Looking for advice AMD Gaming Rig - $1400

Waste of $ on the CPU.
Get the Phenom II x4 955 BE, it, outperforms the X6 in gaming.

Mushkin Enhanced Blackline DDR3 1600 Cas 7 - $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226103&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID= 8GB of ram is a waste of $ for gaming.

HD is a waste of money the "sata 6.0Gb/s" is a scam as no HD can max out Sata II speeds yet.
Get the samsung Spinpoint f3 1TB for $70 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Be aware, that SSD has high reads but lower writes. I suggest getting the OCZ Vertex 2 SSD.

saved $70 on ram, $20 on HD, $75 on CPU = $165, get a bigger SSD with the savings is my suggestion.

Thanks for the input vindictive!

On the ram is better to go with one stick 4GB or 2GB?

either way, depends how much you want to spend I guess. but whatever you get, get two sticks.
(2x2GB) or (2x4GB). You don't need 8gb for gaming, you wont even fully use 4GB.

The reason why you would get 2 sticks is because the am3 platform runs on dual channel memory.

+1 for the backup

Yes, 2 sticks, these ones in particular, they have a CAS Latency of 7 which is great for gaming and they're by G.Skill, very reliable brand!

G.Skill Ripjaws (2 x 2GB) DDR3 @ 1333 MHz CL7 - http://goo.gl/hLMJT

Here is the Spinpoint

Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB - http://goo.gl/VCpcK

6 cores aren't necessary for gaming, Id probably with an Intel i5-750 or 760 if you wanna game, AMDs tend to run hotter so yeah they're cheaper, but for a reason

If he's ok with that case, go ahead, personally I think it's awfully ugly, but it's a personal preference

Get the $100 OEM version Of Window 7, don't pay more for it, just not worth it

Thanks for the links, and the Windows 7 tip! I noticed there are a bunch of combo deals that knock the price down by a few bucks!

Is there a motherboard and video card, that you would recommend for a Intel build?

The case isn't set in stone, I personally don't care for it either, I would think that it would me rather noisey! I would go for something that is a bit quieter!

i5 760 + ASUS p7p55d-e Pro = $209+180 = $389
SLI GTX 460's 1GB - $400 (after MIR's) + 2 HAWX 2 games http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125345&cm_re=gtx_460_1gb-_-14-125-345-_-Product
why 460s?

these will be a little higher on the scale because the ones I linked are 815mhz to 810mhz on the scale.

You guys rock! Thanks for the great recommendations!

Yes, that CPU and MOBO combo up there is good

The fans aren't really that loud, plus the NZXT Lexa S comes with 2 fan controllers, you want a decent amount of fans for good airflow and 3 x 120mm fans and 1 x 140mm fan in a 70 dollar case with all the other features is a steal, plus it looks gorgeous

You're welcome, ask us any questions you may have, we're here to help  

Show what you guys have suggested I have outlined a Intel and AMD build! The only thing left is to have my friend make a final decision on a case!


Intel Build
Case: Antec Lanboy air Red 190
Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 209
CPU: Intel Core i5-760 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 180
Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR 80
Video Card: GIGABYTE GV-N460SO-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 220
GIGABYTE GV-N460SO-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 220
SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB 185
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 70
DVD Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X 20
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 100
Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 15

Total $1489

AMD Build
Case: Antec Lanboy air Red 190
Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 220
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 156
Ram: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR 80
Video Card: ASUS EAH6870/2DI2S/1GD5 Radeon HD 6870 260
SSD: OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB 185
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 70
DVD Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X 20
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 100
Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 15

Total $1296

Both builds are great, I'm an Intel/ATI guy so I dunno what to pick xD

The 6870 is way better than the 460

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_conten...

You're payin WAY too much for your case, consider this:

NZXT Phantom - http://goo.gl/f1HFe

I agree with the 6870 being better than the 460 SLI.

The only reason I would lean towards the Intel build is the heat factor! The pair of 460's add on an additional cost. If I go with the AMD I could always throw in a newer amd video card and run crossfire!

Another point for AMD the ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 AMD 890FX runs crossfire @16x for two cards and the Intel board ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 rund SLI @8x for two cards!

I totally agree on the price of case! I personally wouldn't spend more than $100 on one, but this build is for a buddy of mine, and the case is his up to him!

Yeah, the video cards are up to you, whatever you want  

I just like Intel, yeah it's more expensive, but it seems more professional to me but it's not like AMD is horrible

Also, I highly recommend the Phantom case, really sleek design and thought with builders in mind

tell him to look at this case, its sexy and i changed from antec lanboy air to this
http://www.amazon.com/SILVERSTONE-RV02B-W-Steel-Tower-Computer/dp/B002M78KZG
and I'd go with the intel build.. 2 gtx 460's beat a GTX 580, much less a Radeon 6870.

That one isn't bad either  

Newegg really let me down when looking at the Silverstone RV02 its $200 +$20 shipping. Amazon is $160 free shipping with $20 mail in rebate.
so newegg= $220 amazon= $140!

Cases are just all boxy and crappy, I hate the selection of cases, they're all plain and crappy or overpriced

Thankfully there's NZXT

Cases are personal opinion mostly, I don't like the NZXT, they look like a plastic toy to me haha.
Lian-Li is about as basic as it gets.
unless you go for this thing. makes me laugh. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112273

Thanks for the suggestions on the cases!

My buddy liked the red on the lan boy so I figure get him a cheaper case and just add some fans with red leds or a red cathode into the case!

I will have to double check with amazon, I just signed up for there Prime, 2nd day air! Almost as good as newegg, I get most of there stuff next day!

That's great