Budget Build #2 - Critique Please

fastdude

fastdude

Active Member
OK, so I've decided that AMD is the way to go if you're on a tight budget (:()
I'd like a cool (looking and temperature-wise) PC; usage is light-moderate gaming, will be overclocking, won't be having a multi-GPU setup, would prefer a modular PSU; I've heard the ModXStream has very short cables, will that be a problem for me?
Please suggest alternative components or give general advice.
Note: Someone who owes me a favour has said they will pay all the shipping (:D)
I could get the 212+ cheaper on scan but novatech is just down the road so...

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-...600)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-24-xmp-165v - 2x2GB DDR3 - £50
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-athlon-ii-x2-260-dual-core-s-am3-32ghz-2mb-cache-65w-retail - Athlon II X2 260 - £50
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus...-sata-3gb-s-raid-micro-atx-vga#ProductSupport - Asus M4A78LT-M - £45
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190138 - Sapphire HD5670 512MB - £60
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179016 - Xigmatek ASGARD - £30
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/500-...aviar-blue-sata-300-7200-rpm-16mb-cache-89-ms - WD Caviar Blue 500GB - £30
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190671 - LG LightScribe DVD-RW SATA - £15
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001GLFD...de=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B001GLFD4U - OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W - £50
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/cooling/cpucoolers/RR-B10-212P-GP.html - Hyper 212+ - £20 (collect from store)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/120mm-Blue-...T1UC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1291485409&sr=8-6 - 3 x 120mm Blue LED fans - £20
subtotal: £370
 
fastdude said:
OK, so I've decided that AMD is the way to go if you're on a tight budget (:()
I'd like a cool (looking and temperature-wise) PC; usage is light-moderate gaming, will be overclocking, won't be having a multi-GPU setup, would prefer a modular PSU; I've heard the ModXStream has very short cables, will that be a problem for me?
Please suggest alternative components or give general advice.
Note: Someone who owes me a favour has said they will pay all the shipping (:D)
I could get the 212+ cheaper on scan but novatech is just down the road so...

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-...600)-non-ecc-unbuffered-cas-9-9-9-24-xmp-165v - 2x2GB DDR3 - £50
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-athlon-ii-x2-260-dual-core-s-am3-32ghz-2mb-cache-65w-retail - Athlon II X2 260 - £50
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus...-sata-3gb-s-raid-micro-atx-vga#ProductSupport - Asus M4A78LT-M - £45
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190138 - Sapphire HD5670 512MB - £60
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179016 - Xigmatek ASGARD - £30
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/500-...aviar-blue-sata-300-7200-rpm-16mb-cache-89-ms - WD Caviar Blue 500GB - £30
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190671 - LG LightScribe DVD-RW SATA - £15
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001GLFD...de=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B001GLFD4U - OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W - £50
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/cooling/cpucoolers/RR-B10-212P-GP.html - Hyper 212+ - £20 (collect from store)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/120mm-Blue-...T1UC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1291485409&sr=8-6 - 3 x 120mm Blue LED fans - £20
subtotal: £370
Click to expand...

If you can, go for this GPU for 199$: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121399&cm_re=ati_radeon_hd_6850_1gb-_-14-121-399-_-Product
 
CPU - go for Athlon II x3 if you could spend slight more.

Do not order product all over the place. You will spend lots of money on delivery charge
 
daisymtc said:
CPU - go for Athlon II x3 if you could spend slight more.

Do not order product all over the place. You will spend lots of money on delivery charge
Click to expand...

I said I have someone who is paying all delivery costs.
Fair point, most of the games I'd be playing would be RTS so...

Are the X3s any less overclockable than the X2s?
 
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Drenlin said:
Here's a better case:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172779

It's identical to the Rosewill Challenger. Same chassis as the NZXT Gamma/M59/Lexa S as well, but those have two top fans. It's got a bottom-mount PSU and much better cable management.


edit: And a much better PSU for ~£10 more:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-147-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=

OR, a slightly better one for £42:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114929
Click to expand...

I saw that case, but didn't consider it because I've never heard of casecom. But from the reviews and the specs, it looks like a good choice.

PSU - I'd like it to be modular. The Gamer one looks decent, but the Basiq only has 1 PCIe connector, so I can't upgrade to any bad ass graphics cards if ever I needed to :P
 
It won't be a problem in that case, honestly. The way it's designed, it's very easy to stuff any extra cables either behind the mobo tray or under your hard drive. It could use a bit more space behind the mobo tray, though.

I have the M59, btw...same chassis.
 
Drenlin said:
It won't be a problem in that case, honestly. The way it's designed, it's very easy to stuff any extra cables either behind the mobo tray or under your hard drive. It could use a bit more space behind the mobo tray, though.

I have the M59, btw...same chassis.
Click to expand...

OK, in that case, how about theCorsair CX500W

Seems pretty well featured for not too much.
Are OCZ really that bad?
 
Stay away from the Corsair CX line :P
but if you wanted to, you could get a DX 10 card. I think 4850's are around the same price as a 5670. Don't know how the 5670 peforms against a 4850, though.
 
They kind of skimped on the new CX line, yeah. I'd put them about on par with an OCZ StealthXStream, maybe a bit more. The older ones like the CX430 are ok, though, AFAIK.

On the other hand, OCZ's StealthXStream II line is actually halfway decent for something on the FSP Epsilon platform. Still not as good as low end Antec or Seasonic units, though.
 
Drenlin said:
They kind of skimped on the new CX line, yeah. I'd put them about on par with an OCZ StealthXStream, maybe a bit more. The older ones like the CX430 are ok, though, AFAIK.

On the other hand, OCZ's StealthXStream II line is actually halfway decent for something on the FSP Epsilon platform. Still not as good as low end Antec or Seasonic units, though.
Click to expand...

CX400;) CX430 is the new CX line.

The stealthxstream II lineup is decent, definately better options for the price most of the time though. In fact, the SXS II would actually outperform some of the cheaper antec units.
 
Whups, had it backwards...my bad. :o

I think the SXSII has gone back up in price in the last few days. The 600W was definitely less than $80, which is why I was recommending it. :/
 
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Try getting a Phenom II X2 instead of a Athlon II X2. Thats a AM3 socket board with DDR3, but its a old chipset. If you dont need onboard video try to find a 870 chipset board.
 
StrangleHold said:
Try getting a Phenom II X2 instead of a Athlon II X2. Thats a AM3 socket board with DDR3, but its a old chipset. If you dont need onboard video try to find a 870 chipset board.
Click to expand...

I'll see how far I can stretch. Maybe a 5** BE?

Won't be using onboard video, but it's in case the GPU fails
 
StrangleHold said:
Try getting a Phenom II X2 instead of a Athlon II X2. Thats a AM3 socket board with DDR3, but its a old chipset. If you dont need onboard video try to find a 870 chipset board.
Click to expand...

For the price of a Phenom II x2, you might as well get an Athlon II x3...or x4 even.

+1 on the 870 board though. Or 770, even.
 
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