Athlon II x3 440 Build. Final Check.

[doje1999]

Here is my final build for my upgrade. I already have an Antec 300, HD, DVD, and Corsair 400w PSU (link below).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008


CPU: Athlon II x3 440 3.0 ghz - $66.99 (frys)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843&cm_re=rana-_-19-103-843-_-Product

OR CPU: Phenom II x2 555 BE 3.2 ghz - $69.99 (frys)

MOBO: ASRock M3A770DE - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157176

GPU + RAM: Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB + OCZ 4GB DDR3 1600 ram - $318.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.462598

Total Cost: ~$500 after taxes

My budget was around 500 including taxes and this was the best I could come up with. Please let me know if you guys think there might be a better solution. Also, will my psu be able to power that setup above? Finally should I stick with the Athlon II x3 or the Phenom II x2 and is the ram I selected any good? I plan to purchase this within the next couple days so any immediate input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Juanchioo]

change mobo for ga-770ta-ud3

gpu for gtx 460 and its a better setup

 

[doje1999]

change mobo for ga-770ta-ud3

gpu for gtx 460 and its a better setup

thanks for the correction, gtx 460 is what I intended to get. as for the mobo, it is $35 more and currently out of stock at newegg

 

[coldsleep]

I would get the Athlon II X3. That extra core is likely to come in much more handy than .2 GHz clock speed.

nVidia recommends 550W minimum. While you could probably get away with a 500W PSU, 400W would make me nervous. Furthermore, most reviewers don't think the 465 is as good a value buy as the 460. See Tom's Best Graphics Card for the Money, August 2010 for a few ideas.

I don't normally like to recommend the 5830, but this combo with an OCZ ModXStream 600W PSU is pretty decent. You'd then have to find some RAM, of course.

Most gaming GPUs want at least 500-550W, unfortunately.

 

[doje1999]

I guess I can give it a shot with my current PSU. If it doesn't work out, I guess I'll have to pick up a new psu. I posted in another section of this forum and they did say that it shouldn't be a problem to power the gpu.

 

[coldsleep]

Well, one should certainly take the manufacturer minimums with a grain of salt. They tend to shoot for the lowest common denominator and assume that people are going to get a terrible PSU.

That's a decent idea, just go ahead and give it a whirl, and if it works, then you haven't paid anything extra. If it doesn't, a decent PSU can be had for $50-60ish.

 

[doje1999]

Hopefully it works . Based on my findings, looks like I'm going to go with the Athlon II x3 over the Phenom II x2. If anyone is interested in that Phenom chip, fry's is selling it for 69.99 which is 30 under newegg. Besides that, does everything else look ok? How's the ram look? It was the first combo I could find with the GTX 460.

 

[coldsleep]

The RAM looks fine. There are some complaints flying around about OCZ RAM, but I wouldn't worry about it too much...I suspect it's largely people with Intel chips that can't get them to run at rated timings at under 1.65V.

Even if you can't get it to run at 1600 MHz CL7, it's not like you're going to notice a difference in day-to-day usage. I say go for the combo and be happy with it.

 

[batuchka]

Hmm actually what resolution do u game on? Though CX400 is a quality 80+ 400 watter it's cutting close with all that @@

 

[doje1999]

Hmm actually what resolution do u game on? Though CX400 is a quality 80+ 400 watter it's cutting close with all that @@

Depends on if my cpu can handle the game but I play on a 30" dell wfp at either full screen or window it at 24". I've checked out other forums and it seems that the 400W has success powering the GTX 460. Say if I try it, will the psu fry my system if it doesn't work? I don't want to try it if it'll be harmful to my system. But if it works, I could save myself that extra $$. Thanks.

 

[coldsleep]

If you try it, the most likely failure outcome is that it just won't boot.

 

[doje1999]

If you try it, the most likely failure outcome is that it just won't boot.

Ok. I just don't want to blow up my hard drive, there's way too much valuable information on their to "chance" something, lol.

 

[coldsleep]

You should back up that data.

(Not because it's going to blow up, but if something is that valuable, having a backup is a really really good idea.)

 

[doje1999]

You should back up that data.

(Not because it's going to blow up, but if something is that valuable, having a backup is a really really good idea.)

I have some of it backed up, I guess now would be a good time to back the rest of it up