Looking For Advice On AMD build For Low Cost.

[jboydgolfer]

Hello,

I have Always been an Intel guy,But I have been hearing Some REALLY good thing's about AMD So I thought I'd try to Save by going with Their CPU offering's.My Room mate is looking to invest in a Desktop to take some stress off of his Laptop's. We have a Not So old Dell Office/Professional PC from MIT Lab's, which We plan to Hollow out to Keep the Case , optical Drive, and Maybe the PSU, but I think it's too weak.

Anyway, I have NEVER been into AMD, and I know when I'm out of My comfort zone. So , I was Hoping that Someone who is Versed in AMD's CPU's/MoBo's , could Point me in a Good Direction for a Gaming/Leisure Budget build. He does Do gaming, with higher End MMO's / RPG's , and he is Concerned about Graphic Capabilities. Essentially what he Want's is a PC , which can Handle Eye Candy with Little to No Sweat. Nothing Ridiculous, just Capable. We'll need a MoBo , CPU , and RAM. (i Know GPU's so that's not a Big problem).

Also , It's a mid tower, So ATX @ the Max.

If you have advice, I'd love to hear it, I'm thinking Quad Core ,For Gaming, but You tell me if that's too Much.

$$ is a BIG Factor, Lower the Cost the better. Thank's For looking ,and Thanks For your time/Help.

Under $400 For SURE , Just CPU, and MoBo help needed please.

[de.das.dude]

i know lower the better, but its still nice if you could give an exact value.
that would help decide how much to spend on GPu and CPU etc.

[Jack1n]

Does it have to be AMD?

1. Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W ... -120

2. ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6... - 80

3. SAMSUNG 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600... - 35

4. HIS H785F1G2M Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI... - 170 (if the psu can handle it)
OR
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100358VXL Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edit... (if psu cant handle 7850) - 140

Total-405$/385$

[jboydgolfer]

Originally Posted by Jack1n

Does it have to be AMD?

No, I just Figured it Would be cheaper For More performance is all.

[Jack1n]

Well if the PSU that you already have can handle a 7850 then thats a pretty beastly build for 400$

[jboydgolfer]

I picked these item's out, But they Could Suck For all I know. What You Think?\

Foxconn A9DA AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s ATX AMD...

PowerColor AX7850 2GBD5-DH Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-...

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM...

AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W ...

I know the RAM isn't Great, but it's a start.

[jboydgolfer]

Originally Posted by Jack1n

Well if the PSU that you already have can handle a 7850 then thats a pretty beastly build for 400$

It's only Like 400 Watts I think, So I may be Screwed. I DO have a 600Watt OCZ I Bought For a friend , that NEVER got used, it Could work for a Short while.

I like yours better, but is that i3 enough for High end gaming?

[NC37]

$400...hmmm. Shame you didn't catch all the black friday deals. There was some decent combo kits for around $200. However, the trouble with those are, they are usually outdated boards and excess parts that haven't sold. But if you are on a small budget like that, they'd do if you snag a decent one.

For $400 you'd be looking at either an APU system or a Phenom II system. I wouldn't recommend FX in that price range. The quads are crappy. Now, higher end Piledriver is decent. But that is a good $170+ chunk out of the budget right there.

If you went APU you could save some money on graphics. Then later add a GPU for CrossfireX for a boost. But they won't give you max everything Ultra quality capability. Really if you want that you aren't going to get it except on old titles...for $400.

Also gotta take into account a power supply. I wouldn't skimp and get a crap one. Crap ones last you a year or two then blow out and you're lucky if they don't take the board with them. You'll want an Antec or equivalent. Others here can point you to good makers. I myself suffered crap PSUs too long before I went Antec. I'm not interested in taking leaps anymore.

So...give or take $100 CPU, up to $100 board, that leaves...$200 for RAM, PSU, HDD, and maybe an optical. Doable. May be even able to squeeze in that discrete GPU for CrossfireX if you plan it well enough and...catch sales.

[Jack1n]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/201...-3220-review/6

Yes that I3 will suffice for any game paired with that video card.

[jboydgolfer]

Originally Posted by NC37

$400...hmmm. Shame you didn't catch all the black friday deals. There was some decent combo kits for around $200. However, the trouble with those are, they are usually outdated boards and excess parts that haven't sold. But if you are on a small budget like that, they'd do if you snag a decent one.

For $400 you'd be looking at either an APU system or a Phenom II system. I wouldn't recommend FX in that price range. The quads are crappy. Now, higher end Piledriver is decent. But that is a good $170+ chunk out of the budget right there.

If you went APU you could save some money on graphics. Then later add a GPU for CrossfireX for a boost. But they won't give you max everything Ultra quality capability. Really if you want that you aren't going to get it except on old titles...for $400.

Also gotta take into account a power supply. I wouldn't skimp and get a crap one. Crap ones last you a year or two then blow out and you're lucky if they don't take the board with them. You'll want an Antec or equivalent. Others here can point you to good makers. I myself suffered crap PSUs too long before I went Antec. I'm not interested in taking leaps anymore.

