New Build

[Snipe343]

My pc is getting pretty old as far as technology standards go, and I've been out of the loop for a while do to being swamped with school work and such, so I need some of you guys to point me in the right direction, I'm just looking for a medium performance build, medium price range, probably AMD due to it being cheaper.
What should I look for?

 

[Dent1]

1-How much is your budget
2-What is this PC going to be used for
3-Will you be upgrading it again, if so when

 

[Snipe343]

1- Around a thousand
2- Gaming mostly, I've been starting to like PC games a lot more lately, and some cool ones are coming out soon
3- If I build it during the summer now, I might upgrade slightly holiday season, but it depends if something news upgrading.

 

[Dent1]

1- Around a thousand
2- Gaming mostly, I've been starting to like PC games a lot more lately, and some cool ones are coming out soon
3- If I build it during the summer now, I might upgrade slightly holiday season, but it depends if something news upgrading.

Looking at your specification, I would say that you do not need a full system. You just need a new processor and a video card i.e. ATi 4xxx/5xxx and AMD Phenom II X6. and perhaps another 1 GB of ram.

Your current GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-DS4 should be able to accept the Phenom II with a bios update.

 

[Snipe343]

Okay, that was one of the things I was just thinking about. scratch the ddr3 ram, it doesn't i wasnt sure haha

 

[Dent1]

This should more or less transform your low end rig into a high end gaming rig. AMDs second fastest dektop CPU and ATIs second fastest mainstream video card, I put a bigger HD in the basket too as 250GB isnt enough storage these days.

1x SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" $69.99

1x XFX HD-585X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready $284.99

2x Crucial 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $51.98

1x AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz Socket AM3 125W Six-Core $199.99


Subtotal: $606.95

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cac...
XFX HD-585X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit DDR5 P...
Crucial 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)...
AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz 6 x 512KB L2 ...

Okay, that was one of the things I was just thinking about. scratch the ddr3 ram, it doesn't i wasnt sure haha

You could buy a new motherboard and DDR3, but the extra bandwidth of DDR3 probably will not boost performance that much, you've got two decent crucial sticks already so it makes no sense wasting it. Your current motherboard (GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-DS4) is pretty high end ish so it makes no sense replacing it for the sake of DDR3. A new mobo and DDR3 ram will add an additional $200 to the subtotal. The only time I would advise going down the DDR3 route is if you plan on selling your current motherboard and DDR2 to fund the new build.

 

[Fourstaff]

I don't think the Thermaltake PSU is going to handle the 6 core of awesomeness AND the 5850.

 

[Snipe343]

Yeah, I fill up that 250g wicked fast XD. And I agree with fourstaff too. Oh and quick question, is there a difference between gddr and drr? or would a video card jsut always have gddr because its graphics related?

 

[jellyrole]

The BIOS update can be found here:
http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_DownloadFile.aspx?FileType=BIOS&FileID=14802

 

[jellyrole]

Add this drive for storage:
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 ...

 

[LittleLizard]

if u have problem with space, get a 1tb black wd drive, a fast ssd for boot only and a 5850.

i disagree with jellyrole about the x6, i think FOR GAMING PURPOSES, a x4 955 o 965 is WAY more than enough

 

[MohawkAngel]

Asus M4A785-M mobo with onboard sound 8.1, gigabit lan, radeon hd4200 with RGB, DVI and HDMI plug. many usb ports. AMD mobo and put some ddr2 ram in it. Can take up to 1200mhz memory. Look for the specs by yourself it could be easier for you to judge

OR

Could keep your board for now put antoher stick of ram in it useless to put 4gigs until you got the 64 bits version of Windows it will detect only 3.25 gigs under the 32bits version.

Change the processor for a low but still well performing Phenom X2 550BE. 3.1gigs producing low heat with 85 watts but good power

Video card could be better but later on when you will have chose to go with another board or not.

 

[Snipe343]

Opps, I do have 64-bit Windows 7, I forgot to update my specs

 

[Dent1]

is there a difference between gddr and drr? or would a video card jsut always have gddr because its graphics related?

GDDR and DDR is the same thing, its just marketing.

jellyroles, the build looks good, but the OP has 2x1 GBs of DDR2 already, he only needs another 2GBs otherwise he'll have roll with 6GBs which is a bit of an awkward quantity for AMD, plus he will lose dual channel. Not sure about SSD either as will not increase the frame rate, games might load a few seconds faster but when you are running AMDs high end processor loadings will be fast enough as it is.

I do agree a new PSU is needed.

Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12...

 

[jellyrole]

if u have problem with space, get a 1tb black wd drive, a fast ssd for boot only and a 5850.

i disagree with jellyrole about the x6, i think FOR GAMING PURPOSES, a x4 955 o 965 is WAY more than enough

Disagree all you want! The price fights you

 

[LittleLizard]

Disagree all you want! The price fights you

http://img.techpowerup.org/100622/Capture018.jpg

no, i mean, i read a review when the x6 first came out and the conclusion was: " if you game, get a x4 and oc; if you do 3d design or video editing, get the x6". Altough considering futureproofing, the x6 could be a choice as well

 

[Dent1]

Hmm, I have a slightly different view. The 965 is $180, the 955 is $150, the X6 1055 is $200. There is a $20 or $50 difference, with a $1,000 budget $50 will not scratch a dent, you might as well get the better CPU with the OPs budget.

 

[jellyrole]

Yea, I see what you're saying there, but this CPU will last him longer and only hurt him about an average of 1FPS in most games. In other games, it may boost him 10FPS(future release games).

 

[LittleLizard]

Yea, I see what you're saying there, but this CPU will last him longer and only hurt him about an average of 1FPS in most games. In other games, it may boost him 10FPS(future release games).

What future? Present (GTA IV)

EDIT: sorry for going off topic.

I shall add to his rig that if he plans to keep the 790x, he may consider getting another 5850 for cheap in the near future

 

[Dent1]

Bad Company 2 sucks on less cores. Take a look at this review I found, if this is the way the gaming industry is going I think more cores the better especially when they cost about the same.

http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/659536-contagion-review-dual-core-vs-quad.html

 

[Dent1]

Snipe343 are you planning on overclocking? if not stock cooler should be fine, I am tempted to put a aftermarket cooler in the basket if you are OC'ing.

 

[Snipe343]

Yeah a little probably, I probably will when i get bored one day haha. I'm guess when I upgrade this stuff it'll be a lot faster so I wont feel the need to right away really

 

[MohawkAngel]

Asus M4A785-M
AMD Phenom X2 555 Black Edition 3.2gigs 6m cache
COOLER MASTER Vortex 752 RR-CCH-P912-GP 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
2 X 2gigs Crucial Rendition 1066mhz
Western Digital 1TB 6.0GB/s 64m cache


Under 400$

Your PSU is plenty enough for it since the CPU is only 80watts and all onboard.

Just add a 100$ blue ray disk reader and you got a gaming and home theatre pc with HDMI plug.
With time just change the PSU and the videocard upon your needs. Youll stay wayyy under the thousand you wanted.

 

[jellyrole]

You can't really call an 8600GT a gaming card. It did what I needed it to 2-3 years ago and held me off until I had money to get an 8800GT. Bottom line: he needs a better card as well.

 

[LittleLizard]

You can't really call an 8600GT a gaming card. It did what I needed it to 2-3 years ago and held me off until I had money to get an 8800GT. Bottom line: he needs a better card as well.

i have one and i agree. Here in south america, we are used to turn down all the eyecandy for framerate and in fact my 8600gt here is still quite a decent card HERE. But in the civilized world, its nothing more than a HTPC card.