budget, this is a great card and has a good price preformance ratio...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333

I believe you'd still be under $1000

 

[ramcrazy360]

Oh, i just read back and realized it was in Australian dollars, sorry, I'm not sure how that would translate...either way, i'd still recommend the samsung HDD

 

[clemsy]

Okay, no problem. I'm just wandering is that enough power for that system? Maybe I will get another graphics card?

 

[clemsy]

I will probably change that graphics to a 1GB Asus 5750

 

[ramcrazy360]

yea, the 5670 isn't a very powerful card, the 5750 is a much more powerful GPU and definitely more appropriate for an i5 build. I would go for the Asus 5750.

 

[clemsy]

Should i get the Antec Combo case and PSU or should I get the Coolermaster RC-690 w/PSU, although I'm not sure how much power is the Coolermaster PSU

 

[ramcrazy360]

I would go with the Antec case and PSU combo. The Earthwatts PSUs have a very good reputation. I'm not sure if Coolermaster produces good power supplies though...

 

[ramcrazy360]

A good friend of mine has the RC-690 and it's a great case, he loves it. I'm just concerned about the included power supply, if you could find out the model of the PSU, that would be awesome.

 

[clemsy]

It says on the website it is a Standard ATX PS2.

 

[ramcrazy360]

I guess if they don't specify the exact model, it's better to be safe and go with the Antec Case and PSU combo.

 

[batuchka]

Hello, I am building a computer for my sister's birthday. She doesn't do any heavy gaming (Crysis, COD4 etc. although there is still some gaming, like mmorpgs), but I would like to build her a computer that will last her for a long time (5+ years or so).

A few things u should know about SATA/USB 3.0 tech and mobos as shown by our very own forums here
USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, Motherboards, And Overcoming Bottlenecks
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/usb-3.0-sata-6gb,2583.html
Also note that LGA 1156 shall be usurped by LGA 1155 as soon as end of this year/possible Q1 next year if u intending to sink a wee bit on chip + board FYI...
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/04/21/intel-sandy-bridge-details-of-the-next-gen/

 

[mrhoshos96]

i would say go amd it's much more future proof

x4 955
asus/gigabyte 870 mobo
hd 5750/5770
antec 300
any 500w brand name psu 1-corsair 2-antec 3-xfx 4-seasonic 5-PCP&C 6-OCZ
samsung f3 1tb
g.skill/corsair/kingston/patriot/mushkin 2x2 gb ddr3 1333 cl9

 

[clemsy]

Should I get the AM3 x4 955, 965 or AM3 x6 1055T? What motherboard goes well with AMD CPU?

 

[mrhoshos96]

x4 955

any gigabyte/asus 870 chipset mobo

 

[clemsy]

Why is the 955 better than the 965 or 1055T? Aren't they later models? I am a AMD noob.

 

[mrhoshos96]

the 965 is the same chip as the 955 it's just factory oced
and the x6 sucks at gaming
so the 955 has the best price to performance ratio

 

[clemsy]

Okay so, so far I've got this.

Motherboard: G-B 870A-UD3 $138
Processor: AM3 x4 955 $188
Video Card: 1GB 5750 Asus Formula $173
Case: Antec 300 $65
PSU: Earth Watts 650W $103
RAM: 2x Patriot-S 2GB 1333 @ $60 each
Internal HD: Samsung SATA 1TB $79
Dual layer DVDRW: SATA Pioneer218 $31

Total: $897

How is that build now? For my requirements?

 

[clemsy]

Btw will that RAM work on the AMD motherboard?

 

[mrhoshos96]

yep everything will work just fine good luck.

 

[clemsy]

thank you for all your help!