New Build -- $500 AMD-Nvidia budget gaming/multi-purpose

[Bordee]

Hello,

I'm a first time builder, and I'm seeking advice on a $500 budget AMD-nVidia gaming/multi-purpose build. Let me know what you think of my choices. Thanks.




Approximate Purchase Date: This weekend (nVidia discount ends 11/21); but could wait if I could get better deals on nVidia GTX 460 768 or 1gb on Black Friday/Cyber Monday)
Budget Range: $500 after rebates
System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming/multi-purpose
Parts Not Required: keyboard, monitor (27” 1920x1080), mouse, speakers, OS (Windows Vista), tools
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, TigerDirect, Amazon
Country of Origin: USA
Parts Preferences: AMD CPU and nVidia GPU
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution:1920x1080
Additional Comments: Plan to dual boot Windows Vista and Linux (probably Debian); prefer nVidia for better Linux drivers. Also, I tried to pick components to allow for possible future upgradeability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 640 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819103871
$100
Mobo: ASRock 770 EXTREME3 ATX AMD Motherboard
$73 ($70 + $3shipping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813157195
GPU: ASUS GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/768MD5 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814121390
$115 (after 10% promo code and $20 mail in rebate)
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820231310
$57
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS 1.5TB 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822136513
$70
Case/PSU: HEC 6K28BBX585 Black 0.8mm SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 585W Power Supply
+ (Combo discount)
DVD/CD ROM: LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.549373
$71 ($67 + $4 shipping)

Total (Includes Shipping) – $486

 

[dave0305]

Hi,

You got a few things wrong:

The case is a miniATX, that means that the MOBO will not fit in.

So you need to get a midi tower (case) for the MOBO you choose.

If you can try to get like $50-100 more that will be awsom and would really help to get a high quality PSU and case.

or

get this case with 500W, it has some decent feedback for it's price:
RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156098

Otherwise if you can spend 10-20 more on RAM and get a bit faster speed like 1600:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

Have you also though of HD 6850 (6850>gtx460 in overall.)

Everything else from that looks great for it's price.

 

[Bordee]

Thanks so much for identifying that my case would not work with my MOBO.

Your RAIDMAX SMILODON seems like a good mid-tower case, but it has a high shipping cost ($17). I noticed for around the same price I could go for the:

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&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL111810&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL111810-_-EMC-111810-Index-_-ComputerCases-_-11129024-L0A
$85 (after mail in rebate and free shipping)

In terms of the HD 6850, I agree that it's a better card, but it's a little outside of my budget and ATI has a bad track record for Linux support.

For the PSU, would 500W be sufficient to power my setup?

 

[zooted]

I would take the antec psu anyday

 

[dave0305]

Yes i have seen this case is well but after i read the feedback i changed my mind and found the other one I showed you wich has a better feedback.

But yes if you can get it for that price then go for it as it's a high quality brand.

 

[Bordee]

@zooted -- you say that the antec psu is good, but would it be enough to power the GTX 460?

I've been reading around, and I can't figure out the correct PSU requirements for the GTX 460 because it seems that you can have fewer watts (450) if you have high amps? I've heard that even a high Watt, but cheaper, PSU might not have enough amps for the GPU? Also, I haven't been able to figure out how many amps the PSUs have based on Newegg descriptions.


Would I be better off going with the highly rated OCZ Fatality 550W + a separate case? After rebates, it turns out this would cost as much as the Antec Sontata/500W psu combo.


OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022
which is on sale for $55 (Rebate + Shipping).

COOLER MASTER ELITE 335 RC-335-KKN1-GP Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119161
$30 (after rebate)

 

[zooted]

You would be much better off doing that ^

 

[Bordee]

Thanks everyone for the help. I decided to go ahead and get the OCZ PSU and Cooler Master Case.
In total, my final build came to right around $517.

 

[dave0305]

Yes, nice choise, you will be 100% better of with that OCZ modular power supply.

Hope you enjoy your built.