$550 Gaming AMD 1st Build, what do you think?

Chillimon

August 11, 2011 11:27:37 PM

I'm building my first gaming rig with a firm budget of $550 for the parts.

Posted before with a different build and got good advice and ideas on better options.

I've come up with this below and want to know what you think. Please note budget is FIRM at $550 for parts.
Parts Not Required:keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS (Have Win 7 Premium x64)
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg (no tax, 2 states away + I do not like Amazon)
Country of Origin: United States
Parts Preferences: Like the deal on the AMD Phenom II X4 955, so base it around that.
Overclocking: Might
SLI or Crossfire: Not bothered really, might be a nice option.

Should I order this?

CASE: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
$49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

MOBO: MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
$69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU: Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-620 620W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified ...
$69.99
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
$54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

DVD + HD:
Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
+
Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7260S-0B - OEM
Item #: N82E16827118039
Combo $52.48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...

TOTAL: $537.42

More about : 550 gaming amd 1st build

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megamanx00

August 11, 2011 11:44:39 PM

Swap that case with a Xigmatek ASGARD II to shave of $20

Xigmatek ASGARD II $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

With that you can get a better AM3+ motherboard so you can upgrade to Bulldozer later on and crossfire support to add a second 5770. That PSU is way too powerful to run a single 5770 in my opinion ^_^.

ASRock 970 EXTREME4 AM3+ $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

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megamanx00

August 11, 2011 11:45:31 PM

Of course, if you don't plan on upgrading that rig then it would be better to just put the extra money towards a faster Radeon 6850 now

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Altay

August 11, 2011 11:46:49 PM

If i were you i would go for a better motherboard.... Motherboard = Most Important and usually that's the thing you least commonly upgrade... I would invest in more just saying... But everything else seems fine.

edit: That Asrock board is pretty good. and btw get this power supply:

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

It's an XFX, But Seasonic makes their power supplies, And Seasonic = top 3. But Antec is also VERY good.

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Chillimon

August 11, 2011 11:47:59 PM

megamanx00 said:

Swap that case with a Xigmatek ASGARD II to shave of $20

Xigmatek ASGARD II $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

With that you can get a better AM3+ motherboard so you can upgrade to Bulldozer later on and crossfire support to add a second 5770. That PSU is way too powerful to run a single 5770 in my opinion ^_^.

ASRock 970 EXTREME4 AM3+ $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah I looked at the ASTock before, maybe I should get that then.

What PSU do you recommend? I go around in circles trying to pick one.

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megamanx00

August 12, 2011 4:41:00 PM

Depends on your goals. If you want to run two 5770s latter on then a good 550-600W PSU would be ideal even though a good 500W PSU would be enough. If you want to upgrade this computer in the future and think you might be dropping in more powerful cards mid range cards that would need two PCI-E connectors then it makes sense to invest in a more powerful PSU now to keep using it latter.

As an example I could have just gotten a good 750-850W PSU to power my two 5870s and been just fine. I invested a little more for a 950W PSU in case I ever want to run two dual GPU monsters (like 6990s which I don't because they are too loud ^_^) I can. I don't expect to run 4 separate high end cards which is why I didn't go crazy and get 1200W+ PSU.

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