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939 AMD Build

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penguin010

Junior Member
First off, this will be my first post, but Ive used anandtech for my PC hardware needs for the last couple of years. 🙂

Anyways, due to all the of the price cuts and such because of Conroe, Ive decided its time to build a complete new rig for myself. The budget is $1000ish, and I couldnt get a good gaming Conroe rig under $1200ish, so I went with a socket 939 AMD build. The final price came out to be $1007+shipping from newegg.

Links should be fixed now.

Case

Mobo

CPU

GPU

RAM

HDD

Optical Drive

Monitor

Mouse/Keyboard

OS


Good, bad? Any compatability issues? Any suggestions or advice?

And I really only have one question about that system, and its the monitor. Should I stick with that normal panel, or should I get the widescreen that I posted in my Conroe build? Do many games support widescreen now, or will I be stuck with black boxes?

Thanks.
 
If I were to build a system right now I'd go AM2. Hopefully the quad core chips will be AM2. s939 is on its way out.
 
Originally posted by: overclock
If I were to build a system right now I'd go AM2. Hopefully the quad core chips will be AM2. s939 is on its way out.
Click to expand...

I would have to agree...
a couple things on that build: Get a better case and psu. I'd suggest a cm centurion5 or antec slk3000 @ provantage ($40 shipped) and an enhance 5140gh or fortron fsp400. ($69 and $60 repectively) Secondly: I take it you're overclocking? That mobo and that ram are both for overclocking. If you're not, get corsiar valueselect and a biostar tforce 550 am2 (assuming you go am2 which I recommend) If you want to overclock, you can do better than that with am2. Get corsiar XMS2 ddr2-800 and an asus m2n-e. Consider though, that good components for overclocking will take you into the $1300 range, where you probable don't want to go. The video card is good enough to hold you over untill dx10, and the cpu is good, just get the am2 version for the same price. The monitor choice however, is not so good IMO. That's one of viewsonic's lower end offerings. This is a better choice. happy building!😀
 
Originally posted by: overclock
If I were to build a system right now I'd go AM2. Hopefully the quad core chips will be AM2. s939 is on its way out.
Click to expand...

Even if Quad Core chips are AM3, it'll work on AM2.
 
Originally posted by: acegazda
Originally posted by: overclock
If I were to build a system right now I'd go AM2. Hopefully the quad core chips will be AM2. s939 is on its way out.
Click to expand...

I would have to agree...
a couple things on that build: Get a better case and psu. I'd suggest a cm centurion5 or antec slk3000 @ provantage ($40 shipped) and an enhance 5140gh or fortron fsp400. ($69 and $60 repectively) Secondly: I take it you're overclocking? That mobo and that ram are both for overclocking. If you're not, get corsiar valueselect and a biostar tforce 550 am2 (assuming you go am2 which I recommend) If you want to overclock, you can do better than that with am2. Get corsiar XMS2 ddr2-800 and an asus m2n-e. Consider though, that good components for overclocking will take you into the $1300 range, where you probable don't want to go. The video card is good enough to hold you over untill dx10, and the cpu is good, just get the am2 version for the same price. The monitor choice however, is not so good IMO. That's one of viewsonic's lower end offerings. This is a better choice. happy building!😀
Click to expand...

I hadnt previously wanted to go AM2 because I thought it would cost a lot more, but thats obviously not the case, so I think Ill make this an AM2 rig.

No, I dont plan to overclock at all, so Ill take your advice on the mobo and RAM. However, there are no DDR2 800(which the mobo supports) Corsair ValueSelect 1Gs, so would this G.Skill(G.Skill) work fine.

As for the case and PSU, the CM Centurion was what I previously wanted but was dissuaded from on another forum, so Ill stick to that. Would this Rosewill work for the PSU?

And whats wrong with that Viewsonic? Ive heard nothing but good things about all of Viewsonics LCDs, including that one. Please explain.

Thanks for all the help so far.
 
