What's the better build for a first time builder?

[redsox216]

Hey all,

Long time viewer, first time poster here. I'm looking to assemble my first gaming PC and was just wondering which one i would get the best value out of.

First is an i5 combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.770956

The other is an AMD build that a friend recommends:

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811322017

HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148725

MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131733

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106009

Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

PSU RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.844035

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127615

This build will be roughly around $920 bucks before some rebates.

The cheaper the better is what I'm looking for and would just like to know which system would give me the best bang for my buck. All replies are appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[andrewcarr]

Is neither an option too?
But of those I would go for the i5 based system because of how much better the CPU is although there are some parts in that package I don't like too much. Mainly the PSU but also the motherboard, it is good but I prefer an ATX and on board USB 3.0. Although that motherboard supports SLI in the future. Would prefer to get a better GPU at that price, its better in my opinion to just upgrade to the next model or get the 1GB version which is just as good but much cheaper (or lastly wait for the 7870 which is the best option and about the same price if not cheaper).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162088
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130738
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125384

Lastly you will need a copy of windows so add $100 to both prices. Then also a CD/DVD burner but that's only $16.

 

[g-unit1111]

I'd recommend any Intel build over any AMD build right now.

I definitely agree with the above - if you can wait a week for the 7870, I highly recommend doing so.

This is what I recommend for a $1K build:

Case: Corsair Carbide 400R - $99.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 - $89.99 ($10.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Asrock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3 - $129.99
CPU: 3.30Ghz Intel Core i5-2500K - $229.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 1333Mhz 8GB (2 x 4GB) - $42.99
HD: 500GB Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB - $84.99
Optical: Lite On Bulk DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7870 - $320 (estimated)


Total: $1,015.93 - $20.00 MIR = $995.93

 

[jitpublisher]

Got to agree here, this is a better overall build than the original choices by the poster and question.
Forget about AMD, honestly. I cannot even recommend AMD anymore as a "best bang for buck" over Intel because Intel has so much more "bang" anymore. I was an AMD die hard for 17 years since I bought my first overdrive processor, the Am5x86 133mhz DX4 that was a drop in replacement for a 33mhz Intel processor. I could set my motherboard buss to 40mhz and this thing would run at 160mhz, pretty screaming fast back in 1996! But, not anymore, especially for about a grand, you just can do so much better with Intel.

 

[g-unit1111]

Got to agree here, this is a better overall build than the original choices by the poster and question.
Forget about AMD, honestly. I cannot even recommend AMD anymore as a "best bang for buck" over Intel because Intel has so much more "bang" anymore. I was an AMD die hard for 17 years since I bought my first overdrive processor, the Am5x86 133mhz DX4 that was a drop in replacement for a 33mhz Intel processor. I could set my motherboard buss to 40mhz and this thing would run at 160mhz, pretty screaming fast back in 1996! But, not anymore, especially for about a grand, you just can do so much better with Intel.

I agree - it's pointless to go AMD anymore - I'm running an AMD system and I'm planning on switching out the motherboard and CPU (again) this year for probably Ivy. Yeah I know I'm one of the most anti-Ivy people (I'm more against waiting than I am against Ivy) here but I'll probably wind up getting it since there's nothing AMD can produce that will remotely come close until they ditch AM3 and come up with a new architecture.

The original build - I'd pretty much scrap that whole thing. Sentey cases are junk, as is the PSU originally chosen. The motherboard is way old and outdated, and I wouldn't use a 5900RPM HD as the primary.

Although AMD is currently owning in the GPU department - their GPUs are running circles around their NVIDIA equivalents.

 

[redsox216]

Thanks for your input guys! Helps a lot!