Suggestions on new AMD build

[pwcracker]

Hey guys, need some advice on a few things. I am looking at a new build right now at a budget of around $500.

I want to base my parts around the AMD Phenom II X3 720BE. I am looking for a motherboard that can unlock the 4th core and I want to overclock. The main task for this pc is going to be running PS3 Media Server for my PS3 but I will also be doing general tasks on this pc as well such as surfing the net, burning dvds etc... I will NOT be gaming on this pc so I have no need for a graphics card so I would like to find a motherboard with onboard video.

Here is what I need:
CPU - Phenom II X3 720BE
Motherboard
Memory
CPU Cooler
Case - Antec Three Hundred
PSU
Hard drive
DVD burner

I might be able to go a little higher on my budget if I absolutely have to. I would like some recommendations on parts that would go well together.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Gigabyte 785g AM2+ / OEM 720BE --- $162

Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 --- $88

Antec Earthwatts 500w --- $70 ($40 AR with Promo Code EMCYPPY56 valid till 04/05/2010)

WD 'Black' 640Gb --- $70 with code EMCYPPY46


There is a Samsung IDE optical drive for $23 with code EMCYPPY55 if you are interested.






--

 

[edro]

Why not just get an AMD Phenom II X4 right off the bat?
The price difference is pretty small.

Do you already have the CPU?

 

[batuchka]

Off Egg USA $451 AR including ship ^^

 

[pwcracker]

Thanx for the suggestions guys. One thing I have been struggling with is weather to go DDR2 or DDR3. Also, should I try to go as fast as possible for memory or would I not see the difference. edro, I wanted the x3 720 because of how cheap it is and for the "fun" factor or unlocking the 4th core. I don't think I need 4 cores so if I didn't get one with a stable 4th core I wouldn't be losing out on anything.

 

[Fayd]

Thanx for the suggestions guys. One thing I have been struggling with is weather to go DDR2 or DDR3. Also, should I try to go as fast as possible for memory or would I not see the difference. edro, I wanted the x3 720 because of how cheap it is and for the "fun" factor or unlocking the 4th core. I don't think I need 4 cores so if I didn't get one with a stable 4th core I wouldn't be losing out on anything.

there's very little price difference between DDR2 and DDR3. DDR3 is faster, and is likely to drop in price in the future.

Why is there even a question as to which to get?

 

[Dark Shroud]

+1 for DDR3.

The prices of DDR2 will only go up as it's discontinued while DDR3 can go down & will be around for a few more years.

 

[Ultralight]

The prices of DDR2 will only go up as it's discontinued while DDR3 can go down & will be around for a few more years.

Yes.

Also, go for the AMD Phenom II X4 as edro has already mentioned.

PSU - Corsair's 650 or 750. Great quality, resonably priced, and stable.

Case - Check out Coolermaster's mid-tower cases.

 

[jaydee]

Yes.

Also, go for the AMD Phenom II X4 as edro has already mentioned.

PSU - Corsair's 650 or 750. Great quality, resonably priced, and stable.

Case - Check out Coolermaster's mid-tower cases.

750W!!! On a $500 budget system with a 95W TDP CPU and on-board video?

OP, I recommend the CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W for $43 after MIR. It's more than twice as much power more than you'll ever draw, but there's not a $$ reason to go for any lower (for whatever reason). If Corsair made a 300W version for even $5 less, I would recommend that, but they don't, so here we are.

Case - Antec 300 $55
PSU - Corsair 400W $43
Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H AM3 AMD 890GX $140 - $20 = $120 (combo w/cpu)
CPU - Phenom II x3 720 OEM - $105
CPU cooler - no idea
RAM - 2x2GB OCZ DDR3 1333/1600 ~$90
HD - Samsung F3 500GB for ~$55 shipped at Zipzoomfly or superbiz.
Optical - Lite-on DVD-R/RW ~$30

So that's right around $500 for everything but the cpu cooler. The motherboard is a bit of a splurge, but if you're not upgrading often (which appears to be the case), you should get a good one. The 890GX is the latest/greatest chipset AMD offers right now, with SATA 6Gbps and USB 3.0, and Gigabyte is a top brand.

 

[heyheybooboo]

For what the OP is wanting to do:

1) The Gigabyte 890gx does not have ACC for core-unlocking;
2) A Phenom quad is pretty much overkill; and
3) DDR2/DDR3 just really doesn't matter from a performance standpoint.






--

 

[VirtualLarry]

What about Microcenter?

Phenom II X3 720 BE - $99.99
Currently, save $50 off any AMD motherboard with purchase of four specific CPUs.
So you could get a MA785GM-U2SH for $35, with a $10 MIR ontop
Microcenter also has LG DVD burners, SATA OEM, for $25.

They generally have decent prices on HDs, and the RAM wasn't out of line either last time I went.

Edit: That mobo is DDR2, but it has SB710, and ACC.

 

[pwcracker]

What about Microcenter?

Phenom II X3 720 BE - $99.99
Currently, save $50 off any AMD motherboard with purchase of four specific CPUs.
So you could get a MA785GM-U2SH for $35, with a $10 MIR ontop
Microcenter also has LG DVD burners, SATA OEM, for $25.

They generally have decent prices on HDs, and the RAM wasn't out of line either last time I went.

Edit: That mobo is DDR2, but it has SB710, and ACC.

That would be an awesome deal but I have no microcenters in my area.

I have decided on DDR3 so if you guys could make some suggestions on AM3 motherboards with onboard video I would really appreciate it. Sorry of being a PITA.

 

[Nancypants]

BIOSTAR A785G3H

Cheap,capable integrated graphics (as good as you're gonna get), good reviews. It has some capability to OC and unlock cores, if you plan to do so.

