Budget Gaming AMD Build

[mattlef]

Hey everyone.

Basics...
Gaming, media server, 24/7 pc.

I want to go All Red for this

Featuring the Amd Phenom II 550
and Gigabyte UD4P 790 mobo...

Everything else is subjective.

Originally Posted by Budget

$1150.00 Tax/Ship in
Including a 22-24in LCD, Speakers and Keyboard/mouse Set

Local Stuff:
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Dual Core Processor Socket AM3 3.1GHZ 7MB Cache 80W Retail Box
$121.99 @ Canada computers
$137.84 w/ Tax
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ncix order:

Gigabyte MA790XT-UD4P AMD790X ATX AM3 DDR3 2PCI-E SATA2 RAID Sound GLAN Motherboard
$142.40 open box- Price Match request for the above item $121.04

Mushkin HP3 996629 4GB 2X2GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 CL8-8-8-24 Dual Channel Memory Kit
$74.99

Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 PCI-E 2XDVI-I Video Card *IR-$10*
$169.98 Price Match request for the above item: $149.99

Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA775 LGA1156 120MM
$30.35 Price Match request for the above item: $25.30

OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W ATX 20/24PIN SLI Ready Modular Cables 135MM Fan Active PFC Power Supply
$71.99 Price Match request for the above item: $66.91

Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB SATA2 7200RPM 8MB 3.5IN Hard Drive OEM
$68.96 Price Match request for the above item: $49.89

Samsung SH-S222A/BEBE 22X Dual Layer DVD Writer Black IDE OEM
$21.99

Free Shipping NCIX REWARD/INTERNAL Use **NCIX Rewards**


NCIX order: $$543.65 inc Ship and Taxes

Originally Posted by Case:

Lancool PC-K62
$115.00
Plus taxes and shipping (estimated $145.00)*** used for estimate***
If included in ^ free ship will be: $120.75

Originally Posted by Monitor:

Samsung - SyncMaster 2343BWX 23" Widescreen LCD Monitor -Black, 2048 x 1152
$238.45 inc tax - damn recycle tax..

Originally Posted by Desktop Set

Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 V2
$48.57 Inc Tax

Originally Posted by Speakers

Logitech (980-000058) 2.1 LS21 Stereo Speaker System
$ 39.53 inc Tax

Total Cost: $1152.11

Anyone see anywhere I can save some cash, or better spend it?

[Shadowmeph]

some one was and maybe still selling a gigabyte 3d aurora case here for $40 I would have bought it myself but I am cramped as it is
ooop[s sorry about that it is a Local only sale and it is in Vancouver

[stoanee]

Replace the Ziggy with this:
NCIX.com - Buy Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA775 LGA1156 120MM - RR-B10-212P-GP In Canada.=$30.35

With the money saved get this:
NCIX.com - Buy Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty - WD6401AALS In Canada.=$77.39

[mattlef]

my bad,
I should ahve pointed out that I already have my media drive. its a 1TB WD Black, so the drive included in the build will be strictly os and apps.

[rapmaster]

+1 on the Hyper 212 +, I price matched for 25$

[mattlef]

I actually might go WC if I can find it in my budget...
working on it now...

Added more information to the "needed list" if any of you guys have the above parts and are willing to sell to me less the retail please let me know!!!!

Also, anyone know if that Lancool is Painted or Powdercoated black? If so, thats the definate winner.

---edit---
IT IS!!! thats the winner for sure.

[rapmaster]

that k62 is real sweet, make me want to upgrade my Tempest

[mattlef]

I agree,
its an absolutely fantastic case....
I'm thinking of while led's white sleeving and white led fans everything else in black.

Later on, when I go WC, White tubing and light blue fluid.... could look really, really really good.

[martin_metal_88]

Try to replace PSU with thing like that

NCIX.com - Buy Silverstone Strider ST50F 500W ATX12V 24PIN Power Supply W/120MM Fan Active PFC - SST-ST50F In Canada.

NCIX.com - Buy Corsair VX450 450W ATX 12V 33A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan - CMPSU-450VX In Canada.

The corsair even with 50V under will outclass the OCZ with no problem.
They have a much more better life time.

The only other thing I would change is the case, going with the CM690 for more expansion slot and fan place. But that's only my preference.

The rest of the build is solid ;)

Ask for more.

[rapmaster]

The 690 have only 7 expansion slots and the K62 have 8, I don't think any case have more than 8. That's one of the big feature of that case.

[rapmaster]

Originally Posted by mattlef

I agree,
its an absolutely fantastic case....
I'm thinking of while led's white sleeving and white led fans everything else in black.

Later on, when I go WC, White tubing and light blue fluid.... could look really, really really good.

Be sure to include pics and a review of the case if you can

[mattlef]

I will for sure.
I hope ncix is open on monday... I'll have to place my order online, call and get the case added on as a "pre-order". then I'll have to hit up charles to see if i can score some all white sleeving.

The biggest obsticle to this build however, is timeline. Hopefully some members in the next few days will have some of the parts I'm looking for up for sale... hopefully.

[mattlef]

One thing i'm wondering is, what benefits would I get from DDR3 in comparison to DDR2. both verstions of the UD4P with F5 bios can unlock the extra two cores (or have proven to...) so what extra would i get, in regards to end user experience with DDR3 over DDR2?

[sswilson]

Performance wise, I don't think there's a huge difference outside of heavy benching. That said... it's a new build and DDR3 is the wave of the future so you might find replacement ram pricy a year from now if you stick with DDR2 (price some decent DDR1 sticks to see what I mean.... :) ).

Looks like a fairly solid build to me. I know you're trying to bring it under budget, but if you can squeeze the extra coin out of your wallet (or save it up) you'll have exactly what you're looking for.

++ on the Coolermaster cooler. I'll be putting up some comparison #s on a 720be monday/tuesday.

++ on a slightly better PSU as well. I know that folks sound like a broken record when it comes to PSUs, but you really don't want to scrimp on the one part of your build that will carry you for a couple of years or more.

[mattlef]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Performance wise, I don't think there's a huge difference outside of heavy benching. That said... it's a new build and DDR3 is the wave of the future so you might find replacement ram pricy a year from now if you stick with DDR2 (price some decent DDR1 sticks to see what I mean.... :) ).

Looks like a fairly solid build to me. I know you're trying to bring it under budget, but if you can squeeze the extra coin out of your wallet (or save it up) you'll have exactly what you're looking for.

++ on the Coolermaster cooler. I'll be putting up some comparison #s on a 720be monday/tuesday.

++ on a slightly better PSU as well. I know that folks sound like a broken record when it comes to PSUs, but you really don't want to scrimp on the one part of your build that will carry you for a couple of years or more.

I've used the 600w OCZ before, and would be using it now, but i plan on having this computer on 24/7. the 500 is still a decent psu for what I intend to do... i think... should i spend the extra $$$ and try for the Corsair 500w?