New Build on Budget PC!

[E6BAV8R]

what about a AMD FM1 build?

My initial thought is $$. However, I'm not up to speed on FM1. Would a Dual-Core FM1 be better than an Athlon II X4? Considering the FM1 + MB is ~$50 more than the X4, I don't think it would be worth the additional cost to me.

 

[Blain]

How about an analogy to help you understand?

Fitting a mATX motherboard in an ATX case is like fitting 8 eggs in a carton designed to hold a dozen.

What if it's an old proprietary non-standard egg carton?

 

[E6BAV8R]

Any thoughts on this AMD set-up? This doesn't include a PSU but that won't change regardless of the build. How would it perform against the Intel set-up prescribed here (my latest build)?

Intel:

• Intel Pentium G840 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623G840
• BIOSTAR H61ML LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
• SAPPHIRE 100287VGAL Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
• G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK

TOTAL: $251

AMD:

• AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
• ASUS M4N68T-M V2 AM3 NVIDIA Geforce 7025/nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
• SAPPHIRE 100287VGAL Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
• G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK

TOTAL: $255

Any thoughts on the above?

 

[mfenn]

What if it's an old proprietary non-standard egg carton?

Then it wouldn't be called an ATX egg carton.

 

[mfenn]

Any thoughts on the above?

The Intel is faster in single-threaded tasks (most old games fall into this category) and more power efficient. The AMD is faster at highly threaded tasks like encoding.

 

[VirtualLarry]

My initial thought is $$. However, I'm not up to speed on FM1. Would a Dual-Core FM1 be better than an Athlon II X4? Considering the FM1 + MB is ~$50 more than the X4, I don't think it would be worth the additional cost to me.

With a LLano (FM1) setup, you would probably not need to spend additional money on a PCI-E GPU. The LLano has some decent onboard graphics for 1024x768 gaming.

 

[E6BAV8R]

With a LLano (FM1) setup, you would probably not need to spend additional money on a PCI-E GPU. The LLano has some decent onboard graphics for 1024x768 gaming.

I see. The only reservation I have with going that method is that I am really limiting my capabilities to play a new game; if I ever wanted to.

The Intel is faster in single-threaded tasks (most old games fall into this category) and more power efficient. The AMD is faster at highly threaded tasks like encoding.

Thanks. It sounds like I'll be leaning towards the Intel dual-core.

Do you think everything will fit together nicely with my latest Intel set-up I put together? I suppose I still need to find a newer PSU. I'm thinking around 400W would be adequate?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

If you ever want to play a new game, just buy a GPU then

 

[mfenn]

Thanks. It sounds like I'll be leaning towards the Intel dual-core.

No problem.

Do you think everything will fit together nicely with my latest Intel set-up I put together? I suppose I still need to find a newer PSU. I'm thinking around 400W would be adequate?

I read over your parts again and they all look fine to me. You could save a few bucks by getting CAS 9 memory like this Kingston instead of CAS 8. You are unlikely to notice the difference outside of benchmarks.

As for PSU, the Corsair 430CX is a good basic unit.

 

[E6BAV8R]

No problem.



I read over your parts again and they all look fine to me. You could save a few bucks by getting CAS 9 memory like this Kingston instead of CAS 8. You are unlikely to notice the difference outside of benchmarks.

As for PSU, the Corsair 430CX is a good basic unit.

Sweet. One last quick question: Is it worth buying DDR3 1600 speed RAM; instead of the 1333? Even though the MB can't handle 1600, I'd eventually like to keep the RAM when I decide to upgrade to another MB that can handle it. Thoughts?

 

[Ken g6]

Sweet. One last quick question: Is it worth buying DDR3 1600 speed RAM; instead of the 1333? Even though the MB can't handle 1600, I'd eventually like to keep the RAM when I decide to upgrade to another MB that can handle it. Thoughts?

I think you won't be upgrading to another MB that can handle it. I hear DDR4 is coming in 2012.
If you want to upgrade something, upgrade to an i5 2400 processor or similar instead. They ought to be available used cheap next year once Ivy Bridge comes out.

 

[E6BAV8R]

I think you won't be upgrading to another MB that can handle it. I hear DDR4 is coming in 2012.
If you want to upgrade something, upgrade to an i5 2400 processor or similar instead. They ought to be available used cheap next year once Ivy Bridge comes out.

The Intel MB I have selected could hold all the way up to the i7 2600K, no? That will certainly be for the future, but if I can keep the same MB than there shouldn't be any harm in purchasing the 1600 RAM; as it is the same price as the 1333.

 

[Blain]

Faster rated memory is like faster rated tires.
They won't make your PC go down the road any quicker.

If the faster rated memory is rated at 1.5v or less, I'd say go for it.
If that faster rated memory is rated for 1.65v, I'd say stick with the slower rated DIMMs.

 

[mfenn]

Sweet. One last quick question: Is it worth buying DDR3 1600 speed RAM; instead of the 1333? Even though the MB can't handle 1600, I'd eventually like to keep the RAM when I decide to upgrade to another MB that can handle it. Thoughts?

Not really worth it IMHO. Even assuming a perfect upgrade scenario where you can take advantage of DDR3 1600, the performance boost is negligible.

 

[E6BAV8R]

After browsing and peddling around, here is the final build I finally ordered. I gave in and also got a new HDD and upgraded to a MB with SATA III, as well as the G850 CPU over the G840.

• BIOSTAR TH67B LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
• SAPPHIRE 100287VGAL Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
• COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS500-PCARD3-US 500W ATX12V v2.3 Power Supply
• G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK
• Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
• Intel Pentium G850 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623G850

Total: $370

 

[titan131]

Looks good apart from I would have paid a little more and got the Corsair CX430 v2 instead of that Cooler Master, but having said that it will probably be OK for low loads. Also I think the G840 is better value but no biggy. GL with the build

 

[mfenn]

I wish you would have run that by us before ordering. I would have advised you to change the PSU out for the higher quality 430CX like titan mentioned. The rest is fine though.