Parts Guide

[livehard]

First off, I know we already have something close to this, but it hasn't been updated in some time, so I decided to make one.


This is just a parts guide, not how to put it together, or make educated decisions about your build, just a starting point. So, with that said, lets get started.

These don't include monitors, keyboard, mice, speakers, or Operating Systems so keep that in mind.

All prices and recommendations as of 8/11/09

Parts|Guide
Tight Budget Build|Sub $500|
AMD|Intel|
AMD Athlon X2 240 $61|Intel Pentium E5200 $67|
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P $95|Foxconn ELA $70|
Sapphire Radeon HD4850 $100|EVGA GTS 250 $125|
G.SKILL DDR3 1600 RAM 4GB $75|Patriot DDR2 800 RAM $44|
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB HDD $55|WD Caviar Black 640GB $65|
TOPOWER 550W PSU $40|Seasonic 500W PSU $62|
CoolerMaster Elite 360 MidTower $40|Cooler Master Elite 360 $40|
Samsung SH-S223F DVD Burner $25|Samsung SH-S223F $25|
Total- $482|Total- $498|
||
Budget build|Sub $750|
AMD|Intel|
AMD Phenom II X3 720 $120|Intel Core2Quad Q8300 $170|
Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-UD3H $125|Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P $135|
G.SKILL DDR3 1600 RAM 4 GB $75|OCZ Gold DDR2 800 $42|
XFX RadeonHD 4890 $200|Sparkle GTX 260 $160|
WD Caviar Black 640 GB $65|WD Caviar Black 640GB $65|
Seasonic 500W PSU $62|Seasonic 500W PSU $62|
CoolerMaster Centurion 5 $45|CoolerMaster Centurion5 $45|
Samsung SH-S223F DVD Burner $25|Samsung SH-223F $25|
Total- $717|Total- $704|
||
Average Rig|Sub $1000|
Intel|AMD|
Intel Core i7 920 $280|AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE $200|
MSI X58 Pro-E $190|Asus M4A79T Deluxe $190|
Sparkle GTX 275 $200|PowerColor Radeon HD4890 $200|
OCZ DDR3 1600 RAM 6GB $95|G.SKILL DDR3 133 RAM 4GB $75|
WD Caviar Black 640GB $65|WD Caviar Black 1TB $95|
PC Power&Cooling 610W PSU $95|PC Power&Cooling 750W $110|
CoolerMaster Centurion 5 $45|Antec 900 $105|
Samsung SH-S223F DVD Burner $25|Samsung SH-223F $25|
Total- $995|Total- $1000|
||
Budget Powerhouse|Sub $1500|
Intel|AMD|
Intel Core i7 920 $280|AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE $250|
EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR $240|Asus M4A79T Deluxe $190|
EVGA GTX 285 1GB $340|XFX Radeon HD4870x2 $370|
OCZ DDR3 1600 RAM 6GB $95|OCZ DDR3 1600 4GB x2 $170|
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB $90|Barracuda 7200.12 1TB $90|
Corsair TX850W PSU $140|Corsair TX850W PSU $140|
Xigmatek Dark Knight $45|Xigmatek Dark Knight $45|
Antec 900 Mid Tower $100|Antec 900 MidTower $100|
Pioneer Black 5X BD reader $110|Pioneer 5x BD Reader $110|
Total- $1440|Total- $1465|
||
Powerhouse|Sub $2500|
Intel|AMD|
Intel Core i7 920 $280|AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE $250|
Asus RampageII Extreme $360|Asus M4A79T Deluxe $190|
EVGA GTX 275 1.7GB x2 $600|HIS Radeon HD4890 x3 $600|
OCZ Platinum DDR3 1600 6GBx2 $250|OCZ Platinum DDR3 2000 8GB $170|
Corsair P128 SSD $345|Corsair P128 SSD $345|
Segate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB $90|Barracuda 7200.12 1TB $90|
PC Power&Cooling 910W PSU $190|PC Power&Cooling 910W PSU $190|
Zalman CNPS 9900 $65|Zalman CNPS 9900 $65|
CoolerMaster HAF 932 $150|Cooler Master HAF 932 $150|
LG Black 6x Blu-Ray burner $160|LG Black 6x Blu-Ray Burner $160|
Total- $2490|Total- $2210|
||
No Holds Barred|
Intel|AMD|
Intel Core i7 975 Extreme Edition $1000|AMD Phenom II X4 965 BE $250|
Asus P6T7 WS SuperComputer $450|Asus M4A79T $190|
EVGA GTX 285 2GB FTW x4 * $1760|HIS Radeon HD4890 x4 $800|
G.SKILL DDR3 2133 6GB RAMx2 $560|OCZ Platinum DDR3 2000 8GB $230|
Patriot TorqX 256GB SSD $700|Patriot TorqX 256GB SSD $700|
Seagate Barracuda LP 2TB HDD $200|Seagate Barracuda LP 2TB $200|
Silverstone Strider 1500W PSU $400|Silverstone Strider 1500W $400|
CoolerMatser HAF 932 $150|Antec 1200 $160|
LG Black 6x Blu-Ray Burner $160|LG Black 6x BluRay Burner $160|
Zalman CNPS 9900 $65|Zalman CNPS 9900 $65|
Total- $5425|Total- $3155|
*Tri SLI+PhysX acceleration

