New build - comments welcomed.

[6stringboots]

Hi everyone,
"I" put this build together mostly from posts by Batuchka and ScrewySqr so thanks in advance to you two. I did make some minor changes so would like to make sure the part choices are all good decisions.

Approximate Purchase Date: this week (by 10/29)

Budget Range: $1000

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Video streaming, MS office and the like, Web browsing/blogging, Audio recording, Gaming (not really a pc gamer now but wouldn't mind playing casually).

Parts Not Required: none! I have a sick (as in dying) laptop atm. Actually, I have a wireless keyboard and mouse but lost the little usb dongle thing so...that's a maybe depending on my locating abilities.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: here's what I spliced together:

GPU: - $180
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 100315L Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814102908

RAM - $90
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820226103

Case and Optical Drive Combo Deal - $68
Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case
SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514378

PSU and Hard Drive Combo Deal - $115
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W Power Supply
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514469

CPU and Motherboard Combo Deal - $240
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.537749

OS - $100
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM

Monitor - ???
???

Total - $793 before monitor, tax, and shipping

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments & Questions:
- Do I need extra fans?
- Is it worth it going PIIx4 965 over 955...over another option...x6? 970?

Many thanks!

 

[etk]

Stick with the 955 on an AMD build. You could prob save about $10-$20 on ram going to CAS 9 1333 MHz, without noticing the difference. Give us more details on what you mean by "casual gamer" the 6850 is probably overkill. Something between a 5550 and a 5770 would seem more appropriate for your usage. PSU is second tier(not bad but there are better), but you have enough headroom it shouldn't matter much.

 

[6stringboots]

OK - is there any benefit to 1600 MHz vs 1333 MHz? In terms of "casual gamer", right now I have a laptop with integrated graphics so gaming limited. That being the case I'm a console gamer atm (~4 hrs/wk). I would like to have a machine with a capable GPU - I'm not out to have the highest fps or anything but want to be able to see a fun-looking game, pick it up, and come back to play it without issues. I also have mentally committed $1k to this pc so I'm not dreading edging right up to my budget max. Not sure if that clears anything up...at all, but hopefully it'll allow a more accurate assessment.

 

[gkay09]

^ Nice build, go with X4 955...
Here is a build,...
X4 955 + ASUS 870A
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.537750

Get this RAM -
Mushkin 4GB DDR3 - This would suffice as it has tighter timings...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226135

HAF 912 + OS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.437504.11-119-233

HDD + PSU - Same
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514469

DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136168

Monitor -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

Video card - Same...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

Total - ~$937 | ~$902 After Rebates...

 

[etk]

There is a difference, but it's negligable, and keep in mind that at 1.65 V (1.5 is the "standard") many 1333 ram sticks would clock up that high anyway. This is decent Ram that you should be able to overclock if you want to; you could go cheaper if you don't see overclocking in your future.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274

The 6850 is prob the sweet spot right now in terms of price/performance, even if it is more than you need, so if you want to spend the full budget on the computer, it's as good a place as any, but you might have a hard time finding a decent one in stock. A 5670 or 5770 should work for you as well, they will run most games on decent settings.

This is a nice monitor,

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236052

 

[batuchka]

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

- Is it worth it going PIIx4 965 over 955...over another option...x6? 970?

Since no CPU intensive tasks outside gaming i would pick the 955BE and HD 6850 min for 1920 x 1080 gaming

 

[mosox]

Some other monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009266

 

[Dougie Fresh]

The Antec 300 Illusion case includes a bunch of fans already and it's cheaper right now than the Antec 300 after $15MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066
$69.99 - $15MIR = $49.99

You might be able to rework things a bit with this RAM/Case $20off combo:

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.514370
$114.98 after $15 MIR

Go with this DVD burner and save a couple of dollars:
SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SH-S222L LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151176
$18.99

Then the rest is your build:
GPU: - $180
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6850 100315L Video Card with Eyefinity

PSU and Hard Drive Combo Deal - $115
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W Power Supply
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

CPU and Motherboard Combo Deal - $240
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 AMD Motherboard

OS - $100
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM

$769 after Antec 300 Illusion rebate + tax & shipping