It's not so much as the reptutation of viewsonic, but the features of that particular lcd. 250cm, 500:1 contrast, 6bit panel, as opposed to the samsung I listed which betters all the figures I listed for a comparable price. For the psu, please don't go with the rosewill, for your own good. Read the reviews on newegg, even they say that it is bad. You'd do yourself a favor by getting one of the ones I suggested or one of great build quality. Finally, the RAM, that g.skill is great, if you want to add another 1gb stick in the future. If not, go with 2x512mb, or better still, 2x1gb.
 
Alright, I see what youre getting at about the monitor. As for the PSU, I see that that Rosewill isnt very good, but will this be any better? It looks good from the reviews, and is about as much as I want to spend on a PSU. Yah, Im getting just the 1g stick of G.Skill so I can buy another stick later.
 
Originally posted by: penguin010
Alright, I see what youre getting at about the monitor. As for the PSU, I see that that Rosewill isnt very good, but will this be any better? It looks good from the reviews, and is about as much as I want to spend on a PSU. Yah, Im getting just the 1g stick of G.Skill so I can buy another stick later.
Click to expand...

Go with a Fortron 450 watt Power Supply, around the same price and they're reliable.
 
no point in going 939. you're asking to throw out everything, but then again futureproofing isn't really possible... futureproofing for the next 2 years is.. 4 years is impossible, but if you don't upgrade for the long haul, you can go 939... only if it's cheap enough
 
Originally posted by: DLeRium
no point in going 939. you're asking to throw out everything, but then again futureproofing isn't really possible... futureproofing for the next 2 years is.. 4 years is impossible, but if you don't upgrade for the long haul, you can go 939... only if it's cheap enough
Click to expand...

It's not really any cheaper than am2 other than the Mobos.
 
Yah, Im definitely going AM2, to at least provide a little insurance for the next couple of years.

So Ive pretty much got everything sorted out except for the monitor. Should I stick with that normal panel, or should I get the widescreen that I posted in my Conroe build? Do many games support widescreen now, or will I be stuck with black boxes?
 
Originally posted by: penguin010
Yah, Im definitely going AM2, to at least provide a little insurance for the next couple of years.

So Ive pretty much got everything sorted out except for the monitor. Should I stick with that normal panel, or should I get the widescreen that I posted in my Conroe build? Do many games support widescreen now, or will I be stuck with black boxes?
Click to expand...

I think most (if not all newer games support widescreen, hl2, cod2, bf2, WoW, prey, far cry, etc.
 
Originally posted by: KeithTalent
If you scroll down part way in the OP of this thread: LCD Buying Guide, you will find a list of LCDs that may fit your needs.
Click to expand...


Mucho gracias my friend! From what I can tell by looking at that page, this LCD would probably be my best choice, as gaming will be my number one application for this PC. Its also at a very nice price.
 
Originally posted by: penguin010
Originally posted by: KeithTalent
If you scroll down part way in the OP of this thread: LCD Buying Guide, you will find a list of LCDs that may fit your needs.
Click to expand...


Mucho gracias my friend! From what I can tell by looking at that page, this LCD would probably be my best choice, as gaming will be my number one application for this PC. Its also at a very nice price.
Click to expand...

Looks like a great choice, I hope you enjoy it.
 
Originally posted by: penguin010
Alright, so I think I have my final build ready.

Case

PSUI would get a fortron fsp-400-60n from ewiz instead. It is a better power supply quality wise and I believe uses better caps.

Mobo

CPU The am2 version can be found @clubit.com for $149 SHIPPED! This is what you need with that board, not s939 as you linked.

GPU

RAM

HDD

Optical

Monitor

Keyboard/Mouse

Speakers This is crap, a waste of $30.

OS

So, speak now or forever hold your peace. 🙂
Click to expand...

Looks good other than my comments.
 
Yah, I accidentally posted the wrong link. I think Im going to get the AM2 X2 3800+ from ZZF for $150, free shipping. As for the speakers, what kind would you suggest I get?
 
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