Should I build around a XFX 5870

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M

Murz

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Nov 22, 2011
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I'd like to build a new gaming pc but funds are limited at the moment. My budget is $600. I have a friend that offered to sell me his XFX 5870 for $120. I will mainly be playing SWTOR, but also plan on playing some BF3 and Skyrim.

Would it be worth it to build around the XFX 5870?


1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing. Gaming - SWTOR, BF3, Skyrim.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread $600

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

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. No preference.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, XFX 5870 gpu (possibly)

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

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. I have never overclocked but have been reading that it is much easier/safer now.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with. 1680 x 1050

9. WHEN do you plan to build it? I need it built by Dec 15th.
 
Ken g6

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
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Dec 11, 1999
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5870 > 6870. At your price range, that's quite a bargain! Is that a $480 budget after the 5870?

Are you near a Micro Center? You could pick up a 2500k + z68 mobo for ~$200 tomorrow morning. If you don't want to go crazy overclocking, this would do well for you. ($60 discount in the bundle.)

Do you need Windows, or do you have a copy?
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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Ken g6 said:
5870 > 6870. At your price range, that's quite a bargain! Is that a $480 budget after the 5870?

Are you near a Micro Center? You could pick up a 2500k + z68 mobo for ~$200 tomorrow morning. If you don't want to go crazy overclocking, this would do well for you. ($60 discount in the bundle.)

Do you need Windows, or do you have a copy?
Click to expand...

Ken, thank you for the reply!

Yes, my budget would be $480 after buying the 5870 from my friend. I suppose I could push it to $500 if needed. Unfortunately I live in Southern California, I don't think we have Micro Centers here. We do have Fry's though. And yes, I need Windows.

EDIT* After looking I guess we do have a couple Micro Center's in California, one is actually about 20 minutes away near my work. I wonder how early I would have to get there to get in on one of those deals...?
 
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M

mfenn

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Jan 17, 2010
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Murz said:
EDIT* After looking I guess we do have a couple Micro Center's in California, one is actually about 20 minutes away near my work. I wonder how early I would have to get there to get in on one of those deals...?
Click to expand...

Probably pretty early.

$600 for a complete gaming system including OS is pretty tough. Here's my best shot from Newegg:

i3 2100 $110
Biostar H61MU3 $58 AR
G.Skill DDR3 1600 8GB $30
5870 $120http://detonator.dynamitedata.com/c...com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145532
Seagate 500GB $90
Lite-ON DVD Burner $17
XFX 650W $50 AR
Antec Three Hundred $35 AR
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $100
Total: $610 AR

If you absolutely cannot go over $600, look into getting the Pentium G620 instead of the i3.
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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mfenn said:
Probably pretty early.

$600 for a complete gaming system including OS is pretty tough. Here's my best shot from Newegg:

i3 2100 $110
Biostar H61MU3 $58 AR
G.Skill DDR3 1600 8GB $30
5870 $120
Seagate 500GB $90
Lite-ON DVD Burner $17
XFX 650W $50 AR
Antec Three Hundred $35 AR
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $100
Total: $610 AR

If you absolutely cannot go over $600, look into getting the Pentium G620 instead of the i3.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm going to try to get to Micro Center early tomorrow. If I can get the 2500k + z68 combo I can just buy pieces here and there until just before SWTOR comes on 12/15. That way I can probably find a couple deals. Even if I don't, spreading out the costs over a month will allow me to go over my initial budget.
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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Could someone give me a link to the correct z68 I should be looking for at Micro Center tomorrow? I checked their site and there are multiple z68's, I just want to make sure I get the right combo. Also, was it a combo price for the two, or were they individually discounted?
 
R

RKS

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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For BF the 2500K is priced at $150, it is normally $180 and if you also buy any Z68 board, you get $60 off the board. If you want to brave the crowds tomorrow morning you would save just $30 of the 'normal' pricing.
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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RKS said:
For BF the 2500K is priced at $150, it is normally $180 and if you also buy any Z68 board, you get $60 off the board. If you want to brave the crowds tomorrow morning you would save just $30 of the 'normal' pricing.
Click to expand...

I thought it was $30 off the 2500k + $60 off the board? That's $90 saved, right? $30 is not worth getting up early for me, but $90 is.
 
Ken g6

Ken g6

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If you go a different day this month you'll get the $60 off too. Only the $30 is specific to Black Friday. Furthermore, if you don't want to overclock much at all, you can get an i5 2400 for $150 any time this month, which can go with that cheap board Mfenn recommended. (You don't get the $60 without getting the 2500K.)
 
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M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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Ken g6 said:
If you go a different day this month you'll get the $60 off too. Only the $30 is specific to Black Friday. Furthermore, if you don't want to overclock much at all, you can get an i5 2400 for $150 any time this month.
Click to expand...

I apologize for so many questions. So I would go tomorrow and get the 2500k for $150, then I could go back a different day and I would still receive the $60 off on the z68? Even though I'm purchasing them on different days, totaling $90 saved?
 
R

RKS

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Murz said:
I apologize for so many questions. So I would go tomorrow and get the 2500k for $150, then I could go back a different day and I would still receive the $60 off on the z68? Even though I'm purchasing them on different days, totaling $90 saved?
Click to expand...

you have to buy them at the same time to save the $60 on the Z68 motherboard. If you get lucky tomorrow you could save an additional $30 on the CPU (as well as the 'normal $60 off the Z68).
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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mfenn said:
This is probably a little late for the OP, but that board is fine in case anyone else is wondering.
Click to expand...

Yeah by the time I got to Micro Center (1 hour before they opened) there was already about 200-300 people wrapped around the building. I immediately made a u-turn and went to work early haha. Thanks for the reply though! I really appreciate everyone’s advice.


Now that I'm left with only the XFX 5870 I will be looking for deals on a 2500k + mobo package. I hope to see some good deals in the coming week.
 
M

mfenn

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Jan 17, 2010
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The main difference between the i5 2500K and the i5 2400 is that you cannot overclock the i5 2400 more than 4 speed bins whereas the 2500K is fully unlocked.

The G.Skill that you linked is fine, but sold out. This PNY will also do the job for a few more bucks.
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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Went to Micro Center after work last night. They are still completely out of 2500k's and z68 boards but the employee who I talked to promised me that they would have a huge shipment in Friday/Saturday. So I decided to wait it out for the 2500k + z68.

Since I'm going to be at Micro Center anyway, should I pick up the other pieces I need there? Or would it serve me better to look for online deals through Newegg, NCIX, ect...?

At this point I would have:
2500k
z68 board
XFX 5870
 
M

mfenn

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Sometimes MC has decent prices on other components, but the sales tax usually kills it. If you are OK with the prices and they have the same or comparable parts to the ones I listed above, then feel free to get the stuff there.
 
M

Murz

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Nov 22, 2011
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M

mfenn

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Cache doesn't matter really, especially not compared to spindle speed and platter density. Of those two drives, the Seagate is probably faster.
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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I'm still waiting on the Micro Center near my work to restock on the 2500k's + z68 mobo's. It's funny because looking at their website my store (Tustin, ca) is the ONLY one that is out of stock, haha. My build needs to be done by Dec 14th (swtor early access start) so I'm getting down to the wire in terms of ordering parts and having them shipped in time.

So I've decided to just wait out the 2500k + z68 and grab them as soon as they are back in stock (hopefully this week) at Micro Center. If for some reason they are not back in stock in time I will just go with the 2400 or a different i5. They also have the Antec 300 case for $40, so I'll pick up all three parts there.

In the mean time I want to start ordering the remaining parts I need online so that they will arrive by the 14th. I'm looking for suggestions here (once again).

With the parts I pick up form Micro Center I will have:
2500k, z68 mobo, XFX 5870, Antec 300, Windows 7 (bought the family pack deal on amazon last night)

Parts I will need to order:
PSU, HDD, Ram, DVD Drive - Missing anything here? Do I need a cpu cooler?

EDIT* Just saw that Newegg has (2x4gb) DDR3 1600 Ram for $30 w/ free shipping. Going to order that now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428
 
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M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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mfenn said:
My recommendations from before are still valid:

Seagate 500GB $90
Lite-ON DVD Burner $22
XFX 650W $50 AR
Antec Three Hundred $55
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $100

You don't need an aftermarket cooler if you don't plan to OC.
Click to expand...

mfenn, thank you for all the advice that you have given me over the course of this thread!

Since I'm getting the 2500k I will try to OC, otherwise I might as well just get the 2400 and no fan, right?

I believe this is the fan being recommended on this site:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687 - Hyper 212
 
M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
52
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Looks like Micro Center just got their shipment. I'm going to go pick up a 2500k + z68, problem is they don't have the Asrok Pro Gen 3 board that is highly recommended on this forum. Out of the below available boards which would you guys recommend?

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0375352 - Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 LGA 1155 $109.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0371775 - ASUS P8Z68-V LX LGA 1155 $119.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0374834 - MSI Z68A-G43 (G3) LGA 1155 $124.99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0366193 - Gigabyte GA-z68XP-UD3 LGA 1155 $154.99

Thanks in advance!
 
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M

Murz

Member
Nov 22, 2011
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I went ahead and ordered the Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 + 2500k. I could already see the stock of Z68 boards diminishing via the web site. It's crazy! Within an hour they had already sold out of two types! I think everyone in Orange County is trying to build this system, haha.

Total came to $258.58. I'm happy.

I also ordered the XFX 650W from NCIX that mfenn recommended.
 
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