Assembling mid-range PC for games (and general use).

S

seanspotatobiz

Member
I am hoping to build myself a new PC, capable of running current games, not fantastically, but at least better than the hardware that I'm currently using. I'm a student and don't want to expend money by buying excessively powerful components. I will start off with one graphics card and in a couple of years, upgrade to SLI/Crossfire cheaply by buying another card. I would like not to spend more than £600 and I'd like the machine to be fairly quiet, although complete silence isn't necessary. I might try the stock CPU cooler before deciding whether it's worth buying an alternative.

My current ideas are:

Processor:
1) AMD AM3 Phenom II 965 - £125

Motherboard
1) GIGABYTE GA-790XT-USB3 - £110 - has 2 USB 3.0 ports but only 1 PCIE x16 and 1 PCEI x8 slots
2) MSI 790FX-GD70 - £125 - has no USB 3.0 ports but 2 PCIE x16 and 2 PCIE x8 slots (the later two of which are unlikely to be used but I'm guessing two x16 are better than two x8 (the first x16 of the GIGABYTE board drops to x8 for Crossfire))

Graphics card
Has to be ATI to use the Crossfire. Don't yet know which - something around £100-£125.

Memory
1) Generic 4 x 2GB PC14400 1800MHz 240-pin DDR3 8-8-8-24 at 1.8v (eBay listing - mostly positive feedback, so I figure I can send it back if it doesn't stand up to memtest?) - £125

Case
1) Fractal Define R2 - £85

Hard disks and PSU will be salvaged from current system.


I'm open to any modifications. One question I have is the significance of x8 vs x16 PCIE slots. If I'm only using a mid-range graphics card, is there any benefit to the x16 slot? How much of a performance drop would there be in using two graphics cards in Crossfire mode with two x16 slots as opposed to two x8 slots? I may be ale to answer these myself with sufficient reading online, but now I must away to the DIY store for something else.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.
 
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You'd probably want an aftermarket cooler if you're after quiet computing, AMD stock coolers aren't exactly known for being quiet.
 
This is all for being able to crossfire efficiently and for the best price I could make.

MoBo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131392&cm_re=790fx-_-13-131-392-_-Product

Graphics card (2 of these): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873&cm_re=5770-_-14-102-873-_-Product

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275

CPU: your cpu is great. The after market cool is just fine, and it is quiet. I have one and I made sure it was quite because I have roommates.

Heatsink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

Im getting that heatsink soon because if you game or have your computer on a lot it will heat up a ton. I have pretty much the same cpu as you and I would recommend it, not now but when you might notice you'll start needing it.

I have the psu I listed for you, it's amazing and can crossfire those graphics cards no Problem!! And it is made by corsair = durability. Those graphics cards are pretty good, but the main this is future proof

Yes there is a difference between the x8 and x16 slots. If you are going to crossfire you want two x16 slots because you want the most out of your cards. The x8 slot will cut your performance down. I tried skimping out on a board with x8 and it is not worth it, spend the extra couple bucks for a 790fx board like the one I listed.

:good:

Need a hard drive, optical drive? anything else?
 
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^ He's in the UK...no newegg. Also, one 5850 is a much better option than two 5770's. The only reason to crossfire two 5770's is if you're on a budget and are buying the other one at a later date. That's a pretty good reason though.

The Phenom II 955 can easily be overclocked to the same speed as the 965. It's a very simple thing to do and doesn't put much more stress on the cpu at all. You could even do it on stock cooling.

It should be about the same price if you get RAM from a trusted brand like Corsair or G-Skill. It'll probably be 1600 instead of 1800, but you'll know it's good.

For the GPU, a Radeon HD 5770 should be good. It can do max settings on most current games.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190974

Like daisy said, a Gigabyte or Asus mobo with the 790FX chipset is what you want for crossfire. Gigabyte is better, but Asus is still good.
 
Drenlin said:
^ He's in the UK...no newegg. Also, one 5850 is a much better option than two 5770's. The only reason to crossfire two 5770's is if you're on a budget and are buying the other one at a later date. That's a pretty good reason though.

The Phenom II 955 can easily be overclocked to the same speed as the 965. It's a very simple thing to do and doesn't put much more stress on the cpu at all. You could even do it on stock cooling.

It should be about the same price if you get RAM from a trusted brand like Corsair or G-Skill. It'll probably be 1600 instead of 1800, but you'll know it's good.

For the GPU, a Radeon HD 5770 should be good. It can do max settings on most current games.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190974

Like daisy said, a Gigabyte or Asus mobo with the 790FX chipset is what you want for crossfire. Gigabyte is better, but Asus is still good.
Click to expand...

I won't recommend that card. It just got 512MB, the HIS 1GB version is just £120 anyway.
 
Okay, thanks guys. After considering all the options presented, I think it's gonna be the GIGABYTE GA 790FXTA-UD5 because it has three PCI-E at x16 and a couple of needles USB 3.0 ports and SATA III support.

If I want to employ all four RAM slots in the GA 790FXTA-UD5, am I correct in my understanding that I am limited to 1333 Mhz, while if I elect to use only two slots, I can attain 1866 Mhz with suitable modules? Supposing that I purchase two 2 GB 1866 Mhz modules, and wanted to add a further two in the future. Would it then be possible to add two 1333 Mhz modules or would they also need to be 1866 Mhz?

Also, about the graphics card - I notice that in tests, some members of the 4xxx series beat some members of the 5xxx series (including 5770) and indeed are more expensive and have more transistors. Thus, why 5770 and not something from the 4xxx series, for example? I'm just a little confused.
 
^ The 5770 doesn't have as much raw power as the 48xx cards, but it makes up for it with its newer hardware features and DX11 support. The games that use it look amazing. It can max almost any current game anyway, so if you're planning to crossfire later, it's definitely the way to go.

It should run 1600 memory just fine in all 4 slots, and there's no real reason to pay for faster memory than that at current prices.

daisymtc said:
I won't recommend that card. It just got 512MB, the HIS 1GB version is just £120 anyway.
Click to expand...
Good call, I missed that.
 
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RAM speed - up to DDR3 1866.

Video card - For £125 - 130. ATI 4890 is faster than 5770. However, if 2 years down the line, you want to play game with DX11, 4890 will not support it. And it won't worth crossfire.

IMO, you would have 2 option.
1. Stick with orginal plan, £130 790FX mobo, £90 750W PSU prepare for Crossfire. £120 5770 now, another 5770 later.
Cost - £340 now, £120 later

2. Cheap £75 Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3, £55 550W PSU, £130 4890. Replace 4890 with another mid range video card later
Cost £260 now, leave you £200 for another new video card.
Or spend £200 for 5850 now to last you longer

It would depends on when you want to get the second card. If you are going to buy the second card within one or one and half year, probably worth consider crossfire.
However, if you think about 2 years, it not worth. Like 3850, release 2 year ago. It was a good card, but you probably won't consider to buy another 3850 to crossfire it now.
 
any 5770 will do. I'd avoid the XFX ones right now becuase they only make custom PCB ones now, and they only have one crossfire connector per card. that means no crossfire-x.
 
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