[baron1994]

This is my first attempt at building my own PC which is going to replace my old laptop. I'm intending to play games like Bad Company 2 at a decent quality while sticking to a $500~$650 budget.

The PC I intend to build:

CPU/Motherboard:
Asus M4A79XTD EVO AMD 790X Socket AM3 Motherboard and AMD Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor Bundle

Graphics card:
XFX HD577AZNFC Radeon HD 5770 Video Card

RAM:
Corsair 4GB DDR3 RAM (4GB enough?)

Hard Drive:
Western Digital WD20EARS Caviar Green Hard Drive - 2TB, 3.5", SATA-3G (2TB excessive?)

Power Supply:
Ultra LSP550 550-Watt Power Supply (enough?)

DVD:
Lite-On IHAS22406 Internal DVD Writer - DVD+R 24X, DVD-R 24X, DVD+RW 8X, DVD-RW 6X, SATA, Lightscribe

Case:
Thermaltake V3 Black Edition Mid Tower Case

OS would be 64bit Windows7 and I should have some keyboard/mouse lying around.
The total cost would be around $600.

Have I chosen the components properly and is there anyway to make this cheaper while still being a decent gaming pc?
Thanks.

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Hi Baron 1994,

Have I chosen the components properly and is there anyway to make this cheaper while still being a decent gaming PC?

Not bad choices but needs a little tweaking. Don"t think we can make it cheaper.

Will go through your components one at a time ending with the RAM. Parts selected will give you the best upgrade path.

Motherboard. Your selected Mobo is Socket AM3, I recommend Socket AM3+. This is AMD latest boards which will take the next generation Bulldozer CPUs which will be released at the end of May. The new boards are backward compatible with AM3 CPUs, so your selected AMD HDX840WFGMBOX Phenom II X4 840 will work. article can be found here, > http://insanetek.com...t-fret-too-much

The new boards are in short supply at the moment, as happened with Intel, but will become more available over the next month. This comparison is as near as I could get, note that the AM3+ has only 1 PCIe 16 slot, > http://www.newegg.ca...3-128-490-02%23

You could check out the newer boards,
Not yet available, > http://event.asus.co...AM3_PLUS_Ready/
Available< >
http://www.gigabyte....jid=10&p=2&v=26

You might look at other brands like Asrock, EVGA.

Edited by iammykyl, 17 April 2011 - 10:31 PM.

[iammykyl]

Hi Baron 1994,

Have I chosen the components properly and is there anyway to make this cheaper while still being a decent gaming PC?

Not bad choices but needs a little tweaking. Don"t think we can make it cheaper.

Will go through your components one at a time ending with the RAM. Parts selected will give you the best upgrade path.

Motherboard. Your selected Mobo is Socket AM3, I recommend Socket AM3+. This is AMD latest boards which will take the next generation Bulldozer CPUs which will be released at the end of May. The new boards are backward compatible with AM3 CPUs, so your selected AMD HDX840WFGMBOX Phenom II X4 840 will work. article can be found here, > http://insanetek.com...t-fret-too-much

The new boards are in short supply at the moment, as happened with Intel, but will become more available over the next month. This comparison is as near as I could get, note that the AM3+ has only 1 PCIe 16 slot, > http://www.newegg.ca...3-128-490-02%23

You could check out the newer boards,
Not yet available, > http://event.asus.co...AM3_PLUS_Ready/
Available< >
http://www.gigabyte....jid=10&p=2&v=26

You might look at other brands like Asrock, EVGA.

Edited by iammykyl, 17 April 2011 - 10:31 PM.

[baron1994]

Thanks I never knew that.
I will definitely need to get a AM3+ then. So I should buy Gigabyte AM3+ board or wait until newer models come out.

[iammykyl]

will definitely need to get a AM3+ then

Yes.

So I should buy Gigabyte AM3+ board or wait until newer models come out.

The Gigabyte is a newer board but you do not have to buy that particular one. I gave it as the rearest one to your selection.
I know it will be quite hard to decide on a board seeing that, "when not in stock" it is hard to get a price.

Go to the Asrock site and look at there boards. > http://www.asrock.co...al/products.asp

[baron1994]

I know it will be quite hard to decide on a board seeing that, "when not in stock" it is hard to get a price.

You're right. I couldn't find am3+ mobos that had a price tag.
So I'll just go with Gigabyte board you suggested.

[iammykyl]

Here is a build that you will be able to upgrade in stages and eventually move all the parts to a new Mobo if you want to have duel graphics. It will play most games on max but Crisis you will have to turn down the Eye Candy.

Mobo, > http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128490 This card only has 1 PCIe slot.

CPU. > http://www.newegg.co...3-921-_-Product UPGRADE. AMD Bulldozer.

PSU. > http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817371021 This would power 2 video cards later.

CASE, > http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129079 Has good airflow, washable filters, Hot swap front SATA HDD bay even has blue LEDS.

RAM. > http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820145348 Enough for games. UPGRADE to 8GBs.

HDD. > http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136284 Will be enough space. UPGRADE to second smaller HDD for OS, Raptor or SSD.

GFX. > http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814150516 UPGRADE. 2nd card.

DVD. > http://www.newegg.co...06 Internal DVD

Let us know what you think.

[baron1994]

Nice but unfortunately that exceeds my budget.
Is it possible to stick with all these except I change the gpu to HD5770 to cut costs? Maybe I can upgrade to the 6850 later?

[iammykyl]

Is it possible to stick with all these except I change the GPU to HD5770 to cut costs?

\


That's a big , will work fine.

You will also need an internal system speaker like this, > http://www.cwc-group.com/casp.html Some look like a conventional speaker. You could get one from an old computer or your local PC shop may have one from a scrapped PC.

Some Mobos come with diagnostic lights and flash LEDS if OK or errors. some Cases come with an interal speaker installed and will give beep codes, but in your case neither applies. When you start the PC the first thing done is

Power-on self-test (POST) done by the BIOS. without one of the above if you have an error you won't know what it is.

Keep the forum informed of your progress and if you have more questions, post.

[baron1994]

Thanks so much!
Now I can finally get to the fun part.

[baron1994]

Actually there is one more thing.
Can I change the case to this without having any issues?
In my opinion it looks cooler.
Thanks.

[iammykyl]

Yes you can use the HAF but as it only comes with 2 fans, suggest you install a 200mm top fan. to make it comparable to the Antec.

Also looks like no user control over fan speed and no cut out at the back of the Mobo mounting plate.

[iammykyl]

How are things progressing, Have you got your parts yet?

[baron1994]

How are things progressing, Have you got your parts yet?

Well about that. Things turned out differently since my budget increased.
It runs just fine and seems pretty satisfactory.
I just need to get an activation key because I installed the os using a windows 7 upgrade dvd and I can't find any keys around my house that will activate it. So I'm running on the 30 day trial.

[iammykyl]

Thanks for the reply.

Look on the installation CD which will tell you where or how to get the activation Key otherwise you are going to have to buy the software..