New PC for my son.

[RadiclDreamer]

I am looking at building a new pc for my son to play games on.

Currently I have some parts that I'm going to reuse from one of my old builds so take these into consideration on things.

NZXT Lexa Alum case
720watt Enermax Liberty
8800GTX 768MB

I am debating on either an AMD 8120 Eight core cpu with an ASUS M5A97

Or

Intel i5-2400 with an Asus P8H67-V (REV 3.0)

Im not completely dead set on these particular components, however I would like to keep it 3-400 for mobo, cpu, ram and optical drive. The power supply and video card are set in stone as I already own these.

I would however like to stay with a Full ATX board, Im just not too keen on those small mini and micro ATX

 

[lehtv]

Do you also need to buy peripherals and Windows 7? I gather you don't want to overclock?

microATX should be fine, most PC's just don't need more connectivity than what's offered by microATX boards.

You should go with Intel, it's a lot better for games than AMD FX8150 and a lot cheaper too. However, for $400 you could upgrade the video card too provided you step down to Intel i3, and get much better gaming performance than with i5 + 8800GTX. Or if the games your son plays aren't very demanding, you could be fine with an i3 + 8800GTX.

 

[fastamdman]

400 tops for the motherboard, cpu, ram and optical drive.

Motherboard, z68 found in classifieds at 100 bucks.
Cpu, 2500k in classifieds found at 150 bucks.
8gb of ddr3 1600mhz from newegg under 50 bucks.
Optical drive off newegg for 20 bucks.

Thats 320 dollars which leaves enough to buy a better video card I recommend a gtx 280, which I just happen to have for sale =D/

 

[jpeyton]

Spend less on the CPU/Mobo/RAM/OD and get a new video card if gaming is your primary purpose.

Radeon 6870 $130
i3-2100 $120
P67 Mobo $75
8GB DDR3 $25
DVDRW $20

 

[mfenn]

400 tops for the motherboard, cpu, ram and optical drive.

Motherboard, z68 found in classifieds at 100 bucks.
Cpu, 2500k in classifieds found at 150 bucks.
8gb of ddr3 1600mhz from newegg under 50 bucks.
Optical drive off newegg for 20 bucks.

Thats 320 dollars which leaves enough to buy a better video card I recommend a gtx 280, which I just happen to have for sale =D/

Uhhh, what? You've gotta link stuff that is significantly below market or it doesn't count as useful advice.

 

[mfenn]

Do you also need to buy peripherals and Windows 7? I gather you don't want to overclock?

microATX should be fine, most PC's just don't need more connectivity than offered by microATX boards.

You should go with Intel, it's a lot better for games than AMD FX8150 and a lot cheaper too. However, for $400 you could upgrade the video card too provided you step down to Intel i3, and get much better gaming performance than with i5 + 8800GTX. Or if the games your son plays aren't very demanding, you could be fine with an i3 + 8800GTX.

:thumbsup: to this with the specific build below.

Spend less on the CPU/Mobo/RAM/OD and get a new video card if gaming is your primary purpose.

Radeon 6870 $130
i3-2100 $120
P67 Mobo $75
8GB DDR3 $25
DVDRW $20

RAM is maybe $5-10 more and the P67 mobo is probably $25 more unless you catch a sale. Then again, you can just get a cheap H61 since you won't be overclocking the i3 anyway.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Ok, I think ive been sold on the Intel rig, but for now I'd like to stay with the quad core I stated above. What are you thoughts on the board I chose?

Also, the 8800gtx should work for what he plays, he's only 5. The main reason for the upgrade is even games like super meat boy stutter on his machine even at low settings, hes on a mobile x1400 gpu so the 8800gtx will be a massive upgrade.

As you can tell ive been out of the game for a bit.

 

[lehtv]

If 8800GTX is plenty, i3-2100 is plenty.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

If 8800GTX is plenty, i3-2100 is plenty.

And plus he is 5

 

[RadiclDreamer]

If 8800GTX is plenty, i3-2100 is plenty.

You are correct, however for very little more cash I can go quad and make this last a bit longer for him.

 

[lehtv]

True, the quad core will probably last a bit longer, and the graphics card is always easier to upgrade.

 

[fastamdman]

Used gigabyte ud3 motherboard, 100 bucks. Used 2500k between 150-175, 8gb of ram from newegg 45 bucks, optical drive from newegg 20 bucks.

What is wrong with this option? Why buy worse parts for no apparent reason?
100 bucks + 175 + 45 + 20 = 340

2500k systems are the best price to performance option on the market and it will last a really really long time.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Used gigabyte ud3 motherboard, 100 bucks. Used 2500k between 150-175, 8gb of ram from newegg 45 bucks, optical drive from newegg 20 bucks.

What is wrong with this option? Why buy worse parts for no apparent reason?
100 bucks + 175 + 45 + 20 = 340

2500k systems are the best price to performance option on the market and it will last a really really long time.

Mainly just because I prefer new parts. I am going to try to make this somewhat of a learning experience for him as well.

 

[fastamdman]

New 2500k - 200, New mobo 120, thats 320, ram is 40, thats 360, cd is 20 thats 380, leaves 20 left over for a better mobo.

Edit: you can also buy NEW parts in the classifieds to. No matter how you look at it, the 2500k is what you should be buying, anything else is cash down the drain.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Mainly just because I prefer new parts. I am going to try to make this somewhat of a learning experience for him as well.

but hes 5

 

[fastamdman]

LoL, this build is for a 5 year old?!?!?!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

LoL, this build is for a 5 year old?!?!?!

um... xD

Also, the 8800gtx should work for what he plays, he's only 5.

 

[mfenn]

If 8800GTX is plenty, i3-2100 is plenty.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: to this. By the time an i3 is slow for the tasks you're asking it to do, we will have Haswell. Then you take that extra money and get a new Haswell rig.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: to this. By the time an i3 is slow for the tasks you're asking it to do, we will have Haswell. Then you take that extra money and get a new Haswell rig.

And I'm sure he'll be older than 5

 

[RadiclDreamer]

but hes 5

So, just because hes 5 doesn't mean he cant have something nice. Its part me actually wanting him to have it and part me wanting to play

Besides, he takes care of his things very well and has been doing pretty good in school, I see nothing wrong with it. I know others that buy their kids xboxes and the like so I dont see how this is much different.

 

[VirtualLarry]

LOL. Quad-core for a five-year-old?

As long as you run BOINC (DC) in the background on his rig so that he doesn't know about it, then sure, go for the quad-core. Otherwise, I think that the i3-2100 is going to be powerful enough for his games.