Asking for advice on $700-800 Gaming Rig Build

[ubersoldier87]

After some advice I scaled down my build, because I have a 1280x1020 res monitor, I will be playing the games on my 720p widescreen tv.

This is what I've come up with so far, if anyone would like to give some advice, I would also like a suggestion for a wireless keyboard and mouse with decent range that I could use in the room (it would be like 8-10 feet away from the pc). Thank you!

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827135204

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

MSI 870A-G54 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130275

XFX HD-567X-ZNF3 Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150467

PQI TURBO 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PQI26400-4GDB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141366

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871

XFX Black Edition P1-750B-CAG9 750W ATX12V v2.2 / ESP12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular .../ Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492896

M$ Wireless Keyboard/Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109048

EDIT: Fixed the links, sorry about that!

 

[calguyhunk]

None of your links are working.

 

[calguyhunk]

CPU : $105 Athlon II X4 640

Mobo : $90 ASRock 870 EXTREME3

RAM : $98 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB)

HDD : $55 Samsung Spinpoint F3 (If you're using this as your boot drive)

PSU : $45 OCZ Fatal1ty 550W

GPU : $355 HIS Radeon HD 5870 1GB

ODD : $21 LG SATA DVD Burner - Bulk LightScribe Support

Case : $45 Rosewill CHALLENGER Gaming ATX Mid Tower Case

Total - $822 + shipping. Drop the CPU down to the Athlon II X 3 440 to save 30 bucks. Most games are not optimized for 4 cores anyways.

P.S. - Wireless KB/Mouse - Logitech MK-320

 

[calguyhunk]

Neither Mobo will accept DDR2 RAM. In any case, the only reason to buy DDR2 these days, is to upgrade / add RAM to an existing system.

However, if you've got some DDR2 sticks lying around & wanna use that, then go with an AM2+ mobo.

 

[ubersoldier87]

Thank you for those suggestions, I'll look into all they're specs. Thanks again.

 

[calguyhunk]

Yeah, for the same price, you're getting a much more future proof system - USB 3.0, SATA3, eSATA3, DDR3. This system won't get obsolete for a long time to come, especially if the Bulldozers work on AM3 with a BIOS flash or something.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

on your original system, you could save $100 changing from the 900 to this combo with the 300 and a 520W Power supply for $99.94
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492901

the saved $100 would let you get a Geforce 460 1GB card ($219-229, some with rebates that drop them to about $200)

 

[calguyhunk]

^ Nice combo. But as far as the GPU is concerned, I actually gave him an even better card - a 5870 - especially since he wanted an ATI to begin with for same-ish overall build price.

 

[sp12]

You really don't need more than a 5770 for that monitor resolution.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

You really don't need more than a 5770 for that monitor resolution.

true, but you also shouldn't spend over $200 on case and PSU in a $700 build.

 

[dndhatcher]

^ Nice combo. But as far as the GPU is concerned, I actually gave him an even better card - a 5870 - especially since he wanted an ATI to begin with for same-ish overall build price.

Unfortunately a 5870 is an 11 inch long card and will not fit in that small case, unless you want to do some dremel work. It also wont fit in an antec 300.

*edit - that specific 5870 model is slightly shorter and is only like 10.7 inches, but the power connectors are on the end so its still likely a problem.

You really don't need more than a 5770 for that monitor resolution.

When that old monitor breaks, what do you recommend?

I think its smarter to plan on 1920x1080 because its very likely to be that within 2 years.

 

[sp12]

The original mobo+PSU he selected would be capable of another 5770 in that case. Even then it's not going to be all that relevant in two years because a new single-GPU card will have more than 2x 5770 performance for the price of a a second 5770.

Heck, that's expected with the 6000 series coming out in six months.

 

[ubersoldier87]

Thanks everyone for all the input. So here's what I've come up with:

ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871

Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492901

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492901

With the keyboard/mouse, W7 and shipping it puts me at $713. Definitely not bad. I've read that there are ways to get W7 cheaper (legally) but they seem like they take too much work to save like $30-40. Although suggestions wouldn't hurt either, heh.

 

[calguyhunk]

By legally cheaper options you mean student concessions I suppose. You can actually get that thing totally for free, without spending a dime. Windows 7 Ultimate 7600 (RTM) for $0.00. I spent the extra 180 bucks on getting a better Mobo - (Rampage III Gene) . And I still had money left over.

Was a gr8 upgrade from Windows XP Pro $0.00

 

[ubersoldier87]

By legally cheaper options you mean student concessions I suppose. You can actually get that thing totally for free, without spending a dime. Windows 7 Ultimate 7600 (RTM) for $0.00. I spent the extra 180 bucks on getting a better Mobo - (Rampage III Gene) . And I still had money left over.

