600-800 New Gaming Build

[dabarge]

Approximate Purchase Date: Within next 2 weeks

Budget Range: $600-800 Before Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (SWTor mainly as it wont run on my single core processor, while WoW runs fine)

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No real preference, whatever has cheapest.

Parts Preferences: No real preference, have always built AMD in the past, upgrading this system from one built in 2005 which was an AMD 3400+

Overclocking: Maybe, never done it before, never had a reason to.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, but more from a budget side, lower GPU now and add another later maybe, or just replace totally. Usually only part I replace in my machines.

Monitor Resolution: 1920X1200

Additional Comments: Dont need bling, dont care too much about case look, but want the ability to upgrade to keep this rig going for another 5-6 years like the last.

Here is what I was thinking, now I know i-2500K is most recommended but I do hold out hope the BullDozer will outperform it, but as everyone has said who knows. If you do think 2500K is better, would like a MB recommendation which will hold up to upgrading. Thanks for the help.


Western Digital Caviar Black WD7502AAEX 750GB - 59.99

PowerColor AX6850 1GBD5-DH Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX - $159.99

COOLER MASTER R4-S2S-124K-GP 120mm Case Fan - 4PK - $15.78

COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus - $27.99

Combo Case & PSU
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M600 RS-600-AMBA-D3 600W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Bronze Certified Modular ...
COOLER MASTER HAF 912
$129.98

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition - $119.99

Combo MB/MemASUS Sabertooth 990FX AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model
$222.98


Total $746 w ship
Rebates $60
Total $ 686

 

[RichterFry]

Looks like a decent build to me. I've got about the same budget, but I'll be going with the i5 2300 quad.

Here's a little comparison for the processors:

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X4+955

I don't like AMD all that much, maybe the price differences between intel and AMD simply is all the hype, but I'd rather pay more for better quality.

Anyway, if you do end up going with AMD, I would recommend the six core:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103851

There's a code you can punch in to get another $10 off too, so that might be of interest to you.

 

[008Rohit]

The build you have listed is a good one!

Just,
Hard Disk : Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB - $60
Faster and quiter than WD.
PSU : Corsair CX500.

That CM PSU has two +12V rails. The Corsair one has one, so it can deliver more current through it which is necessary for a single PC. CoolerMaster PSUs aren't that good, too.

A cheaper MoBo : ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD - $99.99

 

[9_breaker]

alot of games arent compatible with six cores. so for gaming 4 is better

 

[ScrewySqrl]

its not that arent comptable so much as they don't use so many.

If its not critical, I'd wait a month, as Bulldozer is due out soon.

 

[008Rohit]

@ 9_breaker

How can you say that? Maybe future games that need a lot of high def. Video transcoding will be able to utilise 6 or more cores.

@ Screwy

I'm hearing that since a long time. Why didn't you wait for Ivy Bridge then?

 

[9_breaker]

@ 9_breaker

How can you say that? Maybe future games that need a lot of high def. Video transcoding will be able to utilise 6 or more cores.

@ Screwy

I'm hearing that since a long time. Why didn't you wait for Ivy Bridge then?

it is possible but in most of the amd builds people use 4 cores and that will save you some money to maybe get a better graphics card . 6 cores are can run applications faster but in games there is no e noticeable difference

 

[madchemist83]

check if u have microcenter close by and I would go for intel Sb

 

[dabarge]

Ok I changed it up with some oif the recommendations, appreciate the feedback. I would love to wait, but I am fairly impatient, and since bulldozer has been delayed a couple times not sure I want to put my eggs in the Bulldozer basket or not, still on the fence. So how about this build switched out CPU, MB, PSU, HD.

HD - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB - $60
Case - HAF 912 Case - $60 - $10 Rebate
PSU - Corsair 500X - $60 - $6 Disc - $20 Rebate
GPU - PowerColor 6850 - $159 - $20 Rebate
Mem - G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8 GB, 8 Latency - Shellshocker $50
Case Fans - CM 120MM 4 PK - $16
CPU Fan - CM 212 + - $28
CPU - Intel i5-2500K - Combo with MB - $370
MB - Asus P8P67 Pro

Total = $797
Rebates -50
Grand Total = $747

 

[dabarge]

Oh ya BTW no microcenter here.

