Building "Budget" PC

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Want to build the best computer I can get at ~$350. The only game right now would be Minecraft on any settings (but preferably higher). Besides that maybe Age of Empires II.

CPU
Debating between FX 4170 + 6100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106009&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Processors+-+Desktops-_-AMD-_-19106009
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-6100-6-Core-Processor-Socket/dp/B005UBNKWO
Is more cores and slower clock better or higher clock and less cores at the same price???
$140

Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131795&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Motherboards+-+AMD-_-ASUS-_-13131795
$60

RAM
Is it worth upgrading to 1600 Mhz??? If so please provide link.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148346
$21

Case
Would like to skip buying PSU so is this Case + PSU enough???
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148044
$38

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102988&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-Sapphire+Tech-_-14102988
$65

DVD/CD Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=h4ydbtgut13g
$18

Wireless Card
I need someone to recommend one.

Keyboard/Mouse
I need someone to recommend one.

OS
A flavor of Linux (probably Ubuntu)

Total:
$342 (I think)
 
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aznshinobi

aznshinobi

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Oct 19, 2009
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AMD would be a pretty bad choice as of now. The FX-4170 is not that great at all specially in gaming. In fact even as a basic computer, the i3 2100 trumps the FX-4170 by a margin. I'd go with Intel on this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.882785

That'd allow $32 for the GPU, that I'd use for the 6770/5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150540

For the PSU, at least get the CX430V2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&Tpk=cx430
 
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G

Guest

Guest
Forgot to include hard drive.

New Hard Drive
http://www.serversupply.com/products/part_search/pid_lookup.asp?pid=99734

New CPU/Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.882785
$168

New PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046
$38

Holding on upgrading graphics card for now.

New RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148487
(More $ but higher cas latency)

New Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154109
$32

New Wireless Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156306

I guess that's all the upgrades for now but I still need some recommendations for keyboard/mouse.
 
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G

Guest

Guest
The only thing I might not like about Intel is this:

Can I overclock the Intel Core i3 using the Motherboard if it isn't an unlocked multiplier/k version???
 
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G

Guest

Guest
@aznshinobi

I guess if you think it's really worth it I'll go with the better PSU.

What do you think of the changes???
 
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aznshinobi

aznshinobi

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Oct 19, 2009
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You can't overclock, but AMD is still definitely not the route to go. You get no upgrade path as the FX-8150 is barely an improvement. Also AMD's chips after overclocking have terrible efficiency and A HUGE increase in power consumption. Even after overclocking they aren't able to compete with Intel's i5 chips.

As for the i3 no you can't overclock but in gaming the i3 is probably much better. And yes I think it's worth it for a more stable system. Overall looks good.
 
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G

Guest

Guest
No but I can go with a non-refurb if necessary.

Anyone know of a cheap keyboard and mouse??? Wireless not required, cables are fine.
 
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tekman42

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Feb 22, 2012
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as to overclocking the i3 2100 check out this thread here on T'sHdwr

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/269101-29-possible-2120

It doesn't look like a good idea but not all ideas are created equal so check this out as well...and read the whole article for insights to increase performance safely...

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1650/17/ and this http://www.overclock.net/t/1204140/i3-2120-overclock plus this http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2211660

Overclocking is unique to each machine and the personal limits and risks you are willing to set or accept.

as to ram...1333 goes up to 1600 if overclocked...but the difference is literally "negligble" with the mobo and cpu and hdds you've chosen...save a few bucks and go with the 1333 and oc as much as your motherboard and cpu configuration will allow for stablility and reliability.

I've used refurbed hdd's many times with zero issues...but issues do occur and as often with even a new hdd vs refurbished one... for me... failures are about equal per my experiences "as I've never had one fail" but read a lot of forums and feedback at newegg.

This would be a personal and budgetary decision and you should go with what YOU feel most comfortable with...if budget allows of course.

Otherwise your budget build looks great, provides for inplace simple upgrades as budget allows and should be a very steady and reliable machine.

Good luck!

Respectfully,
tekman42
 
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aznshinobi

aznshinobi

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Oct 19, 2009
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..... You can't overclock chips that don't have the designated "K" annotation. Period. I don't know why people think you can, you just can't. But people make it seem like you can, maybe you can overclock your RAM speeds but you can't overclock the CPU.
 
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tekman42

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Feb 22, 2012
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I'm not the one saying you can overclock the 2120 but alternatively, I'm not the one stating irrevocably...that you can't either!

There are POSTED cpu-z shots for validation of the overclock, there are steps outlined as to how to safely do the overclock...and the results ARE validated.

So your statement that you CAN NOT overclock seem to be in error. You should go and check out overclock.net and the article, cpu-z website and the verification of the chip and verify for yourself.

I was just showing the individual how somebody else has managed to squeeze performance out of the 2120 and was able to verify stability at the overclock speeds.

Providing information pertinent to the situation being discussed is all I can do because I do NOT own a 2120, I own a 2700K OCed to 5.2 but I do know how to find verifiable proof and present the info to the question being asked so that the guy on here can make an informed decision himself.
 
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aznshinobi

aznshinobi

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Oct 19, 2009
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I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about because I don't browse anywhere other than THG. But a CPU-Z screen shot is different than running Prime95 for 1+ hours to guarantee stability. As for the overclocking, if this is considered overclocking then I guess it can.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1650/17/
I'm thinking more along the lines of core clock. But I guess it's not the only thing to do.
 
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tekman42

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Feb 22, 2012
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I should have said a bootable clock..my bad there...I agree with prime 95 but I like to run it for 24 hrs to ensure stability system wide and no heat issues...I agree that I personally wouldn't call that overclocking...but there apparently is a tiny bit of room using the bclk to eke out a 150Mhz or so.

It won't gain him much performance but then that's his choice and whatever makes him feel comfortable.

Otherwise I wouldn't expect much improvement with that particular cpu model other than spec + a little bit :)
 
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aznshinobi

aznshinobi

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Oct 19, 2009
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It would support overclocking, all of the AMD motherboards support it. But performance-wise, it'd be unwise to do so. You don't get an upgrade path as well since the 4170 to the 8120 doesn't have much improvement. Honestly if you go with the FX chips you might as well get the old AM3 platform. The 955 or 965 are at least better in gaming than the FX chips.
 
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