51 replies to this topic

[Andrew Osis]

I have around $800 and I was wondering if anyone could give me some input on building a new machine.

I have the monitor, mouse, KB, headset, JS etc already just looking to build a tower. Unfortuneatly I spend most my time at work working on old laptops and Dell GX series machines at work and im just really out of the loop on whats good in the world of new hardware.

Usage would be limited to gaming and use of higher end apps such as CS and other graphics and web software.

Edited by AndrewOsis, 30 January 2012 - 09:27 PM.

[FACEman Peck]

6 GB or RAM at least, i5 processor, and a real decent graphics card. Enough said.

[Andrew Osis]

I was looking at some of these: http://www.newegg.co...ICE&PageSize=20

[Vulpesveritas]

*cough* something that will be more on the spot at $800 for the tower:
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811146085
CPU: Phenom II X4 (zosma [Thubian core- if lucky unlocks to Phenom II X6, also has higher IPC]) http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819103995
Motherboard: Asrock 970 chipset extreme3 http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813157280
RAM: Gskill value 8GB http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820231422
GPU: Radeon HD 6850 http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814161384
PSU: 550 watt 80+ bronze http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817207013
ODD: Asus DVD burner http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827135204
HDD: WD caviar blue http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136769
OS: Window 7 home premium: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16832116986
TIM: Gelid GC-extreme http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835426020
Heatsink: SilentX 92mm dual heatpipe http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835226050

As 95% of games out there are GPU limited, not CPU limited, you'll be fine. And you have a better ability to upgrade with the AM3+ socket than you would on an Intel LGA-1155. You also this way get a case and power supply that should last you two motherboards, and a GPU that will last you until you upgrade your CPU. Upgrade those in 2-3 years, and your motherboard 2-3 years after that. You should get 8-12 years out of that case if you take care of it (and don't live in a high humidity, high heat environment, then expect 6-8 years on the PSU, the case should still hold out). Which will save you money in the long run.

Also, Cyberpower has some deals if you order a custom PC through them. i recommend an AM3+ build with at least a six-core processor for longevity, otherwise an i3 or i5 with at least a Radeon HD 6850. the only worthwhile Nvidea Card at the moment is the GTX 570. http://www.cyberpowe...e_Configurator/

Edited by Vulpesveritas, 30 January 2012 - 09:39 PM.

[Andrew Osis]

That looks pretty good.... I added it all to cart and I realised I could save 100 on the OS since I already have it. I guess I could use that extra money to get a larger HDD.

[Vulpesveritas]

If you do I recommend this: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136767
And use the rest of the money you saved to get this: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814121418

Edit: If you do, get a slightly better power supply. sorry.

Edit edit: like this- http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817371044

Edited by Vulpesveritas, 30 January 2012 - 09:50 PM.

[Andrew Osis]

$798 well done sir!

[Vulpesveritas]

lol. hopefully it goes well...
...
now I just need a new pc XD
...
*looks at wallet* dammit.

lol

[Catamount]

OP, if you have that extra $100 to spend, I'd recommend using it to upgrade to a Radeon HD 6950

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814150523

You only need so great a PSU since you're not going to be overclocking (and since, even with a 6950, your whole system might draw 300 watts... in an artificial stress test!). In fact, you could even step down to something like a Corsair CX430 and be just fine; you'd even have 100W to spare. You don't have to, but you could. As for hard drives, they're are so expensive right now, that I think you should just get something smaller until they come down.


Down the road, that GPU upgrade will benefit you more than anything else, so I would prioritize that over anything else. You can easily fit it into an $800 budget where Windows isn't required.

Edited by Catamount, 31 January 2012 - 07:11 AM.

[Andrew Osis]

Thanks for your input guys looks like I might go with this in the next few days. http://secure.newegg...spx?Submit=view

[Catamount]

AndrewOsis, on 31 January 2012 - 07:34 AM, said:

Thanks for your input guys looks like I might go with this in the next few days. http://secure.newegg...spx?Submit=view

Sadly, we can't view your shopping cart (not without your account, and you don't want to trust us that much! )

Just link the individual parts.


On many forums, you can just highlight a Newegg wishlist, copy, and paste it, and it'll appear on the forum, links and all, but this forum misformats that if you try to do it, despite being more sophisticated overall than most I visit; go figure.

[Fresh Meat]

you can always save extra on newegg by searching for the items you want in combo deals, they have tons of options.

[FoxFang]

I am in a similar situation, Putting together a new box for MWO.

My advice. Unless you have other things you want an upgraded rig for. Wait.

That's right. Hold off. Wait until you get a confirmed release date for MWO, then plan your build for a month beforehand. Enough time to work out bugs, RMA any DOA parts, and fine tune before the game drops. But WD is bringing it's Thailand factories back online and should be coming back to normal production some time in the spring, and NVIDIA's new archatecture is due to drop as well. This will bring down the price of the 69XX series Radeons (Already beginning to drop due to the 79XX series beginning to hit shelves) even further. Cheaper HD, And a 6950 (unlocked to 6970 spec) will perform very respectably in the CRY 2 engine.

