critique on build for friend

[Loyudo]

1. This will be a gaming rig.
2. $1000.
3. U.S.
4. Not really a fan boy.
5. All new.
6. I have looked at similar threads just looking for better deals I may have passed up.
7. Yes. Hoping for some core unlocks but not expecting it.
8. 1920x1080.
9. As soon as it comes.
10. Fire away.

Here's what I've got so far
phenom ii x2 and gtx 460 768MB $225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.593823
biostar a770e3 and windows 7 $155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.591013
wintec 2x2GB ddr3 1333 $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161279
SSD ocz vertex 2 60GB $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227550
Western Digital av-gp 250GB $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136523
DVD burner $16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289
ocz modxstream pro 600w $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341017
antec 300 illusion $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129066
asus 23'' 2ms 1920x1080 $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236059
razer Keyboard and mouse $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.580978

total $999 after shipping

Not really sure about the keyboard and mouse, but he seems hung up on getting razer, I really don't know anything about them so if there's a much better product for similar or lower price let me know and i can probably talk him out of it. I went with the more expensive video card because i have the 1GB equivalent and it is an O.C. beast, but I'm always up for a better deal if you see one. Also I went with the 600w power supply is this about right considering he's going to be overclocking?

 

[fffblackmage]

For future reference, it really helps if you actually list the parts in your post, so people don't have to click each link to figure out what you picked.

You choice on the Phenom II X2 555 for $90 isn't particularly great. I would pick the Athlon II X4 640 for $100. Guaranteed 4 cores and a chance at unlocking the L3 cache, instead of taking a gamble on the two cores. While I was lucky with my 550's unlock, I know other people here on AT weren't so lucky.

For 1080p gaming, I wouldn't choose anything less than the GTX 460 1GB. Not only does the GTX 460 768MB has less vram, but the core is partially disabled compared to the full GTX 460 1GB.
$190 -$20 MIR
PNY GTX 460 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133326

The 770 mobo + Win 7 combo should be ok.

Cheap DDR3-1333 ram running on 1.5V is good.

Vertex 2 60GB is good.

That HDD is probably slow... if at all possible, bump it up to the Samsung F3 500GB ($50).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-181-_-Product

OCZ Modxstream would be a good choice if it was actually cheaper. Otherwise, at that price, you have much better choices. This is what I would get:
$70 -$20 MIR -$5 promo
Antec Neo Eco 620C
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371031

With these changes, you get $1033.73 including the shipping and promo codes, but not tax. There are 4 MIRs totaling $75.

 

[Loyudo]

Sorry about the post I'm still new to this.
I found a combo with that processor and a 1GB gtx460
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.593830
I chose the dual core phenom ii because anand bench shows it doing better on most games.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/120?vs=188
looking at it though the quad core did considerably better in DAO, probably because it's multi-threaded which is the direction everything is going in. In interest of meeting budget would you recommend dropping the SSD and extra hard drive all together and getting a faster hard drive like a caviar black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136795
Then switching the video to a gtx560
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.593839
If I did that would it then handle the 1920x1080 res.

 

[Davidh373]

This adds up to $1k?! This is not a 1K build I'm afraid, you are obviously wasting money some places and underspending in others.


So without the Case, Monitor, and interface devices we're talking a $675 budget for the filling right?

intel i5 760/ 460 1GB - $381.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.594314

Gigabyte UD3 - $139.99 + $2.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...herboard%20ud3

GSkill 1333Mhz 1.5V - $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-253-_-Product

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-754-_-Product

Antec BP 430 PSU - $44.99 + $2.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-023-_-Product

Total: $712.89

Ok, so this is a tad over ($25), so if he doesn't want to pop the premium (which I would recommend, but is not necessary) he can substitute this motherboard.

MSI P55 motherboard - $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-240-_-Product

This saves him ~ $35, to put him under budget

This build includes a quad core processor (better performance too!), 4GB DDR3, and a 460 1GB.

Ok, so you need an HDD besides... damn. I'm sorry, I'm spent for tonight. I'll do further budgeting tomorrow to squeeze it in. To point you in the correct direction, however, an SSD is beyond this budget. Tomorrow, I will work on fitting either a Samsung F3 1TB, or 500GB into his budget. I would also recommend getting the Antec 300 including the 430BP for $99.99, to save him around $10 on the PSU. Next, I will probably cut back to a 460 768MB or maybe even a 5770 to get you that extra processor. The Phenom II X2 is ANCIENT, and will likely not be able to play games for much longer.

 

[fffblackmage]

I have no clue why I didn't think of sacrificing the SSD to try and fit the i5 in the build...

But building on what David started:

i5 760 + GTX460 1GB - $382
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.594314

ASRock P55 PRO/USB3 - $100 +$3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157203

G.SKILL 2x2GB DDR3 1333 - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231253

Samsung F3 500GB - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152181

Lite-on DVD Burner - $16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Antec 300 + BP 430 - $95 +$10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129065

Windows 7 - $100

asus 23'' 2ms 1920x1080 $180

razer Keyboard and mouse $75

Total is $1051 including shipping. D:

Well, you get a much better processor, that's for sure.

