$500 build built around AMD Phenom II 955 Black processor?

Not to be unhelpful, but this is about as good as it gets for $500: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/phenom-ii-overclock...

Take a look, let me know what you think.

I like the System builder $500 build , and think it is the best you can do for that money

BUT

you can do an awful lot better with $550 . Change the motherboard to a model with a 970 series chipset to support future processors , and you have a system that will last

He doesn't have an OS though.

The system builder is currently $550 on newegg. I also forgot, I already have an OS.

Make sure to use combo deals and save alot of money.

Here's a build for you :

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite...
$160

MSI 990XA-GD55 AM3+/AM3 AMD 990X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$135

HIS HD 6850 - $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Seagate Barracuda 500GB - $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$20

CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$60

Xigmatek ASGARD II - $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Total : $595 before rebates...

Just because of that Motherboard, I'd not go with a non-970 motherboard atm.

-Ok i am going to assume you have windows xp-pro, which is still a ok os, but it is limited to only 3gb and dx9.0c.


http://www.techpowerup.com/120231/Phenom_II_X4_960T__Zo...

http://cyberneoworld.com/zosma-turbo-core-equipped-phen...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... AMD Phenom II X4 960T Zosma 3.0GHz

(pasted below)

Turbo core, 5 or 6 core on the cheap, BE unlocked multi up to 3.4ghz (17X multi max)
Rosewill FBM-01 Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811147123
$29.99
Recertified: Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3750330NS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (don't know if that is good, maybe a new 500 is better for $10 more?)
Item #: N82E16822148824
$34.99
ASUS M5A78L-M LX AM3+ AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813131728
$64.99
Recertified: PNY RVCGGTX560TXXB-OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (if not exchange it for a new hd-6870, well it's worth a try to get a 560ti)
Item #: N82E16814133417
-$80.00 Instant
$259.99
$179.99
KINGWIN ABT-650MM 650W ATX 12V v2.2/ BTX SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817121084 (should be fine with a single card, but with a 70%@100% rating it's is not so great so expect a actual 550watt output, i doubt it can power crossfire/sli)
$49.99 ( corsair, antec, silverstone is better if you can find one on sale)
Pareema 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model MD313C80809L2
Item #: N82E16820576003
$23.49 (maybe a extra $5 to go to corsair memory since the cheaper brands are sometimes taking a chance)
AMD Phenom II X4 960T Zosma 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor HD96ZTWFGRBOX
Item #: N82E16819103995
$124.99

Subtotal: $508.43 (add dvdrw if u need one unless u can reuse your current one, if not add $20)


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

-Well anyways under $550 makes some compromises, risk taking to get a fast system. Can u reuse a case? dvdrw?
It could save enough to get some better parts.

@ ^^

Kingwin PSU, Pareema RAM, and 960T all suck!  

Agreed. If you combo up on the System Builder PC, it should fall within budget.

What kind of games do you play, and what do you want to run them at?

I have Windows 7 Home Premium. I want to play games from the last few years at 1920 x 1080.

I ran out of time to edit the build. I could try again. I have second thoughts on those parts now too.
I was reading about the 960t, and it seems it's hit and miss with unlocking cores and overclocking.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$18.99 Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$29.99 Free Shipping Rosewill FBM-01 Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$34.99 Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3750330NS 750GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Now: $64.99 ASUS M5A78L-M LX AM3+ AMD 760G Micro ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$179.99 PNY RVCGGTX560TXXB-OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$69.99 $44.99 after mail-in rebate card Free Shipping OCZ Fatal1ty 550W Modular Gaming Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$24.99 Free Shipping Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$139.99 Free Shipping $10 off w/ promo code ($129.99) AMD Phenom II X4 970 Black Edition Deneb 3.5GHz


Subtotal: $563.92-$35 rebates $528.92 plus taxes/shipping.

Best answer selected by serowman.

-If the system is a single slot system, the 970 is enough. Going to the FX-4110 wont help much with only a single card vs the 970.

-In a year when am3 cpus are sold out, the 970 could fetch enough to cover the cost of a faster BD cpu. Like socket 775 where people are willing to pay for a used core2quad, the same thing could happen with the higher end phenomIIx4's.

-Someone with a am2+ board, ddr2 memory, and a regor X2 would want the 970.

-Later on faster clocked BD cpus will come out, something like a 4ghz model. Just like the phenomII's got speed bumps from the first 3.0ghz model.

-By then you will want to sell the 560ti and get the new 660ti or hd-7950.

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