500 dollar BF3 machine

OotheEscapistOo · Aug 15, 2012

Hello,

I was wondering if this build would run BF3 MP on higher settings at 1280x720 res. I have a hdd and a pata cd drive so i dont need those. With shipping, this is $490(without rebates). Here is the build:

Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm ...
Item #: N82E16811147153
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$59.99
$49.99

ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX AM3+ AMD 760G SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813157323
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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$54.99

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card (100314-3L )
Item #: N82E16814102948
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
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$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$169.99
1

AMD Gift - Dirt3 Game Coupon - OEM
Item #: N82E16800995114
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$49.99 Saving
$49.99
$0.00

CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 (CMPSU-430CXV2) 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817139026
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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-$5.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$49.99
$44.99

Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model KHX1333C9D3B1K2/4G
Item #: N82E16820104206
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
-$3.00 Instant
$27.99
$24.99

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
Item #: N82E16819103727
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy

No overclocking will be done.

Hubb1e · Aug 15, 2012

The build will play BF3 but you're really using some ancient tech with that Phenom.

BF3 in MP is the rare case that AMD processors outperform Intel because it is a highly threaded game and can use up to 8 threads. So, your true 4 core AMD chip will run the game well, as does an the X4 FX. If the machine was only BF3 and you want cheap I'd see if you could find a 6 core FX chip within your budget. If you plan on playing other games I'd switch to an Intel build with an i3.

lehtv · Aug 15, 2012

For that resolution, definitely doable. I would recommend Intel i3, however. Much better performance per watt, better performance per thread, slightly better overall performance for the price. With Intel you're not cutting yourself off from a potential upgrade to an Ivy Bridge i5 or even i7 later on, while with AMD your only real upgrade path is Piledriver and we have no idea how it'll perform.

CPU i3-2120 $115
Mobo Asrock H77M $70
RAM 1x4GB Samsung DDR3 $24
GPU Asus GTX 560 DCII $170 ($150 AR)
PSU PCP&C MK III 400W $50 ($30 AR)
DVD Samsung DVD-RW $17 (can't connect a PATA drive on a SATA board...)
Case Cooler Master Elite 370 $30

Total: $476 ($456 AR)

Will need to use an adapter to power the GPU, but that's OK as long as you don't OC. A 500W unit would be a bit more future proof though.

If you're near a Microcenter, you can get an i5-2500K + Z77 board for a bit over $200. Or an AMD X6 for $100-150 depending on mobo.

Durvelle27 · Aug 15, 2012

mfenn · Aug 15, 2012

lehtv said:
For that resolution, definitely doable. I would recommend Intel i3, however. Much better performance per watt, better performance per thread, slightly better overall performance for the price. With Intel you're not cutting yourself off from a potential upgrade to an Ivy Bridge i5 or even i7 later on, while with AMD your only real upgrade path is Piledriver and we have no idea how it'll perform.

CPU i3-2120 $115
Mobo Asrock H77M $70
RAM 1x4GB Samsung DDR3 $24
GPU Asus GTX 560 DCII $170 ($150 AR)
PSU PCP&C MK III 400W $50 ($30 AR)
DVD Samsung DVD-RW $17 (can't connect a PATA drive on a SATA board...)
Case Cooler Master Elite 370 $30

Total: $476 ($456 AR)

Will need to use an adapter to power the GPU, but that's OK as long as you don't OC. A 500W unit would be a bit more future proof though.

If you're near a Microcenter, you can get an i5-2500K + Z77 board for a bit over $200. Or an AMD X6 for $100-150 depending on mobo.

:thumbsup: to this build.

OotheEscapistOo · Aug 15, 2012

Wow sorry i didnt get to check this cuz i was at class. But that build is awesome. A more powerful gpu and an i3, nice. Thanks guys!

LOL_Wut_Axel · Aug 15, 2012

The build by lehtv is pretty much spot on, but I'd make some changes like the RAM, the Power Supply, the case, and maybe the motherboard.

A Core i3 does not have support for memory higher than DDR3-1333, therefore getting 1600 RAM is not worth it. You can get a reliable G.Skill module that will give you the same performance for $3.50 less:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231421

The MKIII 400W does not have at least 2x PCIe 6-pin connectors, and therefore it will not support a GTX 560 natively even if it is capable of running it with adapters. I'd suggest you get a Rosewill RG-530 instead.

There are some engineering oversights in the Elite 370, the main one being the 3.5" bays are not mounted sideways and the fact it has zero cable management. I'd recommend the Rosewill Challenger. It's world's better than the Elite 470, especially when you take into account future expandability and features.

If you want to save some money, you can get the ASRock H61M/U3S3 instead. The only things the H77M has that are better are the color scheme and the fact it has PCIe 3.0 support. You will be using a Sandy Bridge CPU, however, and it does not support it. Neither does the graphics card.

This build is actually cheaper and better because of a combo on the RG530+Challenger that saves you $20. The total is now $467.50, for better components overall. Or $1 more expensive if you want the H77M.

OotheEscapistOo · Aug 15, 2012

Well, rosewill isnt said to be a good psu manufacturer. I mean it is the most important part. I dont know about the rosewill combo.

mfenn · Aug 15, 2012

LOL_Wut_Axel said:
The MKIII 400W does not have at least 2x PCIe 6-pin connectors, and therefore it will not support a GTX 560 natively even if it is capable of running it with adapters. I'd suggest you get a Rosewill RG-530 instead.

I don't really see how you can say that the ATNG-built RG-530-S12 is better than the Seasonic-built Silencer MkIII.

OotheEscapistOo · Aug 15, 2012

Is rosewill reliable? Psu wise?

OotheEscapistOo · Aug 16, 2012

Durvelle27 · Aug 16, 2012

OotheEscapistOo said:
Bump

no bumping the thread

lehtv · Aug 16, 2012

Depends on the unit. That one has only 2 years of warranty, and while the specs are otherwise pretty good, I'd rather not buy it. I think Corsair CX500 V2 is a better deal for $41 after rebate and promo

OotheEscapistOo · Aug 16, 2012

Well, the green series got good reviews on hardware secrets. But that was the 630 watt one. How is the 530 watt psu? Anyone know?

lehtv · Aug 16, 2012

Usually there are no significant quality differences between different models within the same product line.

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500 dollar BF3 machine

OotheEscapistOo

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Hubb1e

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