$750 build

[TheUltimateNewbie]

Friend needs a new rig but I've been out of the hardware loop for so long. From what he told me, this is basically what he wants to do.

-surf internet
-watch HD videos
-stream high definition streams of MLB.tv
-gaming good enough for games like starcraft ii, diablo iii

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103471

Mobo: ASUS M4A78T-E - $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131366

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

GPU: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5570 - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102874

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284

Total is $550. I figure about $50 for a nice quiet HSF (any recommendations?), and $150 for a decent case and PSU. Any place where I can trim off some fat or get something better? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[mfenn]

I would say that with the gaming in mind, he would be better off dropping down to an Athlon II x4 630 or Phenom II x3 720. If you do decide to stay with the Phenom II x4, I cannot recommend the 940BE because it has a 125W TDP, whereas the 945 is the same clockspeed and price and can be had with a 95W TDP.

Also, he doesn't need a Mobo anywhere near that expensive. Look at something like the Asus M4A77D. A 5570 is going to be a little too weak for Starcraft II on anything but all low, so use the savings on the CPU and/or mobo to get a 5750 or 5770.

As for HSF, the Hyper 212+ (OOS at the Egg but here's Amazon) is well regarded and cheap. As for case, I can always recommend the Antec Three Hundred. The Corsair 400CX is perfectly-sized for the system (<125W TDP CPU ~100W TDP GPU). You'll also end up saving a bit on the case + PSU. You can, of course, go up to a higher wattage PSU if you think he's likely to upgrade.

 

[Reincus]

As mfenn said, the difference between Athlon and Phenom is minimal in gaming. Athlons tend to be clocked higher, so if you aren't overclocking you will actually see better performance from Athlon. Get at least 3 cores. There are minimal gains for the 4th.

New Egg has a deal on 1TB Spinpoint F3 drive right now, saves $30 over the WD.

Plenty of good cases in the $50 range. NXTX has several, as does Antec. Corsair, Seasonic or Antec power supply in the 400-450W range will also run about $50, give or take.

If you save the $50 from the case/PSU, $30 from the RAM, $20-30 from the CPU, and $40 from the MB, then buy a HD 5770 for about $160 and you spend the same amount of money but get a better gaming platform.

Of course it can play HD video, stream, surf and all that mundane stuff just fine.

 

[TheUltimateNewbie]

Thanks for the tips guys. Here's a revised version.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition Heka 2.8GHz - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103652

Mobo: ASUS M4A77D AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - $83
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...SUS-_-13131618

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

GPU: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5770 - $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102864

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

HSF: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ - $30
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-...4216441&amp;sr=8-1

Case: Antec Three Hundred - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-042-_-Product

PSU: Corsair 400CX - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9008&amp;Tpk=400cx

Optical Drive: ASUS Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive - $67
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135205

Total - $720

I could downgrade the RAM but I only saw like a $10 savings versus DDR2 4GB packs, so I'll just get him the DDR3 in case he ever does upgrade.

 

[MisterDonut]

It's the 5770 you linked, but otherwise, it looks like it'll be a fantastic build

 

[Reincus]

Looks solid!

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the tips guys. Here's a revised version.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition Heka 2.8GHz - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103652

Mobo: ASUS M4A77D AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - $83
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...SUS-_-13131618

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

GPU: SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 5770 - $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102864

Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

HSF: Cooler Master Hyper 212+ - $30
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-...4216441&amp;sr=8-1

Case: Antec Three Hundred - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-042-_-Product

PSU: Corsair 400CX - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9008&amp;Tpk=400cx

Optical Drive: ASUS Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal Blu-ray Drive - $67
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135205

Total - $720

I could downgrade the RAM but I only saw like a $10 savings versus DDR2 4GB packs, so I'll just get him the DDR3 in case he ever does upgrade.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU BUY!

I just noticed that the M4A77D is a DDR2 board. Make sure you either swap use DDR2 or get a DDR3 board like the M4A77TD. Personally, I would do the latter.