Budget Build ~ 800USD

[dpro1979]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming, software development.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
About 800USD.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
Not a fanboy, want the best bang for buck.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Reusing, keyboard,mouse,monitor(20.5")

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Default for now, overclocking maybe.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1280x1024

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within a couple weeks.

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
No problem


So I was looking at AMDs and was wondering if a Phenom X6 1055t was even possible on a budget like this.

Looking at a X6 1055t + http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128441

a fermi 460GTX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277 G.Skill RAM 4GB Ripjaws

And the rest not sure what's the best bang for the buck. Any recommendations?

 

[mfenn]

Phenom II X4 955 $160
ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 $100 - I personally prefer the GA-870A-UD3, but it is OOS at the moment
G.Skill DDR3 1600 4GB $98
Radeon 5770 $150 after promo
Samsung F3 1TB $75
DVD Burner $20
Corsair 400CX $50
Antec Three Hundred $60
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $100
Total $813 with OS - $35 rebates

The 1055T is only $40 more than the 955 if you're willing to break the budget by a little. At the same time. the 1055T doesn't really offer much over the 955 in terms of gaming performance.

Since you're only gaming at 1280x1024, you don't need more than a 5770 to enjoy the games on all max. If you have an OS license that you can reuse, drop in the 1055T and a GTX 460.

 

[Firsttime]

In order to go Fermi and hex core you would need to have an OS already. So if you have that, then get your hex and fermi, look for a cheap 500 gig HDD, you will most likely not be able to get such an expensive mobo if you are on a hard $800 limit. $20 burner and a cheap case/psu and you're good to go. You should be able to do it within ~$25 of $800 if you spend a little while searching for the best deals. Stuff like this HDD with a $15 off coupon so it's only $40.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148395

Also consider maybe getting some of your parts here used, chances are you can catch a bit of a break on some of them.

 

[dpro1979]

Yup I have an OS already so I am taken care of there. So with an OS I could probably swing a GTX460 and a 1055t?

 

[mfenn]

Yup I have an OS already so I am taken care of there. So with an OS I could probably swing a GTX460 and a 1055t?

Yeah, no problem. Take my build and swap in a 1055T (+$40) and a GTX 460 1GB (+$80) and you're sitting at $813 AR.

 

[dpro1979]

Wouldn't I have to up the PS to a 450 or something if I got the 460GTX and a 1055t? Not familiar with the watts it needs, but thought I'd ask.

 

[mfenn]

Wouldn't I have to up the PS to a 450 or something if I got the 460GTX and a 1055t? Not familiar with the watts it needs, but thought I'd ask.

Oh yeah, good catch. I would up it to a 550VX.

 

[jaydee]

For a hex and fermi (and subsequently better power supply), you'll have to save some cash on other components to stay under budget.

Crappy deals on cases right now, but you can shave about $20 off by going with something like this: Silverstone PS05-B http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163168

Since it's slightly cheaper after rebate, for a PSU you might as well go with the CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 instead of the aforementioned 550VX (unless you can strike a better deal on it elsewhere)

Alternatively, you could go with a lesser brand PSU like the $30 AR Coolmax 600W http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=360920

Also, $18 cheaper (after rebate), yet faster RAM here (higher voltage, but should be OK on AMD): OCZ Reaper DDR3 2000 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227571

 

[mfenn]

For a hex and fermi (and subsequently better power supply), you'll have to save some cash on other components to stay under budget.

Crappy deals on cases right now, but you can shave about $20 off by going with something like this: Silverstone PS05-B http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163168

Since it's slightly cheaper after rebate, for a PSU you might as well go with the CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 instead of the aforementioned 550VX (unless you can strike a better deal on it elsewhere)

Alternatively, you could go with a lesser brand PSU like the $30 AR Coolmax 600W http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=360920

Also, $18 cheaper (after rebate), yet faster RAM here (higher voltage, but should be OK on AMD): OCZ Reaper DDR3 2000 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227571

A couple of points:
1) Sweet deal on the 650TX! There was only a $10 rebate on it yesterday.
2) I would not buy OCZ DDR3 under any circumstances due to the widespread compatibility issues (AMD and Intel).

