First Time Gaming Build

[bmozdemir]

Hi,

I'll build a new system mostly to play FSX (acceleration) and sometimes Call of Duty type (I have Modern Warfare 2). It will be my first build. I need to keep the budget around 700$.

I'm planning to use some parts of my current system (HDD and DVD-rom). It has a power supply of 400W which will go to garbage I guess


I went to MicroBytes, here in Canada, and asked reccommendations, they came up with the following: I'd like to know your suggestions before buying the parts.



Motherboard:
AM3+ ASUS M5A78L-M LX AMD760G

CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (125W) Quad Core Socket AM3, 3.2GHz, 8Mb Cache, 1800MHz HT, 45nm (HDZ955FBGMBOX)

Video Card
Sapphire PCIE RAD HD6850 1024M HDMI LITE DDR5

RAM
KINGSTON KVR 1333MHZ DDR3 4GB KIT

Case
ATX CM HAF 912 BLACK NOPS


They haven't suggested any power supply because at that time I didn't know what kind of power supply I had in my current system. It turned out 400W So I guess I'll need to buy one and I'll decide after reading some suggestions, if I receive...

Here are my questions:
1- Do you think this system will give me at least 20fps with ultra high settings of FSX acceleration?

2- I could get a motherboard supporting cross-fire for an extra 50$. For example: ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard. Will it change anything since I'll still be using only one GPU? Maybe in the future it will help to upgrade but for now?

3- What should be my power supply (how many watts) for a single GPU and what it should be just in case I would go with the other motherboard (AMD 870) with single GPU.

4- Is extra cooling required? This case has only 1 fan I think.

Waiting for your answers and suggestions.

Thanks in advance,
Murat

 

[morgoth780]

1-no idea(sorry)
2-i'd say it's not worth it, especially since am3 is just a cpu dead-end, so you would want to upgrade your cpu as well once you needed to upgrade your graphics card
3-~500w
4-If you can get it a decent price, it's probably worthwhile, but you would probably be fine without it.

but here's what I would suggest

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074&Tpk=i5%202400

GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128502

XFX HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

CORSAIR Gaming Series GS700 700W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139024

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&cm_sp=Cat_Computer_Cases-_-Spotlight-_-11-129-042

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.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

Total$731.94
it's not terribly over 700, but you get a much better cpu and graphics card, and the option to cfx later, in addition to more ram.

 

[bmozdemir]

Thanks Morgoth!

What does this mean "AM3 is just a cpu dead-end"?

Do you think I could sacrifice on the ram? Looked little bit expensive to me. Will this mother board you suggested, support KINGSTON KVR 1333MHZ DDR3 4GB?

 

[morgoth780]

Thanks Morgoth!

What does this mean "AM3 is just a cpu dead-end"?

Do you think I could sacrifice on the ram? Looked little bit expensive to me. Will this mother board you suggested, support KINGSTON KVR 1333MHZ DDR3 4GB?

it should support the kingston ram.
by cpu dead-end, i meant that there aren't going to be any new cpu's made that will use the am3 socket, so you will have no upgrade path without buying a new motherboard

 

[theundead]

You might need to buy another fan or 2 for your case. Because with a 700w its going to get pretty hot. Personally i haven't experienced that case but with mine,a HAF 922, i had to buy an extra fan for the side

 

[bmozdemir]

As of tonight I have decided to go with Morgoth's suggestion, intel i5, and the configuration became like that:

Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

PSU: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M600 RS-600-AMBA-D3 600W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Bronze Certified Modular

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

RAM: Kingston Value 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3S8N9K2/4G

MB: GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard


I'll go buy this system probably tomorrow or this weekend and can't wait to see how it's going to handle my flight simulator, FSX. Hopefulle I'll get a constant 20 fps with ultrahigh settings. Fingers crossed.


It will cost 800$ CAD!!!! at Microbytes Store. It would cost 740$ CAD at Newegg.ca including shipment. I'll pay an extra 60 bucks to get the parts right away and will be more convenient to go back if something goes wrong.

I've never built a computer before, hopefully it will go smoothly...

Thanks for the messages!

 

[morgoth780]

why don't you have a 6870? would it just be over your budget to buy it at microbytes?

 

[bmozdemir]

Yes, money, money, money!

Microbytes don't carry XFX, they carry Sapphire GPUs. They had Sapphire 6870 but it's 30$ more expensive. I've read a lot of threads about FSX and learned that this simulation game is more CPU dependent. I thought it wouldn't make a really big difference between 6850 and 6870 since they're both 1gb, DDR5. Of course this might be a stupid guess because I don't know the exact difference between 6870 and 6850.

 

[morgoth780]

Yes, money, money, money!

Microbytes don't carry XFX, they carry Sapphire GPUs. They had Sapphire 6870 but it's 30$ more expensive. I've read a lot of threads about FSX and learned that this simulation game is more CPU dependent. I thought it wouldn't make a really big difference between 6850 and 6870 since they're both 1gb, DDR5. Of course this might be a stupid guess because I don't know the exact difference between 6870 and 6850.

the 6870 has more stream processors (160 more) which will make a fair difference in more gpu dependent games. I'd consider it worth the extra $30, but you can just stick with the 6850 if you choose to.

 

[bmozdemir]

Thanks. I've already exceeded my budget but will consider your suggestion. Let's see how I feel in the store tomorrow especially when it comes to paying!

 

[morgoth780]

good luck with your build!

 

[bmozdemir]

If I go with a better CPU like i5 2500K, just to have the option of overclocking, will this configuration support overclocking? Anybody have an idea?

 

[morgoth780]

If I go with a better CPU like i5 2500K, just to have the option of overclocking, will this configuration support overclocking? Anybody have an idea?

are you going with a z68 or p67 board? cause those both can, but the z68 has more features. Also, h61 and h67 boards cannot oc.

 

[bmozdemir]

I bought it, built it, up and running very well!

I got Z68 mobo with i5 2500K cpu (they didn't have the i5 2400 in stock anymore which they had 2 days ago), with HD 6870 GPU and now I'm very happy. I'm getting more frame rates than I was expecting. No overclocking yet (I gotta learn how to do it first), but with default settings of the hardware and extreme ultra high settings in FSX I'm getting more than 20 fps, average 30 let's say, which makes me more than happy.

In the end the bill came up to 887$ CND!!! The store didn't have the cooler master case, I bought an Antec 100 instead with an extra 10 bucks.

Anyways... I gotta thank Morgoth for the support here.

Ciao...

 

[bmozdemir]

Best answer selected by bmozdemir.