So, thats it, for now. I'll update it as needed. Please suggest everything and anything you think necessary, In particular liquid cooling for the No Holds Barred Rig, I'd love list a good liquid cooling setup, but I don't know much about the subject.

Feedback is appreciated.

 

[LittleLizard]

you should put alternatives as some may want to go only with amd and some may want to go only intel (stupid fanboys)

also at the budget rig i would change the cpu for a 720 and the video card for a 4890

 

[livehard]

Good point about the 4890. Updated.

I may add equivalents for video cards, but not CPUS. That'd required different motherboards, and RAM, plus the CPU itself. Meh.

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

Nice post livehard, I was not aware of the $67 Intel Pentium E5200.

Also there is a cheap $60 AMD Athlon II x2 AM3 socket at Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688

Maybe add a cheap but highly upgradeable build?

 

[livehard]

Thanks, I think I might swap out the Pentium Rig for a setup with that Athlon, seeing how its AM3, I'll get to it tomorrow.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Heya livehard!!! I must point out these PSU's for your bust-a-budget build ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817342029

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817101021

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121024

 

[livehard]

Thanks for recommendations. I really like that 550W you listed. Have you used any of them, to vouch for their reliability? The PSU is the most important part in a computer IMO, so I stuck with what I knew. Seasonic, PCP&C, and Corsair because they're battle tested and have great reputations. I'd definitely add that 550W if anyone can tell me about it.

 

[JrRacinFan]

TOPower is a great OEM, and the Kingwin brand is a 50/50 toss-up between Superflower and FSP OEM when you purchase one. Which both are also decent OEM's.

 

[livehard]

Added the TopPower 550W to the bust a budget build.

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

livehard where do you shop? I can't seem to find a "HD 4890" for anywhere near $100 (Tight Budget Build)...

 

[livehard]

Oops, thats meant to be a 4850. Man, I'm bad at this.

 

[mlee49]

Great job taking the initiative and creating the breakdowns for pricing. My suggestion is that you try to do a comparable build for AMD and Intel for each price range, this can be tough but it shows how to build a system creatively.

Also, I suggest putting together 2-3 sub 500 builds plus a good HTPC build. Not sure if you've seen all the request in the system builder threads requesting budgets under $600, big need for custom jobs at that pricing and below.

A last suggestion is to consider buying new and include 'market value' pricing for some lower end builds. That is an excellent way to stretch your budget dollar.

 

[livehard]

Well, Little Lizard suggested the AMD/Intel equivalents as well, so I'll work some of those up. What exactly do you mean by market value? My reading comprehension is a little fuzzy lately.

 

[mlee49]

Well, Little Lizard suggested the AMD/Intel equivalents as well, so I'll work some of those up. What exactly do you mean by market value? My reading comprehension is a little fuzzy lately.

Current Market Value is the resold price of the item instead of new. Basically my 9600GT is $90 new, but I'm selling if for $50 shipped. So basically used pricing. Usually used pricing is 30-40% off the new pricing if it's current gen or one behind. Ex: a 3870 for $50 is fair, but dont price a ATI X1k series card.

