Help me make the right choice...havent built a computer in years.

July 29, 2011 8:11:50 AM

I am looking to build a decent gaming computer for a low price. Basically I want to play WoW and BF3 when it comes out.

I have spent a fair amount of time researching, but I wanted some of your first hand knowledge and suggestions to better components or in regards to compatibility I might have missed... Thanks In advance.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

MOBO: MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100314-2SR 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/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power Supply compatible with Intel Sandybridge Core i3 i5 i7 and AMD Phenom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CASE: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Disk Drive: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner -
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner -

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Adam

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rolli59

July 29, 2011 8:31:07 AM

If I was buying AMD today I would get a AM3+ motherboard to be bulldozer ready when they release.
Add a quality 500-550watt PSU to that build list and you are good to go, brands to look at Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, Enermax and XFX to name few.

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rvilkman

July 29, 2011 8:37:08 AM

Missing a power supply.

Depending on how budget restricted you are, I would like to recommend 2 things.

1) Get a motherboard which supports Sata 6Gb/s and USB3
- would be nice if it also had AM3+ socket, gives you an upgrade path to bulldozer
- crossfire support would also be nice.

Asrock 970 Extreme 4 would fill all these, unfortunately it's out of stock atm ( $104.99 )

Asrock 870 Extreme 3 fills everything but the AM3+ socket. ( $89.99 )

Several AM3+ boards around $99 that have everything but the crossfire.

2) For powersupply:
If you want to go for crossfire at some point Antec HCG-750 $94.99 ( 69.99 after $25 rebate )
If you don't plan on crossfire Antec HCG-520 ~$53 with CC

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Onus

July 29, 2011 4:27:03 PM

I agree, if you're building AMD today, get a socket AM3+ board with a 900-series chipset.
Also, the WD Blue isn't their fastest line. WD Black is fast (but mine is noisy), and Samsung Spinpoint F3 is also a faster choice.

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billj214

July 29, 2011 4:37:40 PM

To be honest when building a PC for me anymore the biggest concern is heat and noise.

Example: Core i5 2500 idle 34 watts, full load 106 watts with average 55c at max using decent aftermarket cooler.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Core-i5-2500K-vs...

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lookylookitzadam

July 29, 2011 7:33:15 PM

sorry it was late last night...added PSU to original post.

This is the PSU i was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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rolli59

July 29, 2011 7:59:21 PM

That PSU is reasonable quality at a good price after MIR.

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lookylookitzadam

July 29, 2011 8:01:15 PM

I think i will go with this MOBO now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168....

I will probably pull the trigger on the setup tonight. Any last recommendations?

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rolli59

July 29, 2011 8:12:34 PM

It is a reasonable board, still with a 8xx series chipset but will leave the CPU upgrade path open.

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lookylookitzadam

July 29, 2011 8:19:40 PM

so in that case, for the same price, this would be a better board?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

or this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

both are around 100 with 900 series and 3+ compatability.

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rolli59

July 29, 2011 8:27:25 PM

The Asrock 970 gives the option of crossfire down the road at X8 X8 which the Asus does not. I would personally probably select the Asus if I never plan to CF and the Asrock if I considered that a possibility!

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