Advice Welcome on ~$600 Computer Build

[10stars]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In one week
BUDGET RANGE: $550 - $650 Including shipping and rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Surfing the internet, Microsoft Office, Watching YouTube, Watching DVDs, World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2 (eventually)
PARTS NOT REQUIRED : keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US
PARTS PREFERENCES: None
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, but if so, not by very much
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I will try to unlock the other two cores on the Phenom II X2. I will use Windows 7 x64, and I am going to move the Program Files, Users, and ProgramData directories off of my SSD using hard links, but Microsoft Office, Firefox, and Skype will be installed on the SSD.


CPU: AMD Phenom II X2
Motherboard: Asus M4A785-M (Motherboard+CPU Combo 139.98)
Memory: OCZ Platinum 2x2GB DDR2 1066 (109.99 - 30.00 MiR)
GPU: Asus GT 240 512MB GDDR5 (99.99 - 20.00 MiR)
SSD : OCZ Vertex 30 GB(139.99-20.00 MiR)
HDD : WD Black 750 GB (79.99)
ODD : LG DVD Burner
PS: OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W Modular 80 Plus (PSU+DVD Combo 75.98 - 25.00 MiR)
Case: APEX TX-381-C (24.99)
Misc:SATA II Cable (1.99)

Subtotal: $680.89
Shipping: $29.85
Mail-in-Rebate: $95.00
--------------------------
Total: $615.74

Any advice or notes that anyone has about this build would be greatly appreciated! I'm not terribly into gaming, and I don't mind playing WoW and SC2 on medium settings. I've heard that adding an SSD is one of the most dramatic performance increases that a consumer will see these days. Do you guys think it's worth it here?

(I also want to make sure that I will be able to build the system, buying exactly the above components. I think I need the additional SATA II cable, since the Mobo only comes with two. I don't think I need anything else, but I might be mistaken.)

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Forget about a SSD, totally not worth it. Grab a 500GB Seagate 7200.12 for $55 unless you need more room. Get DDR3 and an AM3 motherboard. If you want a quadcore, get an Athlon II X4 630 for $102. You can find much better cases for that price too. Refer to my post in this thread for a similar build: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2047349

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Do you have a Fry's nearby?

 

[skulkingghost]

I would grab:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130339

or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150351

Both cards are fantastic and I think you will be much happier with them than the GT240
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/731/10/

see this for a comparison:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GeForce_GT_240/30.html

 

[zerocool84]

I would grab:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130339

or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150351

Both cards are fantastic and I think you will be much happier with them than the GT240
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/731/10/

see this for a comparison:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GeForce_GT_240/30.html

Those are waaaay too expensive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102824

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814261057

 

[RaistlinZ]

You can try jumping in on this Ebay auction for a 9800GTX. Currently at $70.00 + $10.00 shipping from a Top Rated Seller.

If you can nab it for $100.00 it'd certainly be worth it.

OH, and in regards to the GTS 250... 128 stream processors FTL.

 

[10stars]

Alright, guys, what if I took out the SSD, bumped up the GPU a bit to a 5750, and got a quad-core? I'm also trying to keep the price under $600, but of course, the lower the better. What do you guys think of this slightly altered build?

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition
Motherboard : Asus M4A785-M (Motherboard+CPU Combo 205.98)
Memory: OCZ Platinum 2x2GB DDR2 1066 (109.99 - 30.00 MiR)
GPU: HIS Radeon HD 5750 (104.99)
HDD : WD Black 500 GB (64.99)
ODD : LG DVD Burner
PS: OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W Modular 80 Plus (PSU+DVD Combo 75.98 - 25.00 MiR)
Case: APEX TX-381-C (24.99)

Total: $565.32

I don't have a Fry's nearby.

 

[jae]

As someone said earlier, since you're that much into gaming, get a Athlon II 630 quad.

Get a board that is AM3/DDR3.

Samsung 500GB Spinpoint.

 

[Vaulter]

Check out my sort of similar build with am3 and ddr3. I'm not using it for gaming, and I'm taking the disc drive, so theres no Video card or ODD, so that might change the price. Also, i went with a high quality case, cause i want to build another comp in 4 years, so im planning on reusing it for a long while.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=11925085

 

[chrislipa]

Alright guys, thanks for all of the input. I'm buying the computer in a day or two. I've thought carefully about it, and I'm leaning towards going with the following setup:


CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 BE 3.1 GHz $90.99
Mobo: GA-MA785GM-US2H $79.99
Mem: G.SKILL 2x2GB DDR2 1066 MHz $94.99
GPU: Powercolor HD 5770 1GB $169.99 - $10 MiR
HDD : Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB $54.99
Wireless: Gigabyte GN-WP01GS $16.99
Case: Apex TX-381-C $24.99
PS: OCZ MoxXStream Pro 500W
DVD : LG DVD Burner PS+DVD Combo $74.98 - $25 MiR

Total = $607.91 - $35 MiR

A few points about why I chose what I did:

- According to the benchmarks I've seen, with average latencies, DDR3 1333 is about on par with DDR2 800 for real-world tasks. DDR3 1600, while certainly faster on some benchmarks than DDR3 1333, doesn't seem like it will deliver the application performance that would justify purchasing it over DDR2 1066 memory.

- I chose the X2 rather than the X4 to save $50. I figure I have a much better than even chance of unlocking one or both of the other cores. Even if the other cores are bad, the Phenom II X2 is a great chip anyways.

- The case, while inexpensive, got rave reviews.

I'm pretty happy with this build. Unless someone thinks I am making a mistake, I will buy in a couple days.

 

[fffblackmage]

CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 BE 3.1 GHz $90.99
Mobo: GA-MA785GM-US2H $79.99
=$170.98

That same cpu+mobo combo is $159.99 at tigerdirect.com
Depending where you are, that might be a better deal. And then it is a better deal with Bing cashback, which, as of right now, is at 15%. So that will come out to $136 without tax. Plus free shipping.

 

[jchu14]

Some alternatives:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=...ess-Video-Card

ewiz has the Sapphire HD5770 for $155-10 MIR with coupon code "VDAY10", also can use bing cash back for another 5 dollar rebate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.331397

OCZ 700watt modxtreme and ocz ddr2 1066mhz ram for $107 after rebates and coupon code "Febc10"
Then you could still get the same LG burner if you'd like. That adds up to be $11 less then your psu+ram+dvd and you get 200watt more psu. Draw back is more MIR.

Oh yea, you should also make sure that you actually need to buy the SATA cables. Somtimes motherboards would come with a couple.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Alright, guys, what if I took out the SSD, bumped up the GPU a bit to a 5750, and got a quad-core? I'm also trying to keep the price under $600, but of course, the lower the better. What do you guys think of this slightly altered build?

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition
Motherboard : Asus M4A785-M (Motherboard+CPU Combo 205.98)
Memory: OCZ Platinum 2x2GB DDR2 1066 (109.99 - 30.00 MiR)
GPU: HIS Radeon HD 5750 (104.99)
HDD : WD Black 500 GB (64.99)
ODD : LG DVD Burner
PS: OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W Modular 80 Plus (PSU+DVD Combo 75.98 - 25.00 MiR)
Case: APEX TX-381-C (24.99)

Total: $565.32

I don't have a Fry's nearby.

I have the Athlon 2 X4 940 phenom Black Box and I love my system!!