Was a gr8 upgrade from Windows XP Pro $0.00

Yeah, I looked on that student windows site but the only thing I could find was a 29.99 upgrade to 7 Pro, which wouldn't work with a new build anyway, not to mention that I graduated 2 years ago, although I still have a working student email, but I couldn't prove I'm still enrolled. : P

 

[ubersoldier87]

on your original system, you could save $100 changing from the 900 to this combo with the 300 and a 520W Power supply for $99.94
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492901

the saved $100 would let you get a Geforce 460 1GB card ($219-229, some with rebates that drop them to about $200)

Would that RAM be compatible with an AMD processor? Also would that power supply fit into this case?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058


...and an ATI 5830 as well?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121367

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Would that RAM be compatible with an AMD processor? Also would that power supply fit into this case?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058


...and an ATI 5830 as well?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121367

the power supply will fit. a 460 is a much better card than a 5830

 

[ubersoldier87]

the power supply will fit. a 460 is a much better card than a 5830

And for the RAM, if I wanted to keep that would I have to switch to Intel?

I looked into using this 460 instead, but when I read the reviews a ton of people were saying the hdmi input on it doesn't work, which would be a huge issue for me seeing as I want to connect it to my tv in the room to play games.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-125-333&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=3#scrollFullInfo

 

[dndhatcher]

There are DVI-HDMI cables and adapters.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186126
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882719038

That looks to be a mini-HDMI not a regular HDMI port anyway.




DDR3 RAM is DDR3 RAM, it has nothing to do with intel or AMD.

 

[Juanchioo]

Thanks everyone for all the input. So here's what I've come up with:

ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871

Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492901

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492901

With the keyboard/mouse, W7 and shipping it puts me at $713. Definitely not bad. I've read that there are ways to get W7 cheaper (legally) but they seem like they take too much work to save like $30-40. Although suggestions wouldn't hurt either, heh.

that build is good... but change the cpu for a phenom ii x2 555, it has cache l3 wich is better for gaming, it is black edition so its easier to overclock and also change the power supply for ocz sealthstream 600w... its cheap and decent and u can add another card in the future... with that u save money and u can buy another monitor full hd, check the asus vk242h

ifu want and if u buy that monitor u can add this things:

5850 with 750w xfx power supply

and

phenom ii x4 955

 

[ScrewySqrl]

that build is good... but change the cpu for a phenom ii x2 555, it has cache l3 wich is better for gaming, it is black edition so its easier to overclock and also change the power supply for ocz sealthstream 600w... its cheap and decent and u can add another card in the future... with that u save money and u can buy another monitor full hd, check the asus vk242h

ifu want and if u buy that monitor u can add this things:

5850 with 750w xfx power supply

and

phenom ii x4 955

the L3 cache makes very little difference in most games (less than 5 fps in testing by Toms a few months ago), whil the extra cores will be much better. Yes, you might unlock more in a 555, but if you don't you're still stuck with a dual core.

 

[Juanchioo]

the L3 cache makes very little difference in most games (less than 5 fps in testing by Toms a few months ago), whil the extra cores will be much better. Yes, you might unlock more in a 555, but if you don't you're still stuck with a dual core.

just a few games can use 3 cores -.-...

 

[ScrewySqrl]

just a few games can use 3 cores -.-...

yes, but a 3 core can transfer all those background processes to the 3rd core, speeding up the 2 cores playing the game. And more modern games are using more cores than before (GTA IV for instance, uses all 4 cores, FFXIV uses 3 and 4 cores if avail.

 

[dndhatcher]

just a few games can use 3 cores -.-...

In broad game testing, 3 cores significantly outperforms 2 cores. Not because the games are using more than one core, but because there is enough OS, antivirus, anti-spyware, auto-update stuff running in the background that the 3rd core seems to really free up one core for nothing but the game.

Newer games are making better use of more cores so for the same price, it makes more sense to get an AthlonIIx3 than a PhenomIIx2. You get better multi-tasking and at least equal gaming performance, even in older single core games.

 

[Juanchioo]

In broad game testing, 3 cores significantly outperforms 2 cores. Not because the games are using more than one core, but because there is enough OS, antivirus, anti-spyware, auto-update stuff running in the background that the 3rd core seems to really free up one core for nothing but the game.

Newer games are making better use of more cores so for the same price, it makes more sense to get an AthlonIIx3 than a PhenomIIx2. You get better multi-tasking and at least equal gaming performance, even in older single core games.

u can unlock 2 more...