So...give or take $100 CPU, up to $100 board, that leaves...$200 for RAM, PSU, HDD, and maybe an optical. Doable. May be even able to squeeze in that discrete GPU for CrossfireX if you plan it well enough and...catch sales.

No Don't need All that , just CPU, MoBo , RAM, I got PSU, HDD, case, optical. I agree though , it IS tight

[jboydgolfer]

Originally Posted by jack1n

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/201...-3220-review/6

yes that i3 will suffice for any game paired with that video card.

nice

[jboydgolfer]

Mixed a list together, with Some of the Suggestion's, and My own as well, tell me what you think.

Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W ...

ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6...

SAMSUNG 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600...

PowerColor AX7850 2GBD5-DH Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-...

If I give him , my PSU, and Count the MIR, it's basically $400.



Also , I live in Massachusetts, And We have a MicroCenter, which Means I could Get the Mobo and CPU for Significantly Cheaper.

[Jack1n]

Originally Posted by jboydgolfer

Mixed a list together, with Some of the Suggestion's, and My own as well, tell me what you think.

Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W ...

ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6...

SAMSUNG 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600...

PowerColor AX7850 2GBD5-DH Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-...

If I give him , my PSU, and Count the MIR, it's basically $400.



Also , I live in Massachusetts, And We have a MicroCenter, which Means I could Get the Mobo and CPU for Significantly Cheaper.

A pretty solid build,should hold its own @ 1080p,if you OC that card it will be faster than a stock 7870.

[jboydgolfer]

Originally Posted by Jack1n

A pretty solid build,should hold its own @ 1080p,if you OC that card it will be faster than a stock 7870

Nice , Thanks For ALL the Help Guy's.

Now I gotta See what's in this Damn thing Now, and Try to Sell what's worth selling.

It must be decent if it's From MIT, Right? With my luck it was probably from the janitorial Offices.

And Saved another $30 or so Getting the i3 and the MoBo from Microcenter, just need to order the RAM, and GPU From Neweggy.

[mediasorcerer]

Why don't you use budget 20$ generic 4gb stick of the cheapest ram you can find, and put the difference into a better mobo and cpu, then later on upgrade to high performance ram down the track, that's what i did, that way i spent bit more on good mobo and cpu to begin with etc, if that makes sense?


edit-maybe better gpu then i could say?

p.s. i have 7950, and just LOVE it for gaming, really good card.

[Jack1n]

Originally Posted by mediasorcerer

Why don't you use budget 20$ generic 4gb stick of the cheapest ram you can find, and put the difference into a better mobo and cpu, then later on upgrade to high performance ram down the track, that's what i did, that way i spent bit more on good mobo and cpu to begin with etc, if that makes sense?


edit-maybe better gpu then i could say?

p.s. i have 7950, and just LOVE it for gaming, really good card.

Those ram sticks are 35$ for 2 4gb sticks,it dosent get much cheaper,i dont see a reason to spend 20$ now and anuther 35$ later,if paired with a capable cpu/board those sticks OC to 2000mhz+.

[amp281]

consider the Phenom X4 965 BE

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz So..., it frequently sells at $85, bought one from the egg 2 days ago at that price.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...54.55.60.61.62
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...54.55.60.61.62
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...45.46.53.54.55

[Jack1n]

Originally Posted by amp281

consider the Phenom X4 965 BE

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz So..., it frequently sells at $85, bought one from the egg 2 days ago at that price.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...54.55.60.61.62
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...54.55.60.61.62
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Produ...45.46.53.54.55

The i3 will easily outperform it in gamings and also in most,if not all multi threarded apps,it has hyper threading so it can run 4 threads.

[amp281]

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/677?vs=102

The phenom outperforms the I3 in most tests.

Not to mention you can overclock the 965BE while the I3 has a locked multiplier.

[de.das.dude]

are you kidding. the 965 will feel much faster than a two core i3. real cores for REAL men.

[brandonwh64]

Have you thought about A10-5800K + FM2 board?

Originally Posted by de.das.dude

are you kidding. the 965 will feel much faster than a two core i3. real cores for REAL men.

Yes DDD the newer IB will murder a 965 in gaming.

[de.das.dude]

"newer" lol. wont the newer IB cost more?

[brandonwh64]

Originally Posted by de.das.dude

"newer" lol. wont the newer IB cost more?

My broken english ROCKS!

119$ at newegg but worth if for gaming.

[TRWOV]

FX-6300, basically an FX-83xx with a disabled module, has full L3 cache, best core/$ ratio.
4 or 8GB 1866 RAM
990FX chipset although vanilla 990 is fine too.

another option is the A10-5800K


EDIT: NVM, just saw that you're going with a i3

[drdeathx]

Originally Posted by Jack1n

The i3 will easily outperform it in gamings and also in most,if not all multi threarded apps,it has hyper threading so it can run 4 threads.

i3 will not outperform the AMD A10-5800.

OP Jack is an Intel fanboy. Look at the Trinity Platform. He is way off base. AMD gives much better graphics than intel and it is well documented. The A10-5800 has an on die 7650D graphics package and there is no need for a video cartd plus the 7650D spanks Intel's 3000 graphics on the i3 processors. Jack, i suggest you do some research on these new Trinity CPU's.