Downgrading to the GTX 460 768MB will probably get you under the $1k mark.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the 430W PSU though. 400W is definitely enough for i5-760 + GTX 460. However, you probably won't have much headroom for higher-end graphics cards. I wouldn't want to run my PSU at 90-100% load anyways.

 

[Numenorean]

Yeah I would go with blackmages suggestion. It's a bit more, and you won't have an SSD, but you can upgrade to an SSD later. SSD will do almost nothing for your gaming performance other than load the game and level faster. And if you do a lot of games, 60GB isn't going to be enough to load them all onto anyway.

You could go with this case:

At NewEgg:
Search for item number N82E16811119161

Free shipping - $45

And this power supply:

At NewEgg:
Search for item number N82E16817171031

$30 after MIR + $6 ship.

$81 total for case/PSU. Gets you a bit more power PSU.

 

[Davidh373]

I have no clue why I didn't think of sacrificing the SSD to try and fit the i5 in the build...

But building on what David started:

i5 760 + GTX460 1GB - $382
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.594314

ASRock P55 PRO/USB3 - $100 +$3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157203

G.SKILL 2x2GB DDR3 1333 - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231253

Samsung F3 500GB - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152181

Lite-on DVD Burner - $16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Antec 300 + BP 430 - $95 +$10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129065

Windows 7 - $100

asus 23'' 2ms 1920x1080 $180

razer Keyboard and mouse $75

Total is $1051 including shipping.

Well, you get a much better processor, that's for sure.

Downgrading to the GTX 460 768MB will probably get you under the $1k mark.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the 430W PSU though. 400W is definitely enough for i5-760 + GTX 460. However, you probably won't have much headroom for higher-end graphics cards. I wouldn't want to run my PSU at 90-100% load anyways.

You could get the original $35 AVGP, then apply Numenorean's suggestions and be really close to budget.

This totals up to $1028.90. If this ends up being ok, then AWESOME. If not, we're looking at something with a Phenom II X6.

 

[sigmanova]

if you can spare the extra $12.99 go for the Samsung F3 1TB; you get "double" the space and a fantastic drive for only a few more dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpo...6931276&sr=8-1

I have one of these and it rocks!

 

[Loyudo]

Wow thanks for all the great suggestions.
I like numenorean's case and psu recommendation. I've dropped the SSD. Used the i5 and gtx460 combo. I found a slightly cheaper monitor with all the same features
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236099
I also found a slightly cheaper mobo please tell me if this one has any shortcomings I should know about
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138281
and that puts him at $1013 after shipping

 

[mnewsham]

Biostar isn't known for thier quality.

 

[Numenorean]

Biostar isn't known for thier quality.

This. Hence why I recommended the i5 system would be a better route.

 

[mfenn]

I have no clue why I didn't think of sacrificing the SSD to try and fit the i5 in the build...

But building on what David started:

i5 760 + GTX460 1GB - $382
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.594314

ASRock P55 PRO/USB3 - $100 +$3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157203

G.SKILL 2x2GB DDR3 1333 - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231253

Samsung F3 500GB - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152181

Lite-on DVD Burner - $16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

Antec 300 + BP 430 - $95 +$10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129065

Windows 7 - $100

asus 23'' 2ms 1920x1080 $180

razer Keyboard and mouse $75

Total is $1051 including shipping. D:

Well, you get a much better processor, that's for sure.

Downgrading to the GTX 460 768MB will probably get you under the $1k mark.

I'm not entirely comfortable with the 430W PSU though. 400W is definitely enough for i5-760 + GTX 460. However, you probably won't have much headroom for higher-end graphics cards. I wouldn't want to run my PSU at 90-100% load anyways.

This looks pretty good, the SSD is definitely beyond a $1K including monitor budget.

If the OP's friend must absolutely stay under $100, I would drop the CPU/mobo down to an Athlon II X4/Phenom II X4 before I downgraded the GPU.

 

[fffblackmage]

The "500W" rating sure looks nice at first, but once you take a closer look at the specs.... That particular CM PSU has a pretty sad 360W output on the 12V rail for a 500W PSU. In comparison, the Antec Basiq 430W has a max output of 384W on the 12V rail. I tend to think Antec PSUs are better than CM PSUs as well, but you should check reviews anyways.

Source: www.antec.com/pdf/flyers/BP430_flyer.pdf

 

[Numenorean]

Yeah I was trying to find him some cheaper stuff. Guess that's why it's cheaper.

 

[fffblackmage]

Well, there's always a trade-off, but at least the CM PSU would bring the build closer to the budget limit.

Found a cheaper case:
HEC Blitz - $40 -$5 promo = $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811121096

Seems decent for the price, but well, you're probably trading quality for the price. A few reviews seemed to complained of thin sheet metal, and one seemed to be missing the two 120mm fans the case is supposed to come with altogether (wtf?). At least it's a case anyways.