New AMD mid-gaming build

[dilbert6712]

Hello,
Wanted to build a mid-gaming performance based on cheaper(ish) CPU/MOBO - with a mid range video card.
What'syour take on this?
Prices are from NCIX (before rebates) - from the total I hope to get $85 back from rebates - so the final + tax ~CAD 860

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Quad Core Processor AM3 3.4GHZ 8MB Cache 125W 45NM Retail Box $119.99
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus Direct Touch 4 $30.98
ASUS M5A99X Evo ATX AM3 DDR3 AMD 990X $137.99
XFX Radeon HD 6870 900MHZ 1GB 4.2GHZ GDDR5 2xDVI HDMI 2x Mini DisplayPort PCI-E Video Card $174.99
Zalman Z9 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case Black $49.99
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB SATA3 6GB/S 7200RPM 64MB Cache 3.5IN Dual Proc Hard Drive OEM $109.99
OCZ ModXStream Pro 700w ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135mm Fan 80PLUS Power Supply $84.99
Mushkin Enhanced Blackline Frostbyte PC3-12800 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 1.5V Dual Channel Memory $48.49
ASUS DRW-24B1ST 24X SATA DVD Writer OEM Black $19.99
nGear Flash Card Reader 3.5IN Internal USB Black CF/SM/SDHC/MMC/MS/XD 18IN Cable $4.99

PC Assembly and Testing With 1 Year Limited NCIX System Warranty (PRE-CONFIG WIN. OS If Purchased) NCIX will install aftermarket heatsinks or pre-filled CPU liquid coolers. *typical lead time (currently 5-10 business days) $50.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronics Recycling Fee : $3.60
SUBTOTAL: $835.99
HST(13%): $108.68
YOUR TOTAL: $944.67 (again - hope to get 85$ back... )

HOWEVER, if you have some options of how to get the system into the 700-750$, would be great!!

Thanks

 

[dilbert6712]

Anyone ?

 

[Outlander_04]

An FX 4100 will game almost identically to that phenom and it costs less

Since you are only using a single graphics card the mb could be the cheaper M5A97 evo

You need a 500 watt power supply for that build

 

[azeem40]

To specify, make sure the PSU is good quality.

 

[dilbert6712]

Thanks you both Outlander and Azeem;
The funny thing, I first wanted to go with the 4100, then read here (in these forums) how pretty bad it is and would be better off with 965BE (IF going with a budget AMD). Right now the difference on NCIX is $5...so it's only about performance right now.
However, thanks for the mb tip - saved some $25 on that one - as indeed I don't intend to crossfire...

As for the PSU, I was looking more for a 550-600W one...but then I saw the OCZ 700W after 30$ rebate is only 5$ more than the 600W...that's why I went with the 700W. I know probably Corsair is better (and of course Seasonic)...but they're also quite expensive for me...

Appreciate the input.

Cheers

 

[azeem40]

The ModXStream Pro 600W is plenty and is actually better quality than the 700w.

 

[goodguy713]

thats an overkill setup its too reliant on a 6870.. 700 watt is overkill for that also .. you would want a 750 watt if you wanted crossfire 6870s .. im not going to gripe about the processor its not bad.. but you might try finding a 1090t if you could it will out perform a 4100 .. also also look at gigabyte ud5 or ud3 for crossfire if your looking at that .. might as well just go with an am3 setup which will be a bit cheaper no need for am3+ as i doubt the pile drivers will be backwards compatible .. bulldozer is just a skip generation .. not bashing them

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-E-Video-100315L/dp/B0047ZGIUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341464617&sr=8-1&keywords=6850 x2 299.98 -30.00 in rebates = 269.98

http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-990FXA-UD3-990FX-SATA-Motherboard/dp/B0055QYKQO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465284&sr=1-1&keywords=gigabyte 149.99 - 10 mail in rebate 139.99

http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phenom-Black-3-4Ghz-4000MHZ/dp/B002SRQ214/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465524&sr=1-3&keywords=am3 117.27

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465623&sr=1-1&keywords=coolermaster+hyper+212 25.80

http://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-Enthusiast-BRONZE-Certified-Performance/dp/B004MYFODI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465698&sr=1-2&keywords=corsair+power+supply
106.98

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=zalman+z9+plus&sprefix=zalman+z9%2Celectronics%2C317 49.99 but if you can find it with free shipping that would save you at least 10 dollars..

get the same ram .. thats a good deal..

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Internal-Desktop/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341467452&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Western+Digital+Caviar+Black+1TB+SATA3+6GB%2FS+7200RPM+64MB+Cache+3.5IN+Dual+Proc+Hard+Drive+OEM+%24 119.99

windows 7 64bit home premium go's for 99.99

right around 1103.45 most of it is free shipping but your also skipping out on sales tax

and this will beast most games .. 1 6870 is pretty much only going to get you medium settings / some high on a game like bf3 or at least look at a 6950 as an alternative

 

[dilbert6712]

The ModXStream Pro 600W is plenty and is actually better quality than the 700w.

Thanks for that - checking again now it came down more (the 600W....$45 after rebate!!)...so I'll go for that one.

 

[dilbert6712]

thats an overkill setup its too reliant on a 6870.. 700 watt is overkill for that also .. you would want a 750 watt if you wanted crossfire 6870s .. im not going to gripe about the processor its not bad.. but you might try finding a 1090t if you could it will out perform a 4100 .. also also look at gigabyte ud5 or ud3 for crossfire if your looking at that .. might as well just go with an am3 setup which will be a bit cheaper no need for am3+ as i doubt the pile drivers will be backwards compatible .. bulldozer is just a skip generation .. not bashing them

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-PCI-E-Video-100315L/dp/B0047ZGIUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341464617&sr=8-1&keywords=6850 x2 299.98 -30.00 in rebates = 269.98

http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-990FXA-UD3-990FX-SATA-Motherboard/dp/B0055QYKQO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465284&sr=1-1&keywords=gigabyte 149.99 - 10 mail in rebate 139.99

http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Phenom-Black-3-4Ghz-4000MHZ/dp/B002SRQ214/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465524&sr=1-3&keywords=am3 117.27

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Hyper-Sleeve-RR-B10-212P-G1/dp/B002G1YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465623&sr=1-1&keywords=coolermaster+hyper+212 25.80

http://www.amazon.com/CORSAIR-Enthusiast-BRONZE-Certified-Performance/dp/B004MYFODI/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465698&sr=1-2&keywords=corsair+power+supply
106.98

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=zalman+z9+plus&sprefix=zalman+z9%2Celectronics%2C317 49.99 but if you can find it with free shipping that would save you at least 10 dollars..

get the same ram .. thats a good deal..

Thanks for your input and links. Unfortunately, amazon.com doesn't ship electronics to Canada...so I'm looking at NCIX, Newegg.ca and others up north (tigerdirect.ca, etc). However, the prices I've seen are pretty much the same with NCIX.
I got the 600W - so that woudl not be an overkill I assume for the 6870....I don't intend to crossfire...that's why I took the advice here to go with the M5A97 EVO mobo - good if not crossfiring...Maybe I haven't mentioned but I don't need absolute gaming performance, especially as I don't do the heavy MMOs...more SCII, Diablo3, the RTS games, CIV, + driving (DIRT3, etc)
I could get the 6850 (only one) for about 25$ cheaper after rebate...not sure what I'd lose (or win if going with one 6870) (btw, the monitor is 22" - Dell 2209WA)
Oh, and I've got Win7 Pro already...