Budget PC Build, first time - Need Advice

Trayus · July 4th, 2009, 12:30 AM

Hello there,

I've recently decided that I would like to build a budget gaming rig to replace my near 3 year old laptop which is performing with new games like I would expect it to after being around for 3 years. I've researched a bit about quality parts for less money, and I think I may have put together a decent build, but since this is my first time actually building a computer myself, any input you guys have would be great. I was trying to keep the budget under or around $700, but if I have to buy vista which it looks like I will, then its going to go way above $800.

CPU AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HDZ940XCGIBOX - Retail - $189.99 Free Shipping

MOBO ASUS M4N72-E AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $134.99 Free Shipping

I got the Mobo and the CPU on a combo deal for $289.98, although I'm not sure if the Asus I chose is really necessary, and a Gigabyte might be more suitable.

CASE w/ PSU RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply - Retail $89.99, $20 MIR

GPU HIS H487FN1GP Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $149.99, $20 MIR

RAM OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N800SR4GK - Retail $45.99, $10 MIR

DVDRW SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SH-S222L LightScribe Support - OEM $25.99

HD Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM $59.99

The total comes out to about $681.92 not including tax and shipping, because I'm getting a wireless network card as well.

Do you guys see any place where I can cut costs? Is the mobo I picked out necessary? I know people usually advise against using the PSU that comes with a case, but is a 500W PSU good enough for the rig I have set up? Thanks in advance.

endrien · July 4th, 2009, 12:45 AM

Generally with Case/PSU combos the PSU is total garbage so I wouldn't advise using it with you system, unless you can confirm that it's a trusted good brand.

Aaron_8015 · July 4th, 2009, 12:47 AM

Welcome to techimo.

Firstly I would suggest you pick up a caviar black, which is a fast HDD

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

Also I would scrap the case/PSU combo, and get a good quality PSU

Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS 500W ATX12V / EPS12V Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Case is your preferance.

KarmaKiller · July 4th, 2009, 12:57 AM

Hi and welcome to TIMO.

My suggestions.
1. Indeed drop the board and get this instead
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards
You won't be disappointed. It's not that the board you picked out "isn't needed", it's the fact that the gigabyte board has much more "bang for buck" value IMO. It's really a great board.

2. While 500watts is more then enough for your system, Raidmax PSU's are junk. I really wouldn't trust that PSU in my brand new system.
Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Power Supplies
That is a great PSU, with free shipping, and it's only $50 after rebate. (which don't hold your breath for, but you'll get it eventually)

3. This is really a more personal preference thing I guess, but I really think you could do better on your case. If you like the lights and "bling" then I guess that's one thing. But the build quality of those cases usually are lacking.
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
This case is cheaper, has free shipping, and is actually really well made. They have a version of that same case without the side window for $50 with free shipping. But I'm guessing you like the window, so that's a good option. You can always stick colored fans/light/etc in later to get the look your going for.

4. I'd step up to this ram
Newegg.com - OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2F10664GK - Desktop Memory
It's faster, and I'm guessing your probably gonna OC this system at some point, that ram will do the job nicely.

5. Step up to this HDD
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
It's more yes, but it's larger, and way faster then the 500Gb HDD. It's worth it.

6. DO NOT BUY VISTA!
You can download the RC of Windows 7 for free, and it's good till the retail version releases. I've been on it for months, so have many others, and the general conciseness is it's awesome. It's MUCH better then Vista, faster, looks better, less of a resource hog, just all around better. And it's FREE!
When they release Win 7, pick that up. You'll be much happier.

That's all.

Aaron_8015 · July 4th, 2009, 12:59 AM

Well KK added more, was busy playing game.

Trayus · July 4th, 2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaKiller

Hi and welcome to TIMO.

My suggestions.
1. Indeed drop the board and get this instead
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards
You won't be disappointed. It's not that the board you picked out "isn't needed", it's the fact that the gigabyte board has much more "bang for buck" value IMO. It's really a great board.

2. While 500watts is more then enough for your system, Raidmax PSU's are junk. I really wouldn't trust that PSU in my brand new system.
Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Power Supplies
That is a great PSU, with free shipping, and it's only $50 after rebate. (which don't hold your breath for, but you'll get it eventually)

3. This is really a more personal preference thing I guess, but I really think you could do better on your case. If you like the lights and "bling" then I guess that's one thing. But the build quality of those cases usually are lacking.
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
This case is cheaper, has free shipping, and is actually really well made. They have a version of that same case without the side window for $50 with free shipping. But I'm guessing you like the window, so that's a good option. You can always stick colored fans/light/etc in later to get the look your going for.

4. I'd step up to this ram
Newegg.com - OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2F10664GK - Desktop Memory
It's faster, and I'm guessing your probably gonna OC this system at some point, that ram will do the job nicely.

5. Step up to this HDD
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
It's more yes, but it's larger, and way faster then the 500Gb HDD. It's worth it.

6. DO NOT BUY VISTA!
You can download the RC of Windows 7 for free, and it's good till the retail version releases. I've been on it for months, so have many others, and the general conciseness is it's awesome. It's MUCH better then Vista, faster, looks better, less of a resource hog, just all around better. And it's FREE!
When they release Win 7, pick that up. You'll be much happier.

That's all.

Thanks a bunch for the input. I actually only picked that Case because it came with a 500W PSU and I figured it would be better to knock out two different parts for under 100 if the PSU was decent. The lights and stuff was just extra I guess. I looked at the case you recommended and saw a combo deal with a 460W PSU for 75, is that PSU powerful enough for the build or should I stick with the 500W?

As for the Windows 7, I read on Microsoft that on March 1st 2010 the OS starts shutting down every 2 hours which seems really annoying, and they recommend you revert to an older, genuine OS, but I'm not sure when Windows 7 is supposed to be released or how much its supposed to cost, not to mention the fact that I don't have another copy of XP or Vista.

KarmaKiller · July 4th, 2009, 01:34 AM

Well I see your point. And all I'm trying to say if you buy vista now, when you see windows 7, your gonna be upset you wasted you money on it. I'm not sure what to tell you about that. Maybe you can find a copy of XP or the like for cheap before then??

And I'd stick with the 500w I linked to, mainly because it has both a 6 pin, and a 6+2 pin that you'll need for you video card. Other wise you'll have to use adapters.

**RicheemxX** · July 4th, 2009, 01:35 AM

Windows 7 is being released in Oct so no worries there. You can use the beta until then or at the very least if you do buy Vista make sure it comes with a free upgrade

It looks like the combo you spotted was with the cooler master rs 460 thats not a bad PSU but it doesn't have all the connections needed for the gpu and the extra overhead of a 500w psu is nice.

If you are really that worried about staying on budget you could go with this combo you are basically getting the board free amir

edit: The other thing to throw in there too is if you plan on doing any overclocking you'll want to get an aftermarket cooler.

Trayus · July 4th, 2009, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicheemxX

Windows 7 is being released in Oct so no worries there. You can use the beta until then or at the very least if you do buy Vista make sure it comes with a free upgrade

It looks like the combo you spotted was with the cooler master rs 460 thats not a bad PSU but it doesn't have all the connections needed for the gpu and the extra overhead of a 500w psu is nice.

If you are really that worried about staying on budget you could go with this combo you are basically getting the board free amir

edit: The other thing to throw in there too is if you plan on doing any overclocking you'll want to get an aftermarket cooler.

How does the BIOSTAR mobo compare with the GIGABYTE?

**RicheemxX** · July 4th, 2009, 02:08 AM

Here's the side by side comparison the Gigabyte has a few extra features and an additional 16x pci-e slot but they should both be pretty solid boards.