 

[9_breaker]

if you are really impatient then get an am3+ mobo and cpu and use them for a year or two and by then the prices would have dropped . if you go with intel you are going to have to by a new mobo if you upgrade becuase the socket 2011 is coming out next year

 

[dabarge]

Oh the dilemna, didnt know new intel socket coming out next year, knew they had the Ivy coming out didnt pay attention to it being a new socket. So any votes on these 2 differnt configs for say 1-2 year upgrade path of MB (if needed), CPU, VPU (Either Xfired or new)? Should I if I go the AMD route spend the extra on a different vid card?

AMD (With recommendations of diff PSU, CPU and MB, switched to 8 latency mem since no combo)

HD - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB - $60
Case - HAF 912 Case - $60 - $10 Rebate
PSU - Corsair 500X - $60 - $6 Disc - $20 Rebate
GPU - PowerColor 6850 - $159 - $20 Rebate
Mem - G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8 GB, 8 Latency - Shellshocker $50
Case Fans - CM 120MM 4 PK - $16
CPU Fan - CM 212 + - $28
CPU - AMD 1055T - $149 - $10 instant = $139
MB - Asus M5A87 Evo - $119

Total = $685
Rebates -50
Grand Total = $635

Intel (Recommendation of new PSU, Intel Proc/MB instead of AMD, 8 latency mem)

HD - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB - $60
Case - HAF 912 Case - $60 - $10 Rebate
PSU - Corsair 500X - $60 - $6 Disc - $20 Rebate
GPU - PowerColor 6850 - $159 - $20 Rebate
Mem - G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8 GB, 8 Latency - Shellshocker $50
Case Fans - CM 120MM 4 PK - $16
CPU Fan - CM 212 + - $28
CPU - Intel i5-2500K - Combo with MB - $370
MB - Asus P8P67 Pro

Total = $797
Rebates -50
Grand Total = $747


I would guess the intel based machine is a machine that would be good to go for 4 years or so 9maybe 6 like my last one hah), the AMD would be one for upgrading shortly, so that may be my dilemna now on deciding which way to go.

 

[008Rohit]

Your latest build looks promising. Go for it.

@ breaker
Socket 2011 is a replacement for LGA1366. LGA1155 will be supported by Ivy Bridge processor with upto 4 cores. 6 & 8 core Ivy Bridge processors will require that new LGA1155.

 

[9_breaker]

Your latest build looks promising. Go for it.

@ breaker
Socket 2011 is a replacement for LGA1366. LGA1155 will be supported by Ivy Bridge processor with upto 4 cores. 6 & 8 core Ivy Bridge processors will require that new LGA1155.

@ dabarge in that case i you should go with the intel build and your going to need a better psu to sli

 

[008Rohit]

CX 500 is enough to handle 2 6850's.
It can actually deliver upto 650-700W when necessary. Its just an under-rated product.

 

[dabarge]

I thank everyone for their input, I threw lots of stuff out there and you all ran with the punches

Just to be sure, I went ahead and went up a level to the 600W Corsair for an extra $10, had a combo with a 2 TB drive I needed anyway to finish my 4 drive NAS off, so saved an extra $15 there.

I believe as I always say eh I will upgrade that processor later, etc, etc, but in all reality thinking it over I never do. That AMD 3400+ machine was built so I could upgrade the CPU, I never got back to it, if it aint broke I usually dont mess with it, therefore I have decided on the intel build as specced with the new PSU.

I am giving the solved to 008Rohit since he recommended the most parts I used, but I appreciate all the input everyone.

The spec'd System:

HD - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB - $60
Case - HAF 912 Case - $60 - $10 Rebate
PSU - Corsair 600X - $70 - $7 Disc - $20 Rebate
GPU - PowerColor 6850 - $159 - $20 Rebate
Mem - G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8 GB, 8 Latency - Shellshocker $50
Case Fans - CM 120MM 4 PK - $16
CPU Fan - CM 212 + - $28
CPU - Intel i5-2500K - Combo with MB - $370
MB - Asus P8P67 Pro

Total = $806
Rebates -50
Grand Total = $756

 

[dabarge]

Best answer selected by dabarge.

 

[008Rohit]

An i5 2500K system is definately a lot better than your previous AMD build.