First Build, Please Review

A

AmericanJedi

New Member
So im gonna start buying parts for my first build. Which is on a pretty tight budget but here it is.
Budget Gaming PC Build

Motherboard
ASUS M5A97 AMD 9 Series ($100)
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition ($120)
RAM
Crucial 4GB DDR3 (1333 Mhz) ($20)
Video Card
EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti SuperClocked (1GB) ($125)
Hard Drive
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB ($80)
Optical Drive
Lite-On Internal DVD Writer ($18)
Case
Cooler Master RC-430-KWN1 Elite 430 ($50)
Power Supply
Antec VP-450 450W ATX 12V v2.3 ($40)


Total Cost: $553 (USD)
Is it easy to put a computer together? I have no experience. I'll be playing guild wars 2 on it. I don't believe it is too demanding. Buy this should be more than enough.
 
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Change the graphics card to a Radeon 6850 because the 6850 is faster than a GTX 550 Ti and the same sort of price. Get 1600MHz RAM if you can afford it, and try to get 8GB (2x4GB). Everything else looks OK.
 
it would replace the 965 processor and motherboard that you choose.

Intel will be better because you have an upgrade path. You will start at the same level as far as CPU power is concerned, but you can go all the way up to the 3770k CPU that will far over double your CPU power and it will run cooler. If you stay with AMD then you are stuck with the 965 unless you go to a 1090T or possibly a AM3+ CPU if they get better. But at this moment you are screwed as far as upgrades go.
 
wolfeking said:
If you stay with AMD then you are stuck with the 965 unless you go to a 1090T or possibly a AM3+ CPU if they get better. But at this moment you are screwed as far as upgrades go.
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How do you figure that? AM3+ socket supports Phenom II/Zambezi plus the new FX Vishera thats coming out in the 3rd. quarter. Far from a deadend socket. In all likely hood the Ivy is the last processor for 1155. So after Ivy the 1155 is more of a dead socket.
 
So Intel will run cooler, faster and allow upgrade?I'll replace the CPU and motherboard. So does that sound like a pretty good build now?
 
StrangleHold said:
How do you figure that? AM3+ socket supports Phenom II/Zambezi plus the new FX Vishera thats coming out in the 3rd. quarter. Far from a deadend socket. In all likely hood the Ivy is the last processor for 1155. So after Ivy the 1155 is more of a dead socket.
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I figure it like this. That is probably the best Phenom II he will find new. Zambezi sucks for the time being (phenom II is faster IPC) so until something new and great comes out, he will be downgrading with any upgrade he does. I will not consider new lines, as they are over hyped just like Zambezi was.
 
Okay I'm not that good with computer software so this is a bit confusing. But what all should I replace that is around the same price? I'm gonna make a final list of what to buy when I know whats best to get.
 
It’s pretty easy to buld. I or someone will give you some pointers on that.

About your original build list:
The 965 is a very good processor. It will easily and quickly handle what you said and much more. If you ever wanted to oc it you could easily do so. 4+ ghz certainly isnt out of the ?. Altho I’m thinking you don’t want to oc for now at least, you could w/ the 965 and not the 2120. The 965 can be oc’d a few ghz with the stock cooler and the Intel & AMD processors that are oc’able require an aftermaket cooler for larger oc’s. Heat will not be a problem. As mentioed before, this platform is upgradable.
I think the ps is lacking and should be upgraded. The chosen case needs a fan in the back. I think some has mentioned that you can get better memory and twice as much of it for not much more $.
Elite 430 / M5A97
965 / Blue 500
CX600 / CORSAIR 8GB
If you have NE email promos Sapphire 6850 is $135 shipped + 15mir, and Samsung burner has free shipping that saves another 5. Promos and combos make good shopping tools.

Can you post your max budget? Do you already have the os?
 
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Okay my max budget is 600 for the computer because I have to buy a monitor too. Also, what is oc? And once we get done can you make my build again with what you think I should get?
 
What's the budget for just the monitor and we will work it into the build.
Do you have an os? Like Windows 7, that can be installed to a new system? It has to be a retail product key thats not in use, or uninstalled OEM like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...1&isNodeId=1&Description=windows+7+oem+64+bit

When do you want to buy the parts?
Can you buy from Newegg.com? If so, go to their website make an account and sign up to recieve their eblast.
 
My budget for just the monitor is about 200. But it needs to be from best buy because i have gift cards and can take $100 off it. And no I'll be making the computer from everything I buy. I plan to buy everything in the middle of june. So I don't have anything like Windows 7. Nothin. And I believe I will be able to buy from newegg, I never have but I'll be fine buying online. But I'll go ahead and make an account.
 
Ok. If you can just use the 100 in gc's at BB and use the other 100 somewhere else(like NE), your $ will probably go farther. Either way. When the time comes we can see what's going on with pricing at both places. Since the deals and such change frequently it will be better to wait till mid June to see what you can get. With 100 or maybe less at the time for W7, you'll have 700 for the rest.
 
Oh i meant use 100 if gc's and probably another 100 for a $200 monitor. So it will be a pretty nice one. And okay I'm not sure if I'll slowly buy parts till mid June with parts of my pay check, or just save up. If you could help me with a final build, then I might be able to buy some of the cheaper stuff first. I'll probably start buying in the beginning of June up to the middle.
 
Personally, I'd hate to say right now because it's still a month away. It's better to buy everything at once. You would probly spend more for the same parts, buying a little here a little there. And whatever I may say now, will surely be somewhat different then.
 
AlienMenace said:
the Phenom II x4 960T has 2 disable cores in it and it can be unlocked to make it a 6 core instead of 4.
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Maybe, maybe not. I hear the success rate for unlocking anything on those cpu's is a lot less than when they first came out. Besides that, never buy a processor with the plan of it unlocking. First it has to unlock, then it has to be stable if it does unlock. Just buy the processor/number of cores you need, and if its one that unlocks, and it works out, then its just a bonus.
 
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wolfeking said:
I figure it like this. That is probably the best Phenom II he will find new. Zambezi sucks for the time being (phenom II is faster IPC) so until something new and great comes out, he will be downgrading with any upgrade he does. I will not consider new lines, as they are over hyped just like Zambezi was.
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Your such a Intel/Nvidia fanboy. Zambezi doesnt suck, hell it ties or beats the 2500 in half the benchmarks and even competes with the 2600 in some. So just to get sucked into Intel fanboyism to be so one sided is childish. Any FX is better since they are all unlocked then Intel unless you get the K models. Dont give a crap about wattage, nothing but overrated crap. The 8120 being unlocked at 175 bucks is a damn good deal. Will take on any Intel in the same price range, period. You want to take it on with a locked i5 2300/2310 since they are the same price? Even a FX 6100 can clock to 4.5 really easy and they are 35 bucks cheaper then either Intel.

Can say the same about Intel if you want to be one tracked minded like that. In that sence, Ivy Bridge sucks and 1155 is a deadend socket. Ivy doesnt really clock any better the Sandy, Its IPC is just slightly better. Cant even clock as far on air because it runs hotter. So I guess Ivy sucks to be the next generation and 1155 is a deadend. Complete crap and Sandy is better.
 
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