Budget gaming; FX, Athlon or Pentium?

[Guest]

Hello everyone, I am building a new system for light work, some video editing and games (Minecraft and Team Fortress 2 on medium-high settings) my budget is $360. These are my options:

1. AMD Athlon
• CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 631 $49
• Mainboard: ASUS F1A55-M-LX-PLUS FM1 $40
• Memory: 8GB G.Skill-NT 1600 $43
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Graphics: Gigabyte GT610 $38
• Case: A-Power Megatron X2 $33
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total: $309

2. AMD FX
• CPU: AMD X4 FX-4300 $129
• Mainboard: MSI 760GM-P23 $43
• Memory: 4GB G.Skill-NT 1600 $23
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Graphics: Gigabyte GT610 $38
• Case: A-Power Megatron X2 $33
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total: $359

3. Intel Pentium
• CPU: Intel Sandy Bridge G860 $69
• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H $68
• Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600 G.Skill-NT $43
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Graphics: MSI 6570 $60
• Case: A-Power Megatron X2 $33
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total $352

4. AMD APU A8
• CPU: AMD A8-5600K APU $112
• Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 $61
• Memory: 8GB G.Skill-NT 1600 DDR3 $43
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Case: Coolermaster RC371 $42
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total: $344

5. AMD APU A4
• CPU: AMD A4-5300 APU $58
• Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 $61
• Memory: 8GB G.Skill-NT 1600 DDR3 $43
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Case: Coolermaster Elite RC-335 $61
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total: $309

6. AMD Sempron
• CPU: AMD Sempron 145 2.8GHz $39 (Or Athlon II X2 260)
• Motherboard: AsRock 880GM-LE-FX $55
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Graphics: Gigabyte GT610 $38
• Case: Coolermaster RC371 $42
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total $273

I do not want to know what is the best but which is the most value for money. Please notify me if there are any incompatibilities.

Thank you in advance

 

[tiny voices]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($98.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($16.98 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7750 2GB Video Card ($88.48 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX12V Power Supply ($30.95 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $383.33
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-24 20:36 EST-0500)

Slightly over budget, but MUCH better than any of these builds.

 

[Guest]

I am very sorry I forgot to mention this the builds above are my only option because I do not want to order online and my local store has these parts in stock. Also my store does not have Phenoms. And the price is a deal breaker. (extra shipping cost because I am overseas)

I will be using a ASUS ATX-450D PSU; will this be enough?

 

[tiny voices]

4. AMD APU A8
• CPU: AMD A8-5600K APU $112
• Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 $61
• Memory: 8GB G.Skill-NT 1600 DDR3 $43
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Case: Coolermaster RC371 $42
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total: $344
This is the best of a rotten bunch. None of these will really game at all but this will get you playable FPS on low settings.

You really want to get a PSU from Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic. They are the more reliable brands and are much less likely to fail and take your system out.

 

[DEY123]

The A8 is for sure the best of those builds (build 4). Also on Minecraft and team fortress 2 you will probably be above low as those are not demanding games. and although your power supply is not the highest quality it will be more then enough power for an APU.

Also if your local dealer has an A10 in stock you should go for that over the A8.

 

[Cons29]

for the love of... just kidding.
but please do not get a gt 610.

 

[Guest]

Is a GT610 bad for gaming? If so, what about GT620/630 and HD 6570?
Thanks

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

All those are not going to be great. You want at minimum a 7750. For what you would get for the money locally that's not too bad, but for gaming in my opinion the minimum you want is a 7750. Would getting the athlon system and then ordering a 7750 be out of the question? I think most of the cards they r showing r more media center type cards or entry level non gamer cards.

 

[Guest]

4. AMD APU A8
• CPU: AMD A8-5600K APU $112
• Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 $61
• Memory: 8GB G.Skill-NT 1600 DDR3 $43
• Hard disk drive: 500GB Seagate 7200RPM $58
• Case: Coolermaster RC371 $42
• DVDRW: Samsung DVD Writer $19
• Speaker: Gigabyte GP-S4600 $6
• Total: $344
This is the best of a rotten bunch. None of these will really game at all but this will get you playable FPS on low settings.

You really want to get a PSU from Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic. They are the more reliable brands and are much less likely to fail and take your system out.

