TJoshX

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum and am thinking about building a new computer for the first time ever. I don't do any high performance gaming like WoW or CS just a rather simple 2d graphics based game called "Tibia". Aside from that I use it for pretty much normal everyday word processing and internet use.

I want to go with one of the new AMD Phenom Quad Core processors. I'm looking at the black edition 9600 Phenom. Anyone know the best affordable match for this processor?

These are two I am currently looking at...

ASUS M3A AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

MSI K9A2 Platinum AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard

you can opare them here on newegg.com...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...131234&bop=And

My question is whether or not the MSI is better then the ASUS or if there is an even better bang for the buck out there?
Also how exactly does the quality of the mother board effect the overall cpu performance? I want to build this on somewhat of a budget (800.00 range) but on the same note i'm ok with spending money for quality.

Thanks,

Josh

I have a whole computer pieced together through newegg.com if anyone could look at everthing I have selected and give me feedback that would be great. I can e-mail you the product list.

Instinct5

ill sell you a M3A brand new in the box

TJoshX

If I go with this one how much? Combo'd with the processor, i'm getting it from Newegg for 62.00.

Thanks,

Josh

Offnote, can you not send PMs on this board?

zer0_c00l

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130136 149..00 after rebate...has a better chipset 790fx

__________________
Mob:ASUS M3A78-T 790Gx/Monitor 22'ASUS
CPU:AMD Phenom 8650 B.E@2.9./HSF Zalman
RAM:Geil PC6400@860MHz4.4.4.12
PSU:COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro 550 80% ef
GPU:Saphire 4850
HDD:Seagate Cuda 250GB SATA 16mb cache
Case:Thermaltake WingsRS

StrangleHold

If your going with a AM2+ board, forget that Asus or MSI board. The Asus has outdated Voltage regulators and capacitors and from what I hear the MSI is buggie at best, never cared for MSI boads anyway. From lower to upper end in my opinion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128081

My Favorite
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813136044

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813136041

__________________

Nevakonaza

aSUS OR MSI are great boards....its boards like ECS you want to stay away from

__________________
Core 2 Duo E6300 2.8Ghz -Asus Silent Knight II
MSI P35 Neo-F (45nm Ready)
Seagate Barracuda 250Gb Sata II
Western Digital Caviar 400GB Sata II
3Gb GeIL DDR2 @ 800 Mhz (Dual channel)
Asus Extreme 8800GT G92 512Mb with Glaciator cooler
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity 7.1
Sony 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM SATA
Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit SP1|Kaspersky IS 2009

Vizy93

yea u can send PM's here, bu u need to have atleast 100 posts first though. and why not just put ur product list up onto the forum? better than sending it thorugh emails.

__________________
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StrangleHold

Oh yea Asus are good boards but that one is cheap made compaired to the comparable model Gigabyte. Now we differ on MSI, I like there video cards really well but have had to many problems with there boards over the years, but there are better than PCchips - Asrock - ECS. Gigabyte - But Asus and DFI have treated me really well as far as on no screwed up boards or DOAs or really buggie bios over the last few years. Used to use alot of Epox - Soyo and Abit boards. Think Abit it trying to make a come back, got bought out a year or two ago. They use to be really stable/ overclocking boards.

__________________

TJoshX

Ok so first time computer builder here. I do not play any high end graphics games like WoW, CS, or Half-Life. I do play a 2d graphics based game named "Tibia" but this game doesn't require a lot. I will be using it for office applications and internet use. I am a 25 year old high school biology teacher.

Shopping Cart: Newegg.com


SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151154
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$29.99

APEVIA X-TELSTAR-JR S-Type X-TSJST-BL Blue / Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811144214
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$79.99

SAMSUNG HD250HJ 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822152107
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
$62.99

EVGA 512-P2-N756-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130292
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$109.99

APEVIA ATX-CW500WP4 ATX 500W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817148027
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

$15.00 Mail-in Rebate
$39.99

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835118019
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$26.00 Instant
$79.99
$53.99


ASUS M3A AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131234
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HD960ZWCGDBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103244
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

-$25.00 Combo
$318.99
$293.99


Crucial Ballistix 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT25664AA804 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820148183
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy

Crucial Gizmo! 2GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model JDOD2GB-730 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820148153
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$12.99 Combo
$5.00 Mail-in Rebate
$122.98
$109.99

Subtotal: $780.92
Calculate Shipping
Zip Code: 04092 Shipping: $30.05


No Payment until October 2008 with your Newegg Preferred Account
Grand Total: $810.97


So these are all the specs to the new machine I am looking at. Key things I am looking for are as follows...

1.) I want an AMD Quad Core- the 9600 Black Edition (2.3GHz) is $40 more then the 9500 (2.2GHz). Is it worth the extra money?

2.) Motherboard? I selected the ASUS one above because I knew it matched and was part of a combo. If there is a better product I should be looking at please stear me the right way. Ideal would be around 100.00 but up to 150.00 is ok.

3.) I have heard the heat-sink that comes with this processor is not the greatest and that I should look to replace it. I know NOTHING about heat-sinks, Zalman was a name recommended to me, the fan above seems to be middle of the road?
** this other fan was recommended to me here on this board:

ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm 2-ball UFO Bearing / Transparent CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835887011
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate

$59.99
$49.99

4.) RAM- I have heard good things about Crucial Ballistix. However I have heard that when running 4GB that some CPUs can only read 3GB? Can someone explain this and am I then just better going with 3GB?

5.) OS- Vista or XP Pro? I have not heard great things about vista...

6.) I have a Samsung burner and hard drive selected. I know Samsung through home entertainment and know they make great products. How are their computer components?

7.) Lastly, I obviously want to build something for as little money as possible but on the same note don't mind spending money on quality. The 800.00 range is about the peak of what I want to spend.


Thanks for the help guys,

Josh

TJoshX

Any other thoughts?