$600 AMD Build Advice (Crossfire or not..)

[k1ck3rtw]

I've finally gotten my act together and put together this build:

CPU: AMD Phenom II x4 955
RAM: 4 GB 1600 G.Skill (2x2gb)
MOBO: ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
Video Card: EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic Case
PSU: Corsair 650W 80 plus Cert
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3
HD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 7200RPM

1) Is going crossfire worth it in the future (2ish years down the road) or just getting one really nice video card. I would then swap out the 460gtx I have now and just get something like a Radeon 5770 for now. I understand you can't SLI on an AMD board (unless you have an nVidia chipset). Also...this Mobo has a PCI Express 2.0 x 16...but when you crossfire it's only 2 slots that are 8x. Not sure if this is a deciding factor or not

2) Any suggestions on alternative Mobos, cards, psu? I'm trying to keep my price under $650

Thanks!

P.S. - I am building a new PC and it's been about 4 years since i've gotten a new pc. I'm sure anything is better than the hunk of junk I have now.

 

[batuchka]

$623AR 955BE + HD 6870 and crossfire capable? That is actually not a true i.e a cut down GTX 460 with 288 processor cores (vs 336 for the real deal)

 

[aznshinobi]

You should check out my 600$ build in my siggy. I don't incorporate a CPU cooler, but the TX3 isn't exactly great Either. Get the Hyper 212+. And keep the 955 as my build mainly uses the budget for the GPU.

BTW. Suggestions for your build. Drop the 460 SE. It's worse than the 768mb version.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Gainward/GeForce_GTX_460_SE/7.html

You should get the 6850. In crossfire that is a beast. 8x/8x only lacks 3% in reality to 16x/16x. Here is a CF 6850 review.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/Radeon_HD_6850_CrossFire/4.html

Crossfiring your 5770 is a good route too! 5770 CF > 5870.
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/sapphire_hd5770_crossfire_review/4

OMG F**** BATCHUKA!

 

[k1ck3rtw]

LOL...I'm not sure what other PSU's to trust besides Corsair/SeaSonic.

I originally was looking at the 6850...however...if I want to XFire in the future...I'm guessing my PSU should go up to 750W range now?

 

[batuchka]

The XFX 650 was the equivalent of the Corsair HX Series so no worries and a quality 650 watter would be all u need

 

[aznshinobi]

XFX is made by Seasonic. They are one in the same. Most companies are basically Seasonic psus renamed. XFX does a good job keeping the price lower than Seasonic though.

245 Watts - CF 6850
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6850-6870-crossfirex-review/4

Your good to go on a 650w PSU. You should get the 6850 then the 650w XFX or just go with batchuka's build.

 

[k1ck3rtw]

The XFX 650 was the equivalent of the Corsair HX Series so no worries and a quality 650 watter would be all u need

Do you have a link to the combo deal for XFX stuff...I don't see it on newegg.

 

[batuchka]

PSU/GPU combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.597413

 

[k1ck3rtw]

Arg...I only have up to $650...so that combo won't do

I understand it's $623 w/ rebate....but I'd have to front $680

 

[aznshinobi]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371044&Tpk=650w%20green

65$ 650w Antec Green 80+ Bronze.


6850 170$ w/ Promo 140$ AR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121419&cm_re=6850-_-14-121-419-_-Product

 

[k1ck3rtw]

Thanks for the advice.

Finally decided on a XFX 6850 Vid Card and an Antec 750W PSU

One last question. I may decided to overclock in the future...just a tad bit, but how decent is the stock heatsink cooler?

 

[aznshinobi]

Oh that's a great deal too. If you overclock, you'll get probably. 3.6ghz on the 955. The stock cooler actually has copper heatpipes (the new ones) so you'll get an avg oc on it.

If you want to overclock your GPU (which will give you the best perf in the end) Wait for the 6850 DirectCu Asus to come back in stock. It'll have voltage tweaking and great cooling that the XFX doesn't have.

Review: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/Radeon_HD_6850_Direct_Cu/31.html
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121399

 

[flatbaler87]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371044&Tpk=650w%20green

65$ 650w Antec Green 80+ Bronze.


6850 170$ w/ Promo 140$ AR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121419&cm_re=6850-_-14-121-419-_-Product

@aznshinobi

Do you have any experience with the "green" series from antec?

I have been eyeballing that one for a while now.

Also be aware that if you get the Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN it does not come with a power cord.

 

[aznshinobi]

Well not with the 650w version. But I do with the 380w version. It's a solid PSU. Very solid. But no experience with the 650, should be the same though.

 

[zooted]

The green series are very nice, packing that 80+ bronze certification. =]