AMD $650 Build Help

[AtticusGOB]

I am new to this site and am building my first computer in the next couple weeks. Had to keep it under 800 and I have to buy Windows. Just wondering if this build is good or a dud? Let me know what you think. Thanks!!

Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid TowerHDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA-500D Green 500W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

MoBo: ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276

GPU: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

Drive: LITE-ON DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

 

[aznshinobi]

By far Intel would be the better route. Check out my $650 build here:
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore
Here's the 965 vs the i5 2400
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=363
Keep in mind the i5 3450 I suggest is slightly better than the i5 2400.

Also I would try and at least get the 7850 since you're under your budget still and the 7850 is only "slightly" more for a lot more performance increase.

 

[AtticusGOB]

I built your $650 build and with an optical drive and windows 7 it came out to $803 where as my AMD build was $740. I was skeptical at first but what's $60 bucks when the benchmark proves it all. I believe I am going to go with the Intel. Thanks!!

Edit: by the way, i used the 6870 to hit the $803 mark. Will that set-up still run most games on high to ultra?

 

[juniiflow]

man, i cant believe you are really going to buy windows....

wel your build is nice.

 

[AtticusGOB]

I hate thiefs, cant really get around on Linux and already have a Mac.

 

[aznshinobi]

Wait really?
I built the build through Newegg, not actually buying the parts but added them all to the cart. The price ends up only being the price I say total...

Windows would bring it to about $762. The drive brings it to $782 at most... I'm not sure where you're getting the price hike.

And yes, the CPU, though not usually the biggest factor in frames, benches just show that Intel SB/IB chips are much better in gaming getting way more frames depending on the game.

 

[AtticusGOB]

I redid the numbers and The 6870 is 159.99 after instant savings and a $10 mail in rebate card. So final price is $793. Only $10 over your spec'd price.

 

[aznshinobi]

Ahh you're right I was wrong. Didn't realize RAM prices had risen a bit.