Thank you
What is the worst part of these builds, the graphics card I guess? If so can you tell me if a GT620/630 or a HD 6570 is a good buy.

Also, will a 350W Corsair be adequate?

 

[Guest]

All those are not going to be great. You want at minimum a 7750. For what you would get for the money locally that's not too bad, but for gaming in my opinion the minimum you want is a 7750. Would getting the athlon system and then ordering a 7750 be out of the question? I think most of the cards they r showing r more media center type cards or entry level non gamer cards.

Sorry I did not see your reply because I was typing.
I currently have a HD 2600 XT, will I see a noticeable difference with the cards that I mentioned above?

7750 cost over $110 locally.

 

[Cons29]

a 610 is like in the bottom of the pit

take the model number as a clue (though sometimes it is not reliable)

680 is top (690 is an exception), then 670, 660... until 610.

save money and get a 7750, 7770 if you can, it is a decent card

 

[Guest]

a 610 is like in the bottom of the pit

take the model number as a clue (though sometimes it is not reliable)

680 is top (690 is an exception), then 670, 660... until 610.

save money and get a 7750, 7770 if you can, it is a decent card

Thanks. I will buy a 7750 if my budget allows... But if not or I have to buy a low profile case I will have to buy 6570... There is also GF210 and GT210, they are at the bottom

 

[tiny voices]

You really want to try your best to get a 7750. You won't be gaming with those other cards.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Agreed if you game you will be low settings with the other cards

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Other thing check on ebay dude. I sold my old gts 450 for like 40 bucks counting shipping on there. If you got one of those you'd probably be almost at the performance of the 7750. Granted the gts 450 is 2 generations old but I think the 450 would smoke the cards you are currently going after if you don't mind installing it. The 450 would at least tide you over until you could get a better card later.

 

[Guest]

Should I buy an Athlon II X2 260 with a 7750 or an Athlon II X4 631 with a 7750? The 631 is FM1 so it is very likely it will go out of stock.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Get the 631 no question. I had an Athlon dual core before and I'm a gamer, had CPU bottlenecks but when I went to my Athlon quad it was quite a jump.

I've upgraded since then, but really the quad did everything I wanted just wanted a shiny new 8 core.

 

[Guest]

Awesome. I was going to do that but I found that the AsRock 880GM-LE FX AM3/AM3+ had a floppy connector and I need a floppy badly so what would you recommend for this motherboard under $100 and under $75? I'll get that 7750. If you really think I should get the 631 I will because of its cheap price. Sorry for bad English, I am writing on a mobile device. Also will a Phenom II 955 work with the AsRock 880GM-LE-FX? I think the buses are different speeds.

 

[tiny voices]

The Athlon is OLD and WILL bottleneck a modern video card.

The phenom II 955 is a MUCH better option and will actually be decent.

 

[Guest]

The Athlon is OLD and WILL bottleneck a modern video card.

The phenom II 955 is a MUCH better option and will actually be decent.

Will the phenom work with the AsRock 880GM-LE-FX?

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Should. Between the 2 get the phenom. If its a black edition you can overclock for better performance. Also I would get the most modern board I could for future upgradeability. I think I once bought a USB floppy drive on eBay for like 5 bucks.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

You might consider the fx 4300 you listed also that would probably do ok too. Between the phenom 2, fx 4300 or Athlon quad get either the phenom 2 or or fx. Both of those should be great at overclocking. I went from an Athlon quad to an 8 core fx and love it but that's a bigger jump, but my fx 8120, a bulldozer chip, easily overclocks to 4 ghz, I think I've got headroom left, so if you had a 4300 at 4.5 ghz it might do well.

 

[Guest]

HD 2600 XT vs 7750 vs GT630? The 2600 is my current graphics.
Also is a 2600 better than a GT610 and a 6570?

 

[Guest]

Should. Between the 2 get the phenom. If its a black edition you can overclock for better performance. Also I would get the most modern board I could for future upgradeability. I think I once bought a USB floppy drive on eBay for like 5 bucks.

Can the phenom work without a bios update? I am going to replace this system in about 2 years so upgrade does not matter. And I dont fancy USB floppies.

Thanks

 

[tiny voices]

HD 2600 XT vs 7750 vs GT630? The 2600 is my current graphics.
Also is a 2600 better than a GT610 and a 6570?

7750 is the best by far. the other ones really won't play modern games.