Help with $600 budget build

[tilldeath]

Here's what I have any ways to mod this? This is for a friend who does low end gaming soo....
CPU:AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX

CD/DVD drive: ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM

HDD:SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5

motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

GPU:GIGABYTE GV-R685D5-1GD Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

PSU:Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

RAM:G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

[JrRacinFan]

Everything looks ok to me. What's the max budget?

[tilldeath]

Originally Posted by jrracinfan

everything looks ok to me. What's the max budget?

$600

[BraveSoul]

i would go for gigabyte 785G

[thunderising]

really soo much on PSU?

Spend a bit less on PSU and get a faster GPU(HD6870) or CPU(X6 1055T)

[cdawall]

Got the cart to a little less was using the newegg app so just going to post the parts no links

Phenom 955be $139.99 (can clock as high as a 965be and its within budget for a 1055t)
Biostar ta880gb+ $79.99
Patriot sector 5 ddr3 1600 $44.99
Xfx hd 6850 $179.99
Topower nano 650w $39.99
Lg dvd-rw $16.99
Seagate 7200.12 500gb $39.99

$541.93 plus rebates

[JrRacinFan]

Was going to suggest slacking down a bit on the board and not overclocking til AM3+ chipsets go on the market.

An x6 1055t + 7 series AM3 motherboard.

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by JrRacinFan

Was going to suggest slacking down a bit on the board and not overclocking til AM3+ chipsets go on the market.

An x6 1055t + 7 series AM3 motherboard.

Or the ta880gb+ which is around the same price as a normal 7series and can clock pretty damn good

[tilldeath]

just so everyone knows this is for a 55y/o lady who at the most will play wow so.....

[mstenholm]

Seems OK for that purpose. Don't go for a lesser PSU. Your friend will use that PC until something dies and with the well-meant suggestions off slacking on the PSU it will be the PSU and then all is gone.

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by mstenholm

Seems OK for that purpose. Don't go for a lesser PSU. Your friend will use that PC until something dies and with the well-meant suggestions off slacking on the PSU it will be the PSU and then all is gone.

Antec is dumb for the price and performance it offers not to mention the rig its powering might pull 450 watts...

[MxPhenom 216]

return it and get a GTX560Ti

whoops WRONG THREAD!

[keakar]

CPU
i would go ahead and just spend the extra $20 to get the 965 because getting the better CPU should never be overlooked for only $20 difference in price

MotherBoard
you could use the open box version of that same exact board and save $20
Open Box: BIOSTAR TA880GB+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro...

GPU
IMO you should save her the $50 to be used in other areas by going with a ATI 5770, there are many choices for around $100 and thats going to be a ton more video card then she will ever need or use

RAM
you didnt mention the OS but if its going to be win7 64bit then double your ram (you will notice it) i just upgraded from 4GB to 8GB (added 4GB or same ram) and it is noticably faster now. my personal choice of ram would be the G.SKILL Ripjaws Series

PSU
get a good quality PSU, a PSU is the heart of any system (money invested here is NOT wasted) check out this one that i use, its completely silent too corsair 750watt

this would be my recommendation and your still right at $600 range

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz $159.99
BIOSTAR TA880GB+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI (open box) $56.99
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $49.99 x2= $98.98 + free s&h
HIS H577FK1GD Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 $129.99 + free s&h
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready $109.99 + $20mir
Lg dvd-rw $16.99
Seagate 7200.12 500gb $39.99

$612.92 plus rebates

[cdawall]

had both the 965BE does not clock better

[jpierce55]

With a 5770 she will not need more than a 550watt psu as long as it has good 12v rails..... a good quality 550 watt. ExtremePSU using 100% load and TDP with 50% break down gives a 543watt value with 37.4amps on the 12v rail using the 5770 and 955.

[keakar]

Originally Posted by jpierce55

With a 5770 she will not need more than a 550watt psu as long as it has good 12v rails..... a good quality 550 watt. ExtremePSU using 100% load and TDP with 50% break down gives a 543watt value with 37.4amps on the 12v rail using the 5770 and 955.

i wasnt basing my opinion on minimum requirements, buying a PSU is less about the NEED as it is mainly about the quality and reliability and a PSU above your "needs" will last longer be more reliable and in most cases run cooler and quieter since the fan wont need to run full speed.

she could probably get by with a 450watt PSU but a weak or average quality PSU or one needing to supply full output for the system 100% of the time can go bad and destroy the rest of your components at the same time when it blows so in the same way you wouldnt but walmart discount tires on your corvette, you shouldnt skimp on a good high quality PSU no matter how high or low end your budget is

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by keakar

i wasnt basing my opinion on minimum requirements, buying a PSU is less about the NEED as it is mainly about the quality and reliability and a PSU above your "needs" will last longer be more reliable and in most cases run cooler and quieter since the fan wont need to run full speed.