 

[livehard]

Ahh, I gotcha. I should get some kind of update by tomorrow afternoon.

 

[livehard]

Intel/AMD alternatives added. Soon to come, HTPC builds. Anyone know how to fix the formatting?

 

[mlee49]

Tables will clean it up:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=71111&highlight=tables

 

[livehard]

Meh, I'm tired. I'll get to it tomorrow.

 

[Zoelef]

My recommendation for <$500 AMD, as I believe DDR2 is more appropriate for that budget:

$120 - Gigabyte GA-MA785G-US2H Micro-ATX AMD & 4GB G.Skill DDR2-1066 {combo}
$110 - Antec Three Hundred Illusion & Antec Earthwatts 430W PSU {combo}
$110 - Sapphire HD 4770
$66 - Athlon II X2 245
$50 - Western Digital 320GB WD3200AAKS
$27 - Samsung SATA DVD-RW

Subtotal: $483

Note: The Earthwatts-430 is on sale by a large margin.

 

[YinYang.ERROR]

My recommendation for <$500 AMD, as I believe DDR2 is more appropriate for that budget:

$120 - Gigabyte GA-MA785G-US2H Micro-ATX AMD & 4GB G.Skill DDR2-1066 {combo}
$110 - Antec Three Hundred Illusion & Antec Earthwatts 430W PSU {combo}
$110 - Sapphire HD 4770
$66 - Athlon II X2 245
$50 - Western Digital 320GB WD3200AAKS
$27 - Samsung SATA DVD-RW

Subtotal: $483

Note: The Earthwatts-430 is on sale by a large margin.

Gah... why a HD 4770?! you can get a 4830 1gb for the same price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102827

 

[JrRacinFan]

why either when you can get a 4850 512MB for cheaper?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

 

[Zoelef]

Gah... why a HD 4770?! you can get a 4830 1gb for the same price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102827

Because the extra memory is relatively pointless on the 4830...you don't start seeing meaningful gains until you reach the 4870. My beef with the 4830 512MB these days it that it costs as much a 4850 512MB, which begs a good question:

why either when you can get a 4850 512MB for cheaper?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

Lower power consumption and smaller card size. When not bound by a CPU, the 4770 is~98.5% as powerful as a 4850, so performance-wise it's a push.

If you want to save $10 on the build, this $100 4850 512MB has an Arctic Cooling Accelero L2 Pro attached to it.

 

[livehard]

My recommendation for <$500 AMD, as I believe DDR2 is more appropriate for that budget:

$120 - Gigabyte GA-MA785G-US2H Micro-ATX AMD & 4GB G.Skill DDR2-1066 {combo}
$110 - Antec Three Hundred Illusion & Antec Earthwatts 430W PSU {combo}
$110 - Sapphire HD 4770
$66 - Athlon II X2 245
$50 - Western Digital 320GB WD3200AAKS
$27 - Samsung SATA DVD-RW

Subtotal: $483

Note: The Earthwatts-430 is on sale by a large margin.

Why is DDR2 more appropriate for that budget? because its crappier? I went with an AM3 system for the sake of upgrade ability.


Zoelef is right about the frame buffer on low end cards. The 4870 is a perfect example.

 

[Zoelef]

Why is DDR2 more appropriate for that budget? because its crappier? I went with an AM3 system for the sake of upgrade ability.

When I theorycrafted this up, I chose the case/PSU first and built outward from there. Personally, I look for cases with significant airflow and 80 PLUS power supplies from top-tier companies regardless of budget. So, I settled on the 300 Illusion/430W Earthwatts combo and worked outwards from there, cutting DDR3 for DDR2 and otherwise chose roughly the same parts as you did.

Feedback is appreciated.

Thanks for making this thread, it's beneficial to the forums to have a reference point for these types of builds. I'm sitting on ~$700 builds for AMD/Intel and will post them in a day or two.

 

[livehard]

In a rig with such meager hardware, airflow isn't such an issue. I'm looking forward to seeing the builds you have ready. Hopefully when the Core i5 is released, we'll be able to squeeze an 1156 build out of $750