FX 4100 Build Suggestions

themissingpiece

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So, my buddy is having me build a nice gaming computer on an uber budget, as in under $600. Question is, how can you get a decent gaming rig under $600? Thankfully, I have Micro Center. I can get an AMD FX 4100 for $100 and get a motherboard for only $10! However, I am having a few doubts. This is the configuration so far:

CPU - AMD FX 4100 - $100
Motherboard - M5A78L-M LX - $10
RAM - 8GB (2x 4GB) Corsair XMS DDR3 1333 - $25
HDD - Hitachi 7200rpm 500GB - $80
PSU - OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular - $45
Graphics Card - Radeon 6870 - $145
Case - NZXT M59 - $50
OD - LG 22x Super Multi Burner - $16
OS - Windows 7 OEM 64 Bit - $100
TOTAL: $571

My problem is that he plays RTS, like Empire: Total War series as well as mainstream games like Battlefield 3. I've been told that games like Shogun 2 benefit greatly from multiple processor cores, even six-core chips. So, my question is, how well does an FX 4100 stack up in games like those?
 
Solution
Yes :)

I have the 960T though unlocked too 6 core. Either way its good, it OC's nicely too

Try to snag a board that allows core unlocking its not a given but theres a good chance that 960T will become a 1605T Six Core.
build looks good.

don't buy a i3, its not as good in games which needs more cores like bf3 multiplayer and is more expensive.

The FX4100 is ok, the 4 cores are generally decent enough that you would still be graphics bound with a 6870.

for the extra $30 get a hyper 212+ and OC the fx, you should be able to hit a decent OC with it.
 

wr6133

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The FX is pretty awful I have a 4100 and it is awful this is the reason you see these "great" offers on them.

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3 AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519R
GIGABYTE GZ-F3HEB Black SECC Steel / ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233072
HITACHI HDS721050CLA362 (0F10381) 500GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145299
G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422
GIGABYTE GV-N550D5-1GI GeForce GTX 550 Ti
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125410
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Win7 + $100

TOTAL $628.93

Then theres a Mail In Rebate of $20
Making it

$608.93

That’s better than any FX4100 System
 

evang

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Actually, its not. Why would you go with a 550ti when the 4100 will not bottleneck the 6870? Makes no sense considering this is a gaming build. Although I agree that if he can get a Phenom II instead, it is the better choice.
 

wr6133

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I own a Phenom II (see sig) and a 4100 both sat with 550ti the 4100 gets lower FPS in BF3.... one of the games he names. I had to drop to a 550 to get the Phenom II in his budget and I am still nearly $9 over.

I still stand by that build is better than a 4100. Do you own a 4100 and a PII to compare? I do.
 

evang

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You're comparing a six core CPU to a four core (2 module) CPU, of course you will see higher FPS with the six core (in BF3). Anyway, it isn't worth spending ~$40 more in total only to end up with a worse GPU.
 

evang

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wr6133

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I'd +1 the 960T but he still needs to take a price drop somewhere to afford the motherboard. You want a reasonably featured board on the 960T too one that at least allows you to attempt a core unlock.

Only places he can really save cash on his initial list is by lowering the case and GPU or he boosts the budget by 40-50 bucks and sticks with the GPU
 

aqe040466

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You might want to consider this i5 2500K gaming kit from Tigerdirect, take a look:http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2202111&Sku=B69-1400
 

themissingpiece

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How about the Phenom II 960T? It's $100 at Micro Center, and I get $40 off any mobo with it.
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f0acd8b8#/f0acd8b8/28
 

wr6133

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Yes :)

I have the 960T though unlocked too 6 core. Either way its good, it OC's nicely too

Try to snag a board that allows core unlocking its not a given but theres a good chance that 960T will become a 1605T Six Core.
 
Solution

ohiou_grad_06

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Personally I've got an athlon 2 quad, paired with 4gb of ram and a gts 450. Though I want to upgrade, but consider I'm using an older am2 board with ddr2. But realistically the fx4100 is not the fastest processor, but should do fine. Get the 6870 and the fx4100 and be happy. When piledriver comes out, grab a better chip if you need to. I play at 1680x1050. But I was able to play bad company 2 at nearly full settings. As for Empire Total War, should be fine on that also. I play Napoleon Total War on mine and it seems to handle it fine. Actually need to reinstall Empire. But the 6870 is a way better card than my gts 450, as for the fx4100, it has to be at least a little better than my athlon quad. Plus some guys report overclocking the fx to 4.5ghz. Either way I think you are going to get good performance, but I think most games benefit more from gpu.