$500 AMD gaming system?

[serowman]

I'm building my first gaming computer and I found this site. I'm not quite confident enough to pick all of my components so I was really excited!

Approximate Purchase Date: As soon as possible

Budget Range: $500 (or a few dollars over) before rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Surfing the internet

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, DVD drive

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: AMD CPU

Overclocking: Yes

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920 by 1080 but I'm willing to game at lower resolutions if necessary

Additional Comments: I'd rather have a cheap case if that gets me better components

 

[bowzef]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130625

GTX 550 TI $137.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020
Corsair TX 650

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX

You can go with the 6Core version if you want to but not lot games use more then 4 cores


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131699
Asus M4A87T AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s ATX AMD Motherboard

its only few dollars over $ 547

 

[Outlander_04]

Definitely dont build an AMD system unless you use an AM3+ board that can take the next generation of processors . For ASUS that means it should start M5XXX or

So

AMD Phenom II X4 955 $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

GIGABYTE GA-970A-D3 AM3+ AMD 970 $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128521

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) $33
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable Radeon HD 6850 1GB $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125353

Antec Three Hundred + BP430 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065

any dvd drive $20

$533
Latest motherboard series , quadcore , quality case and psu
and it will game at your resolution

If you must stay closer to the budget of $500 then replace the Phenom 955 with
AMD Phenom II X4 840
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103921

which saves you $20

 

[aznshinobi]

955 + MSI 970A-G45 AM3+ $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.693504
Seagate 500GB + Corsair CX500 V2 $85 (Avail $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.728987
Wintec AMPX 4GB DDR3 1333 $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279
Rosewill Challenger $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
XFX 6870 $170 (Avail $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561
Lite-On DVD Burner $19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Total: $556 Before rebates
Total: $516 After Rebates

Lol Outlander you should've said your price was after rebates. Making me think that you got that price before rebates.

So in my build, a better card. A bit better case since you get more airflow and easier cable management, you also get the extra power and an AM3+ MB as well.

 

[Outlander_04]

I like aznshinobi's motherboard+ cpu deal which saves you $20 or so
And the psu hard drive deal which saves you another $15

I'd still prefer the Antec 300 case which you can buy without power . IMO its a better case than the Rosewill


Either way if you ever plan to upgrade the am3+ motherboard is the only way to go

 

[aznshinobi]

^ I do like the Antec 300, but the Rosewill offers 3 120mm fans whilst the original Antec only offers 1. Plus the Rosewill is black on the inside and has cable management holes. Those are most of the reasons I think the Rosewill is better for the buck.

 

[Outlander_04]

^ I do like the Antec 300, but the Rosewill offers 3 120mm fans whilst the original Antec only offers 1. Plus the Rosewill is black on the inside and has cable management holes. Those are most of the reasons I think the Rosewill is better for the buck.

The antec has a top mounted 140 mm fan as well as the rear 120 mm
, as well as two fan spaces at the front of the case

Its also , IMO , better quality

 

[serowman]

When I said I was willing to a little bit over I meant 2-3 dollars not $40.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

outlander: the challenger also has a 140mm top fan. It allso got a'Toms Best' award last year. Its a GOOD case.

 

[aznshinobi]

No no no outlander. You're mistaken. The Antec only COMES with 1x120mm in the front.

955 + MSI 970A-G45 AM3+ $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.693504
Seagate 500GB + Corsair CX500 V2 $85 (Avail $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.728987
Wintec AMPX 4GB DDR3 1333 $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279
Rosewill Challenger $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
XFX 6790 $130 (Avail $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150564
Lite-On DVD Burner $19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Total: $516 Before rebates
Total: $476 After Rebates

 

[Outlander_04]

No no no outlander. You're mistaken. The Antec only COMES with 1x120mm in the front.

955 + MSI 970A-G45 AM3+ $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.693504
Seagate 500GB + Corsair CX500 V2 $85 (Avail $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.728987
Wintec AMPX 4GB DDR3 1333 $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279
Rosewill Challenger $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
XFX 6790 $130 (Avail $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150564
Lite-On DVD Burner $19
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Total: $516 Before rebates
Total: $476 After Rebates

This is the build , but spend the extra $10 and replace the 6790 with the 6850 I suggested earlier .

Optional would be to replace the Rosewill case which has a lot of comments on Newegg about being too plastic
with the
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Spotlight-_-11-129-042
It has a rear 120 mm fan and a140 mm top fan installed and right now , after rebate its $45 and has free shipping

 

[aznshinobi]

^ That is after rebates outlander.
You would add $30 before rebates. It's not the same thing.

Ahhh, the Antec got an extra fan, it used to only come with 1x120mm.

 

[Outlander_04]

^ That is after rebates outlander.
You would add $30 before rebates. It's not the same thing.

Ahhh, the Antec got an extra fan, it used to only come with 1x120mm.

Its $10 more for the 6850 , and $5 less for the Antec 300 .

 

[aznshinobi]

Wtf are you talking about?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&Description=6850&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20
The cheapest 6850 is $160 before rebates.

Alright get the Antec 300 then, I don't really care which case he gets just one that he is happy with.