Budget gaming rig, CPU, motherboard and RAM

[hgps]

Approximate Purchase Date: processor in 2 weeks, motherboard in 3-4 weeks [last week of december], RAM [not sure. but it'll be within 1 month]

Budget Range: Rs.10,000 max [$200-210]

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, HD movies, surfing

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, cabinet, HDDs, ODD , 450W PSU with 19A on +12V rail

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: theitwares.com , primeabgb.com , flipkart.com

Country: India

Parts Preferences: any brand, but i like AMD for VFM products

Overclocking: Maybe temporarily overclock to 3.6-3.7GHz if CPU starts creating bottleneck [if i get 25fps or lower due to processor]

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900





I need a only processor, RAM and motherboard for gaming
it should be future proof for next 2 years.
i am thinking about phenom II X4 955 Black edition bcoz it has 4 physical cores so it seems more future proof than a sandy bridge i3 processor,
www.primeabgb.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1778&category_id=48&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53




for RAM, i will buy gskill 4GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM stick

www.flipkart.com/computers/components/ram/gskill/itmd2ryssznzcn4f?pid=ramd2ryrwugwxpwj&_l=NpsIyfyZps2KnFCemx+5Sg--&_r=KjLbZarYRurWTQ_qew9MRw--&ref=34a84f4a-269a-4a53-9d33-ecb3daa7f810








i have not yet decided for motherboard but after buying processor and RAM, i will have around Rs.3000/- left for motherboard [$60]

i am thinking about buying one of these

GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3
http://www.theitwares.com/gigabyte-gama78lmts2-760g-micro-motherboard-p-1956.html

it has AM3 socket. supports 125W CPUs, and even 140W CPUs so imo it should be safe to use this board with OCed 955BE


OR

Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2P (rev. 3.1)
http://www.smcinternational.in/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=1887&category_id=31&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=76

this mobo has AM3+ socket but supports CPUs upto 125W [no 140W] so imo its not as safe as GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3 is

CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG

i am not going to upgrade for next 2 years and no plans for bulldozer or Pile driver [atleast not for next 2 years]
i have a GT240 1GB card [gone for RMA] and i will buy a new PSU before installing it again

 

[cutebeans]

That's pretty good. That Gigabyte board is good too. I have that one in my brother's build and it's performing great for the price.

Good luck, no problems here.

 

[theuniquegamer]

As for your cpu amd 955be is good i have just purchased it with asus m4a88t-mle and 2gb of ddr3 ram with at 11000. My system runs fine on games . Gigabyte boards are good but i think you should get the 880 chipset instead of the 780 because it has ati 4250 integrated to it. So it can also handle your games or you may run hybrid gpu config for a gpu boost in your games.

 

[theuniquegamer]

If you are sticking with the phenom 955 for 2 years you don't need the am3+ socket. Go for the am3 they are cheaper . And for cpu the latest batch of cpu are coming with a good stock cpu cooler for overclocking. If you need to overclock more than 3.7 or more then get a coolermaster hyper 212 plus cpu cooler . It is a good cpu cooler you can get it at 2000. With it the cpu can go beyond 4.0ghz.

 

[hgps]

As for your cpu amd 955be is good i have just purchased it with asus m4a88t-mle and 2gb of ddr3 ram with at 11000. My system runs fine on games . Gigabyte boards are good but i think you should get the 880 chipset instead of the 780 because it has ati 4250 integrated to it. So it can also handle your games or you may run hybrid gpu config for a gpu boost in your games.

880G boards are out of budget., max i can afford is Rs.3k for a motherboard. and 880G chipset boards costs 4k or more.

i will use nvidia cards [currently having GT240, planning to get a sub 9k gpu in future] so i dont think hybrid Xfire will work with nvidia

 

[hgps]

If you are sticking with the phenom 955 for 2 years you don't need the am3+ socket. Go for the am3 they are cheaper . And for cpu the latest batch of cpu are coming with a good stock cpu cooler for overclocking. If you need to overclock more than 3.7 or more then get a coolermaster hyper 212 plus cpu cooler . It is a good cpu cooler you can get it at 2000. With it the cpu can go beyond 4.0ghz.

is there any chance of screwing VRMs of GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3 motherboard by OCing 955 ?? [3.8GHz +/- 200MHz]

 

[cutebeans]

I would not OC too much on the board. I don't think it was made for OC.

 

[hgps]

i will only OC if CPU creates bottleneck [25fps or lower in games due to cpu]. i dont think this is gonna happen in next 2 years

all i want to know if its safe to use this motherboard ??
GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3

 

[cutebeans]

as i said, i have used it and it is still working for 1 year now without any problems.

 

[hgps]

^^ok but i was little scared if its safe to OC 3.6-3.8GHz on this board