$900 Gaming Build: Ready to pull the trigger?

[ruffilb]

Hey guys, haven't posted here or built a system for a while. I thought I'd ask your input before I put together a new build.

This is going to be a gaming computer to replace a 4/5 year old nvidia 6600GT/AMD 64 3500+ system. My budget is ~800-999 USD.

I don't really have a brand preference, and I'm not planning on using any of my current parts. I've been looking around here (but they haven't posted a buyers guide in a while) as well as tomshardware and I think I have some decent ideas.

I probably won't do any/much overclocking, and I'll be running at 1920*1080. I'm looking to order the parts ASAP.

Here is my current build:

Mobo:
MSI 790FX-GD70 (167.99 from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...namitedata.com)

Proc:
Athlon II X4 620 (99.00 from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...AMD-_-19103706)

Ram:
Crucial’s 6gb value kit CT3KIT25664BA1339 ($98 from newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...KIT25664BA1339)

Video:
2x Sapphire HD5770 1GB (180 from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ech-_-14102858)

Hard Drive:
Samsung 500gb (~$60 from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...20F3%20HD502HJ)

Case:
Antec 200 (~$30 from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129070)

PSU:
Antec Earthwats 750W ($110 from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371026)

+ a ~$30 sata optical drive

Total: $987 w/o shipping.

Also, I realize I haven't specified an operating system. Not sure if I'm going to try to get my hands on XP or just bite the bullet and go for windows 7. I'm open for recommendations there too, but that's a separate issue.)

 

[alyarb]

The tri-channel memory kit is for intel X58 systems only and would run in single-channel mode on your AMD board. Buy a dual-channel 4GB DDR3 kit ($95 or so) to run at full speed.


Dual 5770's for $360 is not worth the money over a single 5850 for $290-300. They are not that much faster and you will always run the risk of crossfire letting you down in some way (giving you single-GPU performance or worse). If you want guaranteed speed, get the best single card solution you can afford, which would be a Radeon 5870. The money you save by stepping down to a proper dual-channel memory kit and a motherboard that suits your needs (GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P is $80 and has everything you need) will leave you with plenty of money for a Radeon 5870, but a 5850 will be more than fast enough for 1920x1080. You are throwing a lot of money away on parts that will not make your system any better/faster. You don't need to spend so much on the power supply and motherboard for instance.

With all the money you're pissing away you could easily afford an i5 750 and 5850 which would be way faster than this build (much higher minimum FPS in games because of the bigger GPU and faster CPU. you should realize the slow-clocked Athlon II will have low minimums). I'm not going to break your arm if you have any brand loyalty because I certainly have none and only want the fastest system my money can get me:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.322611
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260&cm_re=xms3-_-20-145-260-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817163112
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136298
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0442&cm_re=radeon_5850-_-14-150-442-_-Product

this comes to $885 including $60 for your DVDRW and case.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Gaming computer; go for the X58 chipset as they are better when running multiple PCI-E slot GPUs

Or if you stick with the AMD route, get one really really strong GPU rather than 2

 

[Patrickz0rs]

Gaming computer; go for the X58 chipset as they are better when running multiple PCI-E slot GPUs

Or if you stick with the AMD route, get one really really strong GPU rather than 2

If you want to upgrade your CPU without buying a new mobo go AM3 Socket
If you want to upgrade your CPU + have to buy a new mobo go Intel

 

[RaistlinZ]

Seems like an awful lot of money to spend on a Mobo + dual 5770's just to pair it up with an Athlon II X4. I don't quite get that at all.

 

[Hacp]

Why are you paying so much for the mobo? Stick with one card and get an ssd.

 

[fffblackmage]

That mobo is way too expensive for this build. Something closer to $100 should more than suffice and the money saved can go to the 5870 or a better cpu. Athlon X4 is too low-end for a $1k build. You should probably be looking at a Phenom II X4, at least, or maybe Core i5.

 

[Spikesoldier]

the idea behind multiple gpu's is that you buy a badass card now and then later when prices come down buy a used one for whatever its going for and get more performance.

by going with one badass card instead of two midrange cards, you can allot more money as others have echoed to ensure you are not CPU bound.

the true numbers shown in benchmarks will help you ease the temptation of going dual card from the get-go.

 

[BD231]

A phenom ii x4 would do a lot more for you than that Athlon II.

 

[NoQuarter]

Yea you need to examine that whole system.

If you are doing AMD..

$165 Phenom II X4 955
$110 785G mobo with crossfire 8x/8x or better
$100 4GB DDR3-1600 ram
$290 Radeon 5850, combo'd with Thermaltake 600W PSU ($70 value)
$55 Samsung F3 or Seagate 7200.12 500GB HD
$30 Antec case you picked out
$30 DVD drive

$780 + shipping

Either pocket the leftover or upgrade to a 5870, or a small SSD drive.

It's dangerously close in price range to be building an i5 750 instead though.

 

[Rifter]

Yea you need to examine that whole system.

If you are doing AMD..

$165 Phenom II X4 955
$110 785G mobo with crossfire 8x/8x or better
$100 4GB DDR3-1600 ram
$290 Radeon 5850, combo'd with Thermaltake 600W PSU ($70 value)
$55 Samsung F3 or Seagate 7200.12 500GB HD
$30 Antec case you picked out
$30 DVD drive

$780 + shipping

Either pocket the leftover or upgrade to a 5870, or a small SSD drive.




It's dangerously close in price range to be building an i5 750 instead though.

This is a much better system for the money.

 

[heyheybooboo]

AMD HDZ965FBGMBOX / MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3 : $323

HIS H585F1GDG Radeon HD 5850 (Cypress Pro) 1GB: $300

NZXT M59 - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower: $60 ($40 AR) w/ free shipping
- $10 off w/ promo code EMCLMMR25, ends today


That should balance out nicely. The 3x2Gb kit is fine. The MSI 790FX-GD70 is a great motherboard ....




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