This is my strategy anyway. As for the rest, Yup, cheap functional case. The Antec 300 series comes to mind. PS comesserate with your energy budget for the box. Something in the 600W range, (Unless you were going duelies with the Video Cards, but that may be tough with an 800 budget.) Makes sure you have good overhead.

Beyond that, just remember to get adaquate cooling, read reviews and independant opinions for all the components your contemplating.

[Ashrok]

Catamount, on 31 January 2012 - 07:03 AM, said:

OP, if you have that extra $100 to spend, I'd recommend using it to upgrade to a Radeon HD 6950

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814150523

You only need so great a PSU since you're not going to be overclocking (and since, even with a 6950, your whole system might draw 300 watts... in an artificial stress test!). In fact, you could even step down to something like a Corsair CX430 and be just fine; you'd even have 100W to spare. You don't have to, but you could. As for hard drives, they're are so expensive right now, that I think you should just get something smaller until they come down.


Down the road, that GPU upgrade will benefit you more than anything else, so I would prioritize that over anything else. You can easily fit it into an $800 budget where Windows isn't required.

I agree, if you can, get an HD6950, and try to push back buying HDDs. Prices'll drop later this year when supply will go back up.

[Vulpesveritas]

Even though the HD6950 states on it's specs page it requires a 500 watt or higher PSU... anyhow. That is of course, what AMD recommends. it on it's own is rated for a 225 watt power draw, and the phenom ii x4 is rated for a 95 watt power draw and then theres the motherboard and fans.... anyhow.

Examples of what you might want to look at 6950 wise;
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814127604
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814125385

[Catamount]

Vulpesveritas, on 01 February 2012 - 05:03 PM, said:

Even though the HD6950 states on it's specs page it requires a 500 watt or higher PSU... anyhow. That is of course, what AMD recommends. it on it's own is rated for a 225 watt power draw, and the phenom ii x4 is rated for a 95 watt power draw and then theres the motherboard and fans.... anyhow.

Examples of what you might want to look at 6950 wise;
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814127604
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814125385

AMD's power requirements are always way over what's required; what do you expect when most power supplies can't deliver what they claim?

And no, the 6950 does not draw 225 watts; more like 150: http://www.guru3d.co...-6970-review/11

If you ran Furmark AND Prime95 at the same time, maybe you could draw 225 watts from that card, and 95 from the CPU, but that's still 100W of headroom, and the rest of the system won't consume that much (fans are a couple watts apiece, the motherboard maybe a dozen?), so even trying to kill your computer you wouldn't overload a 430W PSU, and in realistic gaming conditions, you'll be drawing more like 250W.


In any case, there is no need for a 650W PSU. The OP would do just as well (and in fact still be in the realm of overkill) with an Earthwatts 500W PSU (which is $30 less than the EA650 after mail-in rebate, and $15 without it).

[Vulpesveritas]

for another option you have this 550w PSU for $15 more, however it is 80+ gold certified; http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817182068

It also has a singe 12v rail, which is a plus. Larger fan too.

Edited by Vulpesveritas, 01 February 2012 - 08:18 PM.

[Catamount]

Hmm, $80 huh? That's actually a damn nice power supply from the looks of it


Edit: I can't find a 550W review, but the 750W is apparently a pretty top-notch unit

http://www.jonnyguru...Story5&reid=266

Edited by Catamount, 01 February 2012 - 08:46 PM.

[Barbaric Soul]

That is a stronger gaming computer than the other build that was suggested. If your interested in OC'ing, replace the 2500 with a 2500k for a additional $20.

Quote

And you have a better ability to upgrade with the AM3+ socket than you would on an Intel LGA-1155.

It really erks my nerves when people give bad advice. Intel's next line of processors, which is code named Ivy Bridge, will be for the 1155 socket and will work with current Z68 chipset motherboards that have UEFI bios(which the board in my build has).

Edited by Barbaric Soul, 02 February 2012 - 09:59 AM.

[Vulpesveritas]

Barbaric Soul, on 02 February 2012 - 09:58 AM, said:

[url=
That is a stronger gaming computer than the other build that was suggested. If your interested in OC'ing, replace the 2500 with a 2500k for a additional $20.




It really erks my nerves when people give bad advice. Intel's next line of processors, which is code named Ivy Bridge, will be for the 1155 socket and will work with current Z68 chipset motherboards that have UEFI bios(which the board in my build has).

And AM3+ boards are confirmed for piledriver support and expected for steamroller, giving an extra year of upgrade path. so how is this bad advice? Also, Intel has said Ivy Bridge is more of a energy saving upgrade than anything else, whereas AMD is touting Piledriver as both an IPC and frequency upgrade, and as things stand, and AMD FX-8150p is an i7-2600k's equal back and forth (depends on thread load). with a 15% increase in IPC as AMD is claiming, then perhaps we'll see AMD take a slight lead, only time will tell. Oh and there's also the fact AMD boards are still slightly cheaper, and the GPU is the main thing to focus on right now.

Edited by Vulpesveritas, 02 February 2012 - 10:03 AM.