AMD Build

[atOnz]

PCPartPicker part list: AMD 965 Black, Galaxy GeForce GTX 560, Azza Toledo 301 - System Build - PCPartPicker Canada
Price breakdown by merchant: AMD 965 Black, Galaxy GeForce GTX 560, Azza Toledo 301 - System Build - Price Breakdown By Merchant - PCPartPicker Canada
Benchmarks: AMD 965 Black, Galaxy GeForce GTX 560, Azza Toledo 301 - System Build - Benchmarks - PCPartPicker Canada

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($99.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ Canada Computers)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($39.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.99 @ Computer Valley)
Video Card: Galaxy GeForce GTX 560 2GB Video Card ($179.99 @ NCIX)
Case: Azza Toledo 301 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: Antec 650W ATX12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX)
Total: $588.93
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-08-07 09:15 EDT-0400)

Budget is around $700 but I'll pick up a monitor locally. Thoughts on the above? Hoping to PM everything with NCIX if I can or wherever I can get cheap/free shipping.

[Dzzope]

At $700 budget (if that doesn't include the monitor) I'd be looking to have an intel based build.. or damn close to it

On what you've picked..
the video card is not worth it... 2 gb on a 560 is silly.. grab a 560ti for the same price
The carvair blue is also not worth it IMO.. look at a 1TB Seagate barracuda 7200.14.. Much faster and better value. (though a lil more expensive but not much)

There was a build from last week based on an i3 that would be better than this for gaming and I think it came in around the 700 mark... I'll see if I can find it for you.


/edit,
Found it:
Noob PC builder needs advice!

Now i would suggest a few changes to that (as seen below it) but you could build Intel for under $700 and leave yourself a drop in chip upgrade in a couple years to give a new lease of life to it... or to significantly up the resale value

(also still suggest the Seagate for speed and value)

[panzerfan]

Or how about getting this HD 6950 XFX Radeon HD 6950 800MHZ 2GB 5.0GHZ DDR5 2xDVI HDMI 2x Mini DisplayPort Fansink PCI-E Video Card - XFX - HD695XCDFC for the red team.

I think that you can considered 2ndhand for 965, just to squeeze more bang for your bucks.

[atOnz]

Sorry I wasn't clear, $700 includes the monitor.

[Kilauea]

As others said, it's not the best idea in the works to go for that CPU and mobo because it's already aging. When I built my computer 3 years ago I considered the 955. At that rate I'd definitively consider buying used. I'm not saying the combo is not good, I personally don't plan on upgrading, but you are building with a strike against you and no possibility to upgrade for real.

[atOnz]

Will likely swap out for the GTX560ti on sale now at NCIX. Gigabyte GeForce GTX560 Ti Core 448 732MHZ 1280MB 3.8GHZ GDDR5 2xDVI HDMI DP PCI-E Video Card - Gigabyte - GV-N560448-13I

I'm willing to swap up components but I'm just not sure how I'll stay @ $700 when factoring in a $130-170ish monitor. Where do you all look for secondhand? Kijiji? My local area in Halifax doesn't have much selection but I did find a used built with these approx components (so I rebuilt on pcpartpicker to see the approx new value):
Intel i7-920, EVGA GeForce GTX 560, Cooler Master HAF 912 - System Build - PCPartPicker Canada. He wants $525 for it.

I'll likely pick up an SSD closer to Christmas to run OS/apps.

[Dzzope]

Get him down to 500 or less, and get an extra single stick of the same ram.
Tri-channel doesn't make much difference but 6GB should give you enough that you won't run out and have to use the page file.

[Bond007]

Go for intel. It's a fIne CPU to upgrade to, but I wouldn't choose a computer with it.

[kmo_9000]

If you don't go with that 560 Ti, I would recommend just picking up a 6850 as they usually go for 130$ or less which will help you stay below your 700$ budget.

It really is the best budget card you can get right now. I've put it in three builds for friends so far and it suits their needs perfectly, maxing out most games out there and can play BF3 around med settings with decent FPS.

As far as the CPU and motherboard goes, don't listen to the nay sayers. I have a friend who has the same CPU and it does everything he needs it too and he hasn't even overclocked it. It's a great performer for the price.

Also, make sure you use NCIX's price match system to order all the parts from one place and save on shipping.

[BigPhatPaulie]

It WAS a great performer but there is no point in getting it anymore because that just means he has to spend more money in the long run