First time builder - $900 budget gaming rig

[Chimprage]

Hi guys, first time builder, long time lurker here and I would love you to take a look at this gaming machine I am considering building. I've compiled the build looking around several other builds on the web and it seems solid to me but I have never done this before. I'd love any opinions or advice you might have before I pull the trigger and buy all the parts.

A few questions off the top of my head I have are do you think i'll need to buy some more fans or additional cooling mechanisms and do you think I need a bigger power supply than the 500W one included in the case? Any other things jumping out at you that I might want to address?

I've got a grand to spend on this machine and this build is currently around $900, after I buy a copy of windows that eats up the $1000 right there. I do already have a monitor and a mouse though, so that is nice. If you have any suggestions where I can swap out something for a cheaper component without sacrificing too much, do let me know! I'd love to have cash left over.

Thanks guys, I appreciate any help, here's the build.

Case: Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128443

CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT55TFBGRBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851

Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100314SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102909

Memory: Kingston ValueRAM 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3K2/4GR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134792

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Extras:
- ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

- ASUS Xonar DX 7.1 Channels PCI Express x1 Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

- Rosewill RNX-N300X PCI Wireless Adapter (i know, wireless sucks but the wife wont let me drag a cord throughout the condo.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166051

- LITE-ON SK-1688U/B Black USB Wired Standard Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823107128

 

[vindictive]

can you specify what the build will be used for please

 

[Chimprage]

Hi Vindictive, i will be using this machine for gaming and general every day use. I have a laptop now and gaming has been crushing it so instead of burning it out, i wanted to make a decent gaming system instead that can also secondarily function as a decent home desktop. Thanks!

 

[vindictive]

Okay then get the X4 955 BE, the X4 outperforms the X6 in gaming and saves money.
Games use on average 2.75 cores at once (according to a review on tom's that I don't want to look up.)
view this http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=147&i=48.49.50 blue is X4.

The PSU included in the case is to small for the 6870. AMD says minimum is 500W (and believe me, thats the minimum)
Heres a PSU that will allow for Crossfire in the future if you want: XFX Black Edition 750W Modular, Silver Certified - $130 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003&Tpk=xfx%20750

Antec 300 - $60 (they have one with blue led's for 10 more if you want.) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-042-_-Product

I'm not sure on your mobo if when using 2 GPU's they switch to x8x8 or run at 16x4x. You don't want 16x4x, 8x8x is fine so read up on that if you want.

RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2x2GB) 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=
MUCH MUCH better, faster ram for only $10 more.

The sound card is unnecessary because onboard has gotten so good and most people can't tell the difference, I suggest getting the board, then if you dont like the audio get a sound card.

Your GPU & HD are good.

 

[Chimprage]

Okay then get the X4 955 BE, the X4 outperforms the X6 in gaming and saves money.
Games use on average 2.75 cores at once (according to a review on tom's that I don't want to look up.)
view this http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=147&i=48.49.50 blue is X4.

The PSU included in the case is to small for the 6870. AMD says minimum is 500W (and believe me, thats the minimum)
Heres a PSU that will allow for Crossfire in the future if you want: XFX Black Edition 750W Modular, Silver Certified - $130 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003&Tpk=xfx%20750

Antec 300 - $60 (they have one with blue led's for 10 more if you want.) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&cm_re=antec_300-_-11-129-042-_-Product

I'm not sure on your mobo if when using 2 GPU's they switch to x8x8 or run at 16x4x. You don't want 16x4x, 8x8x is fine so read up on that if you want.

RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Blackline 4GB (2x2GB) 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=
MUCH MUCH better, faster ram for only $10 more.

The sound card is unnecessary because onboard has gotten so good and most people can't tell the difference, I suggest getting the board, then if you dont like the audio get a sound card.

Your GPU & HD are good.

Wow, awesome, this is exactly the advice that I need, you rock. Thanks Vindictive, very much appreciated.

 

[vindictive]

So thats $772 for everything but the sound card (inculded keyboard and wifi)

You can either save the $ or if you want back up to 900, I'd upgrade the case first antec 902 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058&cm_re=antec_900-_-11-129-058-_-Product - $110
makes total= $822
If your going to OC add the hyper 212+ and Shin-Etsu TIM for $35
total= $857

 

[Chimprage]

So thats $772 for everything but the sound card (inculded keyboard and wifi)

You can either save the $ or if you want back up to 900, I'd upgrade the case first antec 902 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058&cm_re=antec_900-_-11-129-058-_-Product - $110
makes total= $822
If your going to OC add the hyper 212+ and Shin-Etsu TIM for $35
total= $857

I think I might just pocket the cash actually, can buy some more games with it. I am gonna think about OC'ing the machine, but I've never done it and i'm wary about it for now. Firstly i just wanna see if I can build the machine and get it working. If i feel like I need to squeeze some more performance out of it, i'll get those and try my hand at the OC. Thanks

 

[Chimprage]

I'm not sure on your mobo if when using 2 GPU's they switch to x8x8 or run at 16x4x. You don't want 16x4x, 8x8x is fine so read up on that if you want.

Sorry to keep this thread going but I was looking at the stats on the motherboard and it looks like it runs at 16x4x, so now I have another question. Any thoughts as to a comparable replacement board that runs at 8x8x? Thanks!

 

[vindictive]

heres one, but not sure if you wanted usb 3.0 and sata 3. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402
I'll go find one with sata and usb 3 real quick.

 

[vindictive]

Price goes up a bit $145 to run sata 3 usb 3.0 and 2 gpu's at x8x8, believe me, you don't want 16x,4x so its well worth it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131631

 

[Chimprage]

Price goes up a bit $145 to run sata 3 usb 3.0 and 2 gpu's at x8x8, believe me, you don't want 16x,4x so its well worth it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131631

Might be worth it to spend the extra money to get the sata3 and usb3.0, i think I might go that route. Thanks for your help Vindictive!

 

[vindictive]

nooo problem

 

[reaper2794]

I hope this isn't taken as rude, I realize that you gotta make sacrifices in a marriage and all, but it's a freakin wire, through a condo. If you want good performance, just use wired, wireless is TERRIBLE and I have no idea why anyone would prefer it in any circumstance.

It's up to you, but to me that'd be a very stupid reason to resort to wireless plus pay for an adapter

 

[Chimprage]

I hope this isn't taken as rude, I realize that you gotta make sacrifices in a marriage and all, but it's a freakin wire, through a condo. If you want good performance, just use wired, wireless is TERRIBLE and I have no idea why anyone would prefer it in any circumstance.

It's up to you, but to me that'd be a very stupid reason to resort to wireless plus pay for an adapter

Not rude at all, I do understand. Like you said though, its all about sacrifices. I'm lucky i'm getting to build this system at all, punching a hole in the walls or running a 100ft cord around the place just isn't gonna fly. Luckily, i don't play too many fast twitch mulitplayer games where not having wired would kill me. As long as I have an solid/uninterrupted connection via wireless, it should suffice...I hope.

 

[Chimprage]

Best answer selected by Chimprage.

 

[Maziar]

This topic has been closed by Maziar