HELP!: AMD System, Built for Future Upgrades

[jerrogs]

hello everyone! I'm new to tom's hardware, and I would like to get your opinion on my very first gaming build. (noob)

I'm trying to accomplish a build which will be able to support future upgrades, but right now I wanna get the best "bang for the buck"

I only play a few FPS games, i play more of RPG and RTS . I also watch a lot of movies and tv series. My budget is around $1500.



CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Ed (should I overclock? BUT I plan to get the Bulldozer X8 and sell the X4 once it comes out)

Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair IV Formula Socket AM3 890FX

GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SuperClocked 1024MB GDDR5 (planning to SLI)

Memory: Corsair Dominator-GT 4GB DDR3-2000 (PC-16000) (may expand in the future)

PSU: Corsair HX 650W Modular/ OCZ 750w Fatal1ty Series modular (should i go for higher watts?)

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7,200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s (no budget for SSD)

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 AMD Limited Edition (already ordered)

Sound Card: ??? (need ideas)

Gaming Keyboard: ??? (need ideas)

Gaming Mouse: ??? (need ideas)

Monitor: Samsung P2350-1 23' 1080p (i can get this for $189, any better deals?)



Let me know what you think...and if I missed anything or any of the parts do not match, lol im still learning! Thanks guys!

 

[Thegolfpro]

If you are going to SLI GTX 460 then i would go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333. Its the same product just a different brand and you will save $60 after rebates. Not sure how long the price/rebate offer will last however.

 

[jerrogs]

PRICES

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Ed =$160

Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair IV Formula Socket AM3 890FX =$226

GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SuperClocked 1024MB GDDR5 =$250

Memory: Corsair Dominator-GT 4GB DDR3-2000 (PC-16000) =$190

PSU: Corsair HX 650W Modular =$120 / OCZ 750w Fatal1ty Series modular =$102

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7,200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s =$55

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 AMD Limited Edition =$99

Sound Card: ??? (need ideas)

Gaming Keyboard: ??? (need ideas)

Gaming Mouse: Mad Catz R.A.T. 7 =$65

Monitor: Samsung P2350-1 23' 1080p =$190

 

[jerrogs]

If you are going to SLI GTX 460 then i would go with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125333. Its the same product just a different brand and you will save $60 after rebates. Not sure how long the price/rebate offer will last however.

Most of my experienced friends highly recommended EVGA or MSI for the GTX 260. They all told me that this Gigabyte is only OK.

 

[Thegolfpro]

Most of my experienced friends highly recommended EVGA or MSI for the GTX 260. They all told me that this Gigabyte is only OK.

That may be the case, however to me personally, I would rather spend $400 on the 2 cards than $500 and get MAYBE slightly less performance. I dont think the $100 more is worth the possible small increase in quality. Also before you, I hadnt heard anything other than good things about the gigabyte one. Its all preference though. =)

 

[Outlander_04]

You cannot SLI on a motherboard with the AMD890FX chipset.

You can crossfire though so a dual gf card upgrade means you should be looking at a 5850 or 5870 Radeon

Other potential problems are that [ AFAIK ] AMD have not confirmed that bulldozer will run in an AM3 motherboard . We just all hope it will

 

[mortonww]

I'm wondering if it makes more sense for you to spend $1500 on an intel build. You'll net a faster processor, better performance in games and a platform that will allow you to SLI or Crossfire (instead of only crossfire). The Bulldozer CPUs will only work on AM3+ socket boards, so there is no future-proofing in that respect. You won't be able to simply throw out your x4 and plop in a bulldozer.


CPU: Intel Core i7 950
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115211&cm_re=core_i7_950-_-19-115-211-_-Product
-$300 (unless you live near a microcenter. Then it's $250)

RAM: G.Skill Pi 1600 MHz, Cas 7, 1.5 volt RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335&cm_re=g.skill_pi-_-20-231-335-_-Product
-$160

GPU: GTX 470
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261070&cm_re=gtx_470-_-14-261-070-_-Product
-$270 after rebate and free shipping

MOBO: Asus P6X58D-E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131641&cm_re=asus_p6x58d-e-_-13-131-641-_-Product
-$230

You could also look at the cheaper Gigabyte UD3R

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
-$75

CASE: HAF 922
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
-$90

PSU: Corsair 950TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139013
-$120 after rebate

I chose the 950 because it will give you ample (lol, get it. AMPle) room to upgrade in the future. If you add a second gtx 470, overclock your CPU, add more drives, fans, etc, you're not going to overload this PSU. You also don't want your PSU loaded at 100% anyway as the efficiency usually isn't the best it could be and the stress will bring the life down. So, I think 950 is a good choice.

And with the rebate, it's very close in price to similar quality 750 and 850 watt supplies, so why not?


Okay, so after rebates, this is $1380. Then you'd add your $190 monitor which brings it up to $1570.

 

[MRFS]

For a "noob" you did a really good job of selecting components!


While you're shopping, check out the new Corsair Graphite Series 600T chassis:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139003&Tpk=N82E16811139003

http://www.corsair.com/products/600t/default.aspx


... or the Cooler Master Storm Sniper (from which Corsair copied a lot of ideas):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119194&Tpk=N82E16811119194


We have a CM Storm Sniper and we love it!


MRFS