 

[dpro1979]

Hmm would a 460 GTX gain me a lot over a 5770? Like a $50 difference? If I could get one over the other, would 1055t & 5770 gain me more in the long term than a GTX460+955BE ?

 

[mfenn]

Hmm would a 460 GTX gain me a lot over a 5770? Like a $50 difference? If I could get one over the other, would 1055t & 5770 gain me more in the long term than a GTX460+955BE ?

In gaming the 955 is pretty must always faster because it's at 3.2GHz vs. the 1055T's 2.8GHz. As you can see from AT's review, the GTX 460 is quite a bit faster than the 5770.

 

[jaydee]

I'd go with the 955BE, as mfenn stated, for the most part, 14% increase in clockspeed, trumps 50% more cores right now in games.

Honestly, in my opinion, at 1280x1024 most games will run more than fine on a 5770. As far as "what's better", it's the 460. But consider the cost.

5770 1GB = ~$130
460 GTX 768MB = ~$200

Not only that, but your GPU is going to push you into a more costly power supply (unless you go cheaper brand here, which isn't usually recommended).

Corsair 400CX = $32 AR
Corsair 550VX or 650TX = $72 AR

So really regardless of the CPU, you're looking at ~$110 extra to go Fermi over the 5770. And you won't notice the performance difference. It's your money, but if I were you, I'd go 955BE +5770, and ~12-16 months from now sell the cpu or gpu and put the ~$200-230 ($110 savings + 955BE/5770 residual) towards a bulldozer CPU, or 28nm Radeon HD 6xxx series depending on how the benchmarks play out.

 

[Garet Jax]

And the rest not sure what's the best bang for the buck. Any recommendations?

Should be very doable especially if you already have an OS.

I am doing something very similar and figure I can do it for ~$550 for each machine (buying two).

Now these won't be gaming systems so I am going with on board video.

The places where I haven't been able to save much money:

MB - Looking to spend < $100 for AM3 - Lots of options at Newegg especially if you go open box
CPU - Looking to spend < $130 for Phenom II Quad Core - No flex here this is the cheapest Phenom II chip
RAM - Looking to spend < $200 for 8GB 2 X 4GB - Very little flex here too

The rest, I have been able to save a lot:

PS - $20 New Corsair 400W after MIR - current deal at Newegg.
Case - $23 shipped from newegg on a shell shocker
HDs - Bought 4 500GB WD new from Tiger Direct for $160 shipped.
CD/DVD - $18
OS - $0 - Will be installing Ubuntu

So that should leave you $250 for video card and monitor which is going to be tight depending on what you want.

 

[dpro1979]

Hmm interesting, many choices. I could go over the budget a little (850ish) if I get a 1055t + 460GTX 1GB card + 650TX or I can stay around budget with a 955BE and 5770.

Real question being, would I be wasting a bit of money by going with the more powerful system, and waiting for Bulldozer to come through later and rebuild/build a new system.

This is much better than my last build where I was paying more for top of the line to see it fall off in performance shortly after.

I too am wary of OCZ memory and PSUs as my last build had OCZ RAM and PSU they have worked, but they have been plagued by random freezing and poor performance.

 

[mfenn]

Hmm interesting, many choices. I could go over the budget a little (850ish) if I get a 1055t + 460GTX 1GB card + 650TX or I can stay around budget with a 955BE and 5770.

Real question being, would I be wasting a bit of money by going with the more powerful system, and waiting for Bulldozer to come through later and rebuild/build a new system.

This is much better than my last build where I was paying more for top of the line to see it fall off in performance shortly after.

I too am wary of OCZ memory and PSUs as my last build had OCZ RAM and PSU they have worked, but they have been plagued by random freezing and poor performance.

Higher performance is always a "waste" if you don't need it. For gaming, I would say to definitely go with the 955. Take a look at the 5770 benchmarks vs. the GTX 460 and decide if you want the extra performance.