she could probably get by with a 450watt PSU but a weak or average quality PSU or one needing to supply full output for the system 100% of the time can go bad and destroy the rest of your components at the same time when it blows so in the same way you wouldnt but walmart discount tires on your corvette, you shouldnt skimp on a good high quality PSU no matter how high or low end your budget is

yea the TX750 is dumb

SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 1...

thats overkill for the build

[keakar]

Originally Posted by cdawall

had both the 965BE does not clock better

ok, then i makes sense the get the 955

if it was just about price it didnt make sense

[keakar]

Originally Posted by cdawall

yea the TX750 is dumb

SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 1...

thats overkill for the build

so you say my choice is dumb yet you offer him a 520w for $4 less then the 750 after mir

then when he goes to upgrade in the future you will be the first to say he needs a better PSU

if he is going to get a 500w or 550w then it should be only to save money not just to buy less for the same price

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by keakar

so you say my choice is dumb yet you offer him a 520w for $4 less then the 750 after mir

then when he goes to upgrade in the future you will be the first to say he needs a better PSU

if he is going to get a 500w or 550w then it should be around the $40-50 price for his first choice

most people dont trust MIR's hell i dont its kind of a bonus for me when one does actually show up. also since when was $90-70 $4? unless i am missing something

why do people think in the future you have to get a new PSU? i have had the same 850w for 2 years now and it is still overkill now. everything is coming down in TDP as time goes on midrange parts are always around the same TDP...

if you want to include MIR's i would just get this

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / E...

good little units had one running

Phenom II 910@3.7ghz
2x2GB DDR3
Asus M4A78T-E
HD3870X2 (ran a 4850X2)
2xHDD
1xODD
Wifi card
several USB
Cold cathodes and some big 120x38s

never had an issue till some power surges killed it

[jpierce55]

I see $40 difference before MIR, and $20 after. A good option is here:
Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2...

[keakar]

Originally Posted by cdawall

most people dont trust MIR's hell i dont its kind of a bonus for me when one does actually show up. also since when was $90-70 $4? unless i am missing something

Corsair CMPSU-750TX is listed for $109.99 + $20mir and free s&h = total cost of $89.99

your suggestion was

SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W for $69.99 + $5.99 s&h = $75.98 for a difference of $14


i agree on being leary of mir from off brands but some brands are IMO dependable with them, mainy EVGA, Corsair, and CoolerMaster are what i have had experience with.

and if he really doesnt want to go with a 750w then this is a nice less powerful one that still can supply power for any future computer upgrade needs:

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W $89.99 + $10mir = $79.99 with free s&h

Originally Posted by cdawall

why do people think in the future you have to get a new PSU?

oh i dont know, maybe because every time i turn around video cards are needing more power or extra connectors attatched to them and often people like to upgrade by adding EXTRA video cards which aint gonna be getting enough power supplied for more then 1 card by that 520 PSU

im looking at this so that computer can be given the most options for the future so if she wants to pass it on to a niece or nefew its very much still upgradable for anything like that

there is nothing dumb in me suggesting he get a proper PSU from a top name brand with a reputation for superior quality and reliability that wont give him any trouble for many years AND is ready for ANY future upgrade options no matter what they might be.

thats fine if you want to tell him to get "just enough" to supply his needs and he could be very happy with that choice too.

but itsalso true that if he chooses to go that route he might have it go out on him within a year or two and the possible extra damage to other components that could result from it because it will ALWAYS be running at maximum output to supply enough power to the system.

i often bought PSUs that were just enough sized and no-name or not the best quality brands for years until i learned its not worth it by skimping on PSUs

[cdawall]

You do know that seasonic is not an off brand and the people who build those super corsair units you seem to like (most lines anyway) please do at least some research before preaching what's a cheap brand and what's not...

And like I said before I am going on 2 years with the same psu albiet I bought a big on back then to run quadfire 3870x2s, 4850x2s and 4870x2s.

The psu I linked is not a just enough build a corsair 430w would be a just enough the 520 leaves plenty of room for soundcard usb devices etc.

[keakar]

you must be reading a different thread because i never said one bad word about the seasonic brand or its quality.

im not directly discussing this build with you so im not directly replying to YOUR advice but rather in a general way i am giving suggestions to the OP based on my own opinions.

my goal here is just in giving advice and suggestions to the OP who may look beyond his first choice of PSU and may very well be shopping for a different PSU out there so my advice to avoid off brands is warranted to give to him.

as for doing some reading well there are many articles on corsair PSUs out there so read up.

this is not some kind of pizzing match that YOUR opinion MUST rule so i do not need to agree with your opinion. you gave your opinion and i gave mine, the OP will make up his own mind who has given the advise he wishes to follow.

thats the way forums work ya know, a question is asked and often DIFFERENT opinions are given.

[manofthem]

Originally Posted by tilldeath

just so everyone knows this is for a 55y/o lady who at the most will play wow so.....

Perhaps I'm out of touch, but am I the only one surprised that a 55 year old woman is playing World of Warcraft? That's astounding IMO.