 

[sandorski]

Got this from an AT Ad Banner. I too am putting a system together and would grab that Mobo if my Store had it.

 

[jaydee]

For what the OP is wanting to do:

1) The Gigabyte 890gx does not have ACC for core-unlocking;
2) A Phenom quad is pretty much overkill; and
3) DDR2/DDR3 just really doesn't matter from a performance standpoint.



--

I do realize you could go ~$40 more for the ASUS board and get the possibility to unlock the 4th core, but when the tri-core is overkill already, why bother? I don't think you should downgrade to a 785/790 board just to "possibly" unlock a 4th core.

What if it's a genuinely bad core and won't unlock, then what? You've got a tri-core and an inferior motherboard. And what if it does unlock? You've got a quad-core (though you won't be able to tell the difference in performance) and still with a lesser/older motherboard. This is such a a no-brainer to me. If you've got the $40 extra you're willing to part with, then go with the ASUS 890GX, but don't downgrade to a 785/790. Just MHO.

 

[heyheybooboo]

I do realize you could go ~$40 more for the ASUS board and get the possibility to unlock the 4th core, but when the tri-core is overkill already, why bother? I don't think you should downgrade to a 785/790 board just to "possibly" unlock a 4th core.

What if it's a genuinely bad core and won't unlock, then what? You've got a tri-core and an inferior motherboard. And what if it does unlock? You've got a quad-core (though you won't be able to tell the difference in performance) and still with a lesser/older motherboard. This is such a a no-brainer to me. If you've got the $40 extra you're willing to part with, then go with the ASUS 890GX, but don't downgrade to a 785/790. Just MHO.

No worries.

The OP clearly doesn't need 2xPCIe x16. The components I listed above would save him enough $$$ overall to consider a SSD for his OS/Apps (which is really what will make a big difference). The Gigabyte 785g AM2+ has already been qualified for the Thuban x6, and has the exact same IGP as the 890gx.

And the OP better hurry if the C2 720BE is what he wants ---- they seem to be disappearing quickly. If DDR3 is what he wants then he should consider an AM3 785g mobo from Asus or Gigabyte, simply because they support the boards better (i.e., longer) for the most part.




--

 

[Starky]

BioStar has a nice looking 890 board for like $110 on Newegg, I wouldn't buy a 7xx AMD board right now, the new models have 6 Gbps SATA and USB3.0

The Athlon II X4 is also $100 I believe.

 

[jaydee]

No worries.

The OP clearly doesn't need 2xPCIe x16. The components I listed above would save him enough $$$ overall to consider a SSD for his OS/Apps (which is really what will make a big difference). The Gigabyte 785g AM2+ has already been qualified for the Thuban x6, and has the exact same IGP as the 890gx.

And the OP better hurry if the C2 720BE is what he wants ---- they seem to be disappearing quickly. If DDR3 is what he wants then he should consider an AM3 785g mobo from Asus or Gigabyte, simply because they support the boards better (i.e., longer) for the most part.
--

I can totally see bumping down and going with an SSD. But I think you'd have to drop down to a lesser CPU (Athlon II X3?) and case ($40 Cooler Master?) as well as a ~$80 785g mobo in order to really make that happen near the $500 budget. That's definitely a good plan if you want to go that way though and would not discourage it. Today's a good day for SSD's too, $99 shipped no MIR for a 40GB Intel drive.

btw, did not know that AM2+ is Thuban-ready, that's great!

 

[pwcracker]

I have been going over everything you guys have suggested plus some and I have to say I can't see to decide on anything. I would love to have the 890 because of the usb 3.0 and the 6Gbps sata but the price is higher than I wanted to go initially. The 785 boards look good but I would like to go ddr3 and I really don't want a Biostar. The SSD is a good idea that I will look into once I figure all of this other stuff out. If I got the Phenom X4 940BE that would give me an extra core + 200mhz more per core but I would rather save the $25 to put towards a better motherboard. Despite what you guys say I am pretty confident on my choice of cpu based on all the reviews I have read even if I can't unlock the extra core. I going to try to order some stuff tonight hopefully if I can decide so if you guys could help me out a little more I would really appreciate it.

Most board reviews I read say they are good so I don't really know how to pick something that is going to be good. I want something that will be solid with an overclock, running 24/7/365 for at least 2 years. I am partial to MSI because the last system I built had an MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum and an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice core and that baby has been running for almost 5 years straight. So I'm looking for something like that.

So on to some opinions....

Biostar A785G3 - Only 2x240 pin for memory but has AOC and ACC, AMD and has good reviews. $57.99 - Free Shipping
MSI 785GM-E65 - Seem like a good board based on reviews, AM3, 4x240, 128mb sideport. $89.99 - 2.99 Shipping
MSI 785GM-E51 - Looks almost like the E65 but supports 1600 memory with O.C. (not sure on this) and it is only a few dollars less than the E65.

It seems to be a toss up on weather or not to get an 890 board as far as what you guys say since some say I don't need it and others say to get it because it is the latest and greatest. Maybe if I tell you a little more about what I do daily on my pc it would help out.

PS3 Media Server (possibly serving 720P video to 2 PS3's simultaneously), Firefox with 2 to 3 tabs open, Newsleecher downloading and Utorrent seeding.

Hopefully that helps a little more. I feel like my head is going to explode from reading all these specs and reviews, lol. Please don't feel like I'm not taking the suggestions because I am and I have looked over everything so far, I just haven't seen anything to make me thing "That's IT!"

 

[pwcracker]

Here is what I have came up with, please give me some